Tron: Adagio

By: Shadow Chaser

Author's Notes:

This story covers the entire comic, Tron: Betrayal, and flashbacks from Tron: Legacy itself. The scenarios of the game Evolution are not mentioned in here as I did not play the game. All characters are not mine, they belong to Disney.

Story:

The Son of Flynn

Clu that was how Flynn had introduced him to Tron as he waited for the arrival of his friend and mentor that cycle. He had then told him that Clu was just an acronym for Codified Likeness Utility, essentially himself, but a digitized version. At first glance that was the belief held by Tron, but in the course of just a cycle, he could immediately tell there was a difference between Clu and Flynn – the likeness between the two of them only in image.

He had heard that Flynn was going off-grid to create something and had wanted to come with him to ensure his safety in case the gridbugs suddenly attacked while he was returning or leaving, but Flynn had forbade him to. He had vaguely explained that it was because of what he was doing could destabilize The Grid, but was necessary to ensure the future of The Grid.

Judging by him returning with Clu in tow, it was probably for the best that Flynn had went off grid. With his abilities, he could see the complex code that was in Clu, even more so than his own. They did not present a security hazard, but with a code that complex, he knew that some of the programs with a lot less coding in them would be attracted to Clu and perhaps even the gridbugs themselves.

For some odd reason, he could not quite see or make out the coding for the bugs themselves, their structures beyond his upgrades, but based on what he could see, they were simplistic enough, yet voracious in their appetite. Flynn had told him that Clu did not have his ability to create new programs, but rather could re-purpose them if they are done with their task and have nothing else to do. He would be able to efficiently manage the builders under Shaddox's direction and hopefully maintain the integrity of The Grid.

The cycle after he had been introduced to Clu, Flynn had abruptly left, giving a mumbled reason about the outside world and meeting with Alan-One and the board of Encom. Tron had bid him farewell as he made the long journey east to the portal before turning to Clu, obviously knowing that he had been left in charge to continue to build The Grid.

"If you want me to explain-"

"It is not necessary Tron, but thank you," Clu waved his words away, stuffing his hands into the jeans he wore as part of the uniform he had been given. It definitely made him stand out from the regular citizens and combined with the fact that he looked like Flynn himself, made it all the easier for citizens to identify him. The only thing that was different from first glance according to Tron, was that Clu seemingly lacked Flynn's jovial personality and instead had adopted a more serious demeanor. He could only speculate that perhaps it was because of the task Flynn gave to him.

"Where is Shaddox right now?" he glanced at one of the Guards who immediately tapped his own black helmet for a couple of nanoseconds before straightening.

"Supervising the build of Sector 113 and the energy aquifers in that area," the guard replied.

"Let's go then," Clu grabbed his baton and activated his lightcycle, Tron doing the same as did the three other Guards that were with them before they all sped towards Sector 113.

Tron saw first hand that Clu definitely had Flynn's riding style on the lightcycles and briefly wondered if Clu could be considered a "son" to Flynn. He had never heard the term until Flynn had randomly talked to him about it the next time he was back in The Grid after they discovered the gridbugs. He had been babbling about the fact that he was going to be a father and was going to have a son.

It was the first time that he had seen Flynn happier than he could ever imagine. He did not feel any sort of envy towards the Creator, but rather was puzzled to why such words would evoke such an emotion out of him. His puzzlement must have shown on his face as they circled the sectors because Flynn had explained the definitions of what were a father, a mother, a son, and a daughter to him. He had then tried to give examples and it was only until Flynn mentioned that Tron himself could be considered a son to Alan-One that he thought he understood.

In a way, it made sense that Alan-One could be considered a "father" to him. He had created him, given him the knowledge he needed and even given him the gift of his current upgrades when he had arrived at The Grid. He had then asked Flynn if the Creator himself could be considered a "father" to him and saw an amused look on Flynn's face before he replied that in ways, yes, but their relationship was more of a mentor-student one.

That one Tron understood, he was constantly learning from Flynn's creations and from the knowledge that the User imparted each time he was in The Grid. Every time he left, he used that knowledge given to him and expanded upon it, hoping to show Flynn what had been accomplished in his absence. He understood Flynn's need to return to his world, especially after the news of the impending birth of his son, but could not help but feel his absence in a keen way.

It took a few cycles for Tron to realize that he felt like he was missing something whenever Flynn was away. A companionship of sorts. Granted Shaddox was a friend and someone he could occasionally talk to, but he realized that ultimately he missed Yori. Before the MCP had run rampant on the old system, he had been able to go to Yori's sector and talk with her, mostly about the games, work, and little bits of data, but felt that he could not do so with Shaddox or even with Flynn.

He did not want to burden either of them with the data in his mind, especially in Flynn's case – the User had too much to do especially now that The Grid was out of its infancy and well on its way to becoming the paradise that Tron believed it could be. With Clu's arrival he had wondered if the program could be a friend to him, but immediately could feel a distance between them.

Clu was the son of Flynn, but he was not Flynn himself.

More often than not, Tron wished Yori had taken up on Flynn's offer and joined him in this new paradise they were creating. Perhaps the next time Flynn returned, he could ask him to go to Yori and ask her again.

Author's Notes:

When I first saw Tron it was after I started watching Babylon 5 (and subsequently went on a Bruce Boxleitner watching spree) so about mid-1990s. I didn't exactly like the movie, but I found it to be hilariously enjoyable in hindsight. My first gut reaction to Tron: Legacy announcement was, oh no. I didn't really want a sequel to be made, but since have had my mind changed after the Comic Con footage was shown this past year. I went in my first screening with zero expectations and came out thoroughly enjoying the fare because to me, it was a pure Disney movie simple as that – and it is one of the few movies in recent years that made me feel like a kid again. I also enjoyed the fact that Tron was right there in the whole movie without me knowing it until near the end.