TECHNICAL NOTE: Italic text presents the character's thoughts. One Grid cycle means 7.3 days in real time, and aprox. 52 weeks as perceived on the Grid. The Portal can stay open only for 8 hours (aprox. 16 days on the Grid).
WRITING NOTE: This was initially written as a standalone story but I decided to use it as a background for Tron 3 - Ascension. When I chose this name I had no idea that Disney planned a new film with the exact same name. However, since they halted the production I'll keep the name. I can always change it later :) For a better understanding, I recommend you start with my previous story: The birth of Rinzler
Chapter 1: The Perfect System
Somewhere near the Portal, Flynn initiates the User/Program Interface. A transparent wall rises and he touches it. On the other side, bits of code start to combine until they form a new program - an exact image of the User. As soon as the process is complete, the Interface retracts down into the Grid floor. The program is now ready to receive its Primary Directive:
"You are CLU." - "I am CLU."
"You will create the perfect system." - "I will create the perfect system."
That was the first real memory of CLU. He knew from his creator's mind that another instance of himself was built long ago. It had to infiltrate the ENCOM server in order to extract a well-hidden log file. But he couldn't imagine how all that happened, it's too complex. He does not have the ability to extrapolate new information from incomplete data. At least not yet. He just knows that it happened because when Flynn created him, a part of himself was embedded in his code.
As soon as CLU got access to the Grid system, he started to change it in accordance with his Primary Directive. He slowly moved towards perfection, as requested by his User. Yet, he still craved for guidance, often afraid that his actions may not be the ones expected. Working with Flynn was the best thing, but the User was away for long periods of time. And often CLU had to do what he thought it was best to keep the things up and running. Yet, he was afraid of failure and that was frustrating.
One day, he got the chance to remain alone with his creator. They were looking towards the luminous City which was taking shape with each cycle.
"Flynn, I wish to ask something."
"Sure buddy, what's bothering you?"
CLU took a deep breath. Better go straight to the point!
"What is… perfection?"
Flynn did not expect that. He turned towards the city and pointed at it with a large gesture.
"This. This is perfection. Everything running well, no errors, no wasted space. All programs living in harmony and doing what they are supposed to do. A world without diseases, without hunger and wars."
CLU was listening carefully, trying to comprehend the vastness of each notion.
"So… am I doing the right thing?"
Flynn turned towards him with a big smile on his face.
"Of course you do! Just look at all that! Do you doubt yourself, CLU?"
"Well, you are away for so long and… there are times when I don't know what to do. I tried to talk with Tron, but he is not much of a help."
"That's because Tron wasn't made for this. His purpose is to keep the Grid free and safe for all the programs. He cannot…," Flynn was searching for the right word, "create."
CLU remained silent for a bit. There was something he wanted to say, but for some reason, he was… afraid. Instead, he asked:
"How do you create programs?"
Flynn grinned.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, not at all! Just that," Flynn tried to look serious, "it's the first time I get asked such a question by... uh… a program." He took a few steps while thinking how to explain this. "You see, in the outside world, we have these things called computers. They connect to the mainframe - this place, the Grid. When writing a program, I have to type each instruction and it shows up on a screen. Then, once I am done, I have to compile all that and… a new script is up and running."
Again, it was something which CLU couldn't exactly understand, but he saved it for later. Maybe he will get the chance to find out more as the time goes by.
"Did you do the same with me?"
"You know, that is actually an interesting question."
CLU felt good at that remark. Flynn continued:
"You are the first and only program I created from within the Grid. I made you like myself, so we both share the same vision. I gave you all my knowledge and skills so you can fulfill your purpose."
He came in front of the System Manager.
"Never doubt yourself again, CLU. I trust you!"
They both stood silent for a few moments.
"How about a race to the City?" Flynn rezzed his Lightcycle.
A few cycles passed and CLU was hoping to see Flynn more often. But the User was busy somewhere else. One day, the Portal lit and he showed up, obviously more changed and preoccupied than he was when he left the Grid. And again, CLU decided it wasn't the right time to tell that he missed his creator. He felt it was a limit which shouldn't be crossed. At least not at this moment.
The city was bigger now, filled with all sorts of scripts. CLU needed permission to extend it towards the Sea of Simulation, and that is why Flynn was back. Near an area that was about to be used, he was looking into a luminous diagram displaying various parameters of the Grid.
"Do you see this?"
He turned and followed Flynn's look. Hundreds of programs were coming towards them across the shore. CLU packed up the diagram with an expert gesture. He had no idea how to react.
