I do not own Tron or Tron : Legacy.
Ultimate Ally : 21 years later
Chapter 10
Alan was pleasantly content, now having met his own program Tron, well, sort of. Before Sam had told him the whole story of the Grid, he never would have thought of his Tron security program as anything but a bunch of algorithms and programming protocols. He would have loved to meet his creation face-to-face, but that would mean transporting onto the Grid through the Shiva laser, and he wasn't sure he was ready for that. He knew now that the first time Flynn had entered the ENCOM grid, it was because of the MCP and Lora's laser. Later, when the new Grid had been completed, Sam made it sound like his dad had come and gone frequently, and with ease. The idea of having his molecules broken down into bits didn't make him feel any braver even if his friend had done it a million times.
Still, Alan thought about Tron and the work he had done to free the old ENCOM system decades ago. He was a bit angry that Flynn hadn't confided in him back then. They had worked together to get control of the company from Dillinger, and Kevin became head of the Gaming R&D department, later head of the company itself. Yet in all that time, he had never said one word about his adventures on the Grid, or the subsequent one he had created. Why hadn't Kevin trusted him enough to come clean on his latest discovery? If only he had known about the Grid and Flynn's trips there, Alan figured that would have been the first place he might have searched for his missing friend. Instead, he had to watch Sam grow up without his father.
Alan's thoughts went back to Tron, and he hoped all was well with his security program. The changes to his basic programming had been erased by Alan's re-written command functions. The problem was the memories would remain. If Alan had completely erased the memory of the program, that would have wiped everything, including all of the experiences Tron had with Flynn. Alan hoped it wouldn't be too much an issue for Tron. Just then, remembering something Sam had said in brief passing, Alan gave his wife a call.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
Tron stepped up to Clu, anger animating the program in an unpleasant way. "What have you done to me?" He reached out to grab at Clu's jacket.
Clu held up his hands in defense. "Wait, Tron, that was another time, practically another me. I'm sorry. I really am. I had other plans that no longer mean anything anymore. My directives have changed."
Alex watched, letting Tron have his say. He deserved to be heard anyway, and she noticed how Bas was poised to step in yet again, if necessary. The other programs, including Surl and Castor, waited to see what would happen.
"I remember that time, when Flynn was here, working with us. The three of us, together, creating the Grid, building on it. You...you tried to kill him. Why did you want to kill him, Clu?"
A look of despair came over Clu's visage, as his digital mind recalled every iota of data from so long ago. He had felt different then, knowing only confusion, grief, and anger. All emotions he should not have experienced, but he did, because he was a mirror image of his Creator. He felt no one would or could understand what he was going through. Flynn had been gone so often, and even when he was on-Grid, he was always in conference with the ISO leaders, making plans without including his greatest creation. Clu didn't want to be left out anymore.
It all seemed so useless now. The ISOs were gone. Flynn was gone. And even though he should have been gone as well, Clu was here, with Alex. He no longer wanted the same things he had wanted back then.
Tron frowned as he looked down at his hands. "I can never trust these again. They've killed for you, Clu, by your orders, and I followed them."
"I can't change what I've done, Tron. I can only look forward. Neither of us is the same. If we can't erase the past, we will have no future. The Grid will die, and so will everyone on it." Clu looked over at Alex, Sam and Steve. "We have Users on our side, Tron. I know, I was the last program who wanted help from Users, but that's changed too. Work with us, old friend." Holding out one hand, he asked simply, "Please."
Tron looked at the outstretched hand before him. Then he looked up at Clu, noticing something different about him. It was as if Tron were seeing his brother program as he had been cycles ago, when he was new. He took Clu's hand and shook it, a User affectation, he knew, but it felt right at the moment. He wasn't sure if he could ever forgive Clu for what he'd done. He might never trust the Control program again. But it was too much to think about now. He had bigger things to consider. Clu just wasn't that important to him anymore, but he was important to the Grid.
Castor stepped up, a wide grin on his face. "Well, well, it seems we have a meeting of the minds, boys." Turning to scan the other programs, he shouted out a challenge, "Anyone have any objections?"
Bas smiled, and nodded at Alex, who winked back at him. There would be hope now.
Even Surl could say nothing, feeling it wouldn't make any difference. He would go along with the re-rezzed Clu, and hope for a better system. But he would be there, always close by, to make sure the ACP didn't turn on them again.
Sam went over to Alex, drawing her aside. "I wanted to tell you something that happened, something weird."
"Oh? Like what, Sam?"
"When Tron was waiting for Alan to download his overwrite, he seemed to be having some sort of a...breakdown. He was crying, Alex."
"Crying? Sam, that's not possible. Programs can't cry." Alex had already seen things that she never dreamed were possible, but showing that kind of emotion...was it possible? Did programs even have tear ducts?
"It might have just been a simulation of crying, not the actual deal. I don't really know, Alex. I've never seen a program cry, have you? I mean, you were here longer."
Alex glanced over at Tron as she replied, "No, I never have. Sam, what if everything your father imagined about programs was only half right? What if we have it all wrong, and they're closer to real life forms than we think. Kevin thought the ISOs were special because they weren't written by any human, right? But what makes basics any different, just because they are? They're self-aware, they feel emotions, they're willing to sacrifice themselves for others, and they can even...love." Alex smiled as she peered at Clu. "What if they are more than the mere reflections of their makers, Sam? And what will happen if someday, more Users come onto the Grid, and become friends with these simulations, maybe even..." She lowered her head, a slight smile forming on her lips.
"Well, I just thought you should know. I think we have a solution to the disagreements here, so Steve and I can get back outside, and see how we can be of help with the power problem."
