Flynn never did quite explain why he called them 'programs' from then on out. It just, came and went. When they tried to ask him he shook his head and laughed, then quickly made an easy way of distracting them by looking at them with those eyes of his or asking them something nonsensical about the thing he was working on.
Flynn quick took his rightful place on his throne, ran his corporation with integrity and respect, treated everyone as equals.
He was perfect.
He was amazing.
He was the worker's dreams come true.
He was crumbling.
He was lost.
He was his employees worst nightmares.
Something had had happened that night they hacked the mainframe. Something that Flynn refused to tell them about; it made Lora punch the walls and Alan grind his teeth. Flynn was suffering. He had done something that night he wasn't telling them and it was killing him slowly—but surely.
They didn't expect for him to suddenly disappear one night. (well, that's a lie, Alan had been half expecting it for the past three years)(and Lora had been expecting it for the past two; not that that was important, no one needed to know)
But then they realized who actually hadn't been expecting it.
Who would've never suspected anything.
Who woke up that morning bright eyed and bushy tailed only to suddenly have this life ripped out from under him.
Sam.
And that is the place they find themselves in. A small seven year old boy, terrified and sobbing, wondering where his dad his gone. Why his dad has left him. So they comfort him. Tell him lies that he later begins to recognise and scream back at them. Hold him till he shuts them out. Kiss him till he dodges touch.
Then, one night; Sam is gone, too.