Tron Legacy : Rectifier - Real World Invasion

Chapter Five

The Rectifier gets closer to Washington DC, while Melanie tries to convince Clu to change his plans of attacking the capitol of her country.

AU, of course.

All government staff are fake-named, including the president.

I do not own Tron or Tron Legacy.

ON HIATUS

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Melanie knew the truth now. So these "aliens" were in fact computer programs, in human form, that had somehow escaped from the Grid, whatever that was. And somehow, Kevin Flynn was responsible. Accidently or on purpose, she didn't know. "Clu, why are you so dead set on taking over the world's government? I mean, you're just programs, so why..."

Clu strode over to the User's station, gripping her wrist and pulling her up off her seat. "Just programs? Look at how easily we've taken over your world's systems! Look at everything we've done so far!"

"I know what you've done, Clu," she retorted. "I helped you do it!" Melanie was shaking, she was so startled at how fast Clu reached her. She had to avoid making him angry in future.

"And you will continue to help me, if you want to live. That should be a simple enough directive." He stared daggers at her, not caring if he was hurting her. But finally, his anger quickly spent, Clu let Melanie's arm drop, and returned to his spot by the window. There's nothing "just" about me, Clu thought. He was Flynn's best creation, and he had grown beyond Flynn's original directive. He was here in the User world while Flynn was trapped on the Grid with his son and that arrogant female ISO.

She rubbed her wrist while she watched her panel. They were very close to DC, and she knew the local bases in the area would be on high alert. She peered over at Clu while he seemed entranced at whatever he was looking at. Assuming he was marveling at the differences between his world and this one, apparently not even knowing what a sunrise was, Melanie took a chance his anger had passed, and stood, joining him. "Enjoying the view?"

"Your world is very different from the Grid. I do find it fascinating." Giving the User a side glance, Clu imagined building his new Administrative Tower on a high mountain, with a view of everything around him. Or perhaps he would choose one of their large cities, making his tower there. The populace would know who was in charge whenever they looked upon it.

He turned to look at his "guest". "It's like nothing I've seen before," Clu admitted. "Once the imperfections have been eliminated..."

"Eliminated? This world has a lot of imperfections, Clu, things I doubt you'd understand. If you live on the West Coast, they have earthquakes, major ground tremors. If you live in the Midwest, they have tornadoes. The South has floods. The East Coast has hurricanes. And drought can feed fires, affecting many areas. We've set up warning systems, and tried to compensate for these situations, but people still die. Damage is done that has to be repaired, if it can be. Flaws of the country's natural system, if you will, that you can't fix. And it's not just here in my country. It's all over the world. Every country out there has its flaws."

Looking outside, Clu's mind studied her words. Calculations on solutions to her warnings would be for later. It didn't matter now. He would take care of the population first, and bend them to his will. Since Users, humans, could not be repurposed, Clu knew he would have to subjugate them in order for them to accept his world order. He would have his sentries monitoring for any sign of treason in every major city of their world.

Clu gazed at the human female, assessing her usefulness. "You may be of additional help to me, Melanie Scott. I will need a liaison, once I have built my administrative tower. Having a human who knows her world and how it all operates would be of immense value to me. It would be your job to communicate to the humans my orders, and see that they're followed."

Shocked, Melanie didn't want to think about something like that. "You want me to work for you? No, I won't do that. I feel bad enough doing what you've ordered me to do so far."

Clu glared at the human. He didn't understand how she could refuse his offer as a chance to contribute to his views for her world. "Think about it again. I would reward you well." He left for the flight bay with Rinzler to check on the readiness of his sentries, but not before ordering his bridge programs to make sure the human didn't leave her station.

Melanie watched Clu leave. This was her chance. Keeping an eye on the ship's pilots, she moved one hand slowly over her panels. She entered in the data she needed, and hit the enter button, or what passed for an enter button. Hopefully her transmission, a message to Beale, would make it to someone who could pass it on to Richard Bryce. At least he would know she was on this ship as a prisoner, but still alive. She wished she had time to put together a larger message, but the military would know their heading soon enough and why.

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General Carson and the Joint Chiefs had read over various reports sent since the arrival of the alien ship. Once it had left the area, local authorities had found some more survivors in the Center City neighborhood that had been flattened. It was deduced that the old Flynn's Arcade had been the center point of the destruction. Those people who had been kidnapped and held aboard the vessel were interviewed. One constant was the woman who had been kept behind when they were released. She was being called a hero for volunteering to stay so that the group might be allowed to leave. A few actually remembered that she had mentioned being a civilian computer expert who worked at Beale Air Force base, but none recalled her name.

"Send a message to Beale. Have them check all civilian staff. See if anyone is being reported as missing or AWOL from their work shift."

