I do not own Tron : Legacy.

My Father, My Program

A/N: For the most part, I will be using "Clu" to indicate Clu, since we know who he is, even if Sam does not. Comment if you like, or if you have any idea you'd like put in. Sometimes, ideas run slowly to the surface of my brain. Thanks!

Chapter 3

Clu and Sam returned to Clu's headquarters, where the newly arrived User was given a tour of the tower from which the Administrative program monitored all of Tron City. And although it wasn't the tallest building on the Grid, it was the heart. Every action, every function either originated from here, or was given approval from here. Jarvis watched what went on in the city, and reported to Clu. In fact, everything had to go through Clu.

As Sam walked alongside the man he believed to be his father, he asked, "Dad, what happened to Tron? I would have expected to meet him by now. You told me so many stories about your first meeting and how you both defeated the MCP. And later, how you both worked together to build the Grid. So where is he?" Sam had admired the Tron program as a boy. Meeting him in person would be something else.

"Tron was destroyed by Clu, Sammy." Clu adopted a suitably sad expression as he explained what had happened, as if from Flynn's point of view. "When Clu tried to take over the Grid, Tron and I were planning on my returning to the outside world. It's a long story, Sam, but I was on my way to do something in my office at the Arcade."

"The one here," Sam interjected.

"That's right. Afterwards, I was planning to catch transportation to the portal, when Clu intercepted us outside the Arcade. He had several programs who had sided with him against me, ready to attack. Tron stepped in between us. He fought for me, Sam. I never saw him again. I'm pretty sure he was destroyed." Clu remembered his attack against Tron when the security program jumped in to defend Flynn. He was about ready to de-rezz the program when he had the thought that Tron might still be useful. Although he was badly damaged, Clu had him rectified where he now served as Rinzler. For the briefest of moments, the sadness was not faked. Clu and Tron had been friends for a time, serving both the Creator and the Grid. But Clu knew Tron would never willingly side with him against Flynn. He had to either be de-rezzed or rectified. Clu chose rectification.

Sam was angered to hear that his favorite program had been destroyed by the very program created to help Flynn on the Grid. He wondered how his father had managed without his friend. It must have been difficult for him to go on, and then having to fight against a coup led by his traitorous friend, his own creation, Clu.

Sam stared off into the distance, wondering how long they'd have to stay here. It had been something he'd always wanted, ever since he'd first heard the stories about the old ENCOM system, and the new one his father had created. Looking up at the "sky", Sam felt nostalgia for the old days he would never know. "Dad, I know it must have been hard for you to cope with so much, and I wish I could have been there to help you."

Clu put an arm around the User's shoulders, leading him down to the street level. "You're here now, Sammy. That's all that matters. Come on, man. Let's get to the light cycle arena. We'll see what you're made of once we get you on the grid. You can show me your moves, alright?"

Sam got excited hearing that. "Sure, Dad! I can't wait." He was ready to try his hand at the Light Cycle game. After so much dreaming as a child, he was finally going to get his wish.

In actuality, Clu was pleased the User wanted to race in the games. He had great plans for the young man who thought him to be the Creator. Things couldn't be turning out better. "You do have a natural ability with the light cycle. I think you're ready to try your hand in a practice run with me."

"When will I be able to race in an actual competition?"

"Sammy, relax. You'll get your chance." The young User's enthusiasm made Clu very happy. He wasn't sure if the boy had any reservations about de-rezzing programs, but once young Flynn was enmeshed in the game, the outcome for those unfortunate programs whose skill level was inadequate wouldn't matter to him anymore. Soon, it would be all about the thrill of the ride. Clu would make sure of that.

The pair traveled to the Games arena, now devoid of the excited, blood-thirsty masses. Once they had stopped on the cycle grid, Sam deactivated his baton, and perused the arena. It was massive, capable of holding thousands of spectators. He tried to imagine what it would be like to be in a light cycle race. What did it involve?

Clu, guessing the thoughts in young Flynn's mind, showed him around the floor of the arena, where the race would start, the many levels the run consisted of, and the danger spots to watch for. One had to look out for cyclists coming at you from above and below the main level.

Off in the distance, another cycle was approaching. Once the rider drew closer, Sam could see it was the program who had almost kicked his ass in the Disk Wars. "Dad, who is Rinzler anyway?"

Clu considered what Sam would say if he knew the truth. But he had no intention of telling the User the truth. "He's the best fighter on the Grid, bar none. When he isn't dispatching useless programs, he serves as...my bodyguard. He protects me against any programs who might still support Clu." Turning to face his "son", he continued. "You did well against him, Sam. You almost survived in your contest with Rinzler, not an easy feat."

