Program Complete
By: Wolfa Moon
Summary: The Voyage Home
Disclaimer: Don't Own
PC
Kevin came out of his quarters to find the three and several others hovering over a grid display, dynamic. Some noticed his entrance. Stepping back and bowing before their creator. Sam glanced up, shakes his head at the reaction of the others. He had had the same reaction when he first came here. But over the cycles the ambiance faded. Thanking god when they began to treat him like a normal program. Even if he could do some cool things with programming. Sam followed Tron's line that he drew through the city. They had volunteers around them. Programs/ISOs to help them infiltrate the city. Coding their bikes to read like theirs. They had enough for four groups, including their own.
The layout of the plan. Each group is going to make their way through the city. Each taking a different path to the tower. There they would attack and make way for the reprogramming. A new purge to the system.
CLU's final moments.
PC
Sam led Tron away from the groups. If this worked the grid would be free. He would be free to go home. But that would mean he would have to leave this life. His family. And the question. Did he really want to go?
"Tron, if we make it," Tron was about to interrupt but Sam stopped him by continuing again. "If we make it. Should I leave, or should I stay?" Tron pulled his young User close to him.
"I can not decide for you." Tron sighed. "I want you to be happy." I want you to stay, undertones the words. But Tron knew better. Sam needed to live as a User, not a program. Sam leans more into Tron. Not wanting to let go. Realizing he would have to if he left. If?
"I am happy here. I don't know anything there. This is my home."
"So is out there… Sam, you are a User. You belong…" this is hard for him. He fought so hard to keep him safe, close. Now he had to fight himself in order to let go.
Sam watched the battle cross the security programs face. Tron had become more than a protective program. Tron is a person. A father figure. One he didn't want to give up. One that he loved.
"I'll go if you come with me." Tron looked hard at Sam. Speaking the impossible. "I can do it. I'm a user. I bet I can reprogram it a little and allow you out." Looking over his shoulder spotting Quorra. "Both of you. You can be Users." Tron stepped back startled. Never thinking of that life for himself. He is there to protect. Out there he still could. But not like here. A whole new rule book.
"Sam?"
"Tron, do you trust me?"
"You know I do."
"Then when the time comes. Allow me to pull us through." Tron lowered his head. Sam eyes observed the light pattern of Tron's circuits. Shining and dimming with indecision. "Please." Tron could never say no to him. Smiling when Tron nodded in agreement. Sam hugged Tron to him.
PC
Kevin helped reprogram the bikes with Quorra.
"What do you call a hard drive who likes music?" Flynn spoke a second joke while she recovered for the first one. She shakes her head. "A jigabyte." She cackles again. Kevin smiled, the bike formed beautifully.
"Excellent programming."
"Thank you." Sam came over looking over the bike.
"Nice ride." Sam pulled his baton out. "Giff." One of the volunteers stepped forward. Sam waved his baton. The other program gathered what Sam wanted. Handing his over to Sam. Sam twirled before holding it to his. The stick glowed and changed colors. Sam had just copied his cycle info to Giff's baton. Then another came over and he did it again.
"How are you doing that?"
"Simple copy and paste."
"Huh, so what you just think it?"
"Respectively." The program moved away. Tron came over baton in hand. "You do it?"
"Yes. I hope I got it right."
"Of course you got it right. Who taught you?"
"You did."
"Of course."
"And who told you?"
"You."
"So we're even."
"Of course." Sam snatched Tron's baton and began to run off.
"Sam," Tron bellowed chasing after him. Kevin watched their behavior. Quorra laid a hand on his arm.
"They always behave like that."
"How long have you known them?"
