Chapter 2

Tron caught his disc as he watched another purple monster dissolve in front of him. He looked around and saw no more signs of the infection. Spotting a group of his Security forces approaching he asked, "What is our status?"

The blue program in front checked a hand-held display before he replied, "The virus threat has been contained, sir, but the I/O tower is still not responding."

Tron looked around at the crowd of programs pushing against each other to enter the I/O tower. He held out his disc toward several members of the throng and then let out a small digital curse.

"Unauthorized Programs! You know what to do, men. By the Policy!"

Tron led his forces toward the crowd as they began scanning each program with their disc. Soon they had separated a small distance from each other as they moved further into the mass of programs. Tron approached a yellow program and held out his disc. The program noticed Tron and said, "Good Day. My User is a Prince who needs help getting his money out of his country."

A small indicator on Tron's disc flashed red.

The program continued, "Can you help my User by sending him...ZZZAAAAAA!"

Tron caught his disc as he looked at the dissolving yellow blocks on the ground.

Next, he approached an orange female program a few steps away.

"Would your User like to give these cute kittens a happy home? Please call...ZZZOOOoo!"

Tron observed a multicolored group of programs pushing ahead of other programs in line.

"My User wants to know if your User is single and looking for...ZZZZZAA!"

"My User wagers that the sports contest will be won by...ZZZAAAaaaaa!"

"My User thinks your User might need the following Medical ProductZZZzzz!"

Tron looked around as his glowing blue forces were similarly de-rezzing the unauthorized programs. He smiled as he watched one of his comrade's disc fatally shatter a greeting card program, then turned his attention to a group of pathetic-looking programs near the entrance to the I/O tower.

"My User requires images of female User anatomy," one of them said.

"Mine, too." echoed another program.

"Mine, too!" shouted the rest of the group in unison.

Tron took careful aim and smiled. "By the Policy!"

It took several mini-cycles but eventually the horde of unauthorized programs was gone.

Tron's team scanned the last remaining programs and ushered them toward the I/O tower.

"Have a nice cycle, Program," Tron said to a green spreadsheet as he approached the portal.

"Thank the Users we have you to protect us, Tron," exclaimed DailyExpenses.

Tron glowed an even brighter shade of blue as he smiled and held his disc over his head. "By the Policy of the Admins!"

[In the Real World - Encom Accounting Department - Cubicle 327]

John Banks held his finger above the power button to his computer, trying to decide whether to turn it off or not. "Why didn't I click save before e-mailing that spreadsheet? If I reboot now I'll lose days of work!"

At that moment his PC beeped and the words "Message Sent" appeared on his screen.

John relaxed, and all around him he heard other co-workers happily expressing relief that their data had finally gone through. But not everyone in the Accounting department was happy.