Ladyhadhafang, Round 3, Tron20in20 Drabbles
So, finally managed to complete my Tron Legacy drabbles. *Sighs* I don't know how good these are; I'll admit I am a bit rusty. Not helped by the fact I came into the Tron fandom a little later in life, so if there are any errors here, feel free to point them out. Mostly centering around a concept I had for a while, female Sam Flynn. *Prays it at least turned out passable*
Also took some things from the supplemental materials to think up an idea for a possible third Tron film. So there may be spoilers.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Theme: Sweet
Rating: G
They had always called her a sweet girl - at least in contrast to her brother, Jet. While Sam was more of the quiet, withdrawn one, Jet was loud, brash, cocky - the two of them were pretty much studies in contrast. Even now, though, it didn’t mean that Sam couldn’t get drawn into Jet’s schemes once in a while - and perhaps come up with a few ideas of her own.
Which was why she was with Jet, on this Friday night, aiding him in pranking ENCOM, yet again. They had already recorded the necessary video of Marv - a process that, Sam mused, they no doubt owed Marv a treat for if this came out well.
And at the very least, she hoped that they’d at least be able to make it out alive. ENCOM’s security was getting smarter. She doubted that they could really stay out of trouble for long.
Then again, as long as they had their wits about them, they’d be fine.
“Ready to go, Jet?”
Jet grinned. “I was born ready.”
Even now, leaving Alan a quick note (a vaguely worded one, to boot, how they were going out on the town and would be back by ten or so, almost like she was still in high school or so) and getting the necessary gear, Sam sighed. “This better work, Jet.”
Jet grinned again. “Don’t worry. I’ve got it under control.”
“Right. I hope.”
Theme: Program
Rating: PG
Warnings: Mentions of violence.
“Identify yourselves, programs.”
Even now, standing there, bleeding from the cut to the cheek that Rinzler had given her, Sam willed herself not to back down. She then turned to Jet, who seemed to be in the same position - still sore from where Rinzler had all but hurled him across the Grid during their duel.
“We’re not programs.” Even now, Sam tried to reassure herself that the crowd didn’t frighten her. And they didn’t. If anything, it was more humiliating than anything else.
Another voice. “Identify.”
Sam took a deep breath. “My name is Sam Flynn. And with me is Jet Bradley. We’re looking for Kevin Flynn.”
Silence.
She thought she could hear the leading program - no doubt the overseer for the Games, she mused. The ruler of the Grid - murmur something to the program on his right. One of his aides. Even now, Jet looked doubtful.
“Sam,” he said, “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “But at the very least...I hope we get some answers out of this.”
Theme: Loneliness
Rating: PG
Warnings: Angst.
They always called her the more responsible one, in contrast to her brother (of sorts) Jet, who pretty much did whatever he wanted to do. And yet at the same time, they didn’t quite understand. They didn’t know what it was like, to have a father who walked off without a trace.
The last thing Sam could really remember regarding her father was the story he told her, about the Grid.
“And the world was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. But also more dangerous than I ever imagined.”
Even now, sitting on the edge of her bed, running a finger along the little CLU action figure that she remembered so vividly from that night, Sam could not help but wonder. What had gone so wrong? What had really happened that night?
Where did you go, Dad? she could not help but wonder. Where did you go?
Theme: Dance
Rating: PG-13.
Warnings: Violence.
Even now, listening to the catchy, almost techno-ish music in the club as the fight broke out, watching Castor dancing like a complete and utter maniac, even having to go and help Jet and Quorra fight off more of Clu’s men, Sam doubted she could have ever been so angry. Not at Quorra - after all, Quorra had done her best. And there was no way to know that Castor was a traitor - hell, she hadn’t known it until too late.
No, if anything, she was angry at herself, just for not seeing something like this coming. She hated it. No, she worse than hated it. Even now, watching the other programs in the bar fighting back in vain - it was almost like a dance, she thought. A twisted dance. And they were losing. Even now, fighting back against the guards, she could feel herself getting increasingly tired. Still, she fought on, if only because she had no choice.
And yet...
Dad, she thought, even as she derezzed another guard, You better get here as soon as you can. Because we need you. Dodging another guard’s attempts to derezz her - not that it would have worked. Discs didn’t really work on Users like they would on programs - was starting to get her tired.
And then she heard the club go quiet. Almost in awe.
And then she saw him, and a grin broke out across her face.
Dad is here.
Now...now the tide was turning quickly.
Theme: Blood
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Violence.
Jet was already down. Even now, trying to get to him, Sam found Rinzler blocking her path. She sighed in frustration - if anything, that program was fast! And having two discs was just going to make things more complicated. Granted, the process was perhaps a bit easier when she had Jet facing Rinzler and the other program, Scourge, with her.
But facing Rinzler alone?
Even now, fighting Rinzler, Sam could already feel herself getting tired. But no matter what happened, she wasn’t going to go down. Even as she felt her muscles tiring, she willed herself to fight on.
But she couldn’t keep up forever.
Eventually, Rinzler was too quick for her, and his first disc sliced her right cheek - if not for the pain, she would have been grateful that the disc hadn’t slashed her throat.
On second thought, she definitely was.
The crowd was practically going ballistic now, chanting for Rinzler to derezz her, to finish the game. She glared at them through the pain, in defiance, unwilling to back down.
And then she felt the blood trickle down her cheek, saw a droplet of it hit the ground.
“User.”
Rinzler’s voice sounded familiar - too familiar. Almost like Alan’s. But while Alan’s voice was more comforting and familiar, Rinzler’s voice sounded different. Animalistic. A hiss of utter hatred.
Sam could only conclude she was imagining something. It was the only way.
Theme: Home
Rating: PG-13 to R-ish for mentions of violence.
Spoilers: Possible spoilers for the end of Tron Legacy.
Warnings: Mentions of violence, angst.
Even home didn’t feel entirely like home. It hadn’t exactly changed while Sam was away; if anything, Marv was still here. And everything was still okay. And yet, even so, it didn’t feel right to Sam.
Even sleeping didn’t bring her much respite. Sometimes she dreamed of the good things, such as meeting Quorra, and reuniting with her father again, but most of the time, she dreamed of the less than good things. Fighting against Rinzler. Seeing him knock Jet out. Hearing Rinzler’s hate-filled hiss. “User.”
She dreamed of Clu, giving his speech to the rectified programs that stood before him. “Out there is a new world! Out there is our victory! Out there is our destiny!”
And with it, she dreamed of Clu somehow entering the real world. Ravaging it. Houses being set aflame in his wake. Children crying for their parents who would never come home. Alan taking a stand against Clu and dying.
And then she would wake, gasping, in a cold sweat, and realize that she wasn’t on the Grid, or in this horrible alternative reality - that she was here in her apartment, safe and sound. And then she would go to breakfast with Alan, Jet and Quorra (and Marv, who would be sniffing around the table begging for food), wishing that she could, somehow, tell them about what she dreamed about - and yet, somehow, feeling unable to provide the words.
Theme: Mystery
Rating: PG
Warnings: None.
It was long after Alan had left that Sam turned to look at Jet. Even now, the look on the older man’s face said that her guess was just as good as his. Why would someone be calling from the Arcade? Where had her father really gone that night?
The best they could do was go to Flynn’s Arcade and try and get some answers.
“Come on,” Sam said, “Let’s go.”
Even now, saying goodbye to Marv (even now, Sam had a feeling that Marv couldn’t come with them. Not on this mission), Sam and Jet rode towards Flynn’s Arcade. She then turned to look at Jet. “You doing all right?”
“Tired.” Jet gave her a weary grin. “But ready.” Then he grew more somber. “Sam...you really think that Flynn’s Arcade is going to give us some answers?”
Silence.
Even thinking about it, Sam mused, Jet was probably right. Her father was probably dead. That or off somewhere exotic, like Costa Rica, or Australia. Maybe both.
Even the thought didn't sit well with her.
“I don’t know, Jet,” she said. “But it’s not like we have any choice. Let’s go.”
Theme: Wild
Rating: PG
Warnings: None.
She hadn’t expected going along with of Jet’s idiotic, wild schemes would have actually come in handy. And yet even now, all but parachuting from the tower with Quorra, Jet coming shortly behind her, she could not help but turn back and look at Quorra in relief. “Made it.”
Quorra grinned, and Jet gave her a cocky smirk in return. “Just want to tell you that you owe me one, Sam.”
“When we get out of here,” Sam said, chuckling in spite of herself. “Right now, we better make a break for it.”
Even now, getting back on the Solar Sailor, buckling in, Sam doubted she could have ever been more relieved. She turned to look at her father, who seemed to be looking at her in amazement. “Where did you learn that stunt?”
“Jet,” she said. “ENCOM tower. Quite a while ago.”
Her father arched an eyebrow. “Tell me about it when we get out of here.”
“Sure,” Sam said. “Will do.”
Theme: Strangers
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Possible unsettling imagery.
“He actually did it.” Even now, turning to Jet, Sam could not help but be amazed as they continued to fly over the sheer scope of the new, digital city they were in. “We’re here. On the Grid.”
“Yeah...” Jet sighed. “I guess the only problem is where Uncle Kevin went.”
“We’ll find him, Jet. Don’t worry.”
“Maybe.” Jet ran a hand blearily over his brow. “I just don’t think he meant for us to come this way.”
Sam sighed, looked around at the other programs. One of them was repeatedly murmuring something, something incoherent, incomprehensible at first, but steadily became clearer to Sam.
“Notthegamesnotthegamesnotthegamesnotthegames - ’’
“Is he all right?” Sam turned to one of the other programs.
The program in question turned to look at her, and a chill came up Sam’s spine as she saw the program in question. Half of his face was missing, revealing a hole of broken code where flesh - program flesh, at least - should have been.
If anything, he must have been through these “games” before. At the very least, she and Jet had to be watchful - increasingly watchful as they continued towards the bizarre new environment in wait.
Theme: Fixed.
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Tron Legacy.
Warnings: None.
Even now, looking over at Quorra’s prone form, Sam could have kicked herself. She should have waited. They should have at least gone together instead of splitting the party - so to speak - but no, she just had to play hero and go off alone. Stupid, stupid, stupid - what were you thinking?
Apparently, “not at all” was the closest answer.
Luckily, her father seemed to have calmed down slightly after his earlier outburst at her recklessness -- culminating in, of all things, accusing her of messing with his Zen thing, whatever that was.
Now, however -- now he was mostly focusing on fixing Quorra, zooming in on whatever broken code she had in order to heal the injury.
Jet turned to look at Sam, gave her a reassuring grin. “Don’t worry, Sam,” he said, “Uncle Kevin knows what he’s doing.”
“I’m not scared of that. I guess I just...” Sam sighed. “I shouldn’t have gone off alone.”
“Quorra was mostly thinking of going by a different road, just because...” Jet sighed. “She just told me she was hunted by Clu in the past. Probably didn’t want to run into him again. Or his men.”
“You mean...”
“Yes.” Even now, as her father finally managed to navigate his way through Quorra’s code, find the damaged section, pick it out, he looked at her, almost sadly. “She’s an ISO. The last one.”
Even as he said it, Sam, somehow, felt as if the deck of the Solar Sailor had been taken out from under her. “So all this time...you were protecting her.”
“Yes.” Flynn seemed more melancholy now. “Yes, I was.”
Theme: Beginning -- #1:
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Possible spoilers for the end of Tron Legacy.
Warnings: None.
They had been more than slightly distrustful of Sam taking the job at ENCOM in the beginning - after all the trouble that the girl and her adopted brother (of sorts) had caused for the company, now she had an interest in taking it back?
But even so, Sam knew that she had to do this. If only for her father’s sake. ENCOM had spent too much time falling into decay - now...now someone had to step in and put it back together.
The problem was where to start.
At the very least, she wouldn’t be alone on this one - she had Jet and Alan, of course, on ENCOM as well - but even so, handling the paperwork, handling the discussions of the new products they were going to be putting out - all of it would be increasing hell on Sam’s already prevalent lack of sleep.
Still, she would persevere.
Getting ENCOM back together wasn’t going to happen overnight - but she would make it count for something.
Theme: Beginning -- #2
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: For Tron Legacy, as well as (possibly) some supplemental materials.
Warnings: Possibly disturbing content.
Sam couldn’t say that her first meeting with Clu brought back many good memories, to say the least.
She could still remember how Rinzler had pulled her up, how Jet had been instructed to follow, how she had demanded answers from the being who claimed to be her father (and yet somehow, something wasn’t right about him. It simply wasn’t) - how it had turned out that he wasn’t her father at all, just some sick sort of facsimile of him
She could still remember the Gaming Grids, hearing her father’s tale, and later Quorra’s. She could still remember so much - all the atrocities that Clu had committed, everything he had done in the name of a “perfect system” that wasn’t even possible anyway.
And when he couldn’t take it, he had punched her father in the face. Perhaps that was the least of his crimes, so to speak, but even so, even thinking about it...
Even thinking about it made her angry.
And the thought that they had to work with him now...
Perhaps her father was right. Perhaps Clu was on their side now. Perhaps they needed him for the time being, if only to take down this new MCP. But it didn’t make it any easier. And if anything, Quorra, Jet, Alan and Lora’s reactions (as well as Tron’s) didn’t seem to speak very favorably either.
It was nighttime that she sought Tron out, where he had previously been keeping watch. He turned around, almost in surprise, disc drawn - only to relax when he realized that it was only her. “Sam Flynn.” He chuckled, sheathed his disc. “You should not sneak up on me like this.”
“Sorry.” Sam sat comfortably next to Tron. “You doing all right?”
“There’s no sign of any trouble. Any enemies, really.”
“They’re probably lying low.”
“Yes. But,” Tron said, “You’re not here to talk about this, aren’t you? You look troubled.”
“Oh, it’s Clu.” Sam sighed. “I know I should be focused on the mission and everything, but after everything he did...what’s Dad thinking, allying himself with Clu?”
“I am sure your father has his reasons. I may not necessarily...agree with those reasons,” Tron said, looking visibly uncomfortable even as he said it, “But he has them.”
“What do you think?”
“He could be giving Clu another chance of redemption after everything he’s done. Or perhaps Clu has talents that could help us defeat this new MCP. Whatever it is, it could be interesting.”
“Maybe,” Sam said. “I guess it’s just - after what he did to you, to the ISOs, to Quorra...”
“Your feelings are not invalid, Sam. If anything, they are more than understandable.”
Sam grinned, if wearily. “Thanks. I guess it’s just...” She sighed. “I just hope Dad knows what he’s doing.”
“As do I.” Tron smiled, if slightly. “Get some sleep, Sam.”
Theme: Beginning -- #3
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Possible spoilers for Tron Legacy.
Warnings: None
The best approximation of how she met Quorra was when she was on the lightcycle Grid with Jet, about to certainly be derezzed or held prisoner. Even now, she prepared for the end, drawing her disc - if she was about to go down, she would at least go down fighting.
Then she saw it. A light cycle, one she hadn’t seen before, drawing up towards her. Clu barely had time to react before he was forcibly ejected from his light cycle, much to the boos of the crowd, no doubt at seeing their leader in such an undignified position.
The announcer's voice spoke: “Illegal combatant on Grid.”
As it happened, the light cycle drew up towards her. The program inside gestured to her. “Get in.”
Even now, Sam stood, almost speechless - whoever had arrived on the Grid like that had amazing timing.
The program’s voice was more terse now, even a bit irritated. “Get. In.”
“All right.” Sam climbed quickly into the lightcycle. “What about Jet? We can’t just leave him behind.”
“Don’t worry. We’re going back for him.”
Even now, long after rescuing Jet from whatever horrible fate he would suffer at the hands of Clu or Rinzler - luckily, Jet seemed to be making his way back pretty well - long after speeding away from the Grid as fast as they could, Sam turned to the program in the light cycle. “Where are we going?”
“Hang on.”
Even now, dodging guards, temporarily felling them, making leaps that Sam had never seen before, not even when Jet was pulling off his ridiculous stunts - finally, Sam turned to look at the program who had saved her and Jet. “Who are you?”
The helmet lowered, revealing a young woman with short, chin-length black hair and almond-shaped blue eyes. She smiled now, seemingly a bit more at ease now that they were safely out of range of the guards. “I’m Quorra.”
She held out a hand, almost as if to shake. Sam took it. Even now, she looked behind, looked at the guards. “They’re turning around.”
“Not by choice,” Quorra said. “Their vehicles aren’t designed to go off Grid. They’ll malfunction on this terrain.”
“And...us?”
Quorra chuckled. “Obviously not.”
They continued towards God-knows-where, even as Jet spoke up next. “Where are we going?”
“Don’t worry. Your questions will be answered soon.”
“That’s not what I call reassuring.” Jet muttered
Sam turned to look at Quorra, almost apologetically - before, finally, they drew up to a safehouse, far removed from everything else. Sam sighed in relief. “Well,” she said to Jet, “We got out in one piece.”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Jet said. “Even if they’re diverted for a time, they’re probably going to find an alternate way to get to us.”
“Then let’s pray we’re ready.”
Even that wasn’t reassuring to Sam - quite the opposite, really! - but it was better than nothing.
Theme: Beginning -- #4
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Tron Legacy.
Warnings: Angst.
The reunion with her father was almost the opposite of what she had wanted. She hadn’t expected everything to be hugs and rainbows, especially considering the circumstances, but even now...
Sam sighed, slumped on the bed. How could he be so frightened of his own creation? He built Clu. Why doesn’t he just end him?
And yet in a sickening way, she, at the same time, understood why.
She could still remember her father’s tale - how Clu had all but wiped out everything her father had worked for. How he had killed Tron. Even now, picturing it, Sam could not help but feel ill.
How could Clu do something like this?
And yet at the same time, knowing Clu, it was no surprise. The program was out of his goddamn mind - or at least the rough equivalent of it.
Sam sighed, got up, walked towards Quorra and Jet, who were deep in conversation. Jet, no doubt, working up a crazy scheme in order to get out of this situation. Quorra, disapproving.
Finally, Sam cleared her throat, quietly.
“I, um...I hope I’m not interrupting.”
The two of them turned towards her, almost flustered.
“Oh. Hey, Sam.” Jet’s tenseness seemed to disappear, if temporarily, and go back to the looser, more relaxed appearance that Sam knew. “What’s up?”
”Just...Quorra?” She turned to look at Quorra. “Is there anyone in the city that could help us?”
Silence.
“There’s someone I knew,” Quorra said, “A program, Zeuse. He used to fight alongside the ISOs. You’ll have to go in disguise, though; if anyone sees you - ’’
“Gotcha.”
Even now, heading off towards the garage to get the nearest lightcycle, map of Zeuse’s sector in hand, Sam turned to look, if briefly, at Quorra and Jet. “You coming?”
“We’ll meet you by a different road,” Quorra said. “Don’t worry.”
“I won’t.”
And Sam Flynn took off into the night.
Theme: Beginning -- #5
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Tron Legacy.
Warnings: None.
It was from the ledge above, far out of sight of Clu, that Sam could hear the chanting of the programs, the tapping of the staffs they carried, even as Clu’s platform rose into view. Even now, Sam swallowed - Clu was already quite imposing, but the way the platform was positioned, he almost seemed like a dark god, a harbinger of destruction. Finally, Clu spoke, and the chanting died down.
“Greetings, programs!”
Even now, listening to Clu’s speech echoing from down below, Sam could already feel the sinking feeling build up in her gut. Even hearing him talking about things such as ridding the system of imperfection, and casting out the false deity that sought to enslave them, and so many other things --
Even now, Sam felt sick.
“Does he even realize - ’’
“I don’t think he does, Sam.” Her father shook his head. “He’s so convinced that what he’s doing is right. And I doubt anything that I could ever say could stop him.”
And even now, listening to the rest of Clu’s speech, how he would never betray the rest of the programs like her father allegedly did, how seizing the world of the Users was their destiny - somehow, somehow Sam didn’t disagree.
And the crowd seemed to be eating it up. Going berserk, even. Or as berserk as much as they were wont to do.
Even now, Sam closed her eyes. “What do we do now?”
“We get to the portal.”
“We’ve got to get your disc first. And Quorra. Otherwise...otherwise, we’ll all be vulnerable.”
Theme: AC -- #1
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Tron Legacy.
Warnings: Mentions of graphic/disturbing content.
It was on Friday that she finally told Alan about the nightmares. Even telling him wasn’t easy - not that she felt uncomfortable telling him, per se, but there was something about it that made her feel uncomfortable.
She had an entire legacy to be holding up. She couldn’t afford to show any weakness, couldn’t afford to collapse. And yet at the same time, pouring out the details of her nightmares to Alan - the fire, Rinzler - she couldn’t help but feel grateful, so damn grateful when she finally finished. She felt wetness on her cheeks - even putting her fingers to them, she could already feel the tears.
And yet even now, she felt, somehow, like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
Alan, meanwhile, looked stunned, almost as if he didn’t know what to say. “Sam,” he said, “Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“I...” There were so many reasons, but in the end, Sam chose the most obvious one - at least from her point of view. “I didn’t want you to worry. You already had enough work to do, and...I didn’t want you to worry. I didn’t want to be a burden to you.”
“You could never be a burden, Sam.”
Sam gave him a watery grin. “Thanks...I guess.”
“Come here, kiddo.”
Even now, lying in Alan’s arms, letting him rub soothing circles on her back almost like she was a child again, Sam, for the first time in a while, felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
She could do this. She could keep ENCOM together, with Jet, Alan, and Quorra by her side.
They were a team.
The team.
And no matter what, they always would be.
Theme: AC -- #2
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Tron Legacy.
Warnings: Mild language.
Even now, sitting on the front deck of the Solar Sailor with her father, looking over at the digital sea below, and the sky in front of them, Sam could not help but be more than slightly afraid. What if Clu found them?
“Dad,” she said, “We shouldn’t be up so high. We’ll be seen.”
“It’s all right, kiddo. Just close your eyes.”
“What?”
“Close your eyes.” There was no impatience in her father’s voice, no anger - merely an offering of help. Let go.
Even now, closing her eyes, she could feel the rush of air past her face, the wind playing with her hair, tousling it, calming her. Calm...something she hadn’t felt in quite a while. Even now, following her father’s directions, to simply breathe, to clear her mind, to meditate, if only for a while...it was working. Even now, she could hear whisperings of dread at the edge of her consciousness, a nagging feeling almost as if one of them wouldn’t return from the Grid, but eventually, she managed to lose herself in simply breathing. In. Out. In. Out.
Finally, after a while, she managed to return to her consciousness - to the Grid in front of her. She smiled, if wearily. “Thanks, Dad. I...I needed that.”
“No problem.”
Even now, looking out at the sights before her, Sam turned to her father, grinned. “I doubt even the biggest millionaires in the world could have a view like this."
“You should have seen it back in its prime, Sam. It...” Her father sighed. “I don’t know how to describe it to you. It was magnificent.”
Sam merely nodded. “It must have been something before...y’know, Clu took over.”
Silence.
“Dad?"
“It wasn’t Clu. It was me. He’s me. I screwed it up, Sam.”
“Dad - ’’
“I was so damn busy. Chasing perfection. Chasing what was right in front of me. And Clu...I put just about everything of myself into him. Put in all my flaws. All my shortcomings. He was fine at first, and then, after a while...after a while he just went crazy.”
Even now, sitting next to him, for a long while, Sam doubted she knew what to say. Then, finally...
“Look, it wasn’t your fault. I mean - you did the best you could. And Clu...Clu made the choices he did. Maybe you gave him the means to do so, but he made the choice. You didn’t make it for him.”
“Maybe.” Even now, her father seemed unconvinced of the words. “I don’t know.”
Theme: AC -- #3
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Tron Legacy
Warnings: Angst, fluff, hurt/comfort.
“So...what do we do now?”
Even now, saying this out loud to Quorra and Jet, she felt almost foolish for saying it. Almost confused. But in a way, it wasn’t exactly that far off base. If anything, she did feel confused - what were they going to do now? The best she could approximate was that they were going to change the world. At the very least, she had to take back ENCOM, if only in her father’s memory. To do otherwise would dishonor him.
And Quorra - what would Quorra mean for the world?
She could still hear her father’s voice, his enthusiasm when he spoke of what the ISOs could mean for the world. “Science, philosophy, religion - almost every idea man had about the universe up for grabs! Biodigital jazz, man.”
Even now, remembering it, she had to smile a bit.
Jet placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll change the world later. But for now...come on, Quorra. There’s something I want to show you.” A pause. “You coming, Sam?”
Sam laughed. “Of course I am.
And even now, riding off down the road on their motorcycles, Quorra’s arms around Jet’s waist, Jet and Sam occasionally, playfully, trying to “race” one another - even now, Sam could see the sheer amazement, the sheer joy come onto Quorra’s face as the sun began to rise.
Sam knew, long after the ride ended and they had to go to bed, that they had a big day tomorrow. Taking back ENCOM, revolutionizing the company, if only for her father’s sake.
But for now, she could sleep soundly knowing that at the very least, they had experienced that one moment of peace.
For now.
Theme: AC -- #4
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Spoilers for the end of Tron Legacy, and a few for the supplemental materials as well.
Warnings: Some angst.
Even now, meeting up with her father again was more bittersweet than she would have expected. If anything, Sam hadn’t exactly expected sunshine and roses and hugs all around - although it would have been nice, admittedly - but even putting Clu aside, he seemed more subdued. Sad. Even now, turning to Quorra, she could already sense the ISO’s disappointment - and Alan, standing next to her, didn’t seem too pleased either.
For now, though, they had to get some sleep. They could do planning on how to take down this new MCP in the morning - if there was a plan involved at all.
Still, even now, Sam couldn’t sleep. In between Quorra and Alan involved in some sort of deep discussion, and this uneasy feeling that somehow they were being watched, sleep was difficult. Still, she forced herself to fall asleep - she couldn’t say that she and sleep had been on the best of terms for the past few weeks or so, but at the very least, she could try.
Theme: AC -- #5
Rating: G
Spoilers: Slight spoilers for Tron Legacy.
Warnings: Some angst
“Do you know him?”
Sam was jolted out of her haze - simply observing the sheer collection of books at hand. Books that would have (almost) put the large library in Beauty and the Beast to shame. Even now, looking around the safehouse, looking around at what it had to offer - she could only conclude that her father had brought these more...User-esque items into the Grid, if only to remind him of home. No doubt would have come in handy if he had been away from home for...God knows how long.
Even now, Sam didn’t want to think about how long he had been in that Grid vs. how long he had been away from the real world. It was enough to make her wince.
“Who?”
“Jules Verne.” Quorra grinned. “Flynn’s been teaching me about...many things. Things like the art of the selfless. Removing oneself from the equation. But between you and me...” She held up a copy of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. “Jules Verne is my favorite.”
“Ah. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea...good book.”
“You do know him!”
“Well,” Sam said, with a slight smile, “English classes and everything.” She sighed. “Jet...Jet wasn’t what you call the biggest fan of those.”
“Jet’s your brother, isn’t he?”
“Sort of,” Sam said. “His family took me in after...after my grandparents died.” Even now, she could still remember that horrible night. The night her grandmother had died. Sam had only been in the seventh grade then.
She had caused her grandparents so much grief. Some of it was the normal disagreements about homework and grades, but underneath it all was the elephant in the room that they had tried not to acknowledge - the matter of her father’s disappearance.
“He never thought that he’d see you again.” Quorra sounded more somber, then. “Ever since Clu took over...he’s been, well...withdrawn. I can’t really describe it. I think the moment you and Jet came along...”
“What?”
Quorra’s lips quirked in a slight smile. “I think you might give him an incentive.”