Flynn went to meet the newcomers. He perceived them as… different. They were not his creation. One of the programs came closer and looked at him with a curious look. Those were born with an independent will, they had no Primary Directive, and no objectives into their code. They were the dream of every programmer: spontaneous manifestations inside a closed system. It's like he met a group of children, all scared and curious at the same time. And he had a strange reaction.
CLU has never seen his creator so… he didn't even have a word for that state. Flynn was pacing around the new programs, looking at them and talking all funny again. Those are a security threat, who knows what they hide in their code! But both Flynn and Tron seemed comfortable around them. That confused the System Manager. He stood aside cautious while studying them closely.
"These are Isomorphic Algorithms, CLU! The Grid itself created a new form of life!" And he went on rambling.
It took a while to leave that place and return to the City. Inside one of the buildings used as main operation center, CLU, Flynn, and Tron were discussing the new situation. CLU was quite radical in his point of view:
"I've seen them! They do not have a purpose, a Directive, or anything else. They might as well be a threat to the Grid!"
"There is no sign of dangerous code," said Tron.
"But they are not your creation, Flynn!"
"Exactly. The Grid created them and so, they have the same right to be here as any other program."
Flynn was tired. He had tried to convince CLU that the ISOs were not a threat all the way through here and yet, they were going on with the same subject.
"They are… deviations."
"Programs with free will aren't deviations, CLU! They are a miracle!"
This time, Flynn nearly shouted, which made the two stare at him.
"It has been a long day, guys. How about you let the things go on, and keep an eye on those ISOs? I'll be back shortly and help you both deal with it."
Flynn left for the Portal, escorted by Tron.
CLU spent quite a while analyzing what just happened. He couldn't understand what was so special about those programs. Why does he reject the only action that is right? Flynn wants the perfect system, yet he encourages imperfection.
Flynn kept his word and came to the Grid more often. But he would spend most of his time in the company of the ISOs. He allowed them to create their own towers near the Sea of Simulation. Those were so different from the rest of the City. The ISO structures were asymmetrical, yet beautiful, made out of delicate shapes which had no other purpose than to please the eye.
CLU began to work almost as if he was in a competition against himself and Flynn. He would spend almost all the time trying to improve existing functions, or adding new ones. Since he was a part of the User, he inherited the passion for games. So, the Grid would be incomplete without an Arena. CLU dedicated himself to plan its shape and functions.
The number of programs increased. They grouped themselves based on their access levels and native characteristics. CLU knew they were not malevolent, it wasn't in their nature. But what about the ISOs? They were not made by the Users and their purpose was uncertain. So, a security force was required. CLU selected a few hundreds of programs which were to become the core of the Elite Guard. Tron began to train them. Firewall routines were installed in various key sectors of the City.
However, an unknown phenomenon would disturb the balance of the Grid every once in a while. Sometimes, an access way would collapse all of a sudden. A data stream would not work as intended, or a simulation would fail to initialize. Those were minor errors, but they had to have a cause and CLU was determined to identify it. When asked, Flynn said one word: "gridbugs". For some reason, that seemed improbable to CLU. All those issues began with the sudden appearance of the ISOs. They must be involved, somehow. The System Manager decided to gather as much information as possible.
"What do you mean CLU is acting strange?"
Flynn and Tron were taking a walk in the Outlands - a part of the Grid which was mostly unknown to the rest of the programs. The unused space resembled a rocky terrain, made out of uneven shapes.
"It looks as if he is never pleased with the things he does. He's asking too much of himself and everyone else. And sometimes, when you're not aware, he has a strange behavior around you… as if he is analyzing you."
"Maybe he's just trying to be more like me. After all, I am the one who created him."
"That look is nothing like what you said. It almost feels as if you're not up to his standards. I've seen it way too many times."
Tron stopped and looked at his friend.
"I am concerned about your safety. I will make sure you will never be out of my sight while you're on the Grid."
He was serious about that, and Flynn knew it was pointless to protest.
In his command center, CLU was running one of the most extensive analysis. This time, the object of his work was not the Grid, but Flynn. Several projections were highlighting facts and actions of the User, and CLU was cycling through them. It was the second time he was doing the exact same steps because the first result was shocking: the creator was acting against his own creation. The first victim of the Isomorphic Algorithms was Flynn himself. Once the process was complete, CLU began to pace around the room. In a corner of his mind, he already knew what to do, but those actions were too radical even for him. He activated the deep analysis subroutines.
