Tron Legacy the Junior Novel - Alice Alfonsi [8]
“Yo!” Sam called, realizing the opponent looked familiar in his gear. “I have a three-inch version of you on my action-figure shelf!” Maybe fighting him would be as easy as playing with toys.
Maybe not.
The disc in the progam’s hand began to glow. Then the program hurled the disc so fast it singed Sam’s hair. Without missing a beat, the disc returned to the thrower’s gloved hand like a high-tech boomerang.
The game was officially on. And Sam needed to stay focused.
Just then, a big, bearded opponent threw a disc. But this one wasn’t aimed at Sam. This disc was heading for the terrified program on the platform at Sam’s right.
The glowing disc hit the quivering program square in the chest. It exploded into thousands of tiny squares that bounced across the court like shattered glass.
“Program three derezzed,” the robotic announcer calmly declared.
Sam swallowed hard. He was freaking out now, but he refused to show it. I can play this, he told himself. Plus, I can’t derezz…I don’t think.
Taking a moment to get his bearings, it occurred to Sam that he had an advantage. He had played a game just like this before—Tron! First level. Single-elimination round.
I can beat this level. I’ve done it already.
Sam reached behind him for his disc, but it stuck in its sheath. Uh-oh. His opponent threw again. Sam ducked just in time and finally freed his own weapon.
“All right, here we go,” Sam said, as the visor instantly closed over his face. Now he was battle-ready! He fired his disc.
His opponent dodged Sam’s throw and tossed again. This time the disc hit the platform, shattering it under Sam’s feet.
Sam yelped as he fell. With one hand he managed to grab the crumbling edge. He caught his returning disc with the other.
“So that’s how it is,” Sam muttered, pulling himself back up.
His opponent made a huge leap, jumping right onto Sam’s broken platform. Standing over him, the program raised his glowing disc like an ax.
“I don’t think so!” Sam slammed down his own disc, striking the platform at his opponent’s feet. The platform shattered, and Sam’s opponent fell into the black abyss.
“Program nine in the pit,” the announcer declared.
Shaken, Sam dropped to one knee. He was safe for a moment.
Suddenly his platform moved until he was facing off against the big, bearded gamer, the one who’d derezzed that terrified program.
“Hey, wait!” Sam called. “Can I get a time-out?”
The bearded program charged, letting out a guttural scream.
Forget this! Sam thought. He took off, running across the platform. ducking the bearded program’s throw, Sam slid to the edge of the platform and slipped off!
Hanging over the edge, Sam saw another platform shifting just below him. This was his chance. He let go, falling through the air, just as he had at the Encom Tower—only this time without a parachute.
Sam landed hard, banging into the platform. The program already there looked over. It was a fatal error. distracted by Sam’s arrival, the program was instantly blown apart by a foe.
“Program seven derezzed,” the announcer said.
The bearded program leaped after Sam and gave chase. Sam scrambled to get away.
Just then, Sam realized the other platforms were moving closer and closer. Finally they banged together, fusing into one massive gaming court. The arena lights lowered.
This was the final contest. It was Sam versus the big, bearded, angry program.
HIGH ABOVE THE ARENA, the rectifier hovered like a menacing moon. On the bridge of the airship, the Leader sat slumped on his throne.
Dozens of view screens filled the bridge. Each broadcasted a different angle of the games. But the Leader showed little interest in the fate of the programs. The dramatic images fluttered past his gaze like so much pixilated confetti. He had seen it all—many, many times before.
With the Leader’s features hidden behind a mask, not even Counselor Jarvis knew whether he was watching the screens. Then Sam derezzed the bearded giant, and the Leader sat up and