Tron Legacy : Rectifier - Real World Invasion

Chapter Two

The Rectifier, along with Clu and his troops, are finally in the User world. What is his next plan? Find a User who can assist him in his goals. Sounds easy, but the US military is not going to sit by and let aliens take over the Earth. At least, that's what Melanie Scott hopes.

AU, of course.

I do not own Tron or Tron Legacy.

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Major Richard Bryce sat at his station at Beale Air Force base. His job, along with his team, involved monitoring all traffic in California air space. The ground-based surveillance system was the best in the country. Too bad there wasn't much out of the ordinary going on this shift. He was dedicated to his duties, but boredom often set in after hours of seeing nothing but typical air traffic.

One of his people called Bryce over to check his radar screen after he had noticed an anomaly suddenly appear as if from nowhere. According to the readings, it was the biggest blip he'd ever seen. Bryce checked for confirmation from the rest of his staff, then reached for the phone to notify his immediate supervising commander. "Sir, this is Major Bryce in the surveillance unit at Beale. We have an unknown ground bogey on radar. Triangulation shows the location as Center City in southern California. It's rectangular in shape, and according to telemetry, the damn thing is at least a mile long. Detection was not air to ground. It just fucking appeared out of nowhere. Sorry, sir."

Colonel Joseph Evans listened while the major gave him this information. He understood the feelings behind the language and didn't fault the major. He might end up uttering a few expletives himself. No country had anything this massive. Was this an actual UFO? "It's alright, Major. Scramble two reconnaissance jets. Tell them not to engage the target. I repeat, do not engage the target. Photos and recon only. Maybe they can get in and out without being noticed. I'll contact our SoCal bases, NORAD and Washington. The President and the Joint Chiefs have to be told ASAP."

"Yes, sir. I'll see to it right away." Major Bryce checked something else. "Sir, more info is now coming in via civilian networks. They're saying this thing took out 18 city blocks." Bryce took a deep breath to steady himself. "Reporting hundreds of casualties so far. Emergency units are already on site."

Colonel Evans hoped this was all the unknown would do. If it were alien craft and this destructive appearance was just an accident, attacking them might just make things worse. "All right, Major. Keep me posted on anything else you find out. This is a Priority One emergency, understood, Major? And get those vehicles in the air!"

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Clu's system had finally re-booted. He looked around and noticed the bridge programs were also coming back online. He looked out the large viewing window to see a city in the distance, not far from their location. Buildings around and beneath the ship were on fire. Smoke and the sound of sirens filled the air. The sky overhead was dark, but this didn't look like the Grid. The Rectifier hovered about five feet above the ground, the rubble of the neighborhood crushed beneath it. He demanded information of one of his bridge programs. Was there any damage to the ship, and where were they located? When hearing systems were all nominal, and that they were no longer on the Grid, Clu grinned. They'd made it through the portal, and he had succeeded. Clu was now in the User world.

Deciding that he would need more information before moving the Rectifier, Clu calculated what to do first. And there was the more urgent need of finding a User that would upload his weapon to the world's communications grid. He had decided that he would then announce his arrival to all the Users of Flynn's world.

Calling Rinzler, Clu gave his personal enforcer the order to take three recognizers out beyond the Rectifier. "Find Users and bring them to me." He would keep looking until he found the one who would be of use to him and his plan. "If anyone attempts to stop you, destroy them!"

Clu stood at the window, watching the Users outside running around in a panic. They carried damaged Users away from the area on some sort of carriers. Others were spraying liquid on the burning buildings. The ACP's thoughts wandered to the Creator. What would Flynn think of his success. He was outside, while Flynn was stuck on the Grid, most likely forever. Still, he would have liked to have had Flynn here, to watch him as Clu perfected his world.

Not far from his position, two sky vessels headed for the Rectifier. When Clu saw them, he marveled at their speed, but the flying machines did not fire any weapons. They flew over several times and moved off. Shaking his head, Clu already wondered about the actions of these Users. He needed just one to help him understand. Where was Rinzler?