Alex nodded, saying, "Sure, Sam. By the way, can you have Steve look over Castor's disk, see if he can find anything that needs to be fixed? He almost seems traumatized by Clu's last attempt on his existence. I'll be needing him, oddly enough. And see that Tron and Bas make it clear to the others what we need to do to get started here. I'm through messing around. We need order, pronto!" Alex knew everything was going to be alright. She returned to Clu's side. When she had the chance, she took his hand, leading him away from the now peaceful crowd. "Let's go."
"Where," he asked.
"There," Alex answered, pointing to the tall building that was once Clu's command tower.
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Clu looked around the empty Control room. He ran his hand over Jarvis' old board, now dark and unused.
"What happened to him, Jarvis, I mean?" Alex asked, just now aware of the absence of that annoying program.
"I de-rezzed him. He...failed me." Clu turned to Alex, his eyes so profoundly sad, that she felt as if her heart were breaking. "My primary functions have been corrupted, Alex."
"No, Clu, your functions are what they were back when Kevin first created you. What happens from now on is up to you alone. Consider yourself...reborn."
Clu looked around the room, seeing his past mocking him still. Jarvis bowing and scraping as if Clu cared what the Intelligence officer did or thought. Rinzler waiting, always waiting, for whatever order Clu gave him. His own willingness to sacrifice everything for his dream of conquest.
"I know it's difficult, Clu. How do you think Sam feels, seeing you here, when his father isn't. Kevin stopped you with the re-integration. Can you see the irony in that? You're back, because I used his old files. I just wish..."
"I know, Alex," Clu murmured. He took her in his arms, holding her tightly.
She let herself be held, even as her mind was thinking about her friend and former employer. "I know you may not have all your feelings about Kevin sorted out, but as long as your feelings for me are clear..."
He showed her his feelings by capturing her lips with his. For him, it had been many cycles since he had held Alex. He wondered what might have been, if she had not been locked out, and their plans for the Grid had been brought to fruition. No, he couldn't go back. Pulling from her, he took her hand and led her from the Control room to their old quarters.
Alex felt Clu's flesh pressed to her own, a different sensation than she had felt before. Was that because she was different? As she peered up into his blue eyes, she remembered their many joinings, and hoped nothing had changed in that regard. She was still a User. Reaching for his hand, Alex entwined her fingers through his, already feeling the energy between them building. The pleasure flowed through her, causing her to breathe more quickly. When Clu pressed his mouth to hers, he drew her breathe away. She gasped when he released her suddenly, and sweeping her up into his arms, carried her into the bedroom. "You haven't forgotten," she laughed.
"All that you remember, I remember," he whispered. He kissed her before placing her on the bed. He removed both their disks, and with a touch, de-rezzed their clothing. Clu lay beside his consort, relishing the closeness of her. It had been a long time, even considering he was in stasis for hundreds of cycles. His hand caressed her cheek, lingering at her neck, where he buried his face. He felt her arms wrap around him, her fingers entwining themselves in his hair. Looking down at her, he saw the sparkle in her eyes indicating her arousal even as the circuits in her skin flared brightly. He moaned as her fingers traced the lines in his flesh. "I love you, User," he whispered playfully.
"I love you, Program," Alex said, pulling him down into her embrace. She smiled, and kissing his lips, nibbled them slightly as she parted her legs for him. Sharing energy was one thing, but after so long a time, she wanted him inside her.
Program and User joined as if time had no meaning. Pleasure grew and peaked as each cried out their ecstacy. Once was not enough though, as Alex pushed Clu onto his back, and taking him into her, she rode him as she might any of her former lovers. But this was better than any sex she'd had with past suitors. She loved Clu.
Finally spent, the pair lay next to each, Alex resting her head on Clu's bare chest. "Alex, do you notice anything...different about me?" Clu asked as he ran a fingertip over her arm.
"Hmm, not really. Did something happen after I left, something I should know about?"
Clu chuckled. "No. It's just that, after I saw that you were not going to return, I imaged myself a version of Flynn, right down to his speech patterns. I sent him away, taking his place as Creator. I did cruel things..."
Alex leaned up on one elbow, placing a finger over his lips. "Clu, I thought we were done with past deeds that can't be undone."
Taking her hand, Clu held it as he clarified, "Alex, I know that I'm not Flynn. I never was, nor could I be."
"No, you're right. You're Clu, Administrative Control Program to the Grid. So...what do we do now?"
He ran a finger along her cheek and chucked her chin lightly. "Start from scratch, man."
Alex laughed, trying to hide it nonetheless.
"Why are you laughing?" Clu asked, a smile lighting up his face.
"Regardless of what you said, just then you sounded so much like Kevin Flynn." She thought of her friend, then sighed, her eyes unfocusing.
Noticing her silent musing, Clu asked, "Are you sorry you're here, Alex?"
"No. I tried to forget you and everything that happened. I went back to work. I dated. I even lived with a guy for awhile, but none of the men I spent time with were you. I had already met the one person I wanted, even if he wasn't really a person per se. It's difficult to fall in love with someone, Clu, when every time they touch you, you're thinking of someone else." Alex kissed him deeply, her hands pressing against his back as he hovered over her.
"Flynn was wrong," Clu said as he nuzzled her.
"What do you mean?"
"There is such a thing as perfection," he answered as he took her body once more.
A/N: getting close to the finish line, readers. It could go on, but I see no reason now that Alex and Clu are back together. Best to get everyone together to do what must be done. Once finished here, I will continue My Father, My Program. Thanks for hanging in there!
Update: I just added a few sentences to, hopefully, better explain Tron's feelings about Clu. I know it had seemed rushed, but as I told one commenter, Tron is smart and knows what has to be done regardless of his feelings.