Author's Notes/Expanded Summary: Brief exploration of Flynn's belief in "removing himself from the equation" and his general strategy towards Clu.
Flynn breathed in, and out, and tried to let go. He was removed from the Grid, "from the equation" as he'd told Quorra. With all her wisdom, she did not yet understand. He feared the day she would.
In.
He and Quorra were the only two pieces left in play for him. The board separated into a sea of black, and two shining stars of white. It was Flynn's move. It had been for a long time.
Out.
He worked at this every day, the letting go. His only teacher now was time, and he was an attentive pupil.
In.
Many cycles they'd spent together, he didn't know how many. He had stopped counting.
Out.
On the outside, he knew time had passed too. Maybe eight years. Probably more.
In.
The changes were slow, but he'd seen them. There was now enough of a physical difference that he and Clu were distinguishable.
Out.
Small things. He'd grown a beard now, for one. His hair was lighter. Quorra had been confused about the hair. And the wrinkles around his eyes.
In.
Clu could only wait for Flynn to make his move. This was his move.
Out.
He spent his days in meditation, educating Quorra, trying to prepare her for whosoever might follow him. One day, inevitably, someone else would discover his creation. Alan, Lora, Roy, some young ENCOM employee.
In.
Once he had hoped it would be Sam. But time was his teacher, now. There was only one way to see Sam again, and it would be his doom.
Out.
There was only one way out for Flynn.
In.
Quorra thought she knew the rules of this game. But this wasn't just Go. They played by the rules of byo-yomi. Time was a factor.
Out.
Slowly, cycle by cycle, he was removing himself from the equation. It's amazing how productive doing nothing can be.
More Author's Notes:
1. Byo-yomi is a rule-set for timed Go. The metaphor isn't perfect, and I admittedly know pretty much nothing of Go, but I hope it's clear why I mentioned it.
2. "Tengen" is the name for the center point of the Go board, and means something like "origin of heaven." Tangentially related, really, but I thought it fit nicely.