"You're funny. You're here almost every night. I feel required to ask if you have any kind of life waiting for you out there." Castor mused, leaning on his cane and watching the brunette who was seated at the bar, the same place she sat every night. She stirred her drink with a devilish grin, shaking her head slightly and looking up to the program she might have called a friend. Might have.

"I have a life." Noma mused, shrugging, picking up the glass with the nearly neon blue liquid in it, taking a sip, her eyes never leaving Castor. She wasn't sure if this made him uncomfortable or not, but he shifted slightly, twirling his cane in his nonchalant and flamboyant fashion, looking away from her and into the crowd.

"Go make an appearance." She said simply, her voice almost cold, but amused at the same time. "You know I'll be here when they all trickle out."

He did, indeed, know this.

This world was indeed something Noma wasn't used to. After Castor answered her question, she moved to sit back down once a silence fell between them. Why were things different here? She'd lowered herself to sit next to him on the edge of the fountain, the rain only now starting to bother her. She'd never once felt a chill in the Grid, but it was as if coming into this world changed something within a program. Like they were a different kind of real now.

Castor had since given up on trying to get his hair to look decent, and let it fall as it would. Noma was leaning against him slightly, he felt her pressure on his arm, and he felt inclined to look beside him at the female program. She seemed to be undergoing some sort of change in personality. He distinctly remembered her being quite hostile back in the Grid, but maybe then thi…wait, what was he thinking? Of course things were different back then. Feeling her shiver, he looked over again.

"I told you we should get out of this inclement weather." He said simply, gently moving away from her and removing the coat he wore, putting it around Noma's shoulders. Sure, it was wet too, but it was an extra layer. He assumed it would help, and judging by the look she gave him, it did in some way.

"Well, where are we going to go?" She nearly snapped, sitting up and pulling his coat around her, trying to keep up the front she was so used to having. Standing, she rolled her eyes, running a hand through her soaking wet hair, even messier now than before. "I didn't even have a complete plan walking into this world; I didn't know what I was doing. I saw the portal open and I went for it, and here I am! In some…some…excuse for a park! In the middle of a storm!"

Her rant was bothering him. Her voice raised in pitch and her gestures were exaggerated, almost. Was she really that upset? He kept his seat on the edge of the fountain, watching Noma quietly as she continued.

"I don't even know where I am!" She exclaimed, looking around. "I thought it would be the best idea, to come to the User world and do what we'd planned to do, what Clu hyped us all up to think we could, but this place is ridiculously bigger than I'd ever imagined it to be. It seems neverending."

"Clu had no idea what he was talking about," Castor mused, waving a hand nonchalantly, not paying attention to Noma's pacing, and the way she was still shivering. "This world does seem neverending, but wasn't the Grid? We just knew our way around and went through the motions, my dear."

"You don't get it!" Noma nearly screeched. Castor froze, looking up at her in awe.

"Noma…"

"Noma…" Castor groaned, his eyes closed as the female program trailed her fingertips lower and lower, from his chest, to his stomach, to his abdomen, every touch ignited a spark and an electric shock. It was strong enough to make him forget about his deep-set problems, at least for a little while. The soft way she took in a breath whenever he did something she liked, the way Noma preferred there to be no space between the two of them whatsoever when they were together in his lounge.

Noma's eyes were fixed on Castor's face, enjoying the way she was in control of this situation. When the club closed for the evening (or if they couldn't wait) and they retired to his lounge, it was like she could make him do whatever she wanted. Control, control, control, it was one of the things she favored the most. Her fingertips had stopped at his abdomen, and his breathing had increased significantly, as had hers a long time ago. She moved her hand away from him, causing a disappointed growl, before she straddled him against the couch, her lips going back to his neck and once again leaving marks he'd have to explain away later.

When she moved her hips against his to cause an unbearable friction, she didn't realize how much it would affect her as well. Both of them let out pleasured noises, and paused for a moment in their actions, one of his hands entangled in her messy hair, her lips resting on his neck. No…there wouldn't be any more waiting that night.