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One of the bridge programs left his station and approached a sentry who was standing guard. He spoke to the sentry in a low voice, then looked over at the User. The sentry nodded and left the bridge.

Melanie's heart began to pound. Why had he looked over at her? She went back to her work, hoping she was just being paranoid. When she saw Clu re-enter the bridge, she tried to look busy...and innocent of any wrongdoing. It didn't work.

Anger etched on his face, Clu pointed at the two sentries, then at Melanie. Pulling her roughly from her seat, they each took her by an arm, holding her tightly, awaiting Clu's orders. "So you sent a message to your fellow humans. Why? And you were doing so well, User. I was quite willing to give you allowances, until you decided to betray me." He stepped in front of her, his face inches from hers. One gloved hand caressed her cheek. "How would you like it if I had you tossed over the side. We're pretty high up. I doubt you'd survive the fall." He smiled with satisfaction when he saw fear in her eyes as she attempted to pull away from his touch. "Take the User to her room and lock her in. Stand guard outside her door. I'll decide what to do with her later.'

Melanie struggled against her captors, but it was no use. They held onto her fast. She looked back at Clu, who merely glared at her with hate in his eyes, then he turned his back to her. "You need me, Clu. You need me!" she shouted at the ship's commander. Melanie had wanted to become indispensable. Clu would be less likely to kill her if she proved to be necessary. She'd blown it by sending that message to Richard. At least if he got the message, he'd know she was ok. At least for now. She hoped her attempt was not for nothing.

Without the User working at her station, Clu was blind as to what to do. He realized that the User was right. He did need her. But he had to ensure she didn't try to do anything against him again. The device below her ear was to make sure she remained obedient to his will, but it must not be working as well as it should have. He would have to take care of her himself.

He left Rinzler in charge, and headed for the User's room. The one he had so graciously created for her. And this was her thanks. Dismissing the two sentries at her door, Clu entered her room without knocking to find the User lying on her bed, eyes closed. He had wanted to come blowing in aided by a good dose of anger at her treachery. Looking at her lying there so peacefully, and unafraid enough to be that way, he wavered briefly from his planned punishment. But he had to cure this User out of coming up with any further ideas of helping the humans of her world, instead of serving him.

"Wake up, User!" His voiced fairly boomed within the confines of the small, unadorned quarters.

Melanie woke with a start. She sat up, noticing Clu standing in the middle of her room, his arms hanging at his sides, hands knotted into fists. In two steps he was in front of her, eyes boring into hers. He grasped her upper arms and pulled her to a standing position.

"I trusted you," he said without emotion. His anger had dissipated. This was going to be a lesson in obedience. "You failed me in doing your duty. You promised me your loyalty, and now you lie to me by trying to..."

"Just Richard, Clu. My boyfriend, remember I told you about him. I sent no messages to anyone else, I swear!" He was not using her given name but rather the term User. She had been so close to currying his trust.

Her eyes showed fear, so this was working as he'd wanted it to. "Your lies won't save you, User. If you won't serve me in the way you were trained, there may be another way you can service me." With one arm, Clu pulled the human female closer, then placed both his arms around her body. Once, Flynn had explained human sex to his creation, both consensual and the thing he had called rape. It was used, or so Flynn had said, as a punishment or as a control. Consensual sex was for pleasure while rape was a way to control females, and at times, males as well. Would this User fear being raped by him. Could he hold it over her head as a threat? Should he?

Melanie felt his warm breathe on her neck as he began to nuzzle it. He wasn't going to really do this. A computer program? She struggled in his arms, trying to push him away. The body armour he wore protected him from her nails. She tried to scratch his face, but saw that inflicted little damage. "Don't do this, please! I'll do anything you say."

"You already broke that promise, User." He was beginning to enjoy her struggling against him. He'd never done this before, but thought it an apt way to frighten her into obedience. There wasn't much time for him to enjoy her as he might want. One more thing, he calculated, would make her pliable again. He let go of her with one arm, and slid his hand up her leg. He wished she were not covered in so much fabric, but his intent was the important thing. He rested his hand on her butt, melding her body hard against his, and bent his head to kiss her, forcing her mouth open with his tongue. He tasted her fear which spurred him on. He pulled back to see her expression.

"No, Clu, please don't do this," Melanie begged, scared and angry all at once. His mouth silenced her pleas. She thought of Richard, and began to fight back harder.

Clu stopped. He still held her tightly, but was no longer mauling her. He stared into her eyes, unblinking. "We have no time for this...little pleasure, but I won't forget it, IF you ever betray me again..."

Melanie shook her head. "I won't, I swear." Her hands were still pressing against his chest.

