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:

Flynn Lives

The error messages were compounding and building to Rinzler's chagrin as he escorted the female isomorphic algorithm up to Clu's command post in his carrier. She was shielded, but he had easily ripped through the codes and scanned her. That was when he had realized she was an isomorphic algorithm and brought her before Clu. There had been an outstanding command that all isomorphic algorithms be brought before him and had obeyed it.

Clu had ordered her taken to his cruiser and he did so without a second's hesitation. He had already failed twice to recapture the User Sam Flynn and did not like to fail. Everything was about winning the game and Rinzler knew he was the best at the games. He scanned her again as they rode the elevator up to the command carrier. It was puzzling why Clu seemed interested in this isomorphic algorithm when he had killed all others. Was the mandate wrong then? Was he not supposed to kill the isomorphic algorithms?

Scan Query: Match found.

Rinzler was a little surprised when his passive scanners picked up whatever was matching before bringing it up on his HUD. It was the remnants of an identification subroutine. Heavily modified yet it matched something within him. How could he have such an identity masking subroutine-

"If you want, I can create an identity subroutine that would be able to mask your signature and enable you to move through the crowds at the arena or any other public place without much notice," he offered.

But the leader of the isomorphic algorithms had died after he had been given the upgrades to hunt them down. It had been a boon to the game he was playing enabling him to seek them out without too much trouble, even with the identification subroutine they had tried to overlay their systems with to avoid detection.

"I know you're in there somewhere," she gave him a sad, yet surprisingly hopeful smile as he raised his disc. She was magnificently fearless, a part of him processed, before he wondered where the process came from. "And I want you to know-

Rinzler immediately sent a shut down command to that process. He had no idea where it came from and glared at the isomorphic algorithm he was escorting. She was disturbing the game and he did not like his game disturbed. Ever since that User Sam Flynn had entered the Arena, the increase in glitches and error messages had grown exponentially. He hated it.

Just as they reached the entrance to the carrier, a general alarm sounded and the door opened to reveal the User Sam Flynn holding what looked like the Master Key Clu had at the top of his command list to retrieve at all costs. Rinzler immediately acted, shoving the female isomorphic algorithm to the side and activated his discs.

He flipped over the first disc thrown, using his hands to cartwheel- and suddenly lost his footing as he felt a swift kick to his hands, sending him tumbling to the ground before managing to right himself in time to barely block the second thrown disc; the force of the impact sending him tumbling out towards the elevator and beyond that the open air of the carrier-

Command Protocol: Survive!

Rinzler grabbed onto the edges of the elevator at the last second, holstering his main disc on to his back as he pulled himself back up, landing on the ground. He looked up just in time to see the User and isomorphic algorithm jumping out of the window, a dorsal wing attached to their backs.

Command Line: Failure.
Command Receipt: Re-assessment of failure status. Combat with User Sam Flynn prevented Master Key from being retrieved.

Rinzler looked behind him to see Clu and several of the Black Guards arriving on the elevator and stepped aside as his master and Creator examined the place where the Master Key was being held. He saw Clu look at him and tilted his head before looking at Jarvis who stood nervously across from him. That program was a hindrance to the games in his opinion, but he would never voice it, not even through the wireless, to his master.

"Death to the Us-"

Rinzler allowed himself the satisfaction of the elimination of Jarvis. At least that was one hindrance dealt with.

Command Line: Activate lightjet, shoot to kill.

He obeyed the directive and leapt out of the carrier's window along with the others, activating their lightjets and pursuing the bigger three-program lightjet. As they weaved in and out of the black spires that shot from the Sea of Simulation, Rinzler hung back, setting his scanners on the bigger lightjet and the area surrounding it. He ignored the numerous error messages he was receiving from the Sea; somehow knowing that he could not scan the Sea.

He sent out a search query as to the reason why, but received an error message in return. He should have known. It was part of the glitches that constantly ran throughout his imperfect system. He was the best at the games, the best at fighting, the best Clu had said when he Created him so why was he so faulty?

