ReName Program
SUP CH 2
BY Wolfa Moon
SUMMARY: Sam came to the grid that night. Kevin had to leave him behind. Tron raises Sam on the grid.
DISCLAIMER: Don't own.
RNP
Kevin took in the grid. His grid. Well once his grid. The streets once filled with programs now deserted. Walking down the street he takes things in. He wanted to bring Alan with him. But he needed a helper on the outside. The little earpiece in his ear is static right now. But when he needs to call for it. He can get help.
Turning around he takes it in. Flynn still readable on the building. But LIVES is written in bright colors painting next to it.
The serenity didn't last. Centurions came toward me. Lights from the sky hovered from above. Looking straight into it he didn't hear the light cycles coming toward him. He is surrounded. But he is not alone.
Tron disengages his bike, flips over Kevin disc blaring in his hand.
"Tron?" Kevin spoke in awe. The centurions came at them. But what caught his attention are the other two figures behind him. A young man and woman. They began to fight the others. Once all the ground forces were dealt with. One battle won. That still left the flying force. Tron came over to Flynn.
"Greetings Flynn."
"Tron," still amazed he began to lay a hand on him but Tron is pulled back by the younger man.
"Tron, we need to get out of here." Tron nodded to the young man.
"You go I'll hold them off." The force in his voice held such command. Sam's eyes widened. So did Kevin's at the tone. A tone that had haunted his dreams.
"No." Tron looked deep into Sam's eyes. Kevin observed the staring match. The emotions playing on the young man's face. Sam shivered, relenting to his guardians orders. Not liking it.
"Go," Tron handed an extra bar to Flynn. Kevin taking it. "Follow them. I'll be with you soon." Sam looked to his dad. His father looked old, worn.
"You better." Tron smiled over at Sam. Kevin could only watch at the easy interaction between them. Then he saw it. Heard it. It was her tone. Her smile. His beloved wife's. Gasping at recognizing his son. His grown son. "Follow us." Sam ordered before he took a running leap to allow his bike to form around him. He turned his cycle back toward Flynn. Kevin nodded once and made his start. Tron stood watching as Flynn pulled up along side Sam. Quorra stepped close to Tron. Tiptoeing up she places a chaste kiss on his cheek.
"Come home soon." Tron nodded. She materialized her vehicle and they all left. More forces came to the area. And Tron stood there ready.
RNP
Sam drove as fast as he could to haven. His thoughts elsewhere. But he promised Tron to come home and he always kept his promises. Just like Tron always kept his.
As soon as they made it back to their haven. Sam closed his cycle. Moving to their look out point. Giving him the advantage to see all who entered their haven. Kevin observed his son as he stood still as a statue.
"He's waiting for Tron." Quorra informed Kevin as she moved past. Coming to stand beside Sam. She laid a supportive hand on his arm. He didn't move at her touch. He is a statue waiting. A watcher guarding the path for the one who is left behind. A safe journey home.
Kevin looked around while his son waited for the security program. Looking at the haven he had set up it had become a village. A village of refuges and ISO's.
The sound of a sputtering rundown vehicle made it's way toward them. Lights flickering in an out upon approach. Sam moves impossibly fast over. The cycle tilted to the side falling onto it's side. Diving the ground. Then it dissipated and the rider fell onto the landscape. Sam grabbed and lifted the rider up. Moving quickly he dragged Tron off to his room. Kevin could only watch. His son's face a maelstrom of emotions. Quorra stands beside Kevin. Looking away from his son he looks to the only one left for answers to his questions.
"What's going on? Are Tron and he?" Kevin moved his head from side to side. Quorra tilts her head. Making another noise. She laughed.
"No, no. Tron is Sam's guardian. I am the one that is," tilts her head from side to side. "With Sam." Kevin took her in. Eyeing the ISO mark on her arm. She seemed nice. Kevin extend his hand t her.
"Kevin Flynn."
"Quorra." She turned to watch Sam's room. Moving over she sits on a bench that is near by. She pats it. Kevin moves over to sit beside her.
"So Quorra, want to fill me in on my sons life?"
