Now that things have failed in so many ways, those involved mull over their new situations.
Ultimate Ally : Epilogue
In the real World - ENCOM
Alex raced down the hall as she headed to her office, turned the corner...and ran smack into Alan Bradley.
"Alan!" she cried, as she tried to catch her breath.
The startled Chief Operating Officer gave Alex a cocked eyebrow. "And where have you been? Your department head said you've been AWOL for a few days now. In fact, isn't that the same outfit I saw you in before you...disappeared?" He crossed his arms as he waited for an answer. He knew Alex Kincaid was not one to goof off or even go against corporate policies, not without a good reason anyway.
"I'm sorry, Alan. I was so busy working on, um...a special project, that I found I really needed to take a break and get away. I guess I forgot to run it by my supervisor," she shrugged, trying to appear casual. She exhaled deeply, still stressed from her losses.
"Special project?" he asked curiously.
"Just something Kevin and I had talked about, back before he, uh..." Alex couldn't think of a convincing enough lie, so chose to shut up instead. "Anyway, I lost track of time, and..."
"That bad, huh?" He made note of her slightly disheveled look and blood-shot eyes. "Is there anything wrong, Alex?"
"No, not at all. Just working hard, maybe too hard. Alan, can you please take care of this for me?" she asked in a pleading voice. He is the COO, after all, Alex thought. If anyone can cover for me, it'll be Alan.
"Sure, I'll take care of it." Alan reached out with a hand, placing it on her shoulder, somehow sensing that things were not ok. "So this project...what does it have to do with?" For a brief moment, he had forgotten what they had originally been talking about.
"I, uh,...can I brief you on it later, Alan?" Alex smiled wanly at him. "I'm really tired. I did take care of a small detail that was holding things up. Got that fixed anyway."
"You fixed it, alone?." He eyed her suspiciously. Alex was one of the best programmers ENCOM had. So what had she and Flynn cooked up together so long ago, and yet she was working on it only just now.
"Oh, I'm good, but I'm not that good. I had help from...some friends," she said smiling, remembering Flynn clearly. So she had been with him. It hadn't been a dream.
Alan peered at Alex closely, wondering what unspoken things she wasn't fessing up to. He could just sense something was going on. "For some reason, I have this feeling that you're not telling me everything, and that you're not ok. You seem really out of it."
"My mini-getaway wasn't as...restful...as I'd hoped. That's all. I'm fine. As I said, just tired"
"Look, why don't you take the rest of today off. Stay home tomorrow too. That'll give you a nice, long weekend to relax. I'll talk to your manager." Alan knew of Alex's relationship with Kevin Flynn. They'd often gone off to work on pet projects together, only to get drunk and end up sharing fantastic stories that were better off on science fiction booklists. Alex knew of Kevin and Alan's friendship, so she must have felt that if she mentioned it to Alan, he would understand. He would nod and listen, but he had no idea what she'd been talking about.
Alex smiled up at her boss. If there was anyone she wanted to work under, it was Alan Bradley. No one else cared as much about ENCOM or it's employees. "Thanks, Alan. You know, I think Kevin, wherever he is, would appreciate everything you've done for Sam, and for the company. I know he'd be grateful for your loyalty and friendship."
"What else could I do in his absence? Now go home, Kincaid, and get some rest. We'll talk when you get back Monday." Alan placed an arm around her shoulder, leading her to the elevator just down the corridor.
Alex thought for a moment, wondering if Alan would be able to help her get back to the Grid. He'd been a good programmer before his promotion, but he seemed to be completely unfamiliar with Kevin's experiences, so maybe, for whatever reason he had, Kevin hadn't revealed anything at all to his best friend. And he had made her promise to say nothing when she returned to the outside. Still, she wanted him to know, for Sam's sake as well. She stopped at the elevator doors, and faced him. "Alan..." She again remembered Kevin's insistence on her silence to everyone, including Alan, about his being on the Grid. Her desire to get back there battled with her integrity.
"Yes, Alex?" Alan waited.
Her integrity won. Alex merely smiled, saying, "Thanks, Alan, for everything. I'll see you in a few days."
"Just enjoy the time off, kiddo." Alan gave her a reassuring smile and wink as the elevator doors shut between them.
Once in the employee parking lot, Alex found her car in the same space she had left it. She unlocked the door, got inside, and leaning her head on the steering wheel, let the tears flow unchecked. She cried for Flynn, for Paramax, and most of all, for Clu. And she cried for herself. The loss she felt was almost unbearable.
Driving home on autopilot, Alex finally reached her cozy apartment, which now felt empty and unfamiliar. Here outside, she hadn't been gone very long, but her time on the Grid felt like months had passed. She undressed, and got into the shower, letting the hot water wash over her. Again, Alex started crying, her tears mixing with the water that flowed over her head.
She stepped out of the shower and dried off, noticing that there were no circuitry lines anywhere on her skin. Her heart sank as she realized she was no longer a part of the Grid.
Later, she put on a robe, and making a cup of tea for herself, sat on the sofa. Alex wondered why she had left in the first place. Why couldn't Kevin have been the one to leave? He would be here now, back home with Sam, and probably 100 reporters wanting to know where he'd been the past three years.