"You just don't get it…" She trailed off; starting toward where she thought was the trail that would lead to the exit of the park. At a loud crack of thunder, Castor jumped, but realized Noma had frozen where she was walking, and he took the opportunity to walk over to her and place a hand on her arm, turning her to face him.

He shook his head when she looked up at him, an amused expression on his face as he reached down and grabbed the coat he'd put on her with both hands, pulling it around her a bit more, and thus pulling her closer to him. "I get it completely." He said simply, looking down at her with a small smile. Noma, however, didn't find this to be an amusing situation, and she tried to pull from him. "Ah, ah." Castor chastised, shaking his head. "Stop it, listen to me. There's things we need to discuss, but first we need to get out of this rain, and you need to get a grip on your mental processes, am I correct?"

Why was he so calm? How could he be so calm? This world wasn't letting Noma have one moment of peace, the rain and the thunder all too much for her to take him, but she closed her eyes, stopped trying to get away from Castor, and crossed her arms underneath the coat. She wasn't in control of this situation, and it was driving her mad. She couldn't take it much longer; maybe that's why Castor had said she needed to get a hold on her mental processes. It made sense, but how was she going to do that? Clearly, the only place he had to go was Flynn's son's place, with Quorra, that damned ISO. How were they planning on getting out of the rain, going somewhere safe?

"I don't know if Quorra and Sam locked the arcade back. I don't remember them taking the keys from me…" Castor reached into the pocket of the coat he'd placed on Noma, and smiled, retrieving keys and taking a step back from the brunette. "A night in a dry environment and I'm sure we'll both be thinking far more clearly. Now come, my dear." He extended his arm to her, and Noma stared at him for a few moments. From utterly calm back to his normal, flamboyant, slightly gentlemanly self. She almost regretted never telling him the truth about herself until it was too late. Hesitantly, she took his arm, and Castor started back, with Noma in tow, to Flynn's Arcade.

The morning came with the promise of a better day than the night had been. Sam was the first awake, noticing his alarm was working again and the sun was filtering through the shades in his room. Quorra was still curled up to him, and he smiled slightly, not wanting to move just yet. If he did, she would wake up; she was such a light sleeper. He assumed it was from years of having to be just such, able to jump up at any moment if danger reared its head, and for a moment, he wondered what life had really been like for Quorra and his father. How long had they hidden in the outlands of the Grid? It was a sad thought; he didn't like to think they'd been trapped there. Maybe she had other stories she'd be willing to share with him eventually about that.

After a few moments, he felt Quorra stir. Just him waking up and moving slightly had woken her? He almost felt bad when the ISO in his arms opened her eyes and looked up to him, however, he didn't feel so bad when she smiled at him.

"Good morning." She said quietly, and Sam replied with the same, gently pushing a strand of her hair out of her face.

"I hope I wasn't the reason you woke up." He said with a chuckle, and Quorra shook her head lightly, moving slightly to sit up, stretching her arms into the air.

"Yes and no. I don't think I can sleep too long past you getting up." She said. "I have a habit of…needing to be awake at the same time as others." She smiled to him as he sat up, kissing her temple before standing and glancing out the window.

"It doesn't look like it's raining anymore. Do you want to grab some breakfast then help me look for the arcade keys?" He asked, glancing back to her. Quorra was standing as well, but bending over to look through a pile of clothes that were her's. Of course, Sam's eyes were drawn to the obvious, but he heard her reply easily enough.

"Sure."

However hesitant it may have sounded.

Castor was glad the couch was strange enough that they could both have a different portion of it. It was almost like the ones he had back at the club, that went all the way around the walls, but different at the same time, far more comfortable. He hadn't slept during the night, but Noma did. He watched her and thought about their situation as realistically as he could. Noma didn't know what she was doing in this world, and no matter how cool and collected she'd seemed in the Grid, he'd watched her lose it that night, and almost not accept his help. In truth, he couldn't let her go off into the city by herself. It would bother him for many cycles. She was as lost as he was when he first got there, and it seemed they were both lucky enough to at least find someone they knew.

