I do not own Tron or Tron : Legacy.
Ultimate Ally : 21 years later
Chapter 11
Clu and Alex left their quarters walking hand in hand, an affectation he allowed her, seeing that she liked it, and surprisingly, he found himself wanting to please her. It was strange. Since his re-creation, Clu felt different. His memories, thanks to their re-formation by the energy transfer with Alex, still held his prior thoughts and disposition, but he wanted something else now. As they stood in the Control room, looking out the window at the city below, he wondered how much would change. He had given in to her affections before, with satisfaction. But at the same time, he had maintained control of his city and his programs, trusting in her loyalty to him. Alex had been Flynn's friend, yet she was Clu's consort, and that meant more to her by his estimation. She had found a way to come back to the Grid, and it was he whom she had re-activated first. She had indicated, however, that Flynn's condition was different than his own, thus he would be more difficult to resurrect, if he could be brought back at all.
Clu knew that he loved Alex. That alone should have told him something in him was different. He had cared about her when she was here the first time, but he had also been motivated by how she could be of service to his goals, and so he kept her around. His feelings, of course, had changed later. But now, he had no such goals, the Grid's survival being his paramount interest. In a way, he felt guilty that he had his world, his consort, and a new future, when his Creator had none of those things. Clu was a program, and Flynn, for all his involvement with the ISOs, had never referred to him as JUST a program. If only he hadn't been so jealous of the ISOs, so ignorant of what they all might have accomplished together. Clu marveled at the emotions he was feeling. He never would have thought himself capable of such a thing as remorse.
"What are you thinking about?" Alex went to sit on the upper section of sizable chair that used to be large enough for them both, but was now rezzed for one. Clu must have reconfigured it after she'd left, turning it into his personal throne again.
Clu had sat in his usual place, wondering why it no longer gave him satisfaction that he was sole ruler of the Grid. Perhaps because he was beginning to accept that he wasn't anymore. "Our future," he replied. Clu felt Alex's arm drape around his shoulders as she leaned her head against his. "Even with its problems, the city's still beautiful," he heard her say. He turned to face her, and wrapping his right arm around her waist, pulled her onto his lap. "I agree," he said, gazing into her eyes. They kissed, not with the passion of their earlier love-making, but rather with a comfort that came from a unity of hearts and minds.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt, Alex, Clu. Things had become so calm below, that I thought I might come in search of you both. I'll leave..." Bas had felt embarrassed at seeing the User and Clu in a situation unfamiliar to him.
Alex jumped off Clu's lap, all smiles as she went to the program who had been of such help to her. She hugged him impulsively. "No, Bas, don't worry about it." She turned to Clu, giving him a smile equal to the one she'd given Bas. "We were just...reminiscing. Do we need to get down there? I'd asked Steve to check out Castor's disk to see if he could speed up his recovery from..." Alex didn't look at Clu, even though she knew he was responsible for Castor's condition.
"Oh, yes, the User removed a bit of corrupted data. Castor seems fine now, and is most eager to rebuild his club," Bas said. "In fact, it's all he's talking about."
Clu rose and came to join Alex and Bas by Jarvis' station. "Yes, we need a place where programs can gather, and enjoy the planning and re-building process together, even if in a recreational mode."
Alex found herself tapping her fingernails on the surface of the darkened instrument panel as she leaned back against it. Suddenly, she had an idea. Pulling Clu aside, she said to Bas, "Wait right there. Don't move."
"Alex, what is it?" Clu held her by the shoulders, wondering why she seemed so excited.
"Clu, we have no Intelligence Officer. And I'm not really sure we need one, but...what about an Administrative Aide?"
Clu glanced over at Bas. "You mean..."
Alex nodded, smiling. "Why not. He's capable, brave, and was of immense help to me."
"But he's a back up to a back up program," Clu objected, already aware of that program's limitations.
"What, you don't believe in promotions?" Alex waited, as she saw Clu's mind calculating. "He deserves some sort of a reward for his loyalty."
"To the Users?" Clu asked teasingly.
"To the Grid," she answered, one eyebrow cocked in annoyance, not realizing Clu was teasing her.
"Alright, if it makes you happy," he responded, amusement in his voice.
"It does." She did a little calculating if her own. "I think I'll speak to Steve about Bas, see if there is something we can do for him." She went to the still waiting program. "Bas, how would you like a job?"
"Me? I'll do whatever you require, of course, Alex. What do you wish of me?" he asked expectantly.
Clu spoke up from his place behind Alex. "We need an Administrative Aide," he said, as he gently massaged Alex's shoulders.
She smiled at the attention she was getting, but continued, ignoring the pleasurable distraction. "You'd be working closely with Users, like Sam, Steve and maybe even Alan. Alan's the User who created Tron. You'll be working here, in this room, with Clu and me. Plus, you'll be monitoring Grid activities, so you'd be working throughout the city with Tron too. Interested?"
Bas couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had no administrative functions. In fact, his functions hadn't been of much use. "I...I would be honored to assist you both. I already have enjoyed being of service to you, Alex. But what can I do, limited as I am?"
