Paramax threatens to come between Clu and Alex. But will he be the savior the Grid needs?

I do not own Tron or Tron : Legacy.

Ultimate Ally Chapter 25

"Paramax, what do you mean, Clu has to be destroyed? I'm sorry, but that's insane!" Alex exclaimed, shocked at the words she heard. Surely he didn't mean it.

"The Father-Creator explained his plans for the Grid. So far, what I have seen does not indicate any correlation between what he says and what he does. He is slowing destroying the Grid."

"Well, stop talking about destroying Clu. It's not an option, understand? We'll figure out something. With the de-stabilization factor, it seems like we'll have our work cut out for us already, Paramax." Alex knew that, although Clu wasn't considerate of anything or anyone when it disrupted his plans, she didn't want him dead. She loved him. "I want you to promise me something. You will not harm the Father-Creator. You won't even speak to him about this conversation. Promise me?"

Paramax knew the Mother-Creator felt protective of the Father-Creator, so he agreed. "I will not harm him, for your sake, Alex."

Alex hugged the ISO-2, much to his surprise. "Thank you," she said.

Paramax held the Mother-Creator until she released him. He looked down at her, saying, "I will consider the de-stabilization issue now. But I hope to speak soon with the Creator Flynn. He may be of assistance."

"Alright, Paramax. Somehow, we'll find a way to get to Flynn. For now, I'm going to go see Clu. You stay here. Don't go wandering around alone, ok?"

"I'll do as you request, Alex." Paramax sat down in a chair, and began to do some calculations based on data input received while walking with Clu. He wanted to save the Grid, but whether or not it would be maintained as is, he wasn't able to deduce just yet.

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Alex joined Clu in their quarters. He was seated, busy discussing something with Jarvis, who gave Alex a curt bow before departing. Alex came up behind Clu, wrapping her arms around him as she leaned over his shoulder. "What are you planning now?" she asked after kissing him on the cheek.

"I want to take Paramax around the city. With the three of us, there's no way of knowing the extent of what we can do, together." He rose from the chair, and took Alex in his arms. "You didn't seem happy earlier. What's wrong?"

"I don't want Paramax exploited, Clu. He's part of us, part of this Grid. He's not some side-show freak." Alex had her arms around his waist, feeling the shared energy create a desire within her to merge with Clu. But she needed to get this issue about Paramax settled first. "He deserves respect. He calls you the Father-Creator. That means something to him. He may be the only one of his kind, you know."

Clu had considered that as well. He had hoped more could be created, but what if Paramax was the only one. He brought up Alex's arm, clasping her hand in his. "We haven't tried to improve the possibilities in awhile," he said huskily. The gloves of his body armor de-rezzed, allowing his simulated skin to caress her User flesh.

Alex wanted Clu too, but she didn't like being used as some sort of program-maker. It cheapened the feelings she had for him, if that was all he cared about. She tried to pull her hand from his, the shared energy already causing her circuitry to brighten. Why do I let you do this to me, she thought, resisting the pleasure he was giving her.

Clu could tell he was causing Alex discomfort. From his memory, he retrieved something he knew she liked. He grabbed her ever-present ponytail, and gently pulled her head back, exposing her neck. As he licked and nibbled at the tender spot on her throat, the sound that escaped her lips told him it was the correct move. Her entire body relaxed in his arms. He lifted her up and carried her into the bedroom, placing her on the bed. Clu de-rezzed both their suits and lay beside Alex. As he began kissing her in earnest, he felt hands pressing against him.

"Wait, Clu. Damn you, we need to discuss the future. You're acting as if everything is perfect."

"It isn't perfect?" he questioned, pulling away from her, confused. Perfection was what he saw everywhere, and it was all his doing. "If you don't think the city is perfect, we must work harder to make it so."

"We have Paramax to consider now. The Grid needs work, and I'm not talking about park beautification here. To quote a cliche, it's a matter of life and death. Paramax can help us, Clu, if you let him."

"And if there were others like him, how much better for the Grid would that be, Alex? For all we know, there could be others out there now." He thought a moment, a frown on his face. "If there were others, would they all go to Flynn first?"

Honestly, Alex didn't know. "I suppose if proximity were the issue, they would. Paramax indicated he sensed the Creator Flynn, as he calls him."

Clu interrupted her. "Then Flynn would have those that might find their way to him."

She looked up at him warily. "I guess so. Why?" She could see Clu calculating things as he spoke. "You know, Clu, if you let Flynn come back into the city, your fears could be placated instantly. He doesn't want to fight you."

"No," he said, eyes narrowed. The thought was non-debatable. He noticed Alex's face at his abrupt response. "Flynn could keep any ISO-2s from me anyway. From us," he amended. He reached over and touched her hairline, one finger tracing down to her chin and across her lips. His thoughts went back to where they'd begun this conversation. Seeing the circuit lines in her skin flare, he bent over her, this time holding her wrist over her head. With satisfaction, he felt her free hand tracing his internally lit circuitry. Clu found himself wanting this now. Joining, as both programs in the sharing of their power, and as Users with the physical pleasures he had discovered with Alex. Later, perhaps they would discuss if and how to contact Flynn, to see if anymore ISO-2s had appeared. He just may have to acquiesce some, in order to win.