When the sun started filtering through the blinds of Flynn's old office, he waited on Noma's reaction. It would have to be similar to the one he had when he first saw sun. Strangely, though, it didn't wake her right away. Finally opting to look away from the slumbering brunette, Castor leaned back on the arm of the couch, closing his eyes for a moment. He almost felt relaxed enough to get a few more hours of sleep—

Nope. She'd seen the sun. Noma was on the floor of the office and backing away from the window, pointing to it with narrowed eyes and a shaky hand.

"What? Why—who…wh—"

"Shh.." He couldn't help but laugh a bit, and again, Noma didn't find this funny. She couldn't understand for the life of her why she was so amusing to him.

"The sun. It's normal here; it's a light source for this world. It won't hurt you." He said, and Noma seemed to calm down a bit. She'd heard of the sun before. Never seen it, but heard stories. She took a deep breath, now against the wall on the floor again. She had a nice habit of that.

"It's bright."

State the obvious, darling.

"Yes." Castor raised a brow. "I'm assuming you got some rest." He said, nodding to the couch. Noma nodded as well, standing and moving to sit back down on it, picking at her still wet clothes.

"I would really like to get rid of these." She said, and Castor nodded as well, picking at his clothes.

"No doubt. It would be a good idea. I'm…afraid we'll need to—"

"Probably find people who know what they're doing, first." Came a voice from the doorway. Castor and Noma looked up to see Sam Flynn standing there, Quorra not far behind him. She seemed relieved to see both of them sitting there, and moved past Sam to walk over to Castor, who held his hands up, as if in his defense.

"Before anyone says anything…this is Noma." He gestured to the brunette, who looked almost like a drowned rat the way her hair was now. "We knew each other after the Purge; she's a friend of mine." Quorra looked over to Noma questioningly, but then over to Sam, who shrugged.

"So why is she here?" He asked, not impressed by any of this banter. "And where are my keys?" Castor tossed Sam the keys to the arcade, and he caught them with ease, but was caught off guard by Noma's voice.

"I have a reason." She said simply, looking over to Sam. Sam locked eyes with her, his narrowing for a moment. He didn't trust her. There was something about her that was off…something he didn't like.

"No illegal activity in the club, sir." Noma reported back to Clu every day, let him know that nothing strange was going on in Castor's club, especially since he had been one to help the ISOs. Clu was always pleased to hear this, but when her endeavors there became nightly, he began to question her motives.

"Wonderful, Noma…why don't you stay here this evening, instead of going back out to the club? I don't want you to feel like you have to." He said kindly, faking a smile. Noma knew it was a fake. She didn't trust him, but she did make a living off what she did for this program. It kept her safe, and left her less to worry about.

"…I think it would be smarter of me to return." She said simply, taking a step back and bumping into the sentries. Of course, they would be right behind her. Clu simply shrugged, if she wanted to go back she could, but he would have other eyes there.

"Of course, Noma. You are my most lovely spy, you are aware? Please, keep me updated."

She couldn't get out of there fast enough, honestly. However, every time she was there for an extended period, she felt different than before. It was like Clu's influence changed programs. She always felt a bit more wicked than before, maybe a little more twisted…but was that so strange in this world now? It may have appeared to be the perfect system, but there were never so many flaws in the programs themselves.

Programs are disappearing.

"Clu?" She called, turning to look to the door of his 'office'. He glanced out at her as well, a small smile on his face.

"Yes, Noma?"

"I forgot to mention something…" She smiled devilishly, walking back into the room.

"Well?" Sam inquired, and Quorra listened as well. Castor waited as patiently as Quorra, who was now seated next to him, for Noma to say what she came for.

"…Clu…isn't gone. He knows about the portal."