Clu gave her a smug smile, as he stepped back from his prisoner. Perhaps, when the negotiations had been completed, and the leader of this country acquiesced to his demands, Clu would look into this lesson again. Maybe the User would not fight so hard next time. Abruptly, he left her room without another word.

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A sentry was sent to have the others guarding her bring her back to the bridge. Clu believed he had put enough fear into her that she would not defy him again. He believed she would now do her job with complete loyalty, or know the consequences. User vessels had been shadowing the Rectifier for some time, but had not fired upon it. The recognizers made sure none got close. But Clu wanted to know their likely course of action.

After washing her face, Melanie left her room and walked slowly to her station, giving Clu a quick glance before turning away from him. She sat down, controlled the shaking of her hands, and looked over her panels, seeing a message coming in. Bastard, how long had it been here, she wondered. She keyed in communications, allowing in the open line from whomever was trying to contact them. "Incoming Message for the ship's commander," she said.

Clu waited by her side, wondering if it was right for him to let the User act as his representative. But she knew her own people, and he trusted his "lesson" had been understood. "Very well. Handle this the best way you see fit."

Since no visual connection was being made, Melanie knew her face would remain unseen. "This is the warship Rectifier. Commander Clu wishes to meet with the president of the United States on his vessel as soon as possible, to discuss the terms for your surrender."

After a minute or two, a voice replied over the channel. "This is Mark Ables, Senior Advisor to the President."

"Where is this president? Why isn't he responding?" Clu demanded.

Melanie held up her hand to silence Clu. He was going to mess up everything with his impatience.

"The president thinks a meeting at the White Houses would be more appropriate," Ables suggested.

"So that your people can capture us? No, we think a meeting here would be better. Then we can show you what you will be fighting against if you don't surrender. You have one hour to reply so that the time and place can be decided. Delay any further, and we will show you what damage this vessel can do. Warship Rectifier out." Melanie closed the communication line, then swiveled her seat to face Clu. "That was actually kind of fun. So now we wait."

"This is absurd. Why did you say we would wait for them?"

Melanie didn't want to help Clu at all, after his attack on her, but something compelled her to go along with his orders. "Do you trust me or not?"

Clu calculated her usefulness against a second potential betrayal, and decided to trust her. "What idea do you have, Melanie Scott?"

She thought a moment. "Well, first we get the president onboard. He will be an asset to us once he's here."

"In what way!" Clu demanded. Melanie was an asset as a User and a human, but how could this human be more valuable?

"Think, Clu. Once he's on board the Rectifier, they won't dare attack this ship. They will do nothing to endanger the life of the president. Understand?"

A slow smile came over Clu's face as he nodded. "I do understand. A hostage, but not by force. We treat him as an honoured guest for the time being." He gave Melanie a full grin. "Very smart, Melanie Scott."

"Would you just go back to calling me Melanie please? Now the next thing you do is to deploy some of your machines. While the president is on the bridge, send out more recognizers, some of your tanks, and a few light ships. Oh, and deploy your soldiers to surround the ship."

"Sentries," Clu corrected her.

"Alright, sentries. Lots of them. Once we're on the ground, and on that we have no choice," she emphasized." At this altitude, we can't do a thing. It's risky, but we'll have to land, both to allow the president onboard, and for you to exhibit your...show of force.

Clu paced the deck, one hand on his chin as he assimilated her words. Her suggestions were sound. "Very well, once we have heard from the humans, we will begin our descent. Slow and easy. The recognizers will watch for any air vessels heading our way. I'm pleased with you, Melanie. I may even learn to trust you again." Clu lay a hand on her shoulder, this time lighter, more encouraging. Still, Melanie pulled away ever so slightly from his touch.

Wondering what she could do to keep everything from falling apart, Melanie tried to look at both outcomes. If the president surrendered, and she knew he would not, or if the military fought them. This ship could probably go higher than it had so far, if programs didn't need oxygen to breathe, but it couldn't with her onboard. It seemed only the bridge was fully enclosed. She had to stay in this part of the ship and hope for the best.

Her attempt to contact Richard seemingly failed, but she couldn't be sure of that. She'd almost blown it by incurring Clu's wrath. She felt extremely lucky that he didn't just have her thrown off the ship to her death. If she could get him together with President Taylor, maybe she could, with his help, convince Clu to forget his plan of conquest.

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Unknown to Melanie, Richard Bryce had received her message. He was relieved to know she was alive, but she must have been under duress since the message was not long and gave little information. He hoped she might be able to send another. By now it had been determined that she was the one captured, and her communication confirmed that. He was proud that she had been the one who volunteered to stay, allowing the other prisoners to escape with their lives.

A/N : Don't worry, there will be fighting, death, and destruction.