Chapter 17

The dark mass of clouds rolled with tension, building until finally the build collection of pressure was just too much. Although they broke through the clouds in a mad rush, the drops of condensation pattered one at a time. The light splash on Aaron's cheek brought him back to his senses. Feeling the drop of water roll down his face was a good sign, he was there, he was alive. Aaron let out a groan as he mustered his gathering strength and pulled himself up against the canyon wall. He brought his hand up to rub out the throb he felt in his head. Aaron then heaved himself on his feet, stumbling slightly as he stood tall. Just yards ahead of him, his baton lay abandoned on the open, grey terrain. He limped to the baton and retrieved it, easing his muscles while trying not to over exert himself. His entire body ached and his muscles were sore. He had no idea of how much time had passed since his unconsciousness. Aaron took another deep breath before looking out over the horizon behind him. Far off in the distance, the brilliant, though oppressive red glow of Master City, shone in the gloom of shadow like a fiery pit in the midst of a chasm. The vast red dome of energy obviously kept the captives of the Disciples out. Aaron stared on in shame and grief. The programs, the good people of the Grid, were oppressed under the Disciple's rule; something had to be done. Aaron turned away; continuing on felt as if he was turning his back on the people he was meant to protect. What lay before him was a massive development of terrain forming a canyon. He felt trapped and lost. As his senses regained their integrity once again, he recalled having followed a distinct path sliced through the inside of the rocky terrain. But as he glanced down the large formation, he found no break in the wall; he was stuck.

