Chapter 27: Gotta Knock a Little Harder.
-
Tron sat with his back against the now empty core. He inhaled deeply and felt satisfied. Another battle against a powerful program, check that, demon has been completed. This was the second demon he helped dispose of. He still was having trouble wrapping his mind about the fact that the MCP was a chess program that merged with a powerful being.
“How are you holding up?” Dean asked as he sat down next to him.
“Still a bit sore,” Tron said as he held up his hands. Castiel hadn’t gotten around to healing him yet. He asked to be treated last. He wanted to make certain the others were looked over before he was. “How is your brother?” They were able to break out Sam along with the programs that were trapped.
“Sammy’s fine,” Dean answered. “He went with the other Sam and his girlfriend and Lia and Yori back to the ship.”
“Why didn’t you go with them?”
“Dude, I keep telling you guys I don’t know a thing about programming or anything like that. Sammy remembers a bit from that one semester. He took that as an elective.”
“How are the other Users?” Tron was worried they would be as frightened as Darla was.
“They are a little freaked,” Dean answered. “When Cas and Gabe fried Luduserus they undid all of his damage.” He pointed to himself. “As you can see. They all have regular clothes on with some of this glowy stuff. They were frightened, still are, but they have each other. They were still talking to each other when I came over here.”
“There won’t be any dwarves or vampires when we bring the Users back?”
Dean shook his head. “We’ll all look the same. I wonder what they are going to say to their parents and friends, unless Cas does something to make them forget.”
“They shouldn’t be forced to forget,” Tron said. He hated having his memories removed when he was repurposed into Rinzler.
“What about those like Darla?”
“Those memories were painful.” Tron closed his eyes. “We should still ask.”
“Speak of the devil,” Dean said. “I should have rephrased that.”
Castiel walked up to them with the byte following close behind. The angel appeared worn and weary.
“Hey, Cas,” Dean greeted. “And little guy.”
“Little guy?” The byte asked as if it were insulted. “I should be happy that you noticed me.”
“Have you completed your task of scanning everyone in the sector?” Tron asked before he shook his head. “I need to stop talking like I’m still a program.”
“I’m not done healing,” Castiel said as he kneeled down in front of Tron. He placed one hand over Tron’s injured side and another hand over one of his hands.
Tron stared at his burned hands as the angel chanted. He watched as his skin repaired itself. The bubble like bulges flattened while more skin covered the patches that were bleeding before everything lightened from a reddish color to a peach shade.
“Now I’m done,” Castiel said as he sat down next to them. “A quick rest and then we have to move.”
“Why?” Dean asked. “What’s wrong? Is something else coming?”
“The ship is here,” Byte answered. “But he needs to rest. Even someone like him needs to rest and he deserves it.”
“He does,” Tron agreed. “That was quite clever of you, Castiel.”
“When dealing with a demon like Luduserus one should always have an ace up the sleeve,” Castiel said before he chuckled.
-
The flight away from the mesa was a smooth one. Tron rode in the cockpit with his arm around Yori’s waist as she, Lia and Kruz piloted the ship.
“You had me scared,” Yori said. “When you were struck. I thought you were going to derezz.”
“I was worried about that,” Tron admitted.
“I should have known better,” Yori said as she leaned against him. “You always were stronger, even before you were turned into a User.”
“Wait,” Kruz said as he looked up from the controls. “Tron here is a User?”
“In the living flesh,” Tron answered.
“How did that happen?” The former commander asked.
“We are still figuring that out,” Yori replied.
“You seem to accept that knowledge,” Lia said to him.
“After all that had happened? If Users can come here and demons are real and angels can take over bits and bytes then anything is possible.” He closed his eyes and sighed. “I want to speak with my User again, but after what I’ve done.”
“It hurts,” Tron said as he placed a hand on the former enemy’s shoulder. “I’ve been there before. Do you believe in redemption?”
“I do, but I don’t deserve it.”
“Everyone deserves a second chance,” Tron said as he remembered Dean’s words. “You start with talking about it. You apologize. You hope they accept it even though you feel you don’t deserve it. You try to be a better person, like you are doing right now.”
“I should start with a proper apology,” Kruz said. “I’m sorry I served a demon. I’m sorry I fought for who I perceived to be a new Master Control Program. I’m sorry I attacked you and ordered others to attack you.”