RNP
Sam held Tron tight to him. His heart sinking at seeing the failing light cycle make it's way home. Then dematerialized to reveal his guardian worse for wear. Picking him up, carrying him into haven. Now laying him down on his bed. Taking Tron's disk off he looked at the damages. Then looking down. Part of his arm had been defragged. As well as a part of his leg and a scrap at his middle section. Wondering how Tron could of survived this. Sam knew. Tron came home for him. No matter what. Fixing the problem he placed the disk back on its owner. Running a hand through Tron's hair. Making sure he is still there. Sam sighed.
"Don't you ever do that again." An old argument. Sam stood. His guardian needed time to reboot. Might as well go talk to his father. But first. Leaning down he placed a chaste kiss on Tron's head. "Don't worry. I'll never leave you." Moving off he went out the door coming face to face with his father. Much more aged then the demon who wore the youthful face of his father.
RNP
Kevin stood as his son came out. Quorra came over toward him. Rapping her arm around him.
"How is he?"
"Some minor defragmentation. Nothing major missing from his data core. He just needs time to reboot."
"He'll be fine." Quorra assured him. He nodded into her shoulder. Then he backed up. Putting on his game face.
"Sam." Kevin moved toward his son.
"Dad." Sam took a step forward. Kevin had the biggest smile on his face. Finally getting a view of his lost son. Moving forward again he pulled his son to him.
"I thought I would never see you again." All the emotions he had pent up over the years without his son. Squeezing him so close now. He is able to physically hold him tight in his arms. His trapped son. Actually here before him. "I missed yah son." Sam reluctantly hugs back. He had so much pent up. Tron had told him to release it. That his father cared for him. And he obviously did by coming back for him. A dream, a wish upon a dead star. Now he didn't know. He felt like the child lost to the grid.
"Missed you too." For that is the truth.
Sam had food prepared and the leader of the ISO's came too eat with them. To meet the creator. Discuss strategy. Discuss the working on the grid. And to discuss ways to undermine the demon of the grid, Kevin's own creation, CLU.
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"Things changed after you left. Tron ran back to the city. Gathering defenders for the users. But CLU had his hold on them. They attacked us. Tron barely got us to ISO tower. We warned them as best as we could. Some believed us. Standing their ground to fight. Well we escaped to this back up haven you built. Tron was impressed. Glad that you were taking his comments to heart." Sam sighed. Taking attentive drink. "Tron was hurt but I had to fix him. We'll the ISO's did. He taught me the grid. Trained me to fight." Kevin sighed at that. He never wanted his son to fight. "Tron protects me." Sam spoke defending his guardian. Especially at reading his father's face. "Wanted me to stay away but… you know." Kevin smiled.
"And he still doesn't listen." Sam turned quickly around. Tron stood at the door. Smiling so wide it spread between the two of them. Tron came over laying a hand on Sam as he passed. Sam beamed at the touch. It didn't go unnoticed by his father. Covering it up by taking a drink.
"How are you doing Tron?"
"It has its moments. Better now." Tron takes a seat. Quorra smiles at him. "So has he told you what's been going on?"
"Yes, a little bit. So why didn't you fight back." Sam got tense. Tightening his grip on his glass, getting defensive.
"You've been on the outside I bet you, you've seen how corrupt the grid has become. How bad CLU has been making it."
"We've also seen some of your additions too." Tron defended. Always defending the Users. Sam glared at Tron. Tron remained neutral.
"I tried as best as I could. But …" Kevin shakes his head.
"He learns too fast." Sam filled in. Everyone nodded sadly. The remainder of dinner was done in silence.
RNP
Kevin observed everyone at dinner. Mainly his son. Sam had grown so much. And into a warrior. A user who fights for the grid. A user who fights for the miracle. After dinner Sam had excused himself. Quorra following. That just left the old men of the group. Kevin didn't know where to start.
"I did the best I could." Tron started. "To the best of my programming." Kevin nodded.
"Hey man you did your best. For that I thank you." Tron still looked like the young version of his CEO Alan Bradley. Looking young as ever. Simply nodding at the compliment. Then Kevin saw past the exterior. Tron had aged. Under the surface he had dealt with so much and Kevin began to see as Tron let his firewalls down. "What is it?" Kevin couldn't hold back his curiosity. The warrior sighed deeply.
