-
Dean smiled at the waitress as she set down his glass of ice-cold lemonade in front of him. He had been denied the sweet and slightly sour beverage when Tron raced out of the Delan household. Dean understood that the program was freaked by the idea that the kids were pulled into the cyber world. The idea of such an occurrence kinda made him jump as well.
“What is this urgency?” Castiel asked as soon as their waitress had left. He had ordered a glass of iced tea and was playing with his straw.
“The young Users have been digitized,” Tron explained. He was still on edge. As soon as they left the Delan house Dean had tried to call Sam, but as soon as he reached his brother, Tron swiped the phone from his hand and told them they had to meet at that second.
“Come again?” Sam asked.
“They were pulled into the digital world,” Tron told him. “My world.”
“The demon we are after,” Castiel added. “He’s responsible for this.”
“The last time a User was pulled unwillingly into our world it was because of a powerful program,” Tron said. “We have to get back inside.”
“How are we going to do that?” Dean asked him. “Have Cas carry us one at a time into this place? We still don’t know what we are up against.”
“You don’t understand,” The program glared into his eyes. “You do not know about the dangers that are inside.”
“And you don’t understand,” Dean said. “We just can’t go barreling into this world of yours. We need to know what kind of demon we are fighting. We need to know what its weakness is and how we can defeat it.”
“Your angel still doesn’t know?” Tron asked and turned to Cas. “You don’t know what we are up against?”
“Leave Cas alone,” Dean said. He was getting pissed with the way this program was speaking to them. “You are in our world now and we do things differently here. Hunting demons is what we do. How many demons and monsters have you killed?”
“None,” Tron sighed and buried his face in his hands. “I was the monster.”
“What?” Sam asked. “How could you be the monster?”
“I was Rinzler.”
Dean mouthed the name and looked at Cas to see if he knew but the angel’s face was blank. “What are you talking about?”
“Dean,” Cas spoke. “Follow me.” The angel got up out of the booth.
“Don’t steal my fries when the food comes, Sam,” Dean said as he stood up.
“You’re the one who steals from me,” Sam said.
Dean ignored him and followed Cas outside of the diner. He hoped Cas wasn’t going to take him on a small side mission and only hoped it would just be a small discussion and he hoped Cas would tell him more information that he needed to know.
“You need to go easy on him,” Cas said as soon as they were alone.
“Go easy?” Dean blinked and stared at the diner entrance. “He’s a program.”
“He is not devoid of emotion or thought,” Cas told him. “He has a great weight on his shoulders.”
“What are you not telling me?”
“He was defeated fighting a rogue program while saving Kevin Flynn.”
“Kevin Flynn?” Dean asked. “Does this have something to do with his disappearance?”
“Everything,” Cas answered. “I do not know the entire details. All I know is that Tron was defeated and was turned into a dark program.”
“And he was called Rinzler?”
Cas nodded. “He didn’t tell me the name. He was changed against his will. Ramiel knew what he was before. Ramiel was the first angel to know of this digital world. He watched Tron and knew what he was. Tron always believed in humans. He had respect for them. He always fought for them.”
“And the fact that he was this corrupt program is tearing him up inside.” Dean waited for Cas to nod his head. “No wonder he wants to save those kids so badly.” He rubbed his temples with his fingers.
“He’s not upset with you. He’s upset with himself because he snapped at you. He feels honored to be in this world. He doesn’t believe he deserves it.”
“He doesn’t believe that he deserves redemption.” Dean understood all too well that feeling. He had been in Tron’s boots before. How many times has he acted beyond his control and regretted his actions? “You think he might feel a little better now?”
Cas shrugged. “Sam is probably trying to cheer him up.”
“I can always count on him.”
-
Their food had arrived when Dean and Cas returned. Sam seemed more fascinated with watching Tron eat than he was in his own turkey club. Dean can understand each food was new experience and Tron indulged on it. The program had his eyes half closed as he took a bite out of his chicken strips. He ordered them along with steamed veggies and potato wedges.
“Feeling better?” Dean asked the program as soon as he sat back down.
“I shouldn’t have raised my voice at you,” Tron said after he had swallowed and nodded towards Sam. “Your brother told me some of your User jokes.”