"Since the star went out." Quorra remembered then told. "Things happened quickly. This seems like always." Looking around then looking deep into her past. "Back then I watched this light cycle game streaking so fast toward our tower. Didn't even stop on the road. It drove up right by me up the stairs. Then turned off quickly. And there stood Tron with Sam in his arms. Sam clinging tightly to him." Quorra smiling sadly at the memory. Kevin watched the emotion pass across her face. Seeing the memory affect her. "Tron informed us of what had transpired. Telling us of CLU's defection from you. Tron stood there like a User. Helping us. Saving us." Shaking her head. "In those first few days after the evacuation of those who believed him. Sam never left Tron's side. Still doesn't." Quorra sighed. "Kevin Flynn, Tron did the best he could. He is not a father. You should not feel jealous of him. I know you do. And they can sense that. That is why they keep their distance. Especially Sam. Sam is afraid you are going to take his hero, his family away." Kevin looked over at the two. Watching how easily they interact. Envying them.
Kevin stood up and moved away from the group. The emotional build up getting to be stifling. Looking out he looked to the star. The lone star. Home.
"Flynn," Kevin looked over at Tron. Tron looked sad. For the star meant he is going to lose his purpose for surviving on this plain.
"Tron?" Kevin didn't want to ask but he needed. "When we make it to the portal. Will Sam come home?"
"He will. Even if I have to throw him trough it." Kevin looked at the program. A voice stern believing in what he said. Yet there is sadness. But truth, "Sam needs to be in the user world. The grid is no place for a USER their whole existence." Sighing, "I care greatly for him. And I want him to be happy. He will fight. So don't tell him about my plan, please."
"You got it Tron. Thank you." Kevin rested a hand on Tron's shoulder. A silent thank you.
PC
The groups made their way into TRON city. Taking in the city that held so much. Now held in dictatorship. Groups splitting up. The recognizers flying every which way. Trying to get to them. Their supped up bikes staying ahead of them.
Their mission to take back this city. Make the grid free. Free for the ISO's. Free and safe for all the renegade programs. Those who fought believed in Flynn.
Kevin Flynn knew that Sam would not leave if the problem is not fixed. Knowing he would not let his surrogate live in a world where corruption ruled. Taking in the city. He saw his additions. The conversions made by CLU. What has he done?
They make their way to the tower. The center hub. They arrive right after another group has. Their helmets on to protect them. To scramble identity. Cloned uniforms of the main four.
Tron's T solid blue/white shown brightly. Sam with his pure white radiated. Quorra with her blue/white and a dash of purple. Kevin in his white. The two groups who made it nodded in clone reflection. Each taking a pillar up.
"Now the fun starts." Sam spoke taking his disk off his back. Tron merely nodded pulling his off. Quorra took her sword and disk out. Kevin watched the soldiers weapon themselves. Kevin began to reach for his. Sam stopped him. "Don't. If you were finally able to get in here. There is a reason. Keep your disk on your back. Use your USER skills. Change the scheme. Realign the algorithm. Just don't let him get it." Kevin could only agree. True after so long. So many attempts he was able to get through to the grid. Gain access. He didn't ask how. Just knew he could jump in and get his son. Consequences be damned.
The lift stopped. Stepping out they came upon chaos. One of the other teams fighting diligently. But losing. The Sam duplicate lay derezzed on the ground. His counterpart fighting too. A sword blade in hand. Keeping his disk on his back. Keeping the image up. Good program.
Watching the disarray Kevin watched proudly. Sam fought with the skill of Tron but the ability of a USER. Snatching thrown disk at him. A millisecond programming them to switch sides. Program: fight for the USER's. Guard's color changed. Then one came toward him.
Tron flipped over his attacker and slashed through the guard. His helmeted head tilted with cockiness. So Tron boasting how good he is. The array continuing. Then all blue for the user stood in the room.
"Level one complete." A voice boomed. "Let's see how you deal with the next level."
"CLU." Kevin spoke. Hearing his voice, a haunting demon. The place began to shake. The glass shattering around them. Then more enforcers descended. The battle beginning again. Sam grabbed him. Lead him to another lift. Holding the door open for his team, his family. Quorra came in next. Laughing with exhilaration.
