Fragmentation I

Title: Fragmentation I

Genre: Family/Drama

Summary: AU, Subroutine 'verse. More Fragmented pieces of narratives from the Subroutine Universe. Tales Span from the perspectives of Edward Dillinger, Walter Gibbs, Mercury and Jethro Bradley.

Author: Sakura123

Rating: T

Characters: Edward Dillinger/Jr., Lora Bradley, Walter Gibbs, Mercury, Quorra, Jet Bradley, Sam Flynn, Other(s)

Chapters: 1/4

Written: 9/28/2011

Completed: 3/18/2011

Updated: 8/17/2018

Disclaimer: Tron/2.0/Legacy is property of Steven Lisbgerger, Bonnie McBird and Walt Disney Studios (and some other guys I'm probably forgetting but can't care to remember).

Title: There was a title for this but it sounded too snarky to use

Summary: AU, Subroutine 'verse. Sam tells Jet some rather interesting details he overheard from an old university friend.

Prompt: None felt like chewing on a particular characterization of Jet from seriousfic's "Save a Horse, mount an ISO (2/2)", which is amusing (read: bad) for the most part.

Sam Flynn apparently has nothing better to do but call him at six forty five in the morning and disturb an already troubled sleeping pattern. Groggy, and not necessarily feeling terribly inclined to be "the gentle host", Jet marched down the stairs with all the grace of a sleeping man and approached the door.

The silhouette of his friend next to the noticeably shorter figure almost gave him pause, however, the excited movements of the tiny dancer revealed her identity immediately. Unlocking the door, he opened it with the usual flair, alerting the figure lying on the couch in the middle of the floor.

Jet cast a noncommittal glance in her direction and wasn't prepared for the tackle he was served by Quorra. "Hello, Jethro!" She greeted with the usual calm enthusiasm he'd come to know. In quick succession, Sam flashed Jet a quick smile and strolled into the arcade turned apartment as if everything had gone according to plan. He was sure Sam wasn't betting on the sentinel leaping out from under the sheet she was covered in. Mercury stood at her full height, an impressive 5'11'', fists clenched and muscles primed to launch her into an attack. Sam went completely still, knowing better than to even backpedal now that she had her sights set on him. Shifting his gaze over to Jet, he asked, "She's still doing this?"

Of course she was. Mercury, he learned, wasn't someone who was easy to forgive and forget. Reality was strange enough without her having to remember Sam wasn't an enemy. Turning so that he was facing her, Jet waved his hand gently. "Mercury, it's just Sam. You remember Sam, right?" Jet managed to say with Quorra squeezing him in an adoring arm lock. Mercury looked to Sam with mild recognition as she sized him up. Finally, she lowered her arms and her posture relaxed.

Both young men breathed a sigh of relief. Quorra watched the ordeal with hidden concern before releasing Jet from her hug, he smiled tiredly at her. "Nice to see you too, Quorra," He greeted her. "What brings you two to my humble abode?" Sam shrugged his shoulders, adjusting the strap of his backpack. He looked as a tired as he did, his clothes were wrinkled, thrown on at the last second, and his hair stood up higher than his own without the mousse.

"Sam's apartment-slash-box is being fumigated for bugs of some sort," Quorra sighed, stretching her arms over her head. "They like to eat wood." There was a dejected sigh from Mercury, who's pixie cut suddenly complemented the harsh expression she aimed directly at Sam. "Oh, joy, more occupants," She mused. "Will your significant other have an issue with them as well?" Jet didn't answer right away, his silence was enough to tell the program that Eva would indeed take issue with two more people taking up what was supposed "her time" with Jet. Exhaling slowly, the program made flesh made her way around the couch and proceeded toward Jet. "So the box is being fumigated and your first thought is to crash at the arcade, because-?" Jet trailed off, pretending not to notice how Mercury's eyes were studying him with the usual detached curiosity.

Sam shrugged. "It was relatively closer than Lora and Alan's," Sam commented, scratching the back of his head. Jet stared at his friend long and hard. "I actually think it's kind of the opposite, Sammy," Jet countered flatly.

"Okay, I felt like playing games," Sam offered as a viable excuse. "Besides, I've gotta ask you something."

"And that would be?"

"I ran into one of your old classmates yesterday."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, he said his name was Michael."

"I remember him."

"Yeah, well, he told me something really strange," Sam began. Jet rolled his eyes in exasperation, knowing what was come to next. "He said that you used to smoke Kush-"

"-To celebrate passing tests and was jumpy and paranoid about the FBI for weeks, yeah, I heard," Jet with a humorless smile.

There was an awkward pause between the two, Mercury and Quorra exchanged glances as they rattled through their minds for the definitions of "Kush". "That true?" Sam asked after a moment.

"Sam I've done a lot irresponsible things in my time, but smoking weed isn't one of them," Jet replied with a frown. "My old classmate, Michael, on the other hand, did. There was hardly a time when he wasn't in the fridge, on the couch, or out of his mind. I didn't know he got released from prison though."

"He got arrested? How come you never told me that?" Sam inquired. Jet shrugged his shoulders. "It wasn't something I thought was important, especially since I never really made it a point to talk to him afterward."

Quorra hummed in curious delight. "You were doing the right thing while performing illegal operations yourself. That kind of behavior would classify you as very masculine, no?"

"I think the term you're looking for is 'very anti-establishment', program," Mercury replied evenly, leaning against one of the arcade consoles. Quorra ignored her, choosing to roll her eyes instead of answering.

"Pretty much," Jet answered, ignoring the dueling gazes of the two female programs. "And, yeah, Mike got arrested for trying to hack the CIA database after a suit came to visit our dorm. It would've been a pretty hilarious sight if I hadn't been doing the same thing on a daily basis. Lucky for me, I know how not to get caught."

"Huh," Sam shrugged his shoulders. "You learn something new every day." There was no real way of responding to that bit of commentary without the standard smartassery, so Jet left it hanging as is. "If you're still interested in sticking around, I've got leftover pizza and Chinese in the fridge. Help yourself if you're hungry."

"Where are you going?" Sam inquired as Jet started toward the other room.

"Back to bed, where else would I be going? You three play nice, Mercury, I mean it."

"Of course, Jethro, I will be on my best behavior in your absence. I will even let them order takeout."

"I prefer the Chinese versus the pizza," Quorra declared, walking toward the stairway. "The texture of the cheese and oil is balanced better overall."