Clu teaches Alex her first lesson in killing, Grid style. Will her conscience abandon her? Or will another dream bring her back to what's important: A way home.

I do not own Tron or Tron: Legacy

Ultimate Ally Chapter 9

Alex was bored. She had been left alone in Clu's suite. If only there were a television set, at least she could turn it on for the sound. She paced awhile, then decided to lie down in the bedroom.

Alex wandered the room, her eyes taking in everything. The furniture, an odd mix of Louis the 14th design and modern materials. There was a fireplace, with a fire that had flames unlike any she'd seen before. Her hand moved over the mantle, as if she were inspecting for dust. When she turned around, Flynn was standing there. He hadn't changed a bit. Still cute, still cocky, and with a smile that would melt the heart of any woman. "Flynn, what are you doing here? Where am I?"

"Alex! Long time, no see. Fact is, you're on the Grid, kiddo."

"I figured that out on my own, Flynn. Can I get home?"

"You have to find me first, Kincaid."

"But, you're right here. I don't understand."

"Find me, Kincaid. Or you'll never get home..."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Alex woke with a start. She sat up, feeling disoriented. It felt so real, as if Flynn were in the same room with her. Yet, she was back in Clu's room, and Flynn was gone. You have got to quit falling asleep, Kincaid, she thought, brushing a hand through her hair.

The outer door slid open. Clu came into the bedroom and saw Alex sitting up on the bed. "Another dream?"

Alex didn't want Clu to know about her dreaming of Flynn. "Just restless, I guess."

He reached down and grabbed her by the hand. "Let's go. I think you'll find practice more...interesting...this time."

Once they were back at the Games arena, Clu told Alex, "We'll take a run against other riders. I hope you're ready."

Alex followed where Clu was looking, and saw two men in black suits with white-lit lines, waiting nervously with batons in their hands. So she and Clu were going to practice against programs, their objective being to survive and de-rezz their opponents. For a moment, Alex wondered if she could kill anyone, even programs. But she decided that they would want to survive too, and killing her and Clu would be the only way to do that. Knowing Clu's skill, Alex figured this was a test of her skills. Clu would expect her to ride hard, and de-rezz the other team. If she refused to play the game, Clu might have her killed. Was this a test of her skills and a test of her loyalty? She would have to play, and by Clu's rules, or risk angering him. Don't think. Just do what you have to do to survive. Those words echoed occasionally in her mind ever since her military days. Her commanding officer had never steered her wrong then, and Alex felt if he were here, he would still be saying the same thing."Alright. Let's go!"

The two programs activated their cycles, speeding off, circling to the left of the track in tandem. Clu gave Alex a nod, and they both took their running leaps, light cycles encompassing them, coming down hard on the glassy track. Alex heard a voice coming through her helmet. That had never happened before. So teammates could communicate strategy, a benefit on this fast moving track.

"Alex, do as I say. If I give you an order, follow it." Clu headed off to the left, following the other programs. "Head around right. Be sure to watch the light ribbons. Activate yours now."

Alex saw Clu's light ribbon illuminate, so she hit her button. She circled the track, heading off for the right, keeping her eyes open for either white-lit program. She noticed their light ribbons in the distance, so headed that way. Alex took to the lower level, riding until she saw the opponent riders from below. She noticed them splitting up, so headed for a ramp. She took it, increasing her speed.

Clu watched an approaching opponent program, and accelerated his cycle towards Alex. "Cross my path. Force the program into your light ribbon." He headed straight for Alex, missing her by what seemed like inches, jumping his cycle over her ribbon. Confused by the crossing ribbons, one unfortunate program, with no room to maneuver underneath, hit Alex's wall and de-rezzed in a splash of data cubes.

"Good work!" Clu's voice echoed in her ear. "Now watch this."

Alex increased her speed to circle around so that she had a better vantage point of what was going to happen. The remaining program had decided that Alex was an easier target than the Control Program, so he headed her way, revving his cycle towards her. What he didn't notice was Clu riding to intercept the unsuspecting rider. The program saw a light cycle fly overhead, coming to a hard landing between him and his objective.

Clu circled around the program, enclosing him in a ring of light. The poor rider had no chance to jump the wall, and attempted to leap off his cycle instead, but both cycle and rider hit the wall, de-rezzing instantly.

"Whooo, did you see that?" Alex cried out. "That was fantastic riding!"

