I do not own Tron or Tron : Legacy.

Shadow Life : a journal on paper

Cycle 28

Flynn was less than happy with the discovery of a gridbug, nothing like he'd ever seen before. He tried taking samples of the Sea liquid, studying it in minute detail. I could tell he was glad to have something that kept him busy. He would explain his findings to me, and I would smile. But truthfully, the Sea was a mystery to me. It may have been the place of my creation, but I knew so little about it.

"I wish I had comparative information. I'm finding nothing unusual, but then it's not like I ever studied the Sea under a microscope before Clu poisoned it. Gridbugs were pretty standard on the old system, and there have been a few manifest here, but that thing that chased us was no ordinary bug."

"That's for sure!" I agreed. Gridbugs were small, and their bite could pack an electrical punch. But it would take hundreds to de-rezz anyone. That one bug was enough to take me down. "If that is a recent evolution, do you think anything else might show up at our doorstep?"

"The force field should take care of any intruders, but it does make going out questionable."

"We won't be able to go out anymore?" I asked him. I loved getting away when I felt closed in, and driving the runner around was my favorite activity.

"Hopefully, it won't come to that, Quorra. Except for the ISOs, nothing that wasn't specifically created has spontaneously appeared, until now." He peered at a container he had filled with Sea fluids. "I think I want to go get some more. I want you to keep watch, Q, while I pick up more samples. Let's go."

We drove to a location at the shoreline where the Sea washed up on some smaller data blocks, easily maneuverable for Flynn to climb over. I stood halfway between the runner and Flynn, keeping an eye out for any movement. Waiting, I scanned the fluid Sea and the surrounding landscape, noticing only the clouds floating across the Flynn-created sky. Energy bolts flashed periodically in the distance.

"See anything, Q?" Flynn called out to me.

"Nothing. It's all very quiet," I yelled back at him.

"I'll just be a little longer anyway."

A bolt flashed again. I looked up, startled that it seemed closer. One followed right behind it. "Flynn, is the sky erupting? It seems to be more active than normal."

Flynn stopped what he was doing, and looked up. Another flash illuminated his face, that's how close it was. I saw him stand, put his equipment away, and head back up to me. One after the other, energy flashed closer. "I think we'd better get back."

With Flynn's hand on my back, we rushed toward the runner, taking off just as another bolt crashed at the shoreline. Data flew everywhere, a piece hitting the runner as we sped away.

Now the sky became a chaotic mess of noice and light, bolts hitting the ground around us, some coming too close for comfort. I was born of the Grid, and had spent hundreds of cycles here, yet never had I seen an event like this.

Suddenly, a bolt hit the ground violently, not far from us. I turned the control wheel sharply to the left, trying to avoid the bolt as well as the debris it had kicked up. This was not fun for me.

Flynn must have noticed my fear. He placed a hand on my arm, and I felt his energy flow into me. It soothed me, enough to focus my concentration away from the danger around us.

Soon, we pulled into the entryway, now safe from any more of the energy bolts that continued to rain down on the area. Fortunately, Flynn had built his home into a solid block of data, recessed enough, I hoped, to be free from damage should a bolt hit nearby. We exited the runner, and took the lift upstairs. Once there, we could see out the window, bright flashes criss-crossing the sky.

"Flynn, what's causing this?" I turned to see a frown on his face.

"I don't know, Q," he replied, taking a few steps closer to the window.

I grabbed his arm, saying, "No, Flynn. It's too dangerous!"

"Force shield should keep anything out, even those," he said as he peered outside, transfixed by what he was seeing.

I hoped he was right. Still, I wasn't about to test his belief in the shield's integrity against that much power. "Please, Flynn. Let's wait it out."

He heeded my warning, and stood beside me, an arm draped around my shoulders, pulling me close. We watched together as the sky raged outside. "I wonder if the city is getting it as bad as this," he said, staring off into the distance.

I knew Flynn still felt concern for the city, his creation, with the immense help of Clu and Shaddox. "There's plenty of cover there. Everyone will be alright. If you want to check later, we can..."

Just then, a flash hit the patio, rocking the data cliff our home was a part of, sending some of Flynn's things falling from their places on shelves and tables. Flynn's arms closed around me as I clung to him. "Damn, that was close," he uttered in disbelief. Nothing like this had happened before, and since the Grid wasn't supposed to experience random occurences, Flynn was confused as to was causing this outbreak. He had been completely thrown when the ISOs had appeared, the first random happening, then the giant black gridbug, now this.

The ground shook again, knocking us to our knees. A bolt must have hit somewhere along the cliff face. As we clung together, flashes permeated the sky, forcing me to close my eyes and bury my face in Flynn's shoulder. I felt his hand caress my head, as he whispered, "It's going to be ok, Quorra. We've survived a lot. No storm's going to do us in. I promise."

I should have been stronger, but this was no program I could de-rezz with the flick of my wrist. No disk or light stick would make this noise go away. I wondered what it would look like outside, how much damage this...storm...was doing. As I held on to Flynn, I remembered he was the Creator, and I was safer for that alone. Again, we felt the house tremble, and I lost my balance, pulling Flynn down with me. We lay on the floor, a tangled mess of arms and legs. I opened my eyes in surprise, and found myself looking up into Flynn's blue orbs. In that instant, he smiled. Brushing loose hair from my face, he then kissed me gently. I felt his energy flow into me, removing me from the chaos that raged outside. There was nothing anywhere on the Grid but the Creator and me. The only thing I heard were Flynn's whisperings, the only thing I felt were his hands dancing over my form, giving me his power. I no longer felt afraid. I only wanted to join with the Creator, to share myself with him as he was sharing himself with me. But I didn't know how to even accomplish this. I looked up into his eyes, begging for his help. "Flynn, I want...I don't know...I love you," I suddenly blurted out.

He looked at me, his gaze intense, as if he were trying to read me. Again, he smiled, but this was different. All he said was "Q...", before he kissed me, this time harder, forcing my lips to part. I felt swept up in pure emotion, something not exactly foreign to me, but less familiar. I noticed then, the silence. "Flynn, listen."

He leaned on one elbow, tilting his head, listening. "Yeah, it seems to have stopped, finally." He stood, bringing me up with him. We waited cautiously.

Nothing.

Holding onto my hand, he led me to the window, where we saw only darkness. He laughed, saying, "It's over! And we survived, Quorra." He spun me around, and setting me on my feet, lifted my chin with his hand, asking, "Now, you were saying?"