Chapter 5

The Grid never was the same after Kevin Flynn reintegrated CLU, his ally turned challenger. With the tyrant's entire force derezzed in the process, the Grid was free again. However Kevin Flynn's only son Sam, knew the responsibility he still had to his father's creation. After a period of five years, Sam returned to the Grid and kept watch over it. For years the Programs lived peacefully under the newly established order under a Prime Minister, an ally program that Sam had purposed. No such activity of rebellion was even rumored for a span of years until Sam Flynn was old and then retired by his son, Eric Flynn. Eric watched the Grid rather than involve himself as rumors began to spread about a cult of crime, coming to life in the deep underground of Tron City. Eric Flynn investigated himself but refused to act. Unlike his father, Eric held a different perspective on aggressive action against another being; evil or not. Though his dormant reaction cost the Grid it's freedom. Like a storm, this cult struck on one of the months that Eric accompanied by his seventeen year old son, Daniel, were in the Grid. A coup was enforced by Programs of the cult. Within weeks, the Disciples overpowered the Prime Minister and eliminated all the purposed programs and the Grid was under their rule. The Disciples were religious leaders that saw Users as a disgrace and tyrants; though these fanatics didn't scare Daniel Flynn. Finally under his time as the guardian of the Grid, Daniel called together supporters, those that still had faith in the Users, and for years, war between the forces of the Disciples and those still loyal to the Users, ravaged the Grid. Many times, Daniel Flynn faced death and barely escaped with his life from encounters. It wasn't until many years later however, that he was no longer able to fight. The last night that Daniel Flynn fought in the Grid, He was mortally wounded, and his forces assisted him back to the portal. Since that night, the Grid never again held the glory of a User. Although their hero was gone, those loyal to the Users continued to fight till very few remained. The Defenders were all that lasted of the resistance. They never forgot, and always stayed true.

All that Sage had told Aaron was beyond comprehension to any normal human. A world where anything can be fabricated by the mere touch of programming and everyone rode on motorcycles and killed each other by playing Frisbee; such was the fantasy of a videogame nerd. But to Aaron, it was the legacy of his family, not something he could easily dismiss as bull and neglect. No, to do so would be to act like his father, a heartless business man with a narrow mind. It was his neglect that caused for the suffering of the Grid. Obligation coursed through him. He wasn't sure exactly how, but he felt it, this was real.

"I wish to help." Aaron answered. "If my family is tasked with the care of what we've created, then I'll do my part." Trey couldn't help himself from smiling. Pride flowed through him as he saw the man his godson had become. Sage, still not knowing Aaron, watched him. The young enforcer before him held an air of discipline that the program admired.

"Thank you," Sage said. As the two stared at each other, a bond was set. As Aaron leaned back and raised his bottle to his mouth, he paused. Without taking a sip, he lowered it again. He took a deep breath and felt serenity flow in him.

It was nearly four in the morning; and for the suburbs of LA, the club life was retiring as the sun teased its way into the sky. Trey, not being as young as his companions, yawned and rubbed his eyes as he stepped out into the ocean air.

"Sage will stay at my apartment tonight. We'll meet at the tower at twelve," he said as he yawned again. Aaron nodded as he shook his godfather's hand accompanied with a grin. Aaron then turned to the program and smirked at him as he held out his hand too. Sage hesitated, not being used to the gesture. Aaron made contact with Sage's palm, but instead slid it out from Sage's grasp. He then stalled out in front of Sage's open and formed his own into a fist. He waited there, as Sage finally caught on and copied Aaron. Aaron then finished the gesture and bumped his fist with Sage's.

"And that's how bros say bye," Aaron smirked. Sage found the gesture strange but at the same time entertaining. He returned Aaron's confident smirk then turned away as Trey did. As Aaron too turned away and approached his still shielded Suzuki 2020, Trey came jogging back to him.

"Aaron wait up." Aaron turned around to face his godfather. "I almost forgot." Trey reached into his trench coat and extracted a leather bound book. It was white which was rather distracting. On the bottom of the cover, was an imprint of the letters F-L-Y-N-N. It was medium sized, not thin but not thick. The book was just bigger than a normal sized hand. Trey thrust the book in Aaron's direction. He eyed it carefully.

"Thanks, but I'm not much of a reader," Aaron mused.

"Oh you'll read this," Trey said confidently. Aaron shrugged and grasped it in his hand. Trey's eyes never left Aaron as he slowly released his grip. Aaron examined the cover, holding the book in both hands.

"What exactly is it?" he muttered. Trey grinned from ear to ear..

"Answers."