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An impatient Clu was soon satisfied to see Rinzler had returned, bringing twenty-four Users with him to the bridge. Under the cover of darkness, they had been found on the streets and captured, with the sentries placing eight of the frightened prisoners in each recognizer. One off-duty police officer waiting for a street light to change exited his car on seeing the lights of the thing hovering overhead, and fired his gun at it. Confronting the lone attacker, Rinzler let his disk fly, cutting the human nearly in half. This was Clu's order, and Rinzler never disobeyed any directive given him by the Administration Control Program. He entered the remaining recognizer left on the ground and rising upward, led all three back to the Rectifier.

Clu walked up and down the row of assembled humans, examining them like a drill sergeant looking over a group of new recruits. He asked each their name and designation. With every response, his patience began to wear thin. This wasn't doing any good. None of them was proving to be of any use to him, until he reached a young woman who seemed to want to blend into the wall behind her.

The woman at the end of the row had been watching everything, cataloguing it all in case the police or military would want information. She wasn't terribly courageous, but she was smart. The alien appeared completely human and not unattractive, even speaking perfect English, she noted. He wore what seemed to be a uniform that was lit from within. In fact, everyone she had seen was dressed similarly. Only this man's light was yellow, while the others were red. Deciding he was the leader seemed rather obvious.

Coming to the last User, Clu stood in front of her, demanding, "I am Clu. What is your name and designation?"

Damn, it was her turn now. Maybe if she didn't stand out, she would survive this abduction. She had to give him the right answer, that she knew, but what was the right answer? Her mouth was so dry, she could barely swallow, let alone reply to his question. In a low voice, the frightened young woman licked her lips and replied, "My name is Melanie Scott. I'm a software engineer, civilian, at Beale Air Force base. I'm just on vacation here in Los Angeles."

"What is this air force base?" Clu asked with interest, not distracted by her last remark.

"Beale Air Force base is one of several military bases here in California." She told mentioned the location in case the alien wanted to know where on Earth they had landed.

Clu gave her a smile that sent a chill down her back. Military and a User. "Perfect. You will do nicely."

"Nicely for what?" she asked nervously. So much for lying low.

Clu smiled enigmatically, and turned to Rinzler. "Get rid of the others."

"Wait! Get rid of, what does that mean?'

"That is no concern of yours." Clu's expression warned her to be quiet, but she wasn't putting up with that. She had to negotiate if everyone else was going to survive.

"Ok! Let them live. Release them, and I'll stay willingly. I'll do whatever you want, just let them go. They obviously mean nothing to you. I, on the other hand, seem to. Just let them go."

Clu considered the User's words. It was true they were of no use to him. And if this female User cooperated, it would mean one less thing for him to worry about. He could always punish her if she tried to escape or refused orders. Turning to Rinzler, Clu gave the command, "Release them."

Melanie walked over to the window. She pointed to the police cordon the encircled the vessel. "I want to see them walk out there to the police. Once I know they're safe, I'll listen to anything you have to say."

Clu nodded at Rinzler, who removed the prisoners from the bridge and out a port exit to take them outside, then releasing them. Those that could, ran to the police line, others helping those who could not run as fast.

Melanie waited until she saw a couple of the officers lead everyone past the line to waiting squad cars. Satisfied everyone was safe, she turned to her captor and resigned herself to her captivity. She was counting on the military to do something to counter what this alien planned for her. Whatever her task was, she had to comply or find a way to sabotage his plans. "All right then. What are my orders?"

Clu moved behind Melanie, touching her neck below her right ear. She felt a painful electrical charge, let out a moan, and passed out. Clu caught her as she collapsed, and carried her to another room, placing her on a long table. A female program silently worked over the User, inserting a small disk into her skin below the ear. She turned to the ACP and nodded, then left the room.

Smiling, Clu knew the User would now be able to complete her job. The inserted device was also capable of rendering her more amenable to his commands.

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The recon ships had returned to base, and the information gathered by the flyovers was compiled into photos and telemetry, and forwarded to the Joint Chiefs and the White House. It was determined the ship was just over a mile long. The vessel was oddly open, fore and aft, the interior revealing hundreds of vessels that looked like tanks, some kind of air ships, and an innumerable number of troops. Questions were tossed out. If this thing came from another planet, what kept everything from being blown out into space. Maybe they used a force field of some sort. If they had force fields, would any weapon be able to penetrate it. Theories were bandied around the table, but they were just theories. So far, the ship had not moved, let alone attacked. But that would change eventually.