Command Line: Rinzler! Get your head into the game!

Rinzler shot forward on his interceptor as he saw the last of the Black Guards had fallen. Good riddance to them, he processed, the Black Guards did not play the game well. He would finish the game for them. Triggering a burst of fire, he saw his light bullets score hits on the heavier fighter, stopping the User sitting in the back from firing. Pleased with his own success, he put more power into his interceptor and whirled around, wanting to savor one more look at his opponents before finishing the game.

He saw the User Sam Flynn with a desperate expression on his face, the female isomorphic algorithm, a grim mask of determination and the last passenger, a very aged-

Command Protocol: ERROR! ERROR! ERR-
"It's time I leveled with you. I'm what you guys call a User," Flynn's infectious grin was plastered all over his face as he faced them.

Command Protocol: …
"It's a project I've been tinkering with on the side. Only was able to import the file itself recently. Figured you and I could make the inaugural trip."
"I appreciate it," he grinned, "does bring back memories."
"Ah ha!" Flynn's eyes crinkled with humor, "you said memories!"
He pursed his lips and nodded, "I guess I did. Consider this a successful effort then, in trying to make me say User styled words."
"Of course I'm considering it. It took you long enough, old buddy," Flynn reached over and hit him on the shoulder good-naturedly before leaning back and sighing loudly, looking around him.

Command Proto-

"Tron, what have you become?" Rinzler could clearly read the words off of the old man, no, off of Kevin Flynn's lips as he completed his loop and returned to where he had the optimal firing solution. He shook his head…Kevin Flynn…Flynn, but…Flynn was-

"Go," he flicked a look at Flynn who stood frozen in shock, as if he could not believe that all of this was happening. He would fight for Flynn; there was no question about that. He would make sure Flynn escaped this ambush by his own creation and the Black Guards. Clu had gone too far now...
"Go, Flynn!" he shouted, "Run!"

Flynn lived. But that meant… Rinzler- no, he was. He was…

"Rinzler! Take the shot! Finish the game!" Clu's angry roar was barely heard over his audio filters as he looked behind him to see the yellow-stripped program pulling in behind him.

The game? But, he was…

Comma-

No! There were no more command protocols! No more queries! Not even the game! Nothing! He viciously cut the wireless communication off. He was-

Rinzler abruptly pulled away from the battlefield, unable to comprehend what was happening. He could feel sharp spikes of pain rushing through every fiber of his being, burning through the layers of his code, digging deep within him. Why did it hurt so much? Who was he? He was Rinz- No! He was not!

He was…

"Took you long enough Tron!" Flynn was already there, standing in Central Control, a grin on his face as he arrived.

He was…

"I know you have the gift to make things right, Tron. You were created in my image and I am very good at what I do. You have the resources around you to maintain the peace and stability of this new system that you are in," Alan-One suddenly looked thoughtful and serious, "don't ever give up. The first thing I was taught was never to start a fight, but always finish it. Do what you feel is right and know that I will always approve of it. Know that Flynn will always have your back and know that you are doing the right thing."

He was Tron.

"I fight," Tron shook off the remaining bits of what was once Rinzler and pushed his speed to the maximum as he spotted Clu about to fire the fatal shot to down the aircraft carrying Kevin Flynn, Sam Flynn, and the Iso named Quorra. "I fight for the Users!"

He slammed his interceptor into Clu's and the last thought he had before blackness claimed him was that Flynn lived. Flynn survived…

Author's Notes:

Either the "Flynn Lives" track or the special edition CD track called "Encom Pt. II" would do wonderfully for this chapter, especially the ending bits. The "Flynn Lives" track is supposed to evoke not only the scene it is used for in the movie (Flynn sacrificing himself), but also, I feel, Rinzler's reversion back to Tron and perhaps the start of his redemption. I used bits of the comic, original movie, and my own story to complete Rinzler's little flashback scenes before he reverts to Tron. I hope this lived up to all of your expectation because next chapter, we're going to be doing some serious soul searching.