"Tron!" Sam voiced. Calling for him to hurry up. Tron nodded to his duplicate. They both made their way over. But at the last second the other turned diving into the enforcer who was on Tron's tail. Being derezzed for his efforts. Yet saved Tron to continue to fight for the USER. Sam gripped him tight. Having his guardian close by always boosted his assurance in himself. Wherever Tron is, he is sure to win. Without, no time to think on that.
They rose up further into the tower. The doors opened. There sitting proudly is the demon with the creator's face. A line of enforcers on both sides to get to him. Sam and Tron looked at each other. It is time to end this. They move like cycles. Programs derezzing in their wake. CLU watched in amazement. The little USER had grown up into a guardian program. Sam approached him but CLU moved faster. Quorra moved in but CLU easily deflected her sending her sprawling into a foray of enforcers. CLU held up his disk ready to strike. Kevin knelt down, turning off every light in the city. His eyes blazing at his creation. CLU smiled evilly at him.
"The cycles haven't been kind."
"You still look good."
"Enjoying your family reunion?" CLU picked up Sam's disk. Releasing him to fall when he let him go. Quorra moved to his side. Taking a quick glance, the dictator stared at Tron with detest. "Ah if isn't the security program." Tron stood tall. The magnificent warrior that he is. CLU smirked. He hated him. A constant thorn in his side. Protecting what should be purged. Spreading the word of, Flynn Lives. Protector, guardian surrogate for Sam Flynn. Friend, fellow warrior to Kevin Flynn. To hurt them both. "Let's see how you do without a member." CLU threw his disk at Tron. Tron dodged the move. Throwing his at the enemy. CLU smirked grabbing both disk. All stunned to silence. "Let's see what improvements have been made." He activates Tron's information. "Interesting, but you are obsolete." CLU broke the disk in two. Tron collapsed like a puppet.
"NNNOOO!" Sam stood up attacking CLU for all his worth. All his training. All his rage. Quorra backing up each mover. Fighting in a unit like Tron taught them. Not caring about any of the wounds afflicted on them. Just as long as they got their revenge. And they did.
CLU in custody before them. Sam didn't want to look at Tron. But he did. The sight scares him. Shacking with energy.
Kevin Flynn stepped toward them. CLU looked worried at his creator.
"Finish him." Sam barked. CLU laughed.
"He can't kill me. No better than he can kill himself or you. But I win no matter what. I killed you precious Tron." CLU laughed. Sam punched CLU in the face. Kevin stood watching the rage of emotions cross Sam's face. He should stop this but he has no desire.
Stepping close to CLU. CLU raised his head in defiance but there is fear there. Flynn understands. Smoothly he retrieves the disk from CLU's back. Watching in stunned silence as he activated the disk. Seeing the program in detail. Seeing the corruption in the programming. He can fix this. But he didn't have time now. Reaching through the data. Finding the particular thread. There. CLU slumped. Turned off. Only able to be resurrected if Flynn entered his past code.
Sam released his hold on CLU. Running over to his fallen hero.
"Tron, Tron. No. " Sam picked up the broken disk. Holding the piece together. Willing them to rebind. But they didn't. Slipping from his fingers he moved to pull Tron to him. Quorra knelt next to him.
"Why isn't he derezzing?"
"Upgrades." Sam spoke in a whisper. He had done so much to Tron's code. Manipulated it. Maintained him to stay no matter what. Giving him a chance to fix it no matter what virus, predicament came up. Added features. Deleted loopholes in his programming. Bowing his head he plastered his face into Tron's next. The lost lonely user who found solace in his hero's arms. Always keeping him safe. And he did as he was programmed. Protect the user. Sam didn't want that.
Kevin moved to kneel in front of his lost son. Taking in the security program. Surprised about how Tron didn't derezz. Remembering so long ago of RAM and how he faded into the circuitry when he passed. Yet Tron's body remained. Like a User. What had Sam done to his programming? True he added some ISO information into his disk but what else. But they didn't have time.