"Now what?" he said out loud with a ragged breath. Aaron glanced all around, searching and hoping for his way. His focus however was zeroed in on the sky, causing him to not notice what happened before his very feet. "NOW WHAT!" he screamed up into the pouring sky. Thunder from above echoed his outrage. His frustration mounted, causing him to collapse to his knees. He was feeling defeated. The purpose of his need had failed, he was out of place. Aaron felt he no longer belonged. His eyes opened softly and stared at the road. "Now what?" he choked out softly. Before his eyes, a miracle shined through the gloom. Running down the very center of the road, dots of light flashed in a procession, indicating to a certain direction. The choppy flow of direction illuminated a path up to the very wall which frustrated him so. Aaron slowly rose to his feet. His cloak draped around his form with a flop, soaked by the pouring rain. He raised his hood over his rain plastered hair. He stepped up to the rock face. To his horror, there was no further indication on where to go next. The rock face was too steep and flat to climb. With his finger covered hand, he brushed the rock ever so gently. Suddenly, the wall before him flickered as an ancient television with a bad antenna Aaron's eyes grew wide as he quickly ripped his hand away. After a second's hesitation, he gently placed his hand down again, and left it there. The wall now flashed in and out of view. From beyond the rock, the trail which he had been following continued to spread for what seemed like a mile. Suddenly from under his hand, holographic displays of light emerged from the wall, wrapping over his hand. The brilliant display felt to his surprise, familiar; it felt right. After a minute of standing there with his hand still out, the wall ceased flashing and disappeared altogether. In fact he no longer even felt the cool rock under his palm. The experience was overwhelming to him. His hand trembled as he lowered it to his side. Something about what he had just done felt oddly familiar, from far back in his childhood. After Aaron gathered his wits, he stepped forward and walked down the path, still flashing in a procession of lights. The proof of direction was reassuring. After a while of trekking down the path on foot, Aaron came to a switchback, turning sharply right. The canyon walls around the path seemed to stand there purely for the purpose of blocking away the outside world. He hiked up the incline which after a while longer leveled out again into a flat open plain. The whole way, the lights continued to flash, indicating his destination. He felt it was easy to get lost on the dark empty flat of the Grid. It seemed like another full hour of hiking before he saw in the distance the path of light disappearing. The flashes ceased as he approached yet another aggravating rock wall. Aaron stepped up to it and once again placed his open hand flat up against the wall. For seconds nothing happened. The rock didn't move and nothing illuminated. After the few seconds, his handprint glowed hot white. Then he watched as a streak of light traced from one fingertip to another, creating a full circle around his entire hand. He lowered his hand again, staring intently at the intricate design on the rock. The shape of the circle was familiar. Out of curious instinct, he reached back under his cloak and brushed the smooth surface of his disc. Aaron's eyes grew in shock as he solved the puzzle in his mind. He extracted his own disc from his back. Holding it in front of his face, he examined the object before slowly placing it gently on the spot on the wall. Suddenly, the empty space around the center protruded towards him, holding his disc in place. Slowly a soft hum built into a crescendo as his disc ignited to its awoken state. Before his eyes, the disc spun in three full circles before stopping. Aaron frowned as he saw nothing else happen. He hesitantly reached out again, retrieving it from its snug perch. As he slid his disc away, the rock wall split in two down the center. Aaron smirked as he looked around inside the new opening. The passage seemed just bigger than that of a household garage. Inside was more nothingness; dark dismal and empty. Aaron on the other hand was thrilled. His long trek paid off, though he had no guess as to where the lights had led him. Aaron continued on, pressing into the darkness, illuminated slightly by the brilliant blue glow of his suit's circuitry. He traveled slowly down the tunnel, disc ignited and still in hand, not sure what to expect, but ready to react. He then noticed a gentle flashing light, fading on and off far in the distance. The light beaconed to him in the darkness of the tunnel. As he continued down, his foot then came down on the floor, but instead he felt an unevenness on the surface. Curious, Aaron squatted down, brushing the surface with his empty hand. Aaron felt a strip with a miniscule dip running across the floor. As his hand brushed it, his gloveless fingers then made contact. At his touch, the strip illuminated with life, encircling the inside of the tunnel. Aaron grinned slightly. The feeling of these strange occurrences was overwhelming almost exhilarating. As he looked back up, he saw the wall just paces away from him through the small lash of light thrown by the flash on the floor. It continued to call to him, and Aaron was obliged to answer. He strode to the end of the tunnel at a cautious yet faster pace. The source came from a square of white, standing out flat in the middle of the dark floor. He stepped onto the platform, then looked up. The ceiling was low enough that the splash of light from the platform spread all around. At the end of the tunnel, above a shaft stretched into darkness. Aaron was unsure about the nature of this place. It seemed strangely familiar. He had before been here, but not personally. Suddenly, he started to lift off the ground. The white square ascended up through the shaft in the ceiling, now with a continuous shine. As the darkness of the shaft wrapped around Aaron and his circuitry, the platform glowed steadily with a warm, white glow. Still unsure of what to expect, Aaron pivoted, disc in hand. The lift rose at a steady pace. Slowly, the tunnel came to an end and a flat chamber appeared. Finally the lift came to a gentle stop. Aaron took a few seconds before stepping off. Before him was what appeared to be someone's living room. The entire chamber was dim and closed away, but all around the room, furniture of an intricate, comfortable yet almost advanced décor. The floor and ceiling was a dim white, with dark grey rock walls in between. Aaron's attention was immediately drawn to a pure white pillow placed in the very center of the room. He replaced his disc on his back while slowly approaching the center of the room. The pillow was rather isolated from the rest of the chamber's furniture. Built into the far left wall was what appeared as a pure white marble fireplace accompanied by a sofa flanked by two armchairs. Aaron continued to survey the room. The more he saw, the more his intrigue grew. Behind the lift was a single row of what Aaron recognized as books. As he approached the peculiar collection, he brushed his fingers across the old, tattered brown leather spines of familiar titles from his own world. Off to the right, was a table. Aaron was amused by the similarity the table had to that of any other family homes. The entire chamber seemed modeled after a home of comfort. Branching from both wings of the chamber were separate rooms, spookily familiar to that of a high end bedroom. It was nearly overwhelming to him; and to his surprise infuriating. Aaron hated the fact that he was here amongst comfort while the Defenders were in dodge, only steps away from annihilation. Now that he had the chance to catch his breath, he thought on his situation. For all he knew Sage was dead. He knew already that Tyree was, he never saw him after the guards had started chasing them; and it was Aaron's fault. Aaron threw off his hood and ripped his cloak off. As the rain-soaked fabric flopped to the dim white floor, the small cube clattered on the tile-like floor. The clatter rang to his ears, stealing his attention from his grief. As he saw the cube lying on the ground, the thought came to him.

"Answers," Trey had said. Aaron Flynn never before needed answers as bad as he did now. He reached down and retrieved the handheld device. At his touch, the cube's top half slid open, releasing a blue beam. Depicted in the brilliantly illuminating blue was his backpack. With his finger he tapped the icon. In response, the pack reintegrated before his eyes above the beam. Aaron reached out and grasped the all- to-real handle at the top of the pack. Impatiently, he ripped open the bag and retrieved the white, leather bound book. Its size always surprised him due to the volume of its contents. What seemed like should be as big as a text-book, was merely only the size of a spiral notebook. He held the book gently. He couldn't quite explain it, but the book was just, different. The white leather binding appeared brighter in a way. As he held it in his hands, it seemed lighter than before; despite its already compact size. The Indented stenciling of FLYNN almost seemed deeper, which stood out more before his eyes. The book also held a presence. As Aaron held the brilliant record in his hands, it felt more than just a regular book to him. He almost felt the regard of it being alive. Aaron growing confused and losing patience by the seconds, glanced around the chamber again in wonder before opening the book to a random page. The response however was horrifying. No hand-written words of any kind lay in wait to share their knowledge. Instead, the blank white of the page mocked him. In frustration, Aaron flipped through page after page after page. All sense of gentle handling tore away from his conduct as he tore through the pages in a panic. Not a single word appeared to him; on the blank tease of the pages.