“After those two seconds were up what did he do?” Dean asked. He ignored the look his brother gave him. “Just kidding.”
“I got him to smile,” Sam said.
“That’s a start.” Dean sat back. “Tron, I’m sorry if I said anything to upset you. Cas told me what happened with the whole Rinzler deal. It’s not your fault. Sam and I can tell you stories. We both been there. We both have become something that we were not, something that we have hated.”
“Yeah,” Sam agreed when he realized what Dean had been talking about. “I’ve been possessed a few times, don’t know if it is the same with what you went through but it was rough. Having another person speak with your voice, move your body, doing things that would disgust you.”
“How do you cope with what has happened?” Tron asked.
“You start with talking about it,” Dean explained as after he grabbed a few fries. “You apologize. You hope they accept it even though you feel you don’t deserve it. You make up for it by trying to be a better person, like what you are doing right now.”
“Sometimes there isn’t much difference between Users and programs.”
“Nope and I can tell you one other thing that we will probably find in common.” Dean pointed at the tiny porcelain bowls that contained the three kinds of dips: ranch, barbecue, and honey mustard. “That tastes better when you dip it in the stuff.”
Tron took one of the chicken strips and dunked it in the creamy ranch. After he took a bite his eyes widened in pleasure.
“See I was right.”
“What’s our next move?” Sam asked after he had finished taking a drink from his glass.
“Cisquo,” Tron said after he had swallowed. “We need to find that User.”
Dean nodded. “That was where the kids got the code from.” After they finished lunch they were going to track this guy down.
-
They learned that Cisquo was found in the more bad part of town and that he only makes an appearance after sunset to strangers. The brother of one of the missing kids, DJ, said he would take them to help look for Cisquo. Cas felt it would still be better if they split into groups and Dean found himself and Tron at the other end of the street.
“I do not like this area,” Tron said as he followed behind Dean. They had switched from suits to jeans and shirts. Tron wore a black T-shirt that had 1337 written in bright green. His neatly combed hair was messed with his fingers giving him a slight slept in look.
“Tron, you worry too much,” Dean told him as he approached an alley that separated two streets filled with single story houses. “I can handle it.” He spun around and saw that Tron was staring at him with a frightened look on his face. “What’s wrong?”
“Those were some of the last words Flynn said to me.”
“I’m sorry,” Dean said and turned back to the alley. He saw two men, late teens or early twenties. Both were dressed in dark and torn jeans, sneakers, shirts and jackets with sport’s memorabilia. One had his head wrapped around in a bandana and a scar on his cheek. The other had his head shaved, a goatee and gold teeth.
“What the fuck do you two want?” The guy with the bandana said.
“Do you tell all your possible customers that?” Dean asked. He could see several boxes filled with round, flat , metal objects.
“I told you to cool it with the attitude,” baldy said and rose to his feet. “Tell me what you are looking for?”
“We are looking for Cisquo.” Tron had decided to go with the direct approach. “Do you know where we can find him?”
“We got what Cisquo has,” baldy said. “In fact what we are carrying is even better.”
“Do you have the code for Epic Frontier?”
“Code for Epic Frontier?” Bandana asked. “What is that shit?”
“Best game ever,” Dean answered. “My warrior goblin is at a level twenty five. Trey and I just got the diamond shield armor the other day.” He gave Tron a playful punch on the shoulder. “Wasn’t that bad, man?”
Tron looked at him for a few seconds before he smiled. “That was very bad. Not as bad as the three headed grid bug.”
“That was so cool how you took it down with your lightening sword,” Dean said, hoping that the two gangsters would buy the act.
“I knew they weren’t interested in our shit, Rocks,” bandana said. “These fools are into all that gaming shit.”
“Yeah,” Tron agreed. “I’m a video game warrior.”
“We don’t got no game codes,” Baldy said “But we do have some other fine merchandise.”
“The thing is we re-“ Dean’s phone went off. “We really need the at code.” He looked at the phone and saw that Sam had sent him a text message that he, Cas, and DJ had come across Cisquo. “Hey my bro got the code.” He turned back to the two gangsters. “Sorry we gotta go.”
