"Bit can be pretty fast when it wants to," Nora said. "Though mostly, it rides my wake."
They turned a corner; at the end of the street loomed the dark, triangular shape of the Games arena. Nora's eyes took on an odd, closed look, and her mouth tensed slightly.
“Still, it's pretty free-spirited… and a little reckless.” Cor teased with a light chuckle.
When Nora stiffened at the once terrifying sight of the arena, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze and rubbed his thumb against her knuckles. “It’ll be alright, Nora. We're here to do good.” he reminded her softly.
Nora met his eyes, dark brown into energy blue. There was a feeling bubbling inside her chest, something warm: strength. She was glad Cor had come along to stabilise her. It would be all right.
Cor smiled softly, assuringly, when she looked at him. His lines flashed pink as he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “We’re going to be ok.” he reiterated gently.
Nora's lines flickered pink and back again when he kissed her. Allowing her eyes to close, she leaned into him, listening to the soft rumble of the truck's wheels.
"We're here," the driver said after a few minutes, slowing the truck to a stop. Nora took a deep breath. Her hands were trembling. She didn't want to go back here, couldn't, wouldn't…
She opened her eyes to the massive black building rising above her, a seemingly endless black slab. Death screams echoed in her ears again, discs clanking to the ground, the crowd chanting "De-rez! De-rez!"
A single ragged breath escaped her throat.
Cor didn't let go of her hand even as they approached the now empty arena. Even though he had never been here before, he’d had nightmares about being captured and brought here. He wasn't Tron. He could handle himself well enough in a fight but he didn't know if he could have survived in this kind of place. Taking a breath just as shaky as Nora’s, Cor finally opened the door. “Come on. We have to do this.” he whispered to her. “It’s the only place where these programs can be safe.” he reminded, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
Nora nodded, clambering unsteadily, but still gracefully, out of the truck. Bit stayed close to her neck as though to comfort her.
"Back the trucks up to the entrance," she told the driver, glad her voice sounded more even than she felt. "I'll open the doors."
Her hand found Cor's, fingers pressing into his palm. It's the only place where they'll be safe, she reassured herself. And she had Cor. She would be fine. Just fine.
Cor stayed by her side, giving her a soft smile when she started to take control of the situation. But even though he looked calm and not too bothered as they walked towards the doors, Cor was actually staying on alert. Things had been going pretty smoothly so far… but when he was Black Light, that's usually when the floor fell out from under his feet. He couldn't let that happen to Nora. Especially not now.
Nora went to the front doors of the arena, pressing her palm to the scanner next to them. There was a soft hiss of air, and they began to open. The usual light that shone within the arena had been extinguished; there was only a yawning black void within. It reminded Nora of the darkness in the Siren chamber, the stifling confines of her coffin-like space, where she waited, waited, heard death screams and the crowd roaring.
She turned away, watching as the trucks began to back up to the opening. She didn't realise that she was squeezing Cor's hand a little too tightly.
Cor didn't seem to notice or care how strongly Nora was holding his hand. If she needed that much assurance, then he would give it to her. “Hey…” he started softly, rubbing the back of her knuckles when he couldn't think of what to say. But the silence was a little too eerie.
Nora, realising what she was doing, let go of Cor's hand entirely. "Sorry…"
“It’s ok.” he said, grabbing her hand again. “I don't mind.” Cor smiled.
Nora smiled nervously back at him. The first truck backed up to the opening, and with a soft hiss, the back of it opened. The programs inside stared at Cor and Nora listlessly.
"Let's get them inside," she said, her voice sounding more steady than she felt, taking a step towards the truck, still holding Cor's hand.
Cor didn't blame Nora for being nervous, especially considering the things she told him about this place. Besides, he was pretty nervous as well just… a little bit better at hiding it when he needed to.
He nodded and rubbed his thumb across the back of her knuckles as he walked with her.