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Clu waited for Melanie to rouse, and smiling, offered her a glass of glowing liquid.

"What happened? Did I faint?" She stared at the glass, wondering what caused the glow. "Maybe I'm hungry. I know I'm thirsty." She sipped at the liquid and made a face. "This is awful." But it was a water-like liquid, so she drank it quickly, getting past the taste. She didn't think the alien would poison her after seemingly needing her for something. Her thirst was gone now, and the hunger was reduced. Alien food? she thought, shaking her head.

Clu took the glass from her. "Better? Good. Now let me show you the work you will be responsible for."

Leading the User from the room and back to the bridge, Clu showed her around, ending at the station she would be working. When he nodded at her, Melanie sat down, and began to examine the panels in front of her.

The ACP paced the bridge while Melanie examined the equipment she would be using. He watched as the horizon behind the city became a little lighter. "What's happening? What is that?"

Melanie stopped working and looked up, chuckling. "What, the sunrise?"

Flynn had mentioned the sun during their talks. The Grid was naturally dark, the light there generated by circuitry on and in the buildings, vehicles, and the programs themselves, but Flynn seemed to think the sun outside was better. Clu strode to the window and looked out. The horizon past the city was getting even lighter now. Curiosity forced him to linger as he watched everything in and around the city brighten. "Why is this sun so important to you?"

"We can't live without it. It affects the world's atmosphere and temperature levels. We need it to grow food, plants and animals. Without the sun, our planet would have no life. It'd just be one big giant ball of ice. How can any world out there not have a sun? Are you trying to tell me your planet has no sun?"

Clu placed his hand on the window and felt warmth. "Where we come from, there is no sun." He gave her a warning look. "Continue your work, User." He handed her the small device he had been carrying. "This is what you will download to your communications system. It's phase one of the work. Make yourself useful to me, and you might live."

Melanie swallowed hard and turned back to examine the panels, not sure if she would even be able to understand it all. As she pushed buttons and checked read outs, she found it was all coming easily to her. Melanie decided she was ready and looked over some information before starting the download. She inserted the device into its matching slot, then exhaled. She just had to wait now, monitoring the panels for any problems.

After awhile, once he had grown tired of staring at the sky, Clu came to stand at her side. He rested his gloved hand on her shoulder. "You're doing very well," he said, as if he were simply complimenting a painting she had done. The hand tightening on her shoulder said something else. He was telling her that if she did not fulfill her instructions, he had no reason to keep her around. She had to remain necessary in order to live.

Melanie's hands flew over the panel. How did she know how to operate any of this equipment? Uploading and downloading data to systems was easy. But the device he had given her was different technology, everything was. She was learning the use of the hardware they had, but how to do the work itself...it was that alien Clu. He had done something to her mind. She knew he was pacing behind her, watching her every move. At one point, she stopped. He also stopped.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice low. "Why have you ceased the work?"

"It's done. Only one keystroke left." She looked down at the panel. One button left to click, and the alien's plan would come to fruition, whatever that was.

"Then finish!" Clu ordered. "Why won't you finish?"

"I just...I can't." Melanie had no real idea what this program was going to do. Taking over the world's communications system could have devastating effects.

"Finish it now!" Clu placed a hand on her shoulder, and squeezed hard.

Melanie winced from the pain, and turned to look up at her captor. "Please don't make me do this. Maybe you could get together with the president, negotiate with the world's leaders. Something more peaceful. Less intrusive. Less damaging. Come on, Clu, this isn't some science fiction movie."

Clu had no idea what the female was talking about at the end of her tirade, but negotiations were not an option, yet. These humans would know who was in charge first. "You promised to do whatever I told you to get the other humans released. Is your word not to be trusted?" He waved his hand, and a Black Guard came forward, his weapon at the ready.

