Disclaimer: I do not own Tron *sigh* though I did get a Rinzler figure for my birthday. Also, please read the Author's Note chapter

Tron stood beside Flynn and Clu as they debated the ISOs yet again. Flynn called the ISOs a miracle, Clu called them a deviation. Tron did his best to stay out of the debate. His problem was that Basics feared the ISOs and he had to clean up any fights between Basics and ISOs. Even with the System Monitors Flynn had made, it was getting harder to keep up with the fighting, glitches and grid-bugs.

"Soon it'll work out," Flynn said, "I made a new program that will help iron this all out."

"What can I do to help, Flynn?" Tron asked, hoping it would take him away from the debate.

"You know that receiving platform in the Outlands," Flynn said, "I programmed it to come in there. I started the upload just before I came in, so it should come in soon."

"I'll be back soon," Tron said.

Tron left with a nod. He was glad to be out of the debate, at least for a while. He engaged his lightcycle as soon as he left the building. He glanced at the clouds in the eternally dark sky. Thunder rumbled in the air and Tron realized it would rain soon. He liked the rain, the raw energy as it steamed down his face. It had never rained in the ENCOM system, yet another thing that made this system so different from the old one.

Tron sped up his lightcycle at this thought. Lighting however, was something he didn't like about the storms. It could interrupt a download and the last thing Tron wanted to do was tell Flynn his program had be corrupted in the oncoming storm. He arrived at the platform just in time to see the light materialize into a new program. This program was female, slender and half a head shorter than Tron. The glowing lines on her armor were a dark blue, almost invisible in the light around her. Her helmet was masking her face. She tilted her head and turned her hands in the air, watching them.

"Greetings, program," Tron said has he approached her, "welcome to the Grid."

The program looked up at Tron. She lowered her hands, standing a little straighter. She examined him up and down before responding.

"Tron-JA-307020," she stated.

Underneath his helmet, Tron raised an eyebrow. She knew his full designation, something only a few of the older programs of the Grid could say. Also, if she was a utility program, why did Flynn upload her out here? She was too small to be a security program, but her lines were too dark for anything else.

"What is your designation?" Tron asked.

"Re-integrated Security Independent Evolution," she said.

Tron shook his head. Her designation was a mouthful, even for him. He would have to see if Flynn had given her another, shorter, name. He walked up to her and handed her his spare baton. If she was really a security-type program, she could use it.

"Can you ride?" he asked.

It took a moment for her to nod. Tron engaged his lightcycle and she followed on her own. The closer they got to the city, the brighter the lights on her armor became until they were a pale blue by the time they came to the central tower. She stayed one step behind him as he led her to Flynn.

"There it is!" Flynn said when he saw them.

Tron looked at the program behind him. She had her hands carefully folded and her head slightly bowed. Clu looked at her carefully. Flynn sat on a couch, motioning for the others to do the same. Clu sat in a chair across from Flynn while Tron turned his own chair backwards to sit beside the couch. The new program still stood behind Tron. Flynn's smile filled his face as he spoke.

"I saw all the glitches with the ISOs and how hard it is to help them out when there are so many of them," Flynn said, "I know Tron, you've been trying your hardest and with the system monitors the Grid is as safe as it's ever been. But I wanted a program to help you out that could traverse the Outlands without a significant power drain. But the program didn't need to be a fighter. It needed to be agile and able to communicate with the ISOs on their level. But it also needed to be tough enough to survive the Outlands and anything that came up while it was on its own. So I made Risie. She can adapt to any situation she encounters and has enough space that she can learn almost as fast as you can, Tron. I gave her a copy of your Light Disc combat sub-routines and a fair amount of Lightcycle sub-routines. She can help keep the peace between ISOs and Basics."

Tron looked over his shoulder. The program, Risie, had disengaged her helmet. Her dark blue eyes were focused on him. Her hair, dark brown, was tied up around the back of her head. He didn't have to study her face long to recognize it.

"Yori?" he asked.

Risie lowered her eyes and shook her head.

"Hey buddy, why would you…" Flynn started to say, "…oh…"

Flynn looked at Risie. Though her hair color was all wrong, he looked like Tron's companion in the old system. Yori had declined Flynn's invitation cycles ago to join his new system.

"I didn't do it on purpose, man," Flynn said, "you gonna be alright with this?"

As if sensing that her feature had shocked Tron and Flynn, Risie engaged her helmet again.

"I can remain this way in the city if you wish," she said softly.

Tron immediately stood and took her by the wrist.

"No!" he said, then cleared his throat, "no, it's just a little strange at first."

Risie opened her helmet and gave him a nervous smile.

"She's very," Clu said, "different, Flynn."

"I tried to make her thought pattern similar to the ISOs," Flynn said, "who knows if it'll work. Relax, Risie, what's wrong?"

"The Grid is so big," she said, "am I supposed to protect all of it?"

"Only what Tron tells you," Flynn said, "just follow your directives. You'll do just fine."

"I know how to get the nerves out," Tron said, "can you get to the Game Grid?"

Risie nodded, holding up the baton he had given her.

"I'll meet you there," he said, "go ahead and register."

Risie nodded and left. Tron returned to his seat.

"What are you up to?" Clu asked.

Tron leaned his chest against the back of his chair and gave Clu a crooked smile.

"You're letting her register for the Disc Wars," Flynn said.

"Aren't you competing this game?" Clu asked.

"That's what will make it a challenge," Tron said, "what better way to test her adaptability?"

"This I gotta see," Flynn said with a grin.

Clu stood and shook his head.

"You two go play," he said, "I have work to do."

And with that, Clu left. Flynn pulled himself to the end of the couch closest to Tron.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Flynn asked in a serious tone.

"Always," Tron said, "something on your mind, old friend?"

"I want to tell you a little about Risie," Flynn said, "Clu is having a hard time accepting the ISOs, and I don't think he's ready for her. You can have her play in Disc Wars and help with glitches and grid-bugs. Just remember, she's not programmed to fight. Most of her sub-routines I set as a defensive measure. She's tough on the outside, but she's a new type of program and that makes her fragile. Also, I programmed her to follow your commands as she would a User."

"Why?" Tron asked.

"She's programmed to operate alone, but that won't help if something goes wrong and I'm not here," Flynn said, "she'll need guidance her first few cycles and a good friend."

"Why not Clu?" Tron asked, frustrated.

"Because, like I said, man, Clu isn't ready for this," Flynn said, "he's programmed to create the perfect system, but I don't want Risie to be perfect, not yet. I don't want Clu to change her code. Just show her the ropes. Give her someone to look up to, a partner if you will."

"I'm not sure I can," Tron said.

"Just teach her what Alan taught you," Flynn said, "I know you can."

"Alright, Flynn," Tron said, "I'll do it."

"That's my man!" Flynn said with another grin, "now, let's see how she does at Disc Wars."

To be continued…