Alex learns more about what she's gotten herself into.

I do not own Tron or Tron: Legacy

Ultimate Ally Chapter 4

While the lightcycle track was being prepared, Alex moved away from Clu, noticing the color change. She looked at him, casually remarking, "Seems the colors of my flag have changed. This tells everyone I'm on your side, doesn't it." Alex ran her hand over the now bright orange lines covering the body suit.

Clu came over to Alex, and tracing a line of orange up her left arm, then across the shoulder, he said, "It shows your allegiance is to me. There are many programs who hate the Users. Any that know who you are won't dare touch you as long as you're in my service."

A shiver went through Alex, Clu's energy still lingering where he'd touched her. "There might be some programs who still worship the Users. Whom are you really protecting?" she asked, not expecting an answer.

While Alex waited, Clu gestured to Jarvis, who literally flew over to his master's side. He shrugged off his robe and handed it to the disappointed aide. "Come," he said to Alex, his hand outstretched. "We can see better from here."

Alex placed her hand in his, and allowed him to lead her to the viewing window. Together, they stood at the fore of the ship, looking down at the track of players poised at opposite ends, awaiting the start of the race. Since she had never seen a lightcyle race, she drank in every moment with unbridled anticipation. "Where are the cycles?" she asked Clu.

"You'll see." Clu had hand picked his team for this race. He knew victory was all but assured.

A voice came over a PA system, audible even inside the ship. "Grid is live. Initiate lightcycle battle.", after which the riders started their runs. As the riders jumped into the air, batons lit up and became cycles, wrapping around their passengers almost as if they were one with them.

Alex gasped, not sure what she'd expected to see but it wasn't this. She was amazed at the sheer speed and fluidity in which rider and machine moved as one. She felt drawn to the race, her eyes darting back and forth, afraid she would miss something.

The riders in red had split up, taking the riders in white one on one. As one red rider seemed to speed ahead to cut off the white rider, he was caught off guard when his opponent suddenly slowed, falling back. As he looked back to see where the other cycle had gone, he failed to notice the jet-walls of a pair of opponents who had merely crossed his path, not noticing his approach. He de-rezzed into thousands of pieces, passed by the lone cycle he was chasing.

"So that's how it's played," Alex whispered. She'd ridden motorcycles before, but didn't particularly care for them. Her curiosity, however, compelled her to want to try out a lightcycle. She shifted her gaze sideways, watching her host as he observed the riders skill and prowess. "Who are the programs in white?"

Clu looked at her. "The weak, the disobedient, the potential threats," he responded, using her own words. "Some of them are programs who refuse to give up their belief in the Users. They still worship them as gods." He didn't bother to hide his disdain as he spoke.

Alex gave Clu the full force of her stare. "I'm a User, and I'm no god. I write programs for my work. It's part of my job. I had no idea I was creating living beings."

"Still, many programs feel they owe your kind their devotion. They never understood, even now, a sense of betrayal for Users having abandoned us." His eyes went back to the game.

Alex knew that there was something Clu was not elaborating on. Why was he so bitter where Users were concerned? Did it have to do with Kevin Flynn? Alex went back to watching the game, feeling no more conversation forthcoming. But she wasn't done yet. Flynn was in hiding for a reason. If only she knew what Clu's issue with Flynn was, maybe she could get him to allow Flynn back ,and she could find out how to get home.

The lightcyle riders continued their runs across the course, weaving between levels, slamming each other into walls and other cycles, until only two riders were left, both on the red team. The crowd roared their approval, as the game ended.

Clu took Alex's arm, and led her away from the window. He waved away the overly-solicitous Jarvis, and left the control room. As the two walked down a corridor, Clu spoke first. "I want to show you something, Alex. To prove to you that what I'm doing is what's best for the Grid. For too long, programs have worked for the Users, doing everything that was asked of them. What did we get in return? Nothing. I believe it's our destiny to have more, to be more than even the Creator imagined." He placed his hands behind his back, calculating his next words. "The Grid is perfect. Even though the Creator did not execute the plan as he promised, I completed the vision in his place."

Alex stopped, and turned to him. "And?" She saw him return her gaze without emotion. "Anytime someone says they did something, in that tone, there's always an 'and' after it." Clu didn't reply to her question, and she wondered why. "What are you planning, Clu?" She reached out and touched his arm. "Tell me."

He hesitated a microsecond before determining the female User was no threat to his plans. "I need something from the Creator that will enable me to leave this world, and enter the User world."

Alex's mind pondered his answer. A program, even one as sophisticated as Clu, out in the real world? How would that even be possible? "And what do you plan on doing once you get out there?"

He looked at her, unblinking. "Perfect it." He started walking again, a startled Alex behind him.

"You can't do that. Clu, stop!" When he did, Alex moved to face him. "That's my world out there. A world full of humans, humans who aren't all Users. Some don't even like computers. If you want to declare war on Users, this isn't the way." She didn't know if she could alter his mind set, since she didn't know if this was in his programming, or something that evolved later. But she didn't like where his thoughts were going. When he left this world to enter hers, and saw all the imperfection there, what would he do? The answer she was thinking scared the hell out of her. "Look, there's something you should know."

"Alex, you pledged your service to me. Your User status won't protect you on the Game Grid. If you continue this communication, I'll have no choice but to discipline you."

Alex kept silent. She had wanted to let Clu know something he may not have been aware of, concerning the outside world. Since he didn't seem interested, enough that he felt the need to threaten her, she would say nothing. Instead, she made an exaggerated bow and merely said, "Forgive me, my Lord. I didn't mean to upset you." When she stood upright again, she noticed the confusion in his eyes. "As in 'lord of all you survey'. It's a joke, Clu. A poor one, I guess," she clarified, a frown on her face.

Clu did, in fact, want to know more about the User world, and he liked the reference given him by the female. "You will call me Lord from now on, Alex. It will serve to remind you of your place here. Now, follow me. As a User, in time, you may be able to contribute to the work being done." He led her until they came to a set of doors that opened into a room where several programs were working diligently on a stand made of some black substance. "The Interface. Once I get what I need from the Creator, this will make it possible for me to enter your world."

"Why are you showing me this? Me, of all people."

Clu's voice was low as he leaned towards Alex. "You're mine now, to assist me in the execution of the plan. Do I have a reason to be concerned?"

Alex smiled, answering, "Not at all, my Lord. As you have reminded me, I promised you my service. How ever I may be of assistance." She inclined her head, attempting to hold in her growing anger.

"The work will take several more cycles, then we move on to phase two of the plan. In the meantime, I must find the Creator."

Clu's attention was elsewhere as Alex examined the stand. It was almost like marble, black in color, but when she looked closer, she could see that it wasn't solidly black. When her hand touched the edge of the stand, it began to glow dully. She quickly pulled her hand back. Looking over at Clu, she saw that he hadn't noticed what had just happened. Silently astonished at what she'd done, she moved to his side, as if awaiting orders.

Clu left the room without a word, and was satisfied when he saw that the User followed obediently. He wanted to prepare his lightcycle, and thought Alex might want to see one up close, since she seemed to enjoy the recent race. One day, if she proved proficient enough, he would let her ride with him on his team, if she were skilled enough. Clu allowed only the best programs to ride with him to victory.