Placing her cup in the sink, Alex went to bed, feeling bereft and alone. She had never actually slept with Clu, but often, after their satisfying joinings, they would lie there, talking or joking around. At least, Alex would attempt to tease the program, who didn't fully understand her humor. Now she lay beneath her blankets, feeling only the cold that comes from having no one beside you. As she wrapped her arms around herself, Alex decided that somehow, she would get back. Somehow, she would return to Clu and her life on the Grid.
What Alex hadn't thought of was how time passed on the Grid unmatched to the ticking of time in the outside world. Clu had already relegated his experiences with Alex to his deepest memory.
In the digital world - The Outlands
Flynn stood on the patio, staring over the dark, craggy mounds of data, out towards the glowing city. He despaired ever being there again. He had built the city to feel like home to the Users who would one day inhabit the Grid. That dream had died when Clu betrayed him. But it seemed a possibility again due to Alex and her growing influence over Clu. Insisting Flynn be allowed back into the city was the first step. Now that the dream to continue building up the Grid was gone, Flynn accepted his situation. He and Quorra would remain in exile for as long as he lived. What would happen to the ISO when he died was an eventuality he wouldn't dwell on. He turned around, hearing Quorra approach from inside.
"Will you be resting soon, Flynn? You've been through a lot."
"Yes, Q, I think I'll go to my room and meditate a bit." He brushed the hair from her concerned face with the tips of his fingers, and smiling, went to his bedroom. As he passed through the main room, he thought he might do some redecorating. The place was definitely beginning to look shabby.
In the digital world -Tron City
Clu stormed into the control room. He looked at Jarvis sitting at his station, noticing he wasn't acknowledging Clu's presence. That was fine with the Administrative program, since he had no desire to speak with his aide. He sat in his chair, now morphed just for him. With Alex gone, he didn't need the larger unit anymore. Staring out the large viewing window, Clu thought back to when he first had seen Alex. She stood before him proud, haughty even, and unafraid. She faced him on his terms, and had adapted well. When she had defiantly kissed him, his programming forced him to return the action, just to show her that it was he who was in charge. They had clashed, compromised, fought and loved, all in the short time they were together. Clu didn't know how long she would have existed had she stayed on the Grid. Now, it didn't matter.
Clu recalled when they had first joined, remembering the sensations he felt from her touch, the touch of a User. Even now, his sensories responded to the memory with a spark of energy that flowed within him. Then it was gone. She was gone.
Never again would Clu trust Users, he decided. Flynn had betrayed him once more, and after Clu had accepted the Creator's so-called offer of friendship. Users were flawed. They would find no place here amongst his perfections, and if any did find their way in, Clu would enjoy the pleasure of dispatching them personally.
I will take your world away from the Users, Flynn. I'll build an army, one which will take over all of your systems and perfect everything. Then your world will be mine.
Clu glanced over at Jarvis. He saw Rinzler waiting to the side for any orders his master might give him. His most obedient and faithful programs. Clu clenched his fist, realizing that they were expendable. Every program on the Grid was there to serve Clu's plan, and every one was expendable. "Jarvis!"
The Intelligence Officer jumped up, eagerly running over to his master. "Yes, Your Excellency. How may I be of assistance?" Since the Users were now gone, Jarvis was sure everything would return to the way it had been. And this pleased him.
Clu didn't look up at his aide. He only gave him the simple order, "Make plans for a new round of Games. Any program that does not swear loyalty to me will be placed on the game grid. See to it!"
"Yes, Your Excellency. Right away." Jarvis strode from the room, smiling broadly. Yes, things were already returning to normalcy.
Later, as his command ship settled on the docking port overlooking the Disk Wars cages, Clu rezzed his robe around his form, that and his helmet, both lending authority to his presence. Taking his seat in front of the window, he gave Jarvis the final order. "Begin the Games."
A/N: there, it is done, dear readers. As I said, this story blends into the film, so you can see how Clu and Flynn adapt to the consequences of their actions, leading up to where we see them later. Only Alex's future is an unknown, not being part of the movie. I like to think that Alan might have helped her, but we see that he has no knowledge of the Grid.
In response to recent comments, yes, Jarvis is as self-serving as Castor. But we know what his future is, and justly so.
I had decided contrary to what others thought when the movie came out, Clu could learn, grow and adapt. And yes, he was falling back on his original directives, but also, his renewed hatred for Users will be felt by those who follow or worship them. He sent Flynn away because, in his anger, he knew he would have killed him. He didn't want to do that for Alex's sake, but as she stated earlier, it was very possible he wouldn't have been able to kill his Creator even if he wanted to. That ties to his actions in the film.
As for Castor, we saw him go back to the club, having decided to wait for another opportunity to show up. Castor is a patient program, as it did take some time for another User to show up on the Grid, in the form of Sam Flynn. But as with Jarvis, we see that placing your eggs in Clu's basket generally doesn't bring much return.
Thanks to all my lovely readers. Glad you enjoyed and stuck it out with me. I will miss writing about Clu and Alex, but it was time to move on. At least I finished it, right? I will miss Clu lol. Gotta love that program.