“What were you thinking?!?” (from Paige)
Alan laughed, but it came out as quiet coughing.
“I couldn’t let you have all the fun,” he attempted a smile before another cough escaped, “I hadn’t anticipated there being a second program with him. I was under the impression the Renegade worked alone. At least now we know he has backup,” Alan smirked, “well-trained backup.”
Alan remembered when Paige had received the tip about the Renegade sighting. He also remembered the conversation they’d had following that tip. It had taken some work on Alan’s part to convince Paige that he should come. He’d promised to take precautionary measures regarding his safety, such as enabling his voice and appearance modifications. This he did to ensure there would be no questions regarding his identity, should anyone recognize him. After all, the Renegade claimed to be Tron. It wouldn’t reflect well on Paige if she were running around with a Tron look-alike, not to mention what might become of him.
It was shortly after this that they’d met up with the Renegade. Alan had managed to slip a tracking device unnoticed onto their foe. This time, they were able to follow him into the Outlands even when he’d slipped out of sight. In fact, they’d come close to cornering him in the mountains when his backup had arrived. Backup that had apparently discovered and confiscated the device and was now heading away from them. It was a good diversionary tactic, but Paige had already spotted the real Renegade.
Alan took off after the decoy. He was hoping for some answers, but was prepared for the alternative. Both hunter and prey activated their lightcycles. It was a challenging chase; the decoy was an expert driver and knew his way around. Alan made a valiant pursuit, but a quick course correction from his prey derezzed his cycle and very nearly him along with it. Alan managed to avoid the light-trail, but knew he was at a clear disadvantage. His opponent knew this too.
He could feel the wind from the approaching lightcycle. He stood his ground as it drew near, his gaze focused on that of his opponent. In a flash, his disc was down, blade on. The bike split as it collided with the disc, sending his opponent flying. The opponent quickly recovered and landed feet first, disc drawn. Alan had spun around and cast his disc, but the mysterious program anticipated the move with a block, launching his own assault. Alan dodged, retrieving his disc and sending it once more toward the program.
This time, the program dodged with catlike agility. In one smooth motion, he evaded Alan’s attack and launched his own. Alan countered with a block, positioning himself for another strike. The program seemed to anticipate his movements, ever ready, yet always on the offensive. In a clash of light, the discs collided, each one’s energy adding to the other, as if the wills themselves were dueling.
Each disc returned to its master and each master intent on victory. With each cast of a disc, came a successful dodge or block, and with each successful evasion, came another attack more vicious than the last. In this manner were Program and User locked in deadly combat. The program had jumped Alan, knocking him to the ground. Before he could strike however, Alan had managed to flip him over. Yet Alan hadn’t anticipated the Renegade’s swift return.
In an instant, he was knocked to the ground by another program—the Renegade. The program on the ground seized this opportunity to tackle him once more. Alan shoved him off, but the program was ready, landing a blow that knocked the wind out of him. Stunned, he watched as both programs descended upon him. Yet another program descended upon them. Paige. It appeared that the Renegade had temporarily forgotten her. She obviously hadn’t forgotten about him.