“We accept,” Lia said.
“I do feel better,” Kruz said with a smile. “You know what? I’m also sorry that I acted so immaturely during out light cycle tournament. I should not have accused you of cheating, Tron.”
“I accept your apology,” Tron said with a smile and gave the program a pat on the back.
-
The ship was brought to dock at port near one of the many I/O towers.
“When did they build this?” Tron said as he stared out the window. When he was taken out of the system they did not have such ports near the towers.
“A long time ago,” Yori explained as she helped bring the ship in. “Made things easier for programs everywhere.”
“All systems have them now?” Tron asked.
“Most of them,” Kruz said as he typed in a code that will lock the ship down. “A few old fashion ones probably don’t.”
“Everything is secure,” Lia said. “We’ll drop of everyone and then go back for the other Users. I hope they can transport them all.”
“I’m pretty sure they will figure it out,” Yori confirmed and grabbed Tron by the hand. “Shall we?”
“Of course.”
They exited the ship and walked towards the tower as several programs milled about around them.
There were a few programs outside the tower handing out glasses of energy. Even though Castiel had healed him of his injuries Tron felt like he could still use a nice refreshing.
“Wait here,” Yori said to him before she gave him a kiss and walked inside.
“We need to figure out a way to connect this tower with the laser,” Sam Flynn said as he and Quorra walked up to them. “We probably could get a message to Alan through here.”
“Probably?” Tron gave the boy a look.
“He does have wifi abilities on his phone,” Flynn said.
“I was able to communicate with Alan before you were born,” Tron reminded him.
“You guys did it,” Sai shouted as he ran up to them. “I figured you would.”
“No you didn’t,” the byte said as he floated back to him.
“And I was so enjoying the silence,” Sai said after he rolled his eyes.
“You missed me.”
Sai shrugged. “Maybe I did. Welcome back Byte.”
“Ace,” the byte said. “I wish to be called Ace.”
“Now you want a name?” Sai blinked. “I tried to give you one and you refused.”
“I didn’t like any of them.”
“He chose to name himself after the role he played,” Tron said in amused tone.
“Wait you helped?” Sai asked as he stared at Ace before he turned to them. “He helped?”
“He was a temporary vessel,” Castiel explained as the angels, Winchesters and Lia walked up to them. “For me. I had to wait for the right moment to return to my preferred vessel.”
“You had an angel inside you?” Sai asked as he pointed at Ace. “How did that feel?”
“Like the most exhilarating thing ever,” Ace sighed.
Tron smiled and took a sip of his energy and nearly spat it out. The flavor of it had suddenly changed. It tasted less like energy and more like beer.
“Ugh,” Quorra gagged and stared at her glass.
“Why does this taste like beer?” Flynn asked as he stared at his glass.
“Oh I asked Cas to change to flavor of our energy to be more like beer,” Dean said before he took a long swig from his glass. “Not everyone, just us Users.”
“Could you change it back?” Quorra asked. “I don’t like beer.”
“Sorry.” Castiel raised a finger.
“Not enough flair,” Gabriel said. “You never go for the over sale.”
“Cause it’s not needed,” Castiel answered.
Tron took another swig from his glass. He didn’t hate the flavor. It was just a bit of surprise for him to expect the usual flavor of energy and get the flavor of beer instead. He kept his eyes on the tower entrance and smiled when Yori came out.
“You can come in,” Yori said as she beckoned them to follow after her.
“Just Tron?” Flynn asked.
“All of you,” Yori answered.
They entered the tower. It had also changed since Tron was there last. The whole floor was lit up with glowing white tiles. The silvery walls still had streaks of glowing blue circuits. The pulpit and steps leading to it were glossy black and had a soft blue carpet runner that stretched from the bottom step to the entrance.
Dumont was not apart of the pulpit. He was sitting at a chair in front of a podium. He still wore the white robes and the towering hat, but he now had color in his face and the circuitry was thicker than before.
“Greetings programs, Users and angels and many blessings to you,” Dumont said to them as he rose from his seat.
“It is good to see you again,” Tron said to him.
“What is this place?” Dean whispered behind him.
“This is like a church to them,” Flynn whispered back.
“This guy is like a priest?” Sam Winchester asked.
“He does have a pope hat on,” Dean said.
“You have to forgive my friends,” Tron said as he gestured behind him with is thumb. “They have never been here before.”
“They are forgiven,” Dumont said with a laugh. “Why should they have to apologize? I feel honored that they have returned and once again have helped remove another Master Control Program.”
“Demon,” Castiel spoke up.
“Pardon?” Dumont raised his eyebrows.
“Demon,” Castiel repeated. “He wasn’t a program. He was a demon that was unleashed when his photographic prison was scanned.”
“A demon,” Dumont said and pursed his lips. “Fascinating, although actually horrifying. Of course you two would know being angels. Real beings of pure good that watch over the Users, and there are two of them.”
“Actually we-“ Castiel had started and was smacked in the arm by Gabriel.
“Let it go, bro,” Gabriel said. “Not in their place of worship.”
“Hallow ground,” Castiel said and his eyes widened.
“I think we have established that,” Flynn said.
“This is hallowed ground.” Castiel dropped to his knees and folded his hands. He brought them to his nose, closed his eyes and chanted.
“Is he going to be all right?” Lia asked.
“He’s fine,” Gabriel said. “Just communicating with the home base.”
“How have things been for you, Dumont?” Tron asked.
“All had been well,” Dumont said. “It was until that Master Control Demon had arrived. Many have come running to speak with their Users. I was afraid things were going to be bad again, as bad as before, but you and the Users returned.”
Tron smiled. “I have yet to fully introduce you to my friends.” He pointed to Lia. “This is Lia. The two angels are Castiel and Gabriel. The brothers are Dean and Sam Winchester. This is Quorra and Sam Flynn.”
“You met my father,” Flynn said.
“Your father was the one who threw himself into the MCP,” Dumont said in an overjoyed tone as he ran over to Sam Flynn. “He was a very brave User.” He took a hold of the young man’s hands.
“And an angel held him,” Quorra said as she pointed to the two angels. Castiel was still in the middle of prayer and Gabriel was blowing a pale pink bubble.
“Now that is fascinating in a good way,” Dumont said.
“Is he going to be doing this for a while?” Sam Winchester asked as he pointed at Castiel.
“He made a connection,” Gabriel answered. “Now he is asking questions and waiting for answers.”
“We should leave him be,” Dumont said. “I do not know what or who the angels are connected to, but everyone deserves a time of privacy.”
“He is finishing up,” Gabriel said. “They still want me to be here though, at least for a little while longer. However I just got my duplication ability back.”
“As long as the important stuff happens,” Dean said in a sarcastic tone.
“He will work,” Castiel said and stood up.
“Who will work?” Dean asked him.
“Not now,” Castiel said and turned to Gabriel and spoke to him in their language.
“Oh,” Gabriel gasped as his eyes widened. He said something else in the angelic language.
“Exactly,” Castiel said and nodded. He glanced over to Flynn.
“Ya know people don’t like it when they are being left out of the loop like that,” Dean told them.
“Relax, Dean,” Gabriel said. He smiled and turned back to Castiel and once again spoke in their language.
Castiel tilted his head as he listened. Once Gabriel was done he laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Sam Winchester asked
“Was it an angel joke?” Quorra asked.
“It was,” Castiel confirmed.
Dean sighed. “That’s just great. Could you guys show us what you are doing?”
“Now this is interesting,” Dumont said as he rubbed his chin. “The Users see angels as a higher power and here they are arguing with them. We don’t argue with the Users.”
“I have gotten into a few disagreements with Lora,” Yori said. “But that was only because I felt a few certain procedures will not work properly.”
“I am the same with mine,” Lia said.
“I have argued with them,” Tron said. “Argued with Flynn and with Dean. I argued like them.”
“Maybe that was a sign you were destined to become one,” Yori said as she took his hand.
“We are going to show you,” Gabe said. “We just need a drop of Sam’s blood and the Identity Disk of Kevin Flynn.”
“Which Sam?” Sam Winchester asked. He had held up a fingers as if he was offering a bit of himself.
“The son of Flynn,” Gabriel said.
“How much blood?” Quorra asked.
“Just one drop,” Castiel answered.
Quorra nodded and handed over her disk to Sam Flynn.