Nora stepped into the truck. Blank eyes stared at her. The only sound was the soft clicking of her heels on the truck's floor.
She started gently prodding programmes towards the truck's entrance. Skye was at the back. Nora tried not to look at her.
Achilles walked into the truck a few moments later. "The other trucks are backed up. Do you guys want me and the other medics to start getting the programs in?"
Nora nodded.
Cor reluctantly stayed outside of the truck to help some of the programs down and keep them in groups. Though he still tried not to look at their eyes right now. “Thanks, Achilles.” he managed to smile briefly at the medic, overhearing the conversation between him and Nora.
Achilles walked back down the truck ramp. Nora proceeded ushering the programmes out of the truck. In the back of her mind, she was wondering if it would be a wise idea to turn the arena's lights on. Too much light would attract attention, but she didn't want to leave the programmes in the dark, either. She thought she knew where the controls were; if not, she had access to the computer.
"Do you… think we should turn the arena lights on?" she asked Cor.
Cor looked up at her at the question before looking up at the arena and shrugged. “Maybe not a lot of them? Especially the big ones that can be seen everywhere in the Grid.” he suggested. “I don't know much about this place but if there are some lower-level ones or something like that, we can turn on some.”
"I think there are some low-level ones," Nora mused. "The illumination for the stands. That should be enough."
“Good.” Cor smiled softly, looking back at her. “Then, once we get everyone inside, we can see if those will be enough.” he agreed.
(HI I EXIST! Sorry!! This weird thing happened all of a sudden and neither my phone nor my computer have been working for a hot minute 😅 but I'm back now!)
"I don't remember exactly where the controls are," Nora said. "I think they're on one of the upper levels. I should have access." On impulse, she brushed Cor's hand with hers. "Will… you come with me?"
The words were hard to say, scratching in her throat like glass. She didn't want to admit she needed help. But panic was rising steadily in her chest, and she had to tamp it down in any way she could.
(Oh, YAY!!!! I was getting a little worried but I'm glad you're ok. And back! Sorry to hear that your phone and computer cut out.)
Cor almost raised a brow at how… forced her request was and how uncomfortable she seemed. It was strange how it vaguely reminded him of how he and ‘Roura started working together. He had to close his eyes for a moment to refocus before taking her hand in his and giving her a soft smile. “Ok. We can look together.” he agreed. Besides, he didn't like the idea of Nora wandering around in a place like this on her own… Even if she was able to handle herself.
(Yeah so I tried updating my computer and then apparently it caused this glitch super deep in the system with my ID and so both my phone and my computer like quit working so I've been on the phone back and forth with the company and eventually they fixed it so yay!)
"Achilles, could you and the other medics take over this for a moment?" Nora called to him, gesturing to the small crowds of programmes. "Cor and I are going to go turn on the lights."
Achilles nodded. "Sure thing."
Nora looked at Cor, her fingers tightening slightly on his. "The entrance is over here."
She began leading him closer to the dark walls of the stadium, which was looming over their heads, menacing. Nora pressed her palm to the wall again; a hidden door slid open, revealing a yawning black cavity. Nora winced slightly, but with a deep breath, stepped inside.
(Yikes! Sounds like a big hassle… At least both are working again for you now.)
Cor’s smile grew a little at Nora’s words as she spoke with Achilles and nodded when she turned back to him. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as they approached the ominous entrance, his smile shrinking to a more serious expression. Without much more thought than how even their lines wouldn't give off enough light, Cor reached into his pocket and pulled out the same handheld light he and Aurora had used to set up the tracking system.
Nora nodded appreciatively at the light he pulled out. While she knew where the light switches in the Siren room were, and could find them even in this total darkness, it was reassuring to know that Cor had some form of illumination.
Gripping his hand, she led Cor across the threshold and walked across the floor, her heels clicking softly, echoing slightly in the cavernous, dark space.
"There's a platform to your right," she warned Cor when they were about twenty feet in. "Don't trip."