THE GRID - FIRST TRONCYCLE
CARRIER SHIP, PURGOS
"Indeed, this stinkhole lives up to its reputation. No wonder General deems this place as a perfect fit for me, but does he even care what I deem? He ain't the one rotting in this piece of shit these Programs even call a city, buggers! C.L.U should've taken this arsehole along with him into deresolution. Hadn't he been two Discs taller than me, I would've got rid of that bastard many TronCycles ago.
Why it's always me who gets to clean up everyone's shit? I am the only one who toils each and every voxel and cycle and who gets all the ranks and trophies? That frail, moody, cock-sucking bitch! All she does is roam into oblivion for cycles and throw a nonsensical fake smile on his face, and then on my berating and her complimenting is the exact-fucking same shit that goes on and on and on every single damn time.
That slut is so freaking naïve she really sees a father in him, and that cunning asshole is waiting for the right time to blow the binaries out of her. Oh, what a lovely pair! Caring Father and his cute Little Princess!
Let they would rot in the same place that C.L.U is in and bear his torture even in the afterlife. Stop right there! It's he who needs to go away.
That little brat's ugly legs couldn't sustain properly for a single MTC, let alone attack me. All she could ever do is cry beside that old corpse like a bitch, sucking for him every cycle. Why should I even think about her?
After all, I'm not generated to be second-in-command to someone my entire life, the first is what suits me the best. Hell, the Grid only remembers the first, not some random second-in-something bullshit! But there is someone else bothering me.
Someone who humiliated the shit out of me, in front of all the Programs of Argon and the General himself. That Renegade! That cowardly bastard! Attacking me from his rubbish black mask to show his false bravado, what a loser! Thinking he's another TRON or something.
Without his mask, I could finish him off in no time. I have to! It's my prestige and glory at stake! Without finishing him, how can I show myself as the new ruler of Argon?
Programs will laugh at me, thinking that this coward sat on the throne, hiding behind all the sentinel army in the Grid. I need to find him at any cost…."
Cutting short the train of thought is a nervous yet impatient soldier barging into the physical and psychological space of this frustrated Commander. What the poor soldier didn't know and is about to get enlightened is the after-effect of disrupting the private space of his master, and that is the lesson he is never going to forget.
As the soldier addresses his master in the loudest pitch possible to convey the message to the other end of the room, the Commander hears the cry amidst his mind struggling to control his emotions.
Observing his master's quick reflex, the soldier's voice got muted in fear-induced discipline due to the sudden realization that he had spoiled the decorum of the room. The Commander then made slow yet eerily silent strides toward the messenger and made a creepy advance toward his face:
- Why so silent, soldier? Where's all the excitement and energy?
- (frowning)Pardon me for the error I have committed, Commander. My dedication to my duty tampered with my limits.
- What a delicate usage of words right there, boy. This city is full of shit but full of walking poets, I see.
- Thank you, Sir.
- (Slapping hard on the face) I didn't compliment you, dickhead! Gosh, what a bunch of assholes I am left with here! I'd better die alone rather than teach common sense to this shithole.
The soldier lay still, as a cue to the following awkward silence for a minute:
- Will you continue the silent game or open that damn mouth now?
- Sorry sir, we got news of two unknown Programs escaping the city on a hijacked Light Cycle, shortly after robbing a few pawnshops and arms dealers.
- (Shouting in anger) This shit is what made you disturb my peace, bugger? (Grabbing his neck) You're screwed as hell right now!
- (Choking in anguish) It's not a random theft, sir. This is more than that!
- (Releasing his grip) Finish it fast, I have more important things to do here.
- Yes sir. Firstly, these Programs are not generic ones, they are colored in cyan-white ribbons. And second, they are a couple.
- (Interrupting in middle) First lesson in common sense, if a living and running Program is in white color, then it's not a fucking Program at all, butthead, that's either an ISO or a User!! And the second lesson, do I look like I give a fuck if they are a couple or not? (Pausing in a doubt) Is she beautiful tho?
- Yes sir.
- (Smiling in a devