I apologize for how long this took...I had a nasty bout of writer's block here on this story so I couldn't really get it started past the second page break. I finally managed to get it figured out today. Anyway, we're in Legacy territory now...so lots of Rinzler, Clu, and fun stuff like that. Anyway, I'll let you guys read...I've kept you from it long enough.
Chapter 34
Our Little Legacy
Accessing Archive Data…
Flynn and Quorra are alive and well, my son and daughter-in-law are alive and well…I just wish I had my husband here alive and well. Beck still scares me to death with his constant escapades, rushing into the city and causing chaos with Paige and Quorra both. But I think the one thing that has scared me most, mainly because I've never seen such a thing, is Flynn. Don't get me wrong, I'm so happy he is alive, I can still feel the power he gives off…but he does nothing but look out over the Outlands towards the city. That is all he has been doing for many cycles now.
Beck is over 1050 cycles, making me ancient…although my son looks as if he weren't a moment over 24 cycles. Flynn, on the other hand…
I've never seen a Program's hair turn from colored to nearly white or silver. Is this something with Users or will my own turn silver from it's normal gold?
Flynn has stopped speaking of Sam, his eyes get that same look that Beck's do when Tron is mentioned or Quorra when Jalen or Radia are mentioned or Paige when Rox and Dex are mentioned…
I don't know who this User is…but it isn't the same Flynn I've known for most of my runtime. I have to wonder…what would happen if Flynn ever saw Sam again?
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Flynn's tired gaze watched the flickering images on his Disk, of Jordan dodging around Tron as Anon tried to get her, sopping wet from the bucket of water Jordan had doused him with. Tron stood there with a mildly amused expression before suddenly whirling around and holding Jordan hostage while Anon gave her a big old, dripping wet hug, making Jordan shriek in laughter while Tron gave a shake of his head before suddenly tensing and turning around, his concerned expression turned into a huge smile as he bent down and picked up a little baby boy that looked exactly like him. Jordan said something, but the memory was silent, and she too bent down, picking up a little blond boy a couple years older than Beck. Flynn's eyes filled with tears as Sam beamed and waved at him…
"Flynn?"
Flynn jumped nearly five feet off the step as he whirled around, thinking he was about to see a ghost…
"Oh, it's just you, Beck," the User replied, giving a sad smile as the Grid's last Monitor walked forwards, his steely blue gaze calculating just like his father's had when he was alive, "Sorry…I thought…"
"You thought I was Dad," Beck replied sadly, reaching out to the memory, his fingers phasing through his father's smiling face, "I get that a lot,"
"It's scary, you know that?" Flynn asked, "How much you're like him? Even your mannerisms are like his…except your sense of humor seems to be intact,"
The Monitor gave a soft chuckle, kneeling down and giving a sigh.
"Do you miss him?"
"Tron? Ev…"
"Your son,"
"…Sam…" Flynn whispered before giving a bitter laugh, "Every second,"
Beck rubbed his wrists, making his scars light up slightly before dimming.
"I didn't even know I'd met your son…I barely even got to know Dad…"
"You were just a baby, Beck," Flynn reminded him, "It's been…"
He cut off, trying to calculate how long he'd been in here…
"The Coup happened when I was 2 cycles," Beck told him, "I'll be 1052 within the next few millicycles,"
"I can't believe you're that old, kiddo," Flynn laughed, shaking his head, "You know how old that makes me?"
"Older than Mom,"
Flynn blinked for a few seconds before giving a loud laugh, grinning triumphantly.
"Yes! I knew you wouldn't be a stick in the mud like your parents or their Users! HA! Take that Alan, Lora! The kiddo still has a sense of humor!"
He ruffled Beck's hair, being careful of where the scar on Beck's face met his hairline.
"You're ok, you know that Beck?" Flynn smiled, "Your dad would be proud,"
Beck gave a sad smile as he looked out over the city.
"I can only hope,"
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Paige made her way into the Coliseum. To keep suspicions down about her and Beck, the two of them had taken jobs in the city. Beck worked at one of the many garages in Tron City and Paige worked as a medic in the Coliseum because the Hospital was completely full. She did not exactly like her job, but it was perfect for the Tron City Uprising. She would rescue some of the combatants that managed to make it through the games alive, bringing them to some of her newfound friends in the underground and either smuggling them out of the city or recruiting them into the fold.
This work cycle was no different, the same old disk wars, the same everything…until they got done with the first round of Disk battles.
The Program that was sent to her was brought by Rinzler himself. Paige hated it when the Enforcer came down to her, there was something just off about him…even for a Repurpose. She couldn't shake the feeling that she knew him before her became Clu's henchman. If she could only see his face she'd be able to tell. Unfortunately, Rinzler never ever took off his mask.
The Enforcer roughly handed over the 'patient', getting a grunt of pain from the Program while Paige glared at him.
"You have the paperwork?" she asked.
The chilling glare she felt was lasered on her nearly stopped her core, but Rinzler handed over a datapad before turning his hidden gaze to the hurt Program.
"Stay…here…" came the dreadful rasp that made Paige's skin crawl.
The Program glared at Rinzler, trying to get up only to hiss in pain and grab his arm while Rinzler stalked out.
Paige sighed and looked at the information.
Program: Unknown
Date of Rezzing: Unknown
Function: Unknown
Round(s) Completed: 1 and Final.
Paige frowned, looking at the tall, blond haired, blue-eyed Program sitting on the berth. His white circuits flickered and flashed in annoyance as he caught her stare.
"What's the matter doc?" he asked, "You look like you don't know what you're looking at,"
"You completed the first round and the last round, but none in between?" she asked, setting the data pad down on the table.
"I tried to get out of there," the Program shrugged, "Then that fake's lapdog and I duked it out,"
"Fake?" Paige asked.
"Clu,"
"You're a User-believer?" she asked, getting a slightly confused look from him, "Nevermind. What's your designation? Mine's PAIGE-MD-408030, but everyone calls me Paige,"
"Sam," the Program started.
"No serial?" she hummed, taking his Disk and pulling up his portrait…only for a blinding white light to shine from it, filling her with energy and making her mint green circuits blaze, "…What the…!?"
"You didn't let me finish," Sam shrugged, taking his Disk back, "My name is Sam…Sam Flynn,"
Paige's golden eyes widened as her gaze shot to the wounded 'Program's arm…just to reveal a sticky red liquid dripping from it rather than blue voxels.
"User," she whispered.
Sam gave a lopsided smile and shrugged.
"I took a wrong turn somewhere," he told her, chuckling.
Paige bowed her head in slight reverence and Sam gave a laugh.
"Why is everyone looking at me like I'm some sort of deity or something?" he asked, "I'm only human,"
"And we're Programs," Paige reminded him, "Users are insanely powerful…especially if they're a Flynn. Flynn made this place, everything here save for the Child Basics and ISOs, but that's something I'm not supposed to talk about as Clu wiped them out…"
Paige shuddered as she gripped her arms. If Clu killed Beck…she wouldn't know what to do with herself…
Sam touched her shoulder with his unwounded arm, sending a surge of warmth through her circuits.
"You ok?" he asked.
"Yes," Paige nodded, composing herself, "I…better get you fixed…otherwise I'll get in big trouble,"
Sam gave a nod and Paige picked up his Disk and beginning to heal, turning the angry red code on his arm back to ivory. Sam Flynn watched, intrigued before Paige snapped the Disk back onto his back, sending a wave of cold through him as it synced. The User looked at his arm incredulously as it healed over and the uniform knitted back together from the cut.
"It's as good as new," he blinked, flexing his arm, "thanks!"'
"I just did my job," Paige shrugged before casting a look around, "Sam Flynn, you must listen to me,"
Sam raised an eyebrow and Paige lowered her voice.
"Not everyone is happy with Clu's rule. It started in Argon City and it's spread throughout the Grid. There's Revolution here…if they find out that you are here…they will come save you from the Games,"
"And…do they?" Sam asked, quietly.
Paige gave a smile as she 'inspected' his arm.
"They do now," she murmured softly, grinning roguishly.
The doors slid open and Rinzler stalked in with an uncommon, predatory grace that Paige often associated with Beck when he was tracking something or hunting a target. The Enforcer's growl filtered through the air, further enforcing, no pun intended, his similarity to Beck.
"Oh, look what the cat dragged in…" Sam deadpanned, "Or is it what dragged the cat in…or are you just happy to see me?"
The low growl intensified and Rinzler's hand shot out with blinding speed, grabbing Sam's arm in an iron grip before turning that blank mask to Paige.
[Query: Status of User]
"He's healed," Paige said, "Fully operational,"
Rinzler tilted his helmet in a slight nod before starting to drag Sam Flynn out of the hospital. Paige's core stopped throbbing painfully in her chest and she quickly clocked out, making her way back to Beck and Quorra, who were waiting on her.
They had to do it.
They had to save the Son of Flynn.
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They had climbed up on a billboard, watching as Clu's throne ship landed and his little hench-Program…
"Jarvis…" Beck remembered with a feeling of annoyance.
Jarvis was almost as bad as Pavel…almost…
In any case, he watched as Jarvis walked out, followed by two guards and a baton bearer and…
"Paige…you weren't kidding," he said, watching as the Grid was screaming at him, rejoicing that another User had joined her.
A young man in blindingly white circuits with Flynn's hair, eyes, and structure was being flanked by the guards…and he did not look happy.
"You think I'd lie about that?" Paige shorted, "I had to treat him…trust me…he's Flynn's son,"
"He does look like Flynn…" Quorra nodded.
"Greetings Programs!" Jarvis called, the crowd cheered, "Oh, what an occasion we have here before us…because your rumors are true! We do indeed have in our midst a User!"
The crowd booed as he pointed at the young, blinding white User.
"A User…" he repeated…as if afraid and unsure.
"He sounds afraid," Quorra noted.
"He should be," Beck said, "Judging by what I'm reading…I'd dare say Sam Flynn is stronger than his father…"
"So, what to do? What does this User deserve?" Jarvis asked "...Might I suggest perhaps…the challenge of the Grid?"
The crowd cheered wildly and Beck shifted uneasily. Lightcycle battle…that wasn't going to be easy. They had to get him out before Clu could kill him.
"And…who best to battle this singular opponent?" Jarvis continued, "Perhaps one who has some experience in these matters,"
Music started to play and stairs unfolded from the ship as a Program started to descend. Beck gave a low, rumbling snarl that chilled the code of both Quorra and Paige.
"Oh, yes, indeed, Programs," Jarvis shouted, "Your Liberator! Your Luminary! Your leader and maker!"
Clu strode towards the Son of Flynn.
"The one who vanquished the tyranny of the User those many cycles before!"
Clu leaned in to say something to the young User…making Sam Flynn bristle in anger.
"Clu!" Jarvis finished, making the whole stadium erupt into cheers.
"Time to go," Quorra said as she got up and leaped off the billboard, landing on the ground with cat-like grace.
"We'll make a distraction," Beck told her, "Then you save him,"
She raced to the light-runner, the machine's circuits lighting silvery white with her touch.
"Let's go rescue a User," Quorra said grimly and gunned the engine.
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Sam Flynn had just pulled out his Disk, preparing to fight Clu, when Quorra, Beck and Paige shot onto the scene, Quorra's lightribbon cutting Clu off and sending the corrupt Admin flying as his bike derezzed. She wrenched the steering wheel around and came to a stop between Clu and Sam Flynn.
"Illegal combatant on the Grid."
"Get in," she ordered, her voice distorted by the mask.
Sam Flynn looked at her, his sky-blue eyes that looked so much like Flynn's blinking in shock. Beck and Paige flew over the smooth Grid glass, ribbons of silver blue and cobalt streaming from the aerodynamic lightcycles the couple rode. Clu gave a roar of anger as Beck rushed him, sending him flying as the Last Monitor slammed his fist into his chest. Both of them circled Clu, creating a barrier of light that he could not pass.
"Illegal combatant on the Grid."
"Get. In!" Quorra repeated.
Thankfully, she didn't have to say it a third time.
Sam Flynn climbed into the light-runner and Quorra hit the gas, whirling the vehicle around and shooting towards the doors…
"System Failure: Release Rinzler."
Beck visibly shuddered as the Enforcer, shot onto the scene, making a beeline for Quorra and Sam Flynn. The Last Monitor shot towards the Enforcer, ramming against him and forcing Rinzler to go slightly off course.
"You've been hunting me for cycles," Beck yelled over the roar of the engines, straightening slightly and revealing the silver-white tetramino design on his ivory armor, "Come get me!"
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A ribbon of orange and ivory light shot in front of the doors as Beck and Rinzler raced, Rinzler trying to catch the Last Monitor and Beck trying to distract the Shadow.
"Not going that way…" Paige reasoned, watching as Quorra jerked the vehicle around and raced towards the wall.
[Beck! Can you shake him?] Paige pinged.
[Can I shake him…] Beck chuckled, [Paige, you forget who I am!]
Paige shook her head and looked up, seeing a Black Guard pulling up to Quorra. Paige shot forwards, her cobalt circuits blazing as she raced towards the Black Guard, ramming into him, forcing him to wreck and ultimately derezz, much to her dislike. Like Beck, she held a high 'no killing' standard. But, like Beck, she'd been forced to.
She saw as Quorra reached for a switch and flipped it, releasing a few grenades from the back of the light-runner. She saw Beck race up, sensing the grenades and launching himself upwards, grabbing his baton as he did. Paige heard both go off and she turned back to see the damage…
Only to see Rinzler arching gracefully through the air, same as Beck, grabbing his second baton and breaking it, landing on another lightcycle.
[He's good. He must have been one of Tron's] Quorra pinged bitterly.
[…I know…] Beck replied, sadly as he rezzed his father's ENCOM-786 and shot forwards, keeping pace with Paige.
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Quorra flipped another switch, activating the two missiles on the side of the light-runner and fired at the wall of the stadium, making an escape route over the deep 'moat' around the arena.
"Pull up man! You can't make that!" Sam Flynn yelled as Quorra accelerated, making Beck grin.
"Jump!" came his father's voice once again, "Don't hesitate!"
Beck shot his counterpart a smile and accelerated, the engine humming loudly as he ramped over the destroyed arena and made it safely to the other side, Paige followed him, both coming to a stop and watching as Quorra ramped the side of the arena, switching the light-runner to its offroad form midair…and landing perfectly on the Outland floor.
Beck looked backwards to see Rinzler coming to a screeching halt, standing up and watching them go…absolutely radiating anger. The Last Monitor stood up, raising his fist into the air in defiance, his circuits blazing angrily as the tetramino design burned like a star.
"For Flynn, for Mom, for Able, for the Grid…for Dad,"
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The quartet raced through the Outlands, the wind whipping around them. Sam Flynn looked up and immediately started yelling as they neared a tunnel in the cliffside…but he stopped as they shot through. Beck laughed, he remembered not liking it much either the first time Quorra took him, his mother and Paige through that same path many, many cycles before.
Beck snuck a look at the young Flynn as he looked around at the Outlands. He looked so much like his father…Here was hoping that Flynn would be happy with what they had done.
They came to another cliffside and Quorra slowed down, letting the hidden door open quietly. Sam Flynn watched in amazement as they drove through the lighted interior and finally came to a stop. Quorra hopped out, motioning for the young User to follow. She guided him to the elevator as Paige and Beck followed quietly, but they stopped just before it.
"So who are you two?" Sam asked, getting distorted, amused chuckles from the two Rebellion Leaders.
"Let's just say we're friends and leave it at that," Beck told him.
"…That sounds like something Jet would say…" Sam muttered.
"Jet?"
"My…well…he's like a cousin to me. His dad is my god-father,"
"We have no such terms here," Beck said, "Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers…grandparents if we're lucky, but 'cousin' isn't one I've heard,"
"We do have friends though," Paige said as Quorra started the elevator, "And…we think you'd like to meet a few of ours. This will just concern you two, not us…for now,"
Sam opened his mouth to protest, but he stopped as the elevator rose and they disappeared from view.
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Sam looked forwards, seeing the silver-haired, kneeling form of an older man.
"Wait here," Quorra whispered to Sam as she walked forwards.
"Quorra," the man murmured, sensing her approach, "I dreamed of Tron…first time in years,"
The pain and sorrow in his voice made Sam's heart hurt…well, he thought he had a heart here…who knew…
"It's a sign," she told him gently.
"A sign, my dear apprentice, of a weary soul," the man said with a bitter laugh, "I'm afraid something's happened…"
"Something has happened," Quorra smiled, unable to keep her excitement down, "We have a guest,"
Another bitter laugh.
"There are no guests kiddo," he sighed as Quorra stood.
"Kid..do?" Sam thought as he quietly stepped forwards, catching Quorra's attention.
She watched as Sam walked forwards, his footsteps alerting the man to his presence. The older man stood up, turning around slowly as the lights flickered on…
And both men froze.
The same sky-blue eyes, the same face albeit more wrinkled with worry and laugh lines, the same hair style even though it was silvered…there were a few streaks of blond still there.
"…Sam?" the man breathed.
"Long time…" the boy replied, just as awestruck.
"You have no idea," the other User whispered.
The older User walked forwards, stopping within touching distance.
"You're…you're here!" he croaked, and Sam could hear the tears rasping in his throat as he embraced his son for the first time in many, many years, "You're here…"
"I'm here," Sam started, tears in his own voice as he embraced his father back.
"You're big," he started, unable to believe his eyes.
"You're…" Sam broke off awkwardly.
"Old?" Flynn asked with a slight, wry grin.
Sam gave a helpless laugh.
"How did you get in?" Flynn murmured.
"Alan came over,"
"Bradley…" Flynn muttered with a touch of disbelief.
"He got your page," Sam continued, "I found your office…under the arcade,"
"Page…" Flynn frowned, "Oh…the page…of course."
Quorra came up, smiling and turned to Flynn.
"Clu had him on the lightcycle grid. I intervened," she beamed proudly.
"Oh," Flynn murmured before looking up at his son, "Dinner soon…we'll talk then,"
The telltale sound of the elevator caught Flynn's attention and he gave a slight smile.
"Sam," Flynn started as the elevator whirred to life again, "There's someone I want you to meet,"
Sam turned around just as the two Programs dressed in white stepped off the lift.
"They helped Quorra get me out…" he said, his eyes flicking down to the male's chest and seeing the all-too familiar design that he'd somehow missed before. "Is that…"
He frowned, coming towards the male Program, who watched him quietly.
"Are you Tron?" Sam asked.
The male derezzed his helmet and Sam blinked once again in shock.
"…Jet?" he breathed.
"My name isn't Jet," the male said, his steel-blue eyes sparking in amusement.
"Beck, this is my son, Sam," Flynn said, his weary face seeming much, much younger, "Sam…this is Beck,"
"So why is he dressed up like Tron?" Sam asked.
"Because Beck's the Rebellion's leader," Quorra explained, "Along with his counterpart, Paige who masquerades as Yori,"
"Ok…" Sam started, "But why?"
"Because," a female voice started, making Sam whirl around to see a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman walking towards them began, "Beck is my son,"
Sam's blue eyes went wide.
"Aunt Lora…?" he asked.
"I made the same mistake when I first met her, kiddo," Flynn chuckled, putting a hand on the Lora lookalike's shoulder, "Sam, this is Yori,"
"Lora Prime is my User," Yori told him, "It's good to see you again, Sam Flynn…it's been many cycles since I saw you…you were just a toddler the last time I saw you last, Beck was just a baby,"
"Wait…if he is Yori's son…then that means…"
Sam gave an incredulous laugh.
"You're Tron's son!"
"…Was," Beck said with a sad smile, "My dad taught me everything I know so I could lead this rebellion,"
"And you're Paige then?" Sam asked, looking at the still disguised female Program.
"We've met, Sam Flynn," Paige said, derezzing her helmet and revealing her face.
"YOU'RE THE MEDIC!" Sam cried.
Paige laughed.
"I told you the Rebellion knew you were here," she shrugged.
She took off the white half of her Disk as Beck did the same, letting their normal, default armor take form, casting silvery-blue and mint green shadows on the pale walls.
"I'll let you all get acquainted," Flynn said, "Like I said…dinner soon,"
And with that, he walked onto the balcony.
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"I was wondering where the Flynn I knew went too," Yori said, walking onto the balcony behind Flynn and making him smile as she stood next to him, "You're a lot happier now,"
Flynn turned a longing gaze towards the flickering, star-like portal that shone above the towers of Tron City.
"Yori…I can go home," he whispered hoarsely, "I can make things better from that side of the screen…I can get Clu outta this system…"
A tear ran down his face.
"I can see Alan and Lora and Roy again…"
Yori hugged her friend.
"I know," she told him, "I want you to do that…if anyone deserves happiness…it's you Flynn, after everything that happened to you. But, I'm not going to say this wasn't your fault…because a lot of it was. I know you wanted someone to help take care of the Grid while you were gone…but creating a Program in your own image was kind of foolish on your part,"
"I know, I know," Flynn sighed, "I'm not making that mistake again, Yori…I'll fix everything, I promise,"
"I know you will,"
Anyone who's watched Legacy knows what craziness is going to happen next. I don't know where it will end necessarily, but I'll figure it out. Hopefully it won't take me too long, but again...no promises.
I hope you guys liked it, if you did send in the reviews! (Along with ideas because I will need them eventually!) :)
Qui vállë tóquetë, ván tecë (If no review comes from y'all; no story comes from me)
Máriessë ar mára tecië
Farewell and fair writing
Elhini Prime signing off.