“You better get your sorry asses out of here,” bandana said.
“Follow me, Tron.” Dead raced down the street, down towards where Sam and Cas where located. He wished they had taken the car, correct half wished. There was no way he was going to leave his baby in this area. They had to rely on DJ and his banged up car.
Dean slowed down when he neared DJ’s parked vehicle. He heard shouts and some of them were coming from Sam. This was not good. He crouched down behind the vehicle and peered around.
Sam and DJ were surrounded by several tough looking punks. Sam was being restrained by two of them while DJ just stood there in shock. Cas was lying on the ground.
“I want to know what you two are doing around here,” a tall man said. His hair was styled in dread locks and he wore a jacket with several chains attached.
“What the hell are you doing?” DJ asked. The youth was no older than nineteen and wore a baseball cap backwards on his head.
“Why ja bring the feds, DJ?” the leader of the gang asked.
“All they want to know is where you got the code for the game,” DJ answered.
“So they can arrest me for hacking?”
“No, Cisquo. They are just trying to find my brother and his friends.”
“You are dumber than shit, DJ,” Cisquo said as he paced in front of them. “They tell you anything to get to me.” He paused when approached Cas. “Look at this crazy fool.” He kicked Cas, rolling his body over. “Castiel?” His eyes widened.
“How does he know Cas?” Dean asked. He had to get Sam and Cas out of there. These were just a bunch of street punks, humans and he did not want to have to kill them if he could help it.
“What do you want us to do with them?” One of the gang members asked.
“Waste them,” Cisquo said.
“No wait,” Dj said as he tackled one of the toughs as he pulled out a gun.
A metal disk whirled through the air and struck one of the gangster’s hands with enough force to knock the weapon out of their grasp. Another flew out and struck a different punk in the head, knocking him out.
“What the hell?” Dean asked. He looked up in time to see Tron jump up on the hood of DJ’s car. He had a few hubcaps under one arm. “Tron?”
“Take one,” Tron said as he dropped the hubcap down on the curb. He turned around and threw another of the cap’s striking another gang member as if it were a Frisbee
Dean was not going to allow the program do all the work for him. He pulled out the hand gun, picked up the dropped hubcap and ran toward the two punks that were holding Sam. Except there was only one. DJ took out one and Sam had just struck out the other.
“Not much left for me,” Dean said.
“You actually disappointed?” Sam asked.
“Not really,” Dean said.
“Why is Tron throwing hubcaps?”
“I have no idea.” Dean turned around to see who was left to fight. The only one left was Cisquo who was aiming his gun at Tron. Dean ran up before he threw the cap and struck the gangster in the back of his head.
“Now there are two of you fools?” Cisquo asked as he turned around. He turned and pointed the gun at Dean. The gun never went off. There was a crack of something striking Cisquo at the back of his head. He dropped his gun and topped forward.
“That did not work out to well,” Cas said.
“Good thing you came back—ah,” Dean looked down when he felt something grab his his ankle. Cisquo was still conscious.
“Reveal yourself,” Cas commanded.
“You think you won, angel?” Cisquo asked as his eyes turned black.
“That’s all I need to see,” Dean said and slammed his fist into Cisquo’s face, knocking him out. He looked up when he heard the others were approaching him. “Our friend Cisquo here is possessed by a demon.”
“A what?” DJ asked.
“Something what you would call evil,” Tron said before he turned to Sam. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” Sam said. “Where did you get those hub caps?”
“Some rogue people were selling them,” Tron answered as he pointed up the road. “I needed a weapon and my Identity Disk is not with me.”
“And you bought them?” Dean asked.
“I knocked them out and took them,” Tron answered. “I had a feeling they were stolen.”
“What are you going to do with Cisquo?” DJ asked.
“We need you take us back to the hotel,” Cas said. “Cisquo included.”
“Hell man.” He looked down at the possessed gangster. “This is going to help bring back Chris?”
“This will help find your little brother,” Cas told him. “I know this seems like much for you.”
“I don’t care, man. I just want my brother back.”