Sam remembered the fight in which he was cut just enough to bleed, thus revealing himself to Rinzler. If not for that, he would have, no doubt, been killed on the spot. And he would not have had the chance to find his father.

"Alright, Sammy, Rinzler and I are going to show you how it works on the grid. Watch carefully." Clu activated his baton, his cycle rezzing beneath him. His helmet obscured his features as he rode off with Rinzler at his side. Together, the two programs showed off moves that seemed to almost defy gravity. Both came close to hitting each other, but were able to stave off destruction with skill and cunning.

Sam watched, impressed at the way the riders manipulated their cycles on the glassy grid. Could he even hope to be half so good. Feeling anxiety as well as excitement, Sam was eager to begin his lessons. When he saw Clu headed his way, he knew that time was now.

"Come on, Sam, rezz your cycle and follow me." Once Sam had done as he had commanded, Clu started his cycle off toward the center of the arena. "Now cross over to the far wall, and then circle around the perimeter. Get a feel for the cycle. Speed up when you're ready. Let me see how fast you can maneuver." Sitting back on his cycle, Clu observed the boy with keen attention to even the most minor detail of his ride. He had skill, that was certain. He just might go ahead and put young Flynn in the next games.

After riding the main level, and trying out the ramps and lower levels, Sam returned to Clu using the corkscrew ramp. He wore a broad smile on his face, visible to Clu once his helmet had de-rezzed. "That was awesome, Dad! This bike rides like no bike back home."

"I knew you'd like it, and you're good too. How about we ride together, against Rinzler. This is to get the feel of riding against another rider, not to kill, mind you."

Sam laughed. "Sure, Dad. I'll try not to let it get out of control." Taking off, he sensed his dad right behind him until, sure enough, he had pulled up next to him. They rode side by side, racing towards Rinzler who was coming from the opposite side of the arena.

"Break right, Sam." Hearing his dad's voice in his helmet, Sam turned his cycle to the right, while his father went left. They were forcing Rinzler into take one direction or the other. This gave them an advantage, with one rider free to attack. "See how it's done, son? Now watch this."

Clu rode to a lower level, pacing Rinzler, until he rode up a ramp and rising into the air, landed directly in front of the his warrior program. If that one had slower reflexes, he would have been smashed into thousands of data cubes.

The lessons continued until Clu felt his protégé was ready for a real ride in front of screaming crowds. He would not reveal him to be User just yet. Let the crowd get used to seeing him in action, until they revered him as much as they did Rinzler. Then he would let them all know that a User was working with him. Most programs hated Users because of things Clu told them, but having a powerful ally on his side would bring fear to any programs that waited for assistance from their old deities. Help was here, but not for them.

Stopping in front of Sam, Clu told him they'd be returning to headquarters to rest up and have some repast. He didn't know if Sam had tasted liquid energy, and the vintage he had recently received from Castor was especially potent. He sent Rinzler away so that the pair could ride back together. "How was it, son?"

Sam enthused about the bike, the speed, the way he could maneuver his vehicle like nothing outside. "Even my Ducati can't match it, Dad."

"I knew you'd like it, Sam." Clu was anxious to see how the boy would match against real riders, but also how he would confront the killing aspect of the races. Would he balk last minute? Clu wanted this to work. He didn't want to have to have the boy destroyed. As long as he went along with the plan, everything would be just fine. Still, Clu calculated various scenarios, just in case he had to make a change in the plan.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

The arena stood in darkness punctuated by flashes of firework explosions overhead. The crowd roared eagerly, while Clu and Sam readied on the command ship. Their teammates were readying beneath the arena floor, appearing once Clu had rezzed his cycle. Scanning the stands, Sam wondered where so many programs had come from. "There must be thousands of them out there, Dad. Did you create them all?" he asked Clu.

"Some I did. Some were replicated automatically over the cycles. That's why they look different. Remember, I told you that programs looked like their Users?" Satisfied when he saw the boy nod, he said, "Well, the energy required to create additional programs blended with established programs, so that I didn't need as much energy it might have taken otherwise. Many programs you see are a result of that." Clu often wished he didn't look like his Creator. He would peer into a mirror, not from vanity, but wondering why he existed at all. Flynn had, at his birth, informed his creation of his directive. Now the Creator was gone. Clu knew there had to be more than simple directives, but he had no one to ask. Why did you lie to me, Flynn? He looked at the youthful User, hiding a slight smile. No matter. I have what you treasure most. As it was then, so it is now. And he's mine.

A/N: Clu has a son in Sam. He will realize this and more, soon. But at the same time, someone else will find out that this son, HIS son, is on the Grid. And he wants him out of the clutches of his evil doppelganger.