Analysis: Isomorphic Algorithms
* undefined purpose
* undefined Primary Directive
* origin: unknown
Conclusion: Highly unstable entities
Behavioral pattern analysis for Kevin Flynn: latest actions indicate corruption induced by the Isomorphic Algorithms
List Primary Directive: I will create the perfect system.
/
/
Following actions are required:
* reconfirm the Primary Directive
* eliminate the source of the corruption
Everything changed in a matter of minutes. Flynn ran away and CLU knew he won't be able to find him. The Grid was a good hideout. Tron was defeated, laying at his feet. He had fulfilled one of the many objectives required to create the perfect system. Now, he would have to eliminate the source of the corruption.
CLU rezzed his Lightcycle and took Tron back to the command center. Using a special panel, the System Manager called in every Elite Guard on the Grid. All transport vehicles apart from the Recognizers and Tanks were placed on hold. Aboard his ship, CLU followed by the rest of his forces began the assault on the ISO structures. It was the beginning of the Purge.
Flynn tried to fight back. But his actions were so predictable. Each strategy he used only allowed CLU to learn more and become stronger.
The User was corrupted and had to be found. CLU blocked every path to the Portal to prevent corruption from spreading.
With the User out of his way, CLU focused on the means to bring the Grid to its maximum potential. Like Flynn, he would need a security program to enforce his initiatives and keep everything under a tight control. But Tron would never join him willingly, he knew this much. After a few millicycles of work, he found the solution. If this works, it will speed up the process and avoid the casualties, CLU thought. After all, he hated to derezz programs as much as his creator.
The System Manager had a part of Flynn's personality and knowledge embedded in his code. Using these, he devised a way to maximize the efficiency of the basic programs. He called it "repurposing". Through this process, each repurposed script would have specific personal traits removed thus it will comply with every command received from CLU. That way, the fights will be over and casualties reduced to a minimum.
But it's not enough to have the knowledge. You also need experience, and CLU had none of the later. Therefore, he will use Tron for tests.
It is complete. CLU just finished rewriting the last part of Tron's code. He thought of himself as being almost a User. Yes, they can create programs, but I have the means to give them another purpose! Who else on the Grid can do that? Not even Flynn! He synchronized the identity disc for the last time and…
What have I done? The synchronization found him linked with Tron and he experienced the same thing as the security program. CLU realized the amount of damage he has done and how painful that was.
"I am sorry… Now I know what you've been through. It was necessary. I need you to create the perfect system. It's what Flynn wants and that is my only purpose… "
The subject of his experiments had no reaction and that made CLU feel strange. He wanted Tron to shout and blame on him, overcome his programming and fight him. CLU wouldn't even fight back… But Alan's best program was successfully repurposed and now he seemed to be inactive. Tron? No, I've taken everything from him. A new name… Rinzler. Yes, I'll call him Rinzler. It will be a reminder of what I have done.
"Release him."
"But he is… "
"Rinzler won't harm me, release him!"
Jarvis and the guard were gone. CLU stood on the floor, looking down at the red-lined program laying there. Why, Flynn? Why it had to be me doing something like this? Why did you break your promise and turned against the purpose YOU gave me?
The memories of the last events were hard to cope with. CLU was furious on the one who created him. He was the cause of everything. I'll find you one day! And when I do…
He leaned on the wall, determined to wait until Rinzler will become active. That's the least he could do. For some reason, the thought was almost painful. "If I only knew…, " CLU whispered and a tear rolled down his face. The yellow-lined program was dealing with emotions in the most humane way possible.
Things began to settle down on the Grid. But CLU's work was far from being finished. Rogue ISOs were causing a lot of trouble and both him and Rinzler were having a hard time dealing with them.
The Games Arena was up and running. The ISOs were good opponents and the basic programs would line up to see the duels.
Since the repurposing was a success, CLU continued to apply it on other programs. He already knew the effects of every instruction so, the entire process was painless now. The subjects were not even aware of the change. While cycling through their code, the System Manager learned many things about the Outside World. It seemed to be a violent one, and its inhabitants were pretty much like the ISOs. The Users were fighting over meaningless things and waste their resources. CLU remembered a phrase Flynn used when referring to the Grid: "In there is our future! In there is our destiny!" A sudden realization almost shocked him. Am I the tool to create the perfect world for the Users? Am I THAT future?
He was still looking for Flynn. But it appeared as the User vanished into the Grid itself. No one had a sign from him since many cycles. The Elite Guards were doing regular sweeps of the Portal area, hoping that he will show up.
Rinzler proved to be a worthy opponent, both in the Arena and outside of it. He was the last warrior standing, and no program - be it basic or ISO - would survive his skills. No one apart from him was able to fight using two identity discs.