-
Dean didn’t have time to thank the youth after the dropped off at the hotel. As soon as they had stepped out and dragged Cisquo out he sped off. Dean didn’t blame him. The kid didn’t want to get into trouble, although who knows what kind of trouble he got himself into before Dean and the others showed up.
“We kneed to keep him secure,” Cas said as Tron and Sam dragged in the possessed gangster.
“What kind of demon is he?” Tron asked. He and Sam placed their prisoner in a chair.
“An acolyte,” Cas explained. “A servant.”
“Who does he serve?”
“That is what we are going to find out,” Cas answered and turned to Dean. “We need to keep the demon bound.”
“Whoa,” Dean held up a hand. “He knows you. You know he’s a servant, but who does he serve?”
“This one in particular has gone through several masters. They pass him around.”
“Passed around?” Dean stared at the unconscious vessel. “Cisquo, you slut.”
“Here’s the rope,” Sam said as he pulled the rope out from one of the supply bags. “And the chalk, and the candles.”
“You and Tron use the rope,” Dean explained as he grabbed the chalk and crouched down near the chair. “Cas and I will do the rest.” He scrawled the proper devil’s trap around the chair while Cas lit the candles. When he was done he handed the chalk to the angel and watched as Cas scrawled out the proper letters in Enochian and Latin.
“Castiel,” Cisquo muttered as he came to. “ Castiel, Castiel, when did you start teaming up with hunters and that.” He pointed at Tron with his head. “When did you get that out?”
“You know what I am?” Tron asked.
“I know you ain’t human.” He looked Tron up and down and smiled as if he were joke. “Your just data on two legs. You aint supposed to be here.”
“Who are you working for?” Tron asked. He was undaunted by what the acolyte said to him.
“I aint telling you anything.”
“You know Cas,” Dean said as he glanced at his friend. “You know what he can do to you if you don’t talk.”
“Too bad he isn’t a gloater,” Sam said as he folded his arms.
“A gloater?” Tron asked.
“You mortals will not be able to stop my master,” Dean said in a mock tough guy voice. “Lord Skeletor will rise from his firey prison and unleash an unholy terror upon all of you.” He cleared his throat. “That’s a gloater.”
“Man,” Cisquo stared at them as if they were crazy. “You guys watch too many bad movies.”
“Give him a little burn, Cas,” Dean instructed.
“Burn me away,” Cisquo said. “I aint talking.”
“Yes you will,” Castiel said as pointed to the floor. “You don’t have much of a choice. That is not a word to keep you bound. It’s a word to make you talk.” He spoke in Latin and the foreign language of his kind.
“What is that?” Tron asked as Cisquo went rigged. “What kind of code is that?”
“Enochian,” Sam explained. “The language of angels. He’s activating a special password that will make this guy tell us who we are dealing with.”
“Who’s pulling your strings?” Dean demanded.
“Luduserus,” Cisquo answered in a dry raspy voice.
“Where is he located?” Cas asked.
“Where the game was born.”
“The game was born?” Dean asked. “What kind of answer is that?”
“Epic Frontiers,” Sam answered. “ENCOM made that game.”
“Yeah but they got locations all over the globe,” Dean answered.
“But they develop and create the ideas in their L.A. office,” Sam answered.
“He’s pulling the players into the main ENCOM system?” Tron asked.
“Ask him for the code,” Sam said.
“What is the code?” Cas asked.
“EK91305SL71982.”
“I got it,” Dean said after he wrote it down. “Cas, burn him.”
“He will be tricky,” Cas said. “I need to take him out of here.”
“Good and come back as soon as you can,” Dean told him. “Cause we still got some questions.” He wanted to know more about Luduserus but that would have to wait until the demon had been exorcised and burned.
“Won’t he remember who we are?” Tron asked.
“I’ll see that he won’t,” Cas said. He placed a hand on Cisquo’s head and they both disappeared.
“Now what?” Sam asked. “Who’s Luduserus?”
“We’ll find out later,” Dean told him and pointed at the floor. “We got to clean up and get ready for bed. In the morning we are checking out,” Dean said. “And we are heading to L.A.”
-
A/N: Luduserus is a made up name. It is Latin for Game Master.
The Freaks Come Out at Night is the name of an old school rap song by Whodini