"System transition is T minus 52.14 cycles. We have much to accomplish and all programs must be informed of preparations to be made. Make sure vid screens are posted in every neighborhood. I don't need to say this must be completed as efficiently as possible," Clu closes the meeting with his top advisers and they file out. He radiates confidence and belief in the plan and those under him are following suit. But Kris is trying to figure out if his heart is really in it, or he's just being an obedient program. She wants his buy in, desperately. With out him, this will all fall apart. She knows he's been working like a dog to make this happen.
When the room is empty of all other programs, he wipes his hand over his face and the facade falls to show the worry and exhaustion. When he notices that she's still there, the walls go right back up.
She sits beside him to offer some comfort and hoping he won't take this wrong, "Clu you're working yourself into the ground - I mean that you're working so hard it's wearing you out. I'm glad to see you care so much for the Grid. But, take a little down time. Do it for me ok? I'm worried about you."
"I don't do this thing you call 'down time'. I'm functional and will continue to be," he tries to brush her off.
"Clu, even Tron takes time for himself in the games. Being a little obsessive is one thing. But you need to step away from your job, so you can be refreshed when you come back to it," she nudges.
"I was tasked with perfection - but it's not possible. And if I could manage perfection - I'd have to maintain it. If even one program is not ready, it falls on me. 'Down time' does not exist, and I'm very busy as you can see," he dismisses her.
She gets out of her chair but doesn't leave yet, "Perfection is in the eye of the beholder. Each person and program will see it differently, Clu. Programs have to be ready - you can't choose for them. If you don't rest, you'll break. Simple as that. Come to the games with me. Tron and Dyson are competing today. It will show support for your friends and the community. Even the mighty Clu can do something fun, if it has a purpose. Come on..."
Even while she was talking with him, he began reading reports coming in. She sighs exasperated and makes her final case before leaving the room, "What good is perfection if it takes so much from you that you can't enjoy it? I'll save a seat for you, if you change your mind."
...
She's just put her visor up, as he saunters out of HQ as if nothing is out of the ordinary. "It will benefit the citizens if we're both at the games at the end of cycle."
"Ok..." is all she can manage, as she lets her cycle actualize.
"We'll be late if we drive," he releases the vehicle in his baton and it forms into a light copter, "Unless you wish for me to beat you there..."
"Fat chance," she revs her cycle.
"I only play to win, User. Come with me and we'll be in time," he steps in and motions for her to get into the chopper.
Her head tilts and she pauses before storing her cycle and joining him and poking him with her baton, "You owe me a race, mister."
As soon as both her feet are in the chopper, Clu lifts off and makes a beeline for the stadium. She grumps, "Could you have at least waited until I was at least sitting down?!"
"No time."
A few microcycles of fuming pass before she notices the lights below her. "The view is breathtaking!" she gawks at the glowing citi-scape as it glides by under her.
"Yes. I prefer flying," he concedes before touching down on the helipad above the seaward side of the stadium.
He leads her to the announcer's box and motions for her to take a seat nearby, as one of the announcers gives Clu his seat. He hints, "We'll need to be a comforting presence shortly."
"What's happening then Clu? Did you get a message?" she pesters him for information.
He points to the enormous glowing wave on horizon behind them - a single streak of aurora that spans the entire horizon and is moving ominously fast. Decisively, he clicks the mic and his face appears on every vid screen in the place. "Greetings Programs. User Kris, and your leader Clu here to show you there is nothing to fear as the wave approaches. It is only a backup in progress. She and I will be the first scanned. As the beam approaches, remain seated. Afterward, the cycle's events will proceed as normal."
When he clicks the mic off and brings it with, Kris fumes, "You could have warned me."
"You could have asked on the way or you could have read your messages," he gives an annoying shrug that emphasizes his point and he steps in line with her so the scan reaches them at the same time. "Look at the camera now, and show them it's ok."
She stomps her foot in annoyance as the light rushes over them and eerily creates a glowing band that shows their inner core. They can hear the crowd's nervous agitation. He switches the mic on and shoves it at her, causing her hands go clammy from being put on the spot. He's only doing this to see how she handles it. Everything he does seems to be to push her away or push her buttons.
Lifting the mic to her mouth, she tries to offer words of comfort as the scan proceeds to the stadium and the murmurs turn to wails, "Programs, the scan is painless. I know it's new, but do not be afraid. Flynn and Alan are in the User world making a backup copy of our entire world as a precaution. They truly care what happens to us and want to be sure that not a single program is left behind when we move to the new system. This will happen a few more times before the move commences. Thank you for being brave through this time of change. You are all a credit to your maker."
His hand is held out - silently demanding the mic back, and his confidence urks her. She slams it none to gently back into his palm and a barely visible lopsided smirk shows on his face.
"Just stop it with the mind games, Clu. We need to work together," she snarls. The programs in the announcing booth are just gawking at their interchange. Who in their right mind would talk to Clu or a User the way they are speaking to each other?
"We are working together. But we are also tied now. I play for the long term. You'll just have to keep up," he challenges before switching the mic back on and facing the crowd. "Citizens of the Grid, the games may now commence!" He waves to the crowd as he provokes her, "Dyson is up first, you could at least act excited for him..."
"Bring it on," she slugs him in the arm, relived at the change from him pushing her away.
He pulls back, shocked at the fact that she just hit him, even though it wasn't hard.
"UGH...it's a friendly gesture between friends or close rivals," she pinches the bridge of her nose after yet another breach of etiquette.
"I find it too...too reminiscent of Flynn," he reveals before changing the subject, "I expect the games will end with Dyson against Tron again. The crowd loves when it comes down to that pairing."