About one thousand cycles passed since CLU took over. In the outside world, that time was equivalent to more than 21 years. Flynn was still untraceable. The ISOs were gone long ago and finally, the Grid seemed to be perfect. Most of the programs were repurposed. A few, which managed to avoid CLU, Rinzler, or the Elite Guards, were hiding throughout the City. When found, they were either rectified or sent to the Games Arena.
One of the latest "optimized" programs used to monitor an old, outdated I/O Port. CLU found in his code the means to contact the Outside World. His final initiative was up and running, now all he needed was Flynn. And for that, the Portal must be active. The presence of another User will bring his creator out. CLU went to send a message to the only person who wouldn't lose hope: Alan Bradley.
The Portal was active - a User came into the digital world. But it wasn't Alan…
"Dad?"
That word made CLU feel strange. After so many cycles, he realized how lonely he is. He devoted all that time to bring the Grid to its maximum potential and no one stood by his side. Only Rinzler, but it was his duty. Once his tasks were completed, he would get back to his quarters. He was missing something yet he wasn't sure how to explain it.
Sam, the son of Flynn was here. The success of his plan was now guaranteed. To bring his creator out, he would have to put Sam in danger. He would have to survive the Lightcycle Arena and his own deadly skills.
A User and CLU competing against each other - no wonder the Arena was full!
It worked! I knew it would. Flynn is predictable as always! Someone broke in and helped Sam to escape. Rinzler failed to catch them, but CLU wasn't worried. They will have plenty of chances to get the Master Key and use it to reach the Outside World.
Rinzler was gone, he crashed into the Sea of Simulation. Another betrayal. CLU left with his spare Lightjet, feeling no remorse for the death of the program that stood by his side for more than one thousand cycles. If it wasn't for this moment of weakness, the Master Key would have been in his hands now!
CLU reached the Portal before Flynn. Yes, predictable again.
"I had a feeling you would be here!"
The User was old now and CLU knew he was no match for him. He felt happy seeing Flynn like this. It was a small punishment for all he had to do because of him.
"I did everything. Everything you ever asked!"
"I know you did… " Flynn was coming towards him.
"I executed the plan!"
"As you saw it."
Did he actually say that? Where was he when I needed his advice? With his precious ISOs! He asked for perfection. The ISOs were anything but perfect! His traits depicted nothing but rage.
"You! You promised that we would change the world, together. You broke your promise!"
CLU waited for so long to say that. Yes, he was furious, but even after all this time, seeing Flynn made him feel like a child in the presence of his father.
"I know. I understand that now."
That wasn't enough. After so long, he had to say everything, show his creator all the things he did.
"I took this system to its maximum potential. I created the perfect system!"
What is he saying? Impossible? After everything I did, he tells me that all was in vain?
"I'm sorry, CLU… I'm sorry!"
The words and the look on Flynn's face made CLU feel empty. Everything was taken away from him. He thought he fulfilled his purpose, but now Flynn talks about failure. I must follow the Primary Directive. Flynn was corrupted by the Isomorphic Algorithms! He is the one who betrayed me, not the other way around! His hate towards the User surfaces once again and CLU gives into the feeling. He goes after Sam and Quorra.
"CLU! Remember what you came for!"
He looks at the two, but the thought he can get the Master Key prevails. CLU holsters his disc and deactivates the bridge to the Portal. This leaves he and Flynn on one side while Sam and the ISO are on the other. There is no need to rush now. He looks at the old User who doesn't even fight back.
"You knew I would defeat you. Instead, you did all these… for him."
The disc he took from Flynn is not the Master Key. He somehow replaced it. I am part of him, yet he betrayed me for Sam?!
"Why?"
"He is my son!"
CLU activates the disc. What about me? Weren't I your son also? You created me! That thought makes it impossible to derezz Flynn. He throws the disc aside and jumps over the bridge gap, towards the exit.
CLU has nothing left. His perfect system is not what Flynn wants. His Primary Directive was taken away, reduced to nothing. There is no use to reach the Outside World now. Yet he tries because he knows what's the next move of the User: reintegration. It is a process that would destroy both. CLU pushes himself towards the Portal.
Once again, Flynn acted as expected. The System Manager takes one last look at whatever he can see from the Grid. He welcomes the strange sensation that accompanies the reintegration. Memories of his first days with Flynn and Tron flash before his eyes. Never doubt yourself again, CLU. I trust you!
For the first time since his creation, he feels accomplished.