"What? NO!" Aaron screamed as he aggressively riffled through the pages. "No no no!" he shouted. With another bellow of grief, the user chucked the empty book at the far wall. The book slammed roughly before collapsing closed with the front cover faced up. "What now," Aaron groaned as he dropped to his knees. His head drooped with his fists clenched. He was lightly pounding the ground while shaking his head. "I don't know what to do," he said softly. "And whatever that is, I can't do this alone." Aaron wallowed in his grief and self pity for a long while. All in that time in his head he repeated to himself. "I need help." Aaron finally felt inclined to lift his head. He couldn't believe what he saw through his emotion dampened eyes. Far against the wall, the book lay on the ground, glowing. The pages were alight in a blinding blue aura of illumination, licking the dark walls and white tiled floor and ceiling with brightness. Aaron rose from where he knelt slowly and inched steadily closer to the book. As he stood over it, allowing its brilliant glow to shine on his face, he also noticed a change on the cover. The indent of FLYNN was now defined even greater with fills of light. The front cover was bordered also with streak of glowing blue. Even more spectacular was the appearance of a symbol that struck Aaron with familiarity. He had before seen it plastered all over his grandfather's apartment, glowing on the chest of the legendary warrior, Tron. The logo burned bright with three squares lined horizontally and a single square placed under the middle. Slowly, Aaron reopened the book. The glow of the pages intimidated Aaron. Finally open, he stared into the blank page, immersed entirely in bright blue. Suddenly, Aaron was thrown back into the middle of the room by a forcefully explosive wave of light. He landed on his back, knocking away the pillow from its place. The entire chamber was now filled by the aura of brightness. As he attempted to sit up, he brought his hand up to his brow to block out the overwhelming brightness. From the heart of the aura, the light burned with a hot, white shine. Aaron turned away from the intense brightness. From the midst of light, a bright figure stepped up to him. The figure was draped in white robes, unnecessarily detailed with white circuitry.

"You're not alone, man." The voice was warm, gentle and soothing accompanied with a slight hint of gruffness. Aaron turned his head slowly to see an open hand held out before him. The hand was rather large, aged and pale yet smooth. Around the wrist was a beaded bracelet. Aaron grasped the hand and felt a sort of power surge through it, as he was pulled to his feet. Now at eye level, Aaron saw the man. His jaw was covered by a scruffy, silver beard with traces of his dark hair tone streaked around his mouth which curved in a warm smile. A well groomed mane of silver resided on his head. His eyes were a brilliant blue yet they rested gently on Aaron's bewildered face. The man's aged face was well known to Aaron; and sported features not unlike his own. He had seen it many times before though never in person for this person was dead.

"Kevin Flynn." Aaron said dumbfounded.

"Oh come on, is that any way to greet your great-great-great grandfather?" Flynn asked with a chuckle. Aaron felt all grief get swept away by that chuckle; so much so, he did so himself.

"No. But how?"

"How is this possible?" Flynn cut in playfully. "Aaron when I reintegrated Clu, my 'death' I guess you could say," he said with mock quotations with his fingers. "I became one with the Grid. I became a part of the Grid. I have been here ever since, watching," he said; his words dropped away in pain. Aaron stepped back slightly.

"Why? Why didn't you do anything about it?"

"It's not my place. And it doesn't work that way." Aaron scoffed. Again he glanced around the chamber now alit from the brilliance of the book.

"What is this place?" he asked. Flynn too glanced around, his smile spread even more.