"CLU brought you here for a reason. I fear that this will not end well."
"And…"
"We have been waiting. Sam has on the inside." Defending Sam's recent behavior. "He is giving you the shoulder because you failed him. Not on purpose, but…"
"Yet you haven't."
"Not on purpose." Tron defended himself. Kevin could only nod. He had tried but how do you explain that to a user raised on the grid. Where all hell is breaking lose.
"So how was he growing up?"
"He cried for you. In the beginning. Wouldn't sleep or eat. Only stared. Keeping watch." Tron lowered his gaze at the memory. Remembering the young User never turning his gaze from the point. "Waiting for the star to light the horizon. But it never shined. " Tron looked to where the light is shining. "It also didn't help maters that the demon of this world wears your face." Kevin could only imagine. Imagine the face of doom being the one of his father. Now an old man with a grey and white beard. Tron sighed heavily. Like a father with deep worry for his son. And Tron did worry. For Sam had become something dear to him. And still to the core of his programming. Protect/fight for the users.
"So how?" How's everything? Kevin tried to plead with his eyes for Tron to tell him everything. But couldn't speak his fear of what his son's life was like. Is like.
"We started out playing games. Teaching him the ways of the grid. The ISOs took a real fancy to him." Kevin could only imagine. "A user on the grid. You know… They taught him how to program things. Make things for the better. Even how to patch me up." Tron smiled at that. For it happened more that it is wanted.
"How did he patch you up?" Kevin new there was something there. Tron simply started to roll up his sleeves. Then there it was glowing on his arm. The symbol for the ISO. Kevin gasped. Moving quickly over he grabbed the programs arm. A program manipulated with ISO tech. functioning at optimum. "Wow." Kevin looked into Tron's eyes. "This is amazing." Tron smiles.
"Yes."
"Did you realize any differences?"
"I can process things faster. Move better then I did. I seem to work at the highest level possible." Tron laughed. "Sam always taking a look at my disk to add upgrades when needed." Kevin could only wonder on that statement. A disk is life to a program. And for Tron to allow Sam to play with it. Great trust. "Sam is the center of my world. I have done everything for him." Kevin felt the same way but he couldn't save him. Kevin solemnly nodded. He needed to lay down. Take this in. his son had grown into a warrior. Raised by the warrior of the grid. One he brought over to help. And help he did. A program manipulated with ISO tech. His grown son, reprogramming, fighting, for what he believes to be right. Keeping safe the miracle. This is too much.
"I need to lay down." Tron nodded then escorted him to a room. As soon as the doors closed Sam pounced on Tron. Jumping off they both took defensive positions.
"You're getting slow old man." Tron walks forward wrapping his arm around Sam's neck dragging him away from Flynn's door. Sam play fought back. A game that they had played since youth. Laughing full heartly at their personal antics. Their everyday lives. Sam falling back into the calm that Tron brought to him. Easing his Zen. Tron is safe. Now about their other piece on the board.
"We need to fight back." Sam confronted Tron.
"I know Sam." The moment broken.
"With him here we can stop it."
'"Yes but at what cost."
"Who cares?"
"Sam, it could kill your father if he were to reintegrate with him." Sam looks away. Tron's words hit home. True his father had abandoned him, but not on purpose. When you are a child and you get abandoned.
"Tron I don't want him to die but." Tron pulled Sam in close. Only letting down his defenses around his surrogate father. Burying his face in Tron's neck. Strengthen in the embrace. "We can't lose. It's finally our time." Tron kissed Sam's head in the human gesture he learned cycles ago. Sam's circuits glow with affection. Tron glowed back.
Quorra stood to the side smiling at the two. They always got along so well. Had a connection that she knew she would never have with Sam. She had her own though. Sam stood back and they both watched the city lights move. They had to fight. Soon, now. There is no later. This is their time.
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Kevin watched his son and Tron act like father and son from his viewpoint in his room. Saw moments that he missed. That he craved. How could he refuse his son this? For he had failed. And now they wanted to go take back their home. The grid had become Sam's home. Kevin would do anything in his power to protect his son. To protect his world.