[.012 -- VIDEO]

[systmadmin]

[Apparently the comm has been violently thrown against a wall because when it accidentally flicks on, the feed displays only the ceiling of CLU's cabin--black and smooth, cut with the solitary stripe of a circuit.

There's no words spoken or sign of him in the frame; the only sound that can be heard is the intermittent crack and crash and shatter of

Comments

[most_feared]

[He waits for a while (because he had a nasty fight) before responding.]

You want some help picking up in there?

[Text]

[systmadmin]

[CLU's response switches to text; it's easier to act relatively calm and like nothing's wrong this way.]

No. Maybe. Yes. No.

[After each line is typed out, it's immediately deleted, followed by a short pause and a blinking cursor.

Then after awhile:] I'm It's fine.

Re: [Text]

[most_feared]

[He feels bad for the guy. The worst think? It looked like CLU 1.0 was happy. Something he's not really seen out of CLU yet. He wonders how long it's been since CLU had any sort of happiness that wasn't steeped in maliciousness.]

Narvin checked your game to make sure it's going to be compatible. I can bring it back to you, too, if you change your mind.

[Text]

[systmadmin]

[There's a lengthy, lengthy delay on his end as he battles between really wanting the game back to distract himself with and letting someone see the state he's in. Finally, the former option wins out.]

I would like it back.

[Spam]

[most_feared]

[Kay gathers up the computer, but also a couple of sodas. He's pretty much determined to help him clean up his place a little, because he guesses that the state of disarray won't do him much good.

He knocks on the door when he shows up.]

[Spam]

[systmadmin]

[A pause, then the door opens. CLU turns his face away at first, eyes briefly fixed somewhere else in his room. Every muscle in his entire body is completely tensed, pulled taut, his jaw clenched tight and eyebrows drawn down. A faint hint of redness colors his face as well, his eyes; he looks miserable, but like he's attempting to hide it or shove it down and away and pretend it's not there.

The cabin behind him is a horrible mess.

After a moment his eyes shift to Kay, then to the computer and sodas in his hands.]

[Spam]

[most_feared]

[He surpresses a reaction to that, because how often does CLU look like he's been in that bad shape, before holding out the computer and the soda.] You did a good job, by the way. Lot of work in a short period of time.

I could come in and go ahead and start picking up while you're going over the review logs.

[Spam]

[systmadmin]

[The corner of his mouth twitches, and CLU reaches to take both items. He doesn't quite acknowledge Kay's compliment of his work, but instead inclines his head at the offer after a moment of consideration.]

If you want to do so.

[His voice has an unusual flat edge to it. He turns away to head back inside the room, and when he does it becomes obvious that the port at his back is empty of its ID disc. He'd thrown that as well, it seemed, but--as it wasn't weaponized--it'd bounced uselessly off one of the walls and had come to lay atop a small pile of debris.

After CLU rights a chair and sets down the computer, he retrieves the disc and replaces it at his back. Once it's clicked into place, he moves over to the chair to settle in and shift the computer onto his lap, then boot it up.]

[Spam]

[most_feared]

[He comes in and starts picking up the things that look like they're not broken. Those can be salvaged. He'll clear out the broken items later.

He'll wait for a little bit before he actually asks anything, see if CLU wants to broach anything.]

If you start feeling it pile on you, take a drink. [He points to the can.] The act of swallowing is calming, even if it's just something to drink.

[Spam]

[systmadmin]

[He immediately starts to examine the review logs on the computer, occupying himself with it as Kay starts to clean up.

Then his gaze darts up momentarily from the screen at the advice. His soda rests on the chair's arm, untouched so far, and he gives it a glance.] I'll keep that in mind.

[And for awhile it seems like he's content to stay distracted and silent and detached from this situation. But then he finally pauses, and a muscle jumps in his jaw.

When he decides to speak, his eyes stay fixed on the computer and there's a clear undercurrent of agitation and anger beneath his words:] That program was not me. [Because, despite that it'd obviously been a flood, he apparently needs to make that crystal clear.] He was deluded. An idiot.

[Spam]

[most_feared]

A lot of people weren't themselves. [But still enough like themselves that they were set off.

He continues to put the unbroken things in a pile, before he starts gathering up the bigger hunks of broken things in a bag.] He sounded like he was in a hurry to fix something.

[Spam]

[systmadmin]

Yes. In a hurry to obey his User [not 'our', despite the fact they shared the same User]. To fix it for Flynn.

[Then with some clear distaste:] He worshipped him [and cared for him and felt awe and and admiration and it'd been too much to revisit those sorts of emotions, to experience all that, then to wake up the next day and know how meaningless and foolish it actually was].

[Spam]

[most_feared]

Do you know what was happening? If he were fixing it just to fix it, would it bother you less?

[He fills up the bag, and then holds up a finger as he heads out for a moment. He's back quickly, but he had to go get a broom.]

[Spam] -- so sorry for the delay

[systmadmin]

[When Kay returns, CLU has placed the computer to the side and leaned forward in the chair, his expression still immensely tense.]

He was finding information for Flynn. [As for the second question. The line of his mouth tightens. He almost says yes, if Flynn had been out of the equation, but instead says:] That's not what programs do. They follow orders, directives. They do what their User commands.

[His fingers dig against the chair's arm.] And they obey their tasks even if the task they're given is later deemed impossible or irrelevant by the one who gave it to them.

[Spam]

[most_feared]

Do you like being yourself better than you liked being him while you were him?

Because it's alright for you to like yourself better as you are now, but you have to recognize in doing so you're not the same program that Flynn made. You changed as much as the system did in producing the ISOs. No matter what Flynn programmed you to do, you're different now.

[Spam]

[systmadmin]

[With some force, and with no hesitation:] Myself.

That program was naive and foolish and worshipped you Users. He was stupid enough to believe Flynn cared for him. Or that you Users do anything but use others for their own benefit [not that he's guilty of that or anything right], then abandon them when they merely feel like it or tell them they're useless.

I am different from that.