"Clu..." she tries to form the words for her thoughts. Why does he have to be so darned complicated?
"Yes?" he says as he looks intently out toward the field.
"Thank you for telling me."
When the contestants enter the arena, the crowd erupts. Tron and Dyson are the definitive favorites as the volume of cheering rises considerably for them. The high emotion is infectious, sucking in Kris - distracting her from Clu's stealthily exit attempt. The swoosh of the door gives him away though.
"Hey, aren't you going to stay?"
"I'll listen to the vid cast as I plan. I've seen them play before."
"Dyson swore he would beat Tron this time!"
"He says that every time."
"Come on, Clu. Just a few mili cycles to support our friends."
"Will you stop nagging me if I stay?" he pleads.
"Yeah..." she concedes, but it's not the attitude she'd hoped for.
"Meet me in the VIP box."
...
Clu was spot on. Several milicycles later it's announced that Tron and Dyson are to be the final match.
"So what were you going to work on?" she sips an energy drink and attempts small talk while they watch the final match pre-show.
Lounging with his boot against the window and a drink idly hanging in one hand, he purses his lips, "Preparations I've been working on for some time now. Though, I thought we were having 'down time'."
"Fair enough. I just wondered what was so important. Will you tell me sometime?"
"No necessary... Are you cheering for Tron or Dyson this match?" he evades.
"Both. I want them both to win."
"But they can't both win," Clu gives her a puzzled look.
She sighs, "I know. I still want them to both win, though. Isn't it funny how Users want conflicting things sometimes?"
"I suppose," he puts down the drink and steeples his fingers in thought.
"Who are you cheering for today?" she asks in return.
"Tron. He's always the victor," Clu says matter-of-factly.
"Always?" she's surprised.
"Until Dyson can exceed his programming he will always be second to Tron," Clu explains.
She frowns sadly, "I know how Dyson feels. I've had to live in my big sister's shadow all my life."
"That's the first thing you've said that I can identify with," Clu confesses, and stares out the window as he drains the remnant of his drink.
"Flynn's shadow... Yeah, that would be a difficult one to get out from under," she says in a hushed tone. "Well, it's about to start - need another drink?"
He reaches back to give her his empty glass in acknowledgment.
When she returns, he asks, "You are the User. Yet, you didn't even object when I told you that your plans have to go through me. And you just served me. Why seek my approval? What do you gain?"
"Well, I want to work by your side, not be your superior. Flynn is mythical, even considered god-like here - he's the creator after all. But that's not for me. I think it's dangerous in a system where we want more users to visit. A master and servant caste system always goes bad. We have to be able to be equals, just with different strengths," she confides.
"And I'm the key..." he puts the piece in place, as he watches the fireworks start that indicate the last match is about to start.
"Yeah...The key to helping the programs be independent. Interacting with users, but not dependent on us," she keeps it simple.
"You need to interact more with the programs, to truly understand us. Since, you enjoy the games. I'd like for you to start training for the games," he requests with unexpected humility.
"Awesome!...But what about the work that needs to be done before the move? I have ideas that could help smooth the transition."
"Tell me your ideas...after the match."
"Gladly, IF you're sure you can drag yourself away from your other work..." she lightly teases as Tron and Dyson are announced for the match.
"User, you have no idea what being here is costing me in planning. Flynn only ever requested my presence for tasks. I'm here because you didn't require something from me." He stands and starts clapping for his friends as they make their entrance.
She feels a catch in her breath. How could Flynn only see him as a means to complete tasks? "I'm...I'm glad you stayed and will slow down for a bit." Everything else she wants to say seems like it will get in the way, so she joins him in welcoming the two contestants.
"Dyson vs. Tron - light cycle battle on 2 levels. Disk and staff allowed," the automated emotionless female announcer states.
Kris does a fist pump in the air. "Sweet! I've been waiting for a light cycle battle!" Wistfully she adds, "Now if we only had buttered popcorn..."
It makes Clu shake his head in amusement, "Users. You're all so excitable."
The levels form on the field with a staggered series of ramps between them. The ramps switch speed boosts on and off. There is a series of road blocks between the ramps, preventing long straight runs at each other.
The two weave and dodge trying to cut each other off with the light ribbon from their cycles. Dyson succeeds with a tricky bump maneuver then a burst of speed, knocking Tron off his cycle and sending him tumbling into the air. As Dyson is about to come in for the 'kill', the bell dings for a gravity reversal and "Levels 1 and 2 merging" is announced. It throws Dyson off in aim. Instead of making another round for Tron, Dyson puts his own preservation first.
Tron takes off at a dead run and slides, managing to grab his light cycle, and swings back to the active level just before the bottom layer collapses. Dyson makes his way back around.
A little in awe of her new friend she remarks, "Tron never gives up, does he?"
Clu adds, "Though Dyson does, because he's never had to fight for his very existence like Tron has. Tron will push him to the limit every time." He leans in to see how Tron manages to turn this one around.
Tron pulls out his staff and Dyson follows suit.
Instead of attacking Dyson with the light staff, he calculates and raises it above his head before slamming it down and deleting the section in front of him. Dyson's momentum carries him forward. His cycle drops below him and derezzes as Tron catches him. Tron uses the momentum to whip him back up onto the surface and then flips himself over to slam down with his disk just hovering over Dyson's neck.
The automated voice chimes in, "Combatant Tron. Final round. Victory."
"Wow! That was so totally awesome!" she screams and jumps to her feet along with the crowd below her.
"Had Dyson stood his ground, he would have had a chance," Clu remarks.
"At least, he made Tron work for the win," she grins starting to enjoy the squabbling with Clu now.
Chapter End of Line