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Paramax had gone over his calculations several times, always with the same conclusion. There was no way to repair the imminent collapse of the Grid from within it. He knew it would take many hundreds of cycles for the degradation to be noticeable, but by the time that happened, it would be too late to fix. Something had to be done now. Paramax rose and left his room, heading down the corridor.

A sentry stopped him, blocking his way with his light stick. "Sir, you are not authorized to leave this area."

Paramax grabbed the stick from the sentry, and reaching out, touched him with a hand, giving him an overdose of pure electrical power. The sentry froze where he stood, assimilating so much energy at once proved too much for him. Paramax continued on his way, using the appropriated light stick to disable any programs who tried to stop him. Once he was outside the tower and at ground level, he broke down the stick into it's primary form, and carried the baton with him as he headed toward the outskirts of the city.

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Flynn was still trying to find an answer to the Grid problem. Quorra had gone off in the light runner, having a greater need to escape the house occasionally than he had. He rubbed his eyes, and decided to take a break. Going over to his meditation spot, he faced the city and kneeling, took his position on the cushions. He closed his eyes and stilled his mind.

Clu, why do you feel I'm neglecting you?

You spend too much time outside. There's much to do here, Flynn.

But that was why I created you. To take over when I have to leave.

You prefer them all. Your world. Your son. The ISOs. You created me to help you, and left me alone to do everything for you. Now the Grid is mine, Alex is mine, and Paramax is mine. One day, your son will be mine.

"No!" Flynn's eyes flew open. His heart was pounding in his chest. So much for meditating, he thought. He rose from the floor, just in time to see Quorra entering on the lift. Someone was with her. As he headed across the floor, he heard her call out.

"We have a guest, Flynn. Look who I found while driving around."

Kevin rubbed his tired eyes. "Paramax?"

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Clu was lying in the bed, with Alex prone across it, her head on his belly. She enjoyed Clu playing with her hair, as she spoke about what Paramax wanted to do about saving the Grid. "He really is very intelligent, more than any program I've met here, present company excluded. Must be that ISO make up of his. He may be just what we need to get things fixed up."

"He's quite taken with you, Alex. Your influence would be immeasurable." Clu had noticed that it was Alex, Paramax hovered around. He would use this to his advantage for the time being. But as he lay there taking the tendrils of her now loosened hair with his fingers, he knew he also needed to control his temper around her. For one, he didn't really want to hurt her. Secondly, he needed her on his side. Her suggesting him allowing Flynn to return to the city made him wonder, would she leave to go to him, willingly? And what if the next time, she didn't come back.

As they lay there together, urgent knocking was heard at the door. "Your Excellency, Your Excellency! It's the new program. He's gone!"

Alex sat up and Clu rezzed his suit on, striding to the door in the outer room. Alex followed close behind. When he opened the door, Jarvis was standing there, obviously distressed. "Sir, your son has vanished. He overtook ever sentry between his quarters and the ground level exit."

Clu turned to Alex, who said, "I don't know anything about this. I told him not to wander the place alone. He said he wouldn't."

"Well, he lied to you!" He left the room, heading down the corridor with Jarvis and Alex in tow. "I want guards throughout the city hunting him. No one is to harm him. Just bring him back!"

"Yes, sir! I'll see to it myself," Jarvis choked out as he bowed and left for the Control room.

Clu turned to Alex, giving her a slight glare. "I hope he hasn't been kidnaped by Flynn. That's growing tiresome, Alex. We have to find him." He headed on down the corridor and to the hangar bay. Alex kept up with him, waiting to see what he had planned. "Stay here. I'm going to search from the air. If he returns, take him our quarters."

She was stunned to see he had left her behind, watching as he rezzed a one-man light jet, taking off toward the center of the city. If only she knew how to fly one of those things, she'd grab one and join him. Frustrated, she went back upstairs, finding Jarvis in the Control room, monitoring in-coming reports from the sentries and Black Guard. She paced nervously, wondering if what Clu had said was true. Had Flynn arranged for Paramax to be kidnaped?

Jarvis watched with satisfaction as the User wandered the Control room, arms crossed and obviously upset. So the new program was missing and she was left here by His Excellency. So much for her influence. Perhaps his Master was finally beginning to see the User for the trouble she was. And if so, soon she would be gone. The thought brightened his circuits.

Clu flew his light jet to the edge of the city. He broke it down to the baton, and stared off into the distance. "Where are you, Paramax? Are you with him?" His hands clenched into fists, as he shouted across the Grid, "Flynn, where are you?"

A/N: kind of late as I finish this, so if you see errors, fear not. I will repair it tomorrow. Thanks for reading, and I love your comments and suggestions.