"Home, or at least it was." He looked back at Aaron with a kindred warmth. "This Aaron, is the most sacred place here on the Grid. By coming here with my diary, you've opened a link to the inner workings of the Grid, I-E, me," he added with a humble indication of his hand. Aaron stood speechless still in disbelief he was actually face to face with his Grandfather. "Come," he said guiding Aaron with his arm around his grandson's shoulder. "I'm sure you've got tons of questions." Aaron was led to one of the two armchairs placed around the marble fireplace. Before seating himself, Kevin Flynn placed his open hand on the base of the fireplace. As he lifted it away, a blue liquescent, digital fire erupted and danced with life. Aaron watched in amazement as a smile, much like Kevin's, grew on his face. "You know I find that in times of crisis sometimes the best thing is to stop, and be still," Flynn explained as he seated himself comfortably into the opposite armchair. Aaron watched in wonder as the Grid's revered deity relaxed into an armchair and chuckled to himself while entwining his fingers over his lap. This was the figure of which programs worshiped and loved. To Aaron, he was merely a grandfatherly man with the spirit of a teenage Californian surfer; but never did he doubt him.

"Lets start with that then," Aaron said enthusiastically pointing at the fire. "You've done that and more, and recently I've been," he began to stumble over his words, trying to put across his train of thought.

"There's a reason why users are observed as deity by programs. Here on the Grid, we have the ability to alter our environment. We as users have powers unattainable to all programs. Heck I beam-hopped a Solar Sailor once, nearly drained me but still," he added with a laugh. "You too have these powers Aaron, and so far as I've seen, you've already tapped them too." Aaron scoffed.

"Opened a couple of doors is all."

"That were never meant to be opened again." Aaron smiled sheepishly. "Now that's a Flynn," Kevin grinned. "These abilities will come to you in time." Aaron grinned wide-eyed. Suddenly a thought came to him.

"The Beta Grid," Aaron blurted suddenly. For the first time since arriving, Kevin Flynn's smile faltered.

"That place is corrupt man. I watched in agony as my Grandson developed it and the MCP2. Finally after he came to his senses and abandoned the idea, the MCP2 was erased and he locked the place away. The thing that scares me the most though," he continued. "Ever since it was abandoned, I have been shutout. Its like a blind spot to me." The dread showed in Flynn's eyes as his gaze dropped to the floor.

"What is it exactly?" Aaron asked hesitantly.

"A world within a world. Eric developed it as a separate dimension within the Grid." Flynn paused again. "Impressive really, the feat of programming a new zone within a system. But he never should have done it." Aaron felt the grief Kevin Flynn so easily showed, but it was too much; added with his own. He sighed and let his head drop. He felt himself begin to shake. Within seconds, Aaron felt a large warm hand grasp his own. That warm protective touch calmed his gyration. "You haven't failed. Flynn said gently. Aaron looked up at him. He stood next to him with a beaming, consoling smile.

"But I abandoned them, all of them. I didn't do anything to stop them."

"True failure would have come from you heading into the thick without a course in mind. You would have failed then."

"But what's different?" Aaron snapped. "I don't know much more than when I left." Flynn stepped back and watched his grandson.

"Stand up," he said. Aaron glanced away, rolling his eyes in frustration. He did as asked and stood up straight before Flynn. Aaron was much taller and broader than the wise man. Flynn tilted his head slightly to look into his grandson's eyes. He brought his arms up, gripping his broad shoulders.

"There's more than one way to be a hero. There's the warrior," he paused making himself clear. "Then there's the sacrifice." Aaron watched Flynn intently, enlightenment hovered about him, not yet sinking in. Kevin Flynn gave another loving smile then released his grandson and turned away, back towards the midst of the room's shine. Aaron watched in puzzlement.

"How?" Aaron asked in panic. "What can I do?" Flynn turned to face him again, just steps away from being engulfed in light.

"Remove yourself from the equation, then the missing variable will be known to you." Flynn turned away again, swallowed by the blinding brilliant shine. An added surge of brightness flowed through the room nearly blinding Aaron again. He turned away until he felt the intense light die away completely. After having been swallowed in the aura for what felt like an hour, his eyes failed him completely in the dark of the room. After a while of gathering his senses, he stumbled his way back to the book. The cover was closed once again, all signs of the mystical glow had gone. He stooped down to retrieve the sacred record, pressing on the wall to support himself. Suddenly, the touch of his palm on the wall activated glowing panel, projected over his hand. He looked up to see the display. By maneuvering his fingers, the entire wall collapsed away bit by bit into the frame of a window. A thin sheet of energy separated himself from the open outside of the Grid. Hesitantly, Aaron stepped through, drawn by the sight of his purpose, his drive. Aaron stood firm as he saw far in the distance, Master City, glowing with an oppressing red. The dome of red energy still burned. The user's fists clenched tightly with hate. He hated the city, hated the disciples and what was worse, he still hated himself. Finally after minutes of contemplating Kevin Flynn's advice, he eased. His fists unclenched and his eyes softened on the City he now understood. He now knew what he had to do.