"Sam," Lost eyes looked at him. Kevin smiled sadly. Grieving too. Looking at Tron's face all he could think of is Alan his best friend. That this is him here. "We need to go." Sam looked down at Tron. Nodding. Thinking of what his guardian would want him to do. Go home. Be a USER. This is home. Flashing back to a memory.
PC
"Tell me of your world." The young user cuddled closer to his guardian. Looking out over the grid.
"It's getting harder to remember."
"That's why I keep asking you to tell me. So you don't lose it." Tron hugged Sam close to him. Fighting for Sam to still be what he is. Not end up as a program. To remember his father's love. The place he truly belongs.
"Will you come with me?"
"If I can. I will always be with you." Tron lied.
PC
They hijacked a light jet. Quorra at the controls. Flynn looked over to his son as he sat in the rear. Tron held close to him. Broken damaged. Kevin hated seeing his son like this. So lost. So sad. And he had done this. Created a program to create the perfect system. While his son had upgraded an original security program to the perfect guardian. One who couldn't be derezzed. But some things you couldn't just program.
Kevin closed his eyes to gather himself. Communing with his creation. Feeling the circuits move. Seeing them move behind his eyes. The digital information streaming pass. Then there a blue streak that vibrated. He held the broken disk in his hand. The stream of the disk. Tron. Information floating Wi-Fi. No disk to return to.
If they had another disk.
No time.
They banked left.
"What is it?"
"CLU." Quorra informed him. Sam looked up.
"How you shut him off?"
"He's been adapting. He must have found a way." Reminding them how CLU had advanced. Even on the outside not able to stop him.
"Or they are loyalist." Quorra remained hopeful. But it ended. Sam moved to the turret. Placing a quick hand on Tron. Sam had something planed.
"It's him. Get us to the portal." Getting in the turret Sam took down the loyalist. Maneuvering like crazy. They didn't have much time.
"Side winding." Quorra informed. The maneuvering swirling their light trials. Painting a deadly path for the remaining jet. The one that held the enemy. Sam fired clipping him. He veered off.
Quorra landed the jet. Kevin got out. Turning he watched Sam pick up Tron and carry him out. Maybe Sam felt the Wi-Fi. Felt his guardian.
A disk flew over their heads. Turning they spotted CLU. Sam moved with Tron to the portal laying him there then turning to CLU. Kevin stood beside his son. The warrior for the grid. Disk drawn. Ready to fight. CLU let his disk fly again. Sam blocked throwing his as well. CLU fell back.
"We need to go kiddo." Kevin began to back toward the portal. Quorra past him to help fight alongside Sam. She blocked the next maneuver while Sam's hit CLU again. CLU collapsed to the ground.
"You can't derezz me."
"Yes I can." Sam grabbed Quorra and his disk. Twisting he twirled and let them fly. Both hitting their target. CLU derezzed before them. So easy. After so long. But at what cost. Sam handed back Quorra's disk. She smiled. They had one. Why didn't it feel like a victory? Turning they saw Kevin standing there. Tron beside him. Glowing his normal blue/white. Sam mouthed how as he moved toward Tron. Tron smiled shyly. Moving quickly for fear it is a data loop. All formalities gone, the little user is hugging him. A manly hug. He felt like a kid again. Protected.
"You did it Sam." Sam stepped back proudly.
"How?"
"My disk." Kevin answered. "He needed one."
"What about you?
"What about me?" glancing over at the portal. "Let's go home."
"Can we, I mean all of us." Kevin smiled. He knew this is what his son wanted. And he could do it. His disk forever always being the master key. Too bad he had never done that with his son's disk. There wasn't enough time.
"Time to go home." Sam looked at his dad.
"How?"
"This is my grid." They stepped into the light
PC
A/N: this is the final chapter. I hope you enjoyed. I had two endings planned. They all went home or none went home. Or a variety. Pulling names out of a hat. Just hope you enjoyed. Reviews welcome.