Melanie thought of her friends back at Beale. Somehow she would need to get Richard a message, which meant she had to stay here. Her hand hovered over the final input button. A tear slipped down her cheek. "That's my world out there."

Clu grinned and leaned closer, whispering in her ear. "It's my world. Now execute the command!"

Melanie, looked back at the panel. She found she just couldn't do it. Clu placed his hand over hers as he stood so close behind her, she could feel the heat of his body. His forefinger pressed hers, forcing the final key stroke. It was done. Melanie lowered her head.

Clu could have made the final keystroke himself, but he wanted the female to feel complicit, broken, even feeling guilt for the task she was ordered to do. "Thank you, User. You're proven yourself most useful."

When her head dropped, she quietly wept. "Because of you, I've betrayed my people, my world."

Clu's gloved fingers entwined in her long hair, pulling her head up and back, forcing her to look him in his eyes. "At least you didn't betray me."

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Major Bryce watched the news, in shock from the horrible reports. It had been hours, yet the massive ship had not moved an inch. Was it disabled or waiting for something else, orders maybe? Police had cordoned off every street leading to the area. Whoever had survived the arrival of the alien ship had been taken to hospitals all over the city.

The television screens around the base suddenly went dark, then the face of a man appeared on the screens, or at least something that looked like a man. The computers in the surveillance room also went dark. Bryce reached for the telephone, but heard only static on the receiver. He heard a voice and turned to one of the monitors.

"Hey, look at this. The bastard is on my cell too," one of the surveillance officers said. Bryce looked to see the alien there as well. Apparently all forms of communications were being affected.

"I am Clu. I have taken control of your communications system so that you'll know who's in charge now. If you do as I say, there will be little damage to your world. If you intend to confront me, be aware that I have this vessel, armaments and all the troops I need to fight you. I have only one goal. To perfect this world. If you assist me in this goal, all will benefit. However..." Clu could not suppress a chuckle. "...if you prefer to fight me, many will die. The choice is yours. I hope you make the right one. End of line."

Melanie listened as Clu gave his speech that would appear on every television set, smart phone, and computer screen across the world. It was an odd speech, and the sign off was familiar to her. End of line? She used to see it in her work. In fact, some of his references were odd. Maybe these aliens existed in a computer-based technological world.

Melanie noticed something else that she had not noticed before while she had been entering the data into the communications upload. This was more complex than any tampering with devices. It was much more insidious. Checking the data several times, Melanie realized she had been duped. This alien Clu had tricked her into downloading a virus programmed to infiltrate every system that united the world together. Financial, business, government...and military. He had intended this all along. He had just attacked the entire planet without firing a single shot. And if no one could stop this virus, he could end up controlling the systems of the world.

"What was I really doing in downloading this program of yours? It's about to take down system after system, and not just communications. It's like some kind of worm or trojan virus. You lied to me!"

"You did your job well, User. Yes, I'll now have control of anything that depends on programming to complete its functions."

Melanie had to temper her anger, to keep from forcing Clu's hand into killing her. "So your plan was to attack the world from within. Not to attack the world's combined military might. But to paralyze us completely. Anything else I should know?"

"You have no idea," was Clu's reply.

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The Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with all top military personnel, were sitting in a room discussing the latest news regarding the alien space ship. This was an all-hands meeting, one of great urgency. General Edward Carson stood, fixating a stare at each member in the room. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are not talking war in the typical sense. This Clu is an unknown, something we've never encountered before. Alien or not, if he succeeds, it will mean the Internet, the entire world internet system, will be under his control. No more international banking system, no hospitals, airline flights, stores! All online functions, gone! Buying a loaf of bread will not be the same. It was never his plan to fight us man to man or ship to ship. He's planning on taking over the one thing that unites the entire planet. Once he has control of all the world's systems, he'll control everything. Including the military."

Someone in the back of the room spoke up. "Do you think, sir, that this Clu is NOT an alien? Who on Earth would have such a vessel AND the capability to do what he's doing?"

"We're not sure about anything right now. We're just waiting...waiting and watching. We have every branch of the military on full alert. Our foreign allies are also on alert. This could be a worldwide disaster, one we've never encountered before. And we don't know how to stop it."