Clu heard the enthusiasm in her voice. "You did very well, Alex," he said. Together, they made a good team. The next step would be to place her in a real match. First, he wanted to find the best 3 riders, and instruct them on a few points he had to make clear to them where Alex was concerned. Clu needed her in the Games, but on the other hand, he didn't want her harmed.

Alex deactivated her light cycle baton, and headed for Clu who had just done the same. She hugged him in a spontaneous show of excitement, all worries about what they had just done vanished from her mind.

Clu had never been hugged in this fashion, and this User still was an unknown function to him. When he looked at her, her cheeks were pink and her eyes sparkled. She smiled at him, a genuine expression he was not familiar with. Inside, he remembered...something. His arm found its way around her. "Let's get back. I think this calls for a drink. Something refined to its purest form."

Once back at his headquarters, Clu found a bottle of the best energy, sent as a gift from the End of Line club. Its proprietor was always trying to curry favors from Clu. He poured both himself and Alex a glass, handing her the glowing blue liquid. Sipping it, he felt it go to work, immediately feeling revived. He went over to a table, the dark glass showing Alex's reflection as she moved to his side.

"Whatever this is, it sure hits the spot. I feel so much better." She sipped her drink, watching as Clu touched the tabletop, which rezzed into a large map.

"This is the city," he said, waving his hand over the digital image. "I'm planning on extending it outward, towards the Sea of Simulation. One day, I hope to find a solution to the power issue in the Outlands. We could build there as well. There is no end to the possibilities I have in mind. From there, we can make use of my greatest achievement. I just need one thing, and then...on to a new world."

Alex listened to Clu as he shared with her his vision, wondering why Flynn didn't agree with it. Surely from the standpoint of improving Grid life, his ideas were acceptable. The only thing she worried about was his talk of entering the real world, her world. If these initial plans took up his time, maybe the other idea would be back burner-ed for a long time. "What's this area here?" Alex asked, pointing to a grey area.

"That's no longer occupied. I plan on erasing the entire area and rebuilding." Clu didn't tell Alex that this area of the city was where rogue programs hid. The dying power there made it difficult for his sentries to seek them out. On the other hand, these traitors somehow managed to power up with no problem. Clu wanted to know how. He thought instead to erase it all, so that no program would find sanctuary there ever again.

While Clu and Alex talked excitedly about his vision for the future, Jarvis stood off to the left, trying to look busy, but sneaking side glances at his master and that User. At one point, he saw her press her mouth to His Excellency's face. Clu in turn placed an arm around the User's shoulders. Jarvis couldn't shake the feeling of disgust he experienced. That his master wasn't telling the User to stop, annoyed him. He pretended to work, but listened instead.

Alex asked Clu several more questions about his plans, which made him quite happy. When she kissed him, he had that same feeling of a memory stored away, something he couldn't quite bring to the fore. But when he leaned toward Alex, kissing her as she had shown him earlier, he decided no one's opinion mattered save his own. Let Jarvis, that obsequious of all programs, sputter. "I have something I want you to see. Wait with the sentries in the flight bay, and we'll take an air runner." Clu turned to Jarvis, whose eyes were following the User.

Alex walked over to the sentries, repeating Clu's order, "His Excellency wishes you to take me to the flight bay."

The sentries looked at one another, then at the User.

"It was a command," she ordered, staring down the two black-suited programs.

"Your Excellency!" Jarvis cried out. This was unacceptable, a User giving orders to the guards?

Clu laughed on hearing his aide's objection. But he saw with satisfaction, the immediate obedience of his sentries as they accompanied Alex from the control room. He shut down the digital map, wondering what Alex would say when she saw his crowning glory.

As he passed Jarvis on his way to the flight bay, Clu stopped briefly, and said with warning in his tone, "Watch what you say or do. My good will can be withdrawn at any time, from anyone, even you, program!"

His pad trembling in his hands, Jarvis watched his master leave. User or no User, he would have to be careful, especially while making his plans. He had decided to do what he had to, sure that when all was done, His Excellency would thank him. Many programs on the Grid would thank him.

A/N: I have made a change in my plans for future chapters. I was once accused of finishing up stories too quickly, maybe that's a compliment, but in any case, I won't be bringing in the new faces just yet. Never fear, they will appear.

Also, I have added a few things that are not canon, like the air runners. I wanted something like a light jet, but for two people (programs?), and not armed for fighting. My light cars are smaller than the light runner we saw in Legacy, more like a coupe over a sedan, and more maneuverable, since they are lighter. So please don't say "those were not in the film". No they weren't.