“I don’t know what’s going on.” Flynn said.
“Trust me on this,” Castiel said. “I brought most of him with me.”
“Him?” Dean asked and blinked. “What do you mean by him? Who are you talking about, Cas.”
“They should know.” Castiel pointed at both Flynn and Tron.
Flynn’s eyes widened. “Dad?”
“Flynn?” Tron asked. “Kevin Flynn is with you?”
“Gabriel and I are going to bring him back. We just need his disk and your blood. Your blood is his blood.”
“Dad,” Sam Flynn repeated. He ran his finger against the edge of the disk, cutting it and spilling a few drops of blood onto it. “Here.” He held it out.
Castiel grabbed the disk and held out and above him. He closed his eyes and chanted.
“He does need my help,” Gabriel said as he grabbed onto the other side of the disk.
The disk glowed brighter until it had became pure blue. The color lightened in color until it was white and cast down a radiant spotlight from the center. Glowing pixels seemed to fly out of Castiel’s pocket and gathered together, forming the image of a man
The angels stopped as the light retracted back into the disk and Kevin Flynn collapsed on the ground.
“Dad,” his son shouted as he ran to him.
“Creator,” Quorra gasped as she ran to him. “Teacher.” She kneeled down next to him.
“Flynn,” Tron whispered his name. His eyes felt warm and his vision was growing blurry. He blinked, sending tears to run down his face.
Kevin moaned as he kneeled up. He appeared different than Tron last remembered him inside the aircraft. His hair was a bit shorter and had fewer grays. His beard was also shorter and some of the lines on his face had disappeared. His armor was a medium gray color with pale blue circuitry pattern that was similar to Clu’s. He wore a gray robe over it.
“Dad?” Flynn asked as he stared into his father’s eyes.
“Sam?” Kevin asked. “Sam I’m so sorry.”
“Why?” Sam Flynn asked as the tears trickled down. “Why are you apologizing?”
“I remember sending you to the light cycle arena. I remember hunting you down.” He rubbed his temples. “Oh Q. I’m sorry for what I’ve done to your brothers and sisters.”
“You didn’t do anything,” Quorra said. “You saved me.”
“And Tron,” Kevin gasped. “What I’ve done to him.”
“You also saved me,” Tron told him. “I looked into your eyes and remembered who I was.”
“I was the one who made you into Rinzler.”
“Clu was the one who did that to me,” Tron said.
“I am Clu and Kevin. Everything he has done I have done. I remember everything.”
“Kevin Flynn is dominant,” Castiel said.
“Dad I still love you,” Sam Flynn said as he embraced him.
“My son,” Kevin wrapped his arms around his son. He looked up at everyone. “Greetings programs.”
“That is the Flynn that I remember,” Yori said.
“Yori and Dumont,” Kevin said as he pulled both of them into a hug. “I missed you guys.” He turned to Lia. “I’m sorry I never met you before.”
“My name is Lia.” She held out her hand. “It is nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, Miss Lia.” He shook her hand and turned to Dean with his hand outstretched.
“Dean Winchester,” Dean said as he shook it. “My brother and I visited your arcade back in 88. I got your score on the Space Paranoids game.”
“Deano,” Flynn said as his eyes lit up from the memory. “You were the youngest one who got the score. Look at you, all grown up. How is your brother?”
“I’m fine Mr. Flynn,” Sam Winchester said as he shook his head.
“I don’t think you will be needing that footstool anymore.” He turned to the angels. “Are they also Users?”
“They are angels,” Tron answered. “They are Castiel and Gabriel.”
“Real angels?” Flynn asked.
“They brought you back, dad,” Sam Flynn said.
“Real angels. I don’t think anyone can beat that.”
“I can,” Dean said and pointed at Tron. “Tron is now human.”
“Tron?” Kevin asked as he turned to him. “You are one of us?”
“I am,” Tron answered.
“How did th-“ Kevin never got a chance to finish.
“Your alive,” Tron said after he nearly tackled his friend with a hug. “You are alive and that is all that matters.”
-
A/N: The title is the same as the song by the Seatbelts from the Cowboy Bebop movie.
Reply: XspriteyX. Thank you. I’m usually a wimp about killing characters…especially canon characters. Dean is having a bit of a bad influence on Tron.