Ram (Chapter 16)

Ram  - Chapter 16

Ram had a Jai-Alai and a disc battle behind. Although he was tired he didn´t want to sleep, because Tron had a break and was awake enough to talk - which was quite seldom: Either one of them was in a fight or they slept. The familiar sound of rumbling boots and the as well familiar clamor of a new prisoner didn´t disturb them.
The guards stopped at Ram´s neighbored cell. "Video Game Unit #18. In here, program", a guard barked. "Who are you calling 'program,' program?", it came from the irritated newcomer.  The guard didn´t answer.  He gripped the prisoner and strongly shoved him into the cell. The conscript crashed against the wall with his back.  "New guy", Ram told Tron who was curiously looking. "Another free program off line. What's his user supposed to do?", Tron sadly shook his head. Ram sighed: "Do you think the users are still out there?" Ram asked many times why the users weren´t helping. Once Tiff told him that the users would have a great plan and programs couldn´t understand it. But he wished and longed to know what was going on. Alas, Tiff was always so strong in her trust and faith in the users... Ram believed in the users, too. But he simply couldn´t imagine what a kind of plan their sufferings could serve. "They'd better be", Tron gloomily murmured, "I don't want to bust outta this dump an' find nothing but a lot of cold circuits waiting for me." "Hey, guys", the new one drew attention to himself. He marched directly into the force field between his and Ram's cell. "Ouch", the recruit rubbed his hurting knee. " You want to watch those force fields.", Ram told the new guy, "You'll be having plenty of chances to get hurt, don't worry about that." "Look...just so I can tell my friends what this dream was about, okay?", the recruit continued nerved, "Where am I?" Ram knit his brows. Never he had heard a program speaking in such a strange manner. "You're a...'guest' of the Master Control Program", Ram had learned that it's best to explain the new ones their situation as gentle as possible, "They're going to make you play video games." "Great, I'm the best video player around", the recruit seemed relieved, maybe even a little bit enthusiastic. That puzzled Ram a lot. The games were known for their brutality everywhere! But this new prisoner reacted as if it only was a new subroutine. Ram feared his new comrade wouldn't live long. But he had no opportunity to warn him, because the rumble of boots told them the guards were coming.

Some time later the  new guy and Ram were back in their cells. the recruit had slept a while. Now he was awake and watched how Ram let his disk circle on his fingertips, twisted it between his fingers and sometimes threw it up and caught it again. "You're pretty good", the new prisoner admiringly spoke. "You have to master a lot if you don't wanna be derezzed", Ram explained the new one. Ram felt somehow that his new cellneighbour was very special. After a lightcycle duell Ram had trained the new captives. He had noticed that this one was quite talented. He could survive some games.
"What's your name", the recruit teared Ram back from his thoughts. "My name is Ram", he answered. "Hey, Ram ... what were you ... you know, before?", the recruit continued. Ram grew nostalgic: "Oh, I was an actuarial program... worked at a big insurance company.  It really gives you a great feeling,  helping folks plan for their future needs -- and of course, if you look at the payments as an annuity, over the years, the cost is really low." Ram went such into rhapsodies about his former live that he didn't notice the other one was bored. The memory of those carefree times brought a smile onto his lips. He almost remembered nothing which was before his imprisonment. "And what about yourself?", Ram asked interested. " Oh, uh...I don't remember too much", his neighbour muttered, "my name is Flynn." " Sure, a little disorientation. That's normal, when they transport you. It'll come back to you", Ram spoke calmingly to the other. He was a little disappointed not to learn more about Flynn. Such a complete loss of data was no rarity among new prisoners. But his feelings told him that Flynn wasn't telling him the truth. However Ram felt, too, that the reason for this was not wickedness. So he tried to respect Flynn's concealment, although Ram was now even more curious. The knocking of a guard's staff stopped his thinking. Now both of them were brought to a game. He wished Flynn good luck and prayed to Flynn's user that he may protect his program.

Later that microcycle Tron and Ram sat in their cells. "The new guy has asked for you", Ram began. "What a shame he is in a game now. Him I don't learn to know anymore", Tron harrumphed. "Who knows?", Ram answered, "He's special, somehow." Ram couldn't stop ponder about Flynn. The strange way he spoke and the fact he lost his memory could be a consequence of a damage during the detention. But Ram felt that Flynn remembered more than he admitted and he had a secret. Additionally, Flynn did better in training than most other programs. Ram had to stop daydreaming, because the boots of guards rumbled towards their cells. The guards barked at them to treat out and brought them to the lightcycle waiting hall. The guards told them that one other blue warrior will fight with them. "Commander Sark ordered to let Video Unit #18 fight against Video Unit #20 in Jai-Alai. The one who survives will join you." Ram was furious and sad. The thought to lose one comrade - no matter, how the game ended - gave his heart a pang. Sark very seldomly let two userbelievers compete against each other. And if he did it was only meant to agonize both of them. Ram remembered how Sark tried to force Tiff and him to fight one another. "I wonder how she is right now?", Ram thought.
The rumble of boots brought Ram back to reality. Two guards escorted Flynn into the hall. "Flynn, you've made it!", Ram congratulated excited, "Look Tron, he survived!" Ram sent a little prayer to Crom's user that his program had a better life now. No matter, where it was just right now.
"Alan?!", Flynn surprisedly exclaimed. "Wherefrom do you know that name?", Tron sounded shocked, even a little frowning. "Well... isn't it your name?", Flynn stammered. "The name of my User, yeah. But how... ?", it confusedly came from Tron. Flynn quickly answered: "I, uh... I'm a program from a User that... knows Alan...?" "He was disoriented in transport, Tron", Ram explained. He wondered why Flynn had addressed Tron with the name of his user. And the statement 'I'm a program from a user that knows Alan' sounded much like a white lie... Could it be...? Ram couldn't bring his thought to an end, because at this moment they were transported to the lightcycle arena. Now he had to concentrate on the race first.