((I have two versions of Ark's backstory I'm trying to decide between, the other one is called Another.))


Ever since the Occupation took over, Ark had been waging her own private war against them. Working alone, there wasn't much she could do but irritate them. However, that was good enough for her.

Things changed, though, when she kept hearing talk of a Renegade in Argon. They wore Tron's circuits and had caused quite a lot of trouble for the Occupation.

Figuring that both of them could use an ally, Ark carefully crossed the Grid, heading to the small city that was making a big name for itself.

It took her some time to find the Renegade, knowing how the vigilante lifestyle worked, she waited until they showed up, being pursued by a handful of Sentries.

The Renegade had a good lead on them, so Ark quietly stepped in, activating her helmet and surprising the Occupation troops.

Using her staff, she quickly took care of them and headed off in the last direction she had seen the Renegade. Hopefully, she could close the gap.

It took her a little while to find the Renegade resting in an out of the way spot.

The Renegade, panicked that they were cornered by a strange program with a mask, fought Ark just enough to try and get her to back off.

Ark, on the other hand, handily used her staff to defeat the exhausted Renegade.

She took a step back, moving the end of her staff away from their throat, "You're not Tron." Even with the echo from her helmet, she still managed to sound disappointed.

Confused, and just a little insulted, Beck responded with the deepest, grumpiest voice he could manage, "What makes you say that?"

Ark gestured to them, "I've never been able to defeat Tron. That, and I know what he sounds like with a helmet on."

"Oh," Beck replied, using his natural voice this time.

Ark shook her head, "It doesn't matter, I've heard about what you've been doing, and I want in."

This conversation was getting stranger by the moment. Beck takes a moment to compose himself before responding, "It's not that easy."

Ark nodded, "I figured that." She took off her disc, "You can check my memories. I used to be a System Monitor, but when the Occupation took over, I started doing what I could to fight back. I was doing the same thing you are, except not as successfully. Or as flashy."

Beck eyed her and her disc, "It's not up to me." He gave it some more thought before replying, "Meet me later on the outskirts of town. I don't know how long I'll be, but I'll find you."

Ark nodded and put her disc away, "Sounds good to me. See you later." It seemed a little risky, but if she could team up with the Renegade, maybe they could really cause some trouble for the Occupation.

Beck headed off as well, making the long trip back to Tron's lair.

He reported in, telling Tron how his mission went first, then saying, "I also ran into somebody who wants to join the resistance."

Tron raised an eyebrow, "You don't have to ask me for permission, if you think they're a good fit, then you can bring them in."

Beck shook his head, "Here's the thing, she said she knew you. So, I figured I'd check to see if there were any more secrets before I committed to anything."

Tron frowned, "No. There's no more secrets. Did she say anything else?"

Beck nodded, "She said she was a System Monitor and offered her disc for me to check. She could be legit."

Tron thought this over, "The Occupation took control of all the System Monitors long ago. If what she's saying is true, then she's somehow managed to stay alive all this time. She could be useful to the resistance. We'll have to be careful, though, it could be another trap."

Beck looked to Tron, "I know. I was careful, I told her to meet me on the outskirts of town at an unspecified time. Once we spot her, we can scope it out to check for an ambush."

Tron nodded, "Good. Let's go see who our new mystery friend is."

Ark had chosen just about the quiestest place she could find. There wasn't anything going on in this part of the city, no inhabitants, no Occupation, nothing. She kept her helmet on as she looked out towards the Outlands, though she often scanned the area around her, looking for the Renegade or any trouble that might come her way.

Tron and Beck observed her for a while, checking the area for any sign of any traps or hidden enemies. Upon finding nothing suspicious, they finally approached her, standing side by side while wearing Tron's circuits and their masks.

Ark gave them a nod and closed the gap, standing in front of them.

Taking a leap of faith, she deactivated her helmet and revealed her face, "My name is Ark. I used to be a System Monitor. I've been fighting the Occupation alone and I'd rather do it in the company of Renegades." She takes off her disc, "There's plenty of proof in my memories that everything I said is true."

Tron stepped forward and silently took her disc, then turned around with Beck so they could watch and talk without her interjecting.

"Do you know her?" This was the first thing Beck whispered.

Tron nodded, then activated some of her older memories, showing the both of them on several assignments and going up against each other in the Games.

"Yes. And, all of these memories are clean, they match mine exactly."

Beck seemed relieved at that, and they checked some of her other memories. Nothing seemed altered or out of place.

Finally, they turn around, and Tron hands Ark her disc, "Follow us."

Ark puts her disc back on, and, copying them, pulls out her light cycle to follow them across the treacherous Outlands.

It's a long trek and Ark does her best to memorize it. Once they reach the secret lair, they all enter and head into a large room with an amazing view.

Ark's looking around at everything in fascination, trying not to gawk, but failing.

Finally, she composes herself and deactivates her helmet, "This place is amazing!"

"You'll be spending a lot of time here, so you'll get used to it," Tron replied, then removed his own helmet.

Ark gasped, "Tron! You really are alive!"

He nodded, then looked to Beck, who took his helmet off as well, "And, this is Beck. We've been working together for a while."

The three of them caught up, filling in what each had been doing since the Occupation took over.

After some discussion, Tron gestured to Ark, "We'll have to get you outfitted up, but, there's only two halves of my disc.

Ark spread her arms out a little to show off her shorter, bulkier, and female frame, "That's fine, I don't think anyone's going to mistake me for you, even if we wear the same circuits."

Tron shook his head, "No, but that's not the point. We need to present a united front, so that the Occupation knows that our numbers are growing and that we're not backing down."

He looked to Beck, "You made your own Tron circuits before, think you could put something together for her?"

Beck nodded, "Yeah, it'll be easy, I can copy over the circuit data from our discs. If you're okay with it."

Tron gave Beck a single nod, "Go for it."

Ark handed Beck her disc, and, after a little tinkering, he had two copies of Tron's circuits. He kept one on his disc and uploaded the other to Ark's.

"I made a copy for myself, so that way, we can share the other half of the disc."

Ark smiled, "Thanks." When the files are done transferring, she takes her disc from Beck and redocks it.

The update doesn't take long, as soon as the light her eyes signal that the process is complete, Ark takes off her disc.

She looks through the options, and, not wanting to wait to try it out, she selects Tron's circuits and puts the disc back where it belongs.

As soon as the change is done processing, her personal circuits disappear in favor of the Renegade circuits.

She proudly admires her new outfit, and when she's done, Tron makes it official, "Welcome to the resistance."