"Never mind, my friend. I have an idea. Come on." Alex led the way as the trio went down to the street level, and headed off in search of Sam and the others. Bas had been right. All was peaceful now. While Clu and Bas talked with several programs, Alex dragged Steve away from an animated Sam, who was enjoying a conversation with Tron. "Steve, Bas told me that you fixed up Castor. So what was wrong with him?"
"Just some minor damage to coding in the disk. Castor explained to me what had happened. It was amazing seeing the program re-write himself, right there in front of me. You should hear him now, running on about this new club he wants to create. I take it, the previous one was something else."
Alex laughed, remembering, "Yes, it was. Not too different than any place back home, but with some variations on the whole "club scene". Glancing over at Bas, who seemed to mingle easily with both Users and programs, Alex asked, "Steve, I have a favor to ask you. See that program," she pointed at Bas, "he's a back up program to a relatively unimportant back up program. I want him to be more. We've offered him the job of Administrative Aide to the Grid, and even though he has already exceeded his parameters, don't ask me how, he will need more functions. Can you see to that for me?"
Steve considered what Alex was asking, still slightly stunned that he was here, amongst programs, and finding them to be as much like people as, well, people. "I will."
"Thank you so much for doing that," Alex said, as she gave him a hug.
"Hey, I don't mind. This place is fantastic, Alex. I'm used to doing that with a CPU and a keyboard. I can't get over the fact that I'm talking to programs, and making alterations to their programming in person, through their identity disks. Real live programs, Alex! Now I know we can't go back and tell anyone about this. At least, Sam feels it would be imprudent to say anything just yet."
Alex nodded in agreement. "He's right, of course. I can just see the Army wanting to get involved. Not that I see any military applications, but some scientist who cares nothing about the Grid itself or the life forms who live on it, would no doubt come up with something." Alex clasped Steve's hand. "But anyway, thanks for helping out Bas."
"Sure, kiddo. I'll take care of it. By the way, you look hot, not that you didn't before, but this..." he indicated, with a wave of his hand at her more youthful physique and unlined face.
"Be careful, unless you want Clu to overhear you, and put you in the Games," Alex warned, knowing of innate Clu's jealousy, but not sure how it would manifest itself where she was concerned.
"Oh, yeah, what were these Games about anyway? Sam told me something, but I've never seen anything like what he described."
"You wouldn't want to participate, Steve. They race around a grid on what are basically motorcycles made of light. The object of the game is to run your opponents into the ground so to speak, where they de-rezz instantly."
"You mean, they play...to the death?" he asked, swallowing hard.
"Yeah," Alex answered, remembering her own runs with Clu's team. "At first, I didn't think of the other team as more than programs. It wasn't like killing real people."
"You raced in the game?" Steve was, incredulous. He had to admire her spunk, but that would have meant Alex had been responsible for the deaths of several programs.
"Yes, I raced light cycles." To change the subject, she said, "Clu and I will make over the Games into what they were before, when Tron was in charge. They tested one's mettle and skills, but no one died. We'll bring them back with their old purpose, as Flynn had created them."
"Hey, guy, we should get back," Sam hollered at Steve as he came over. "We've got some work to do. Alex, I'm sure we can get the power issue taken care of. After I've talked with Alan, we'll notify you, and then you can take it from there."
"Agreed," she responded.
"Alan said he'll see what he can do to set up an alert that will let us know you're online to communicate. Any one of us will be able to respond to you." Sam laughed. "Maybe we can fix up some sort of pager system. He'd like that."
"Perfect! We'll wait for you to let us know what to do next." Alex felt Clu move behind her, and leaned back against him. "Sam, thank you for everything you've done. It'll be nice knowing you guys are out there keeping an eye on things. Do you think the communication port will stay open?"
"We'll make sure of it. Alex, I'm hoping that I'll be able to...well, you know, since you were able to bring back Clu..."
Alex placed her hand on Sam's shoulder. "I know. Me too. We're not giving up yet. Sam, tell Alan thank you for me." Alex hugged the young man first, then Steve, before watching her friends head back to the communication port.
Wary of Clu, Surl went up to Alex, exhibiting a certain contriteness she wasn't used to from this particular program. "I just want to tell you that I spoke with the other Users, and I was wrong. All they want is to help us, not exploit us. Flynn created a system where we had no defined purpose, but perhaps he had no chance to make the necessary changes before he was banished from the city. Clu gave us one, but it wasn't one we should have embraced. Now, we will have purpose again. We will accept your guidance, User. I mean, Alex. If we can re-create and maintain this system, perhaps..."
Alex looked at the seemingly unsure program. "Yes, Surl?"
"If there are other Users who wish to come here, they would be made welcome."
"Actually, that has been on my mind, and Sam's. I can guarantee you, that, with some limits, more Users will come here."
Surl grinned broadly. "I...we would like that. Do you think that the time will come when programs can visit your world?" he ventured.
Alex laughed. "One thing at a time, please. But yes, perhaps." She scanned around, looking for Bas. Finding him, she ran over, "Bas, follow the Users to the communication port. They have something for you. Then come find me." She nodded when she saw his confusion. "Go."
Obediently, Bas ran after Sam and Steve.
Once Surl had gone back to the other programs, who were now feeling more confident things would improve, Alex allowed her body to slump as she sighed heavily. Why did it feel like a 100 cycles had passed. She shouldn't be so tired, but she felt that way in any case.
As if reading her, Clu said, "We should find you some energy. As a permanent citizen of the Grid, you'll need nourishment as we all do. I'll ask Tron if there's any to spare. I hope your friends work quickly." He leaned down to kiss her forehead with concern.
"I'm sure they will, Clu." She leaned against him, his strength instantly becoming hers. "They'll know what to do."
OoOoOoOoOoOo
Halfway across the country, in a Dallas, Texas hotel room, a phone was ringing.
Lora Bradley almost didn't answer it, tired from a full day of conferences. Oh, what the hell, she thought. It might be important. "Hello?" she asked when she placed the small cell phone to her ear.
"Hi, babe, it's me," Alan said, smiling at hearing his wife's voice.
"Alan! Oh, sweetheart, I miss you and Jet so much. Wait, is Jet in trouble again?"
"No, Lora, everything is fine here, and that's not why I'm calling. I need your help."
"My help?" Lora slipped out of her shoes, and sat on the bed, leaning back against the headboard. She opened up a mini bottle of white wine and poured it into the glass she'd retrieved from the bathroom. Taking a sip, she asked hesitantly, "Ok, Alan, what's going on? Spill it."
"Lora, something extraordinary happened last night, and it had to do with your latest project."
"The laser?" A chill went through Lora, as she imagined the worst.
"Yes," Alan said, "but let me tell you everything, from the beginning."
Lora sighed. "Go ahead. I have unlimited long distance."
Alan took a deep breath. "It all started back in 1982..."
2 hours and 27 minutes later...
"So, what do you think? Can you help?"
Lora was still sifting through the details of the unbelievable story Alan just told her. Damn you, Flynn, she thought. This is what you get for being...
"Lora? Are you there?"
"I'm sorry, Alan. I'm feeling a bit like I've been smacked in the face. Kevin alive when we all thought he was dead, only now, he might really be dead. And this...this Grid you mentioned, it's a real place, and Sam was...is there, with Alex and Steve. If this a joke, Mr Bradley, when I get home..." Sometimes, Alan's humor was lost on her. She married him, never expecting him to have much of a sense of humor, but over the years, she had gotten used to his occasional pranks. But if this was one, it wasn't funny.
"It's no joke, Lora. Can you help?"
"Sure, Alan. I'd want to help, but I want to see it all before I do anything. I can order the company plane first thing in the morning. See you at the office?" she asked, stifling a yawn.
"I haven't left it since last night, and probably won't. Just meet me here in the laser lab. I love you, babe. Hurry home."
"I love you too, sweetheart. See you soon," Lora said, shutting down her phone. How was she ever going to get any sleep tonight, she wondered, before deciding a hot shower might help.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
Alan had just finished up his call to his wife when he heard a beep from his computer. It was Sam and Steve. They were ready to leave the Grid. Alan checked the laser port, making sure everything was clear. Reversing the function, the unit latched onto Sam and Steve's coordinates, and in seconds, the two men were one by one, re-digitized back into the lab. Alan grinned when he saw his friends not looking worse for the wear. "Hey, you two, so how was it?"
Steve was all aglow with enthusiasm. "Alan, it was incredible! There's so much I want to tell you. And Tron, I mean, your program, Alan. He looks just like you, only...younger."
"Yeah, thanks for reminding me," Alan chuckled. "The re-programming worked then."
"He's fit, and ready to run things. And Alex sends her thanks as well. They'll be quite busy, but as long as we're working with them, I'll just take up residence in a corporate suite." Suites, or small studio apartments, had been set up for anyone needing to stay overnight at the office.
"That'll be fine, Steve. So what do we do first?" Alan was eager to get started.
Sam had taken a look at one of the computer screens, something Alan was working on. "Hey, this looks good. Once we get this finished up, we'll contact Alex and let her know."
"Is everything ok there, inside, I mean?"
"It will be, Alan, it will be," Sam grinned, clasping his godfather's arm. "You should take a trip there sometime." Sam knew Alan wasn't that anxious to try out the laser, but he knew his godfather would be amazed with the Grid and its inhabitants.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
The next morning, Alan was greeted by Lora, who kissed her husband before hugging him tightly. She then gave her godson a big hug. "Sam, you look...tired." The smile disappeared from her face. "What are you guys doing working so late? Alan..."
"It's ok, Lora. Once we finish up with this, we'll all take a week off. Will that make you happy?"
"Lora, did Alan tell you everything?" Steve asked, giving his friend a glance.
"Yes, he did. In fact, I need to go to my office, and work on something too. Sweetheart, as soon as I'm done, I'll let you know."
Kissing her once more, Alan watched his wife leave and then he turned to Sam. "Ok, so where do we go from here?"
A/N: one more chapter to go, my readers, then an epilogue. I hope you're enjoying this, and I promise, all loose ends will be tied up in a neat bow.
Just a heads up to the many stories' authors I have saved. WHERE ARE YOU? So many fics have not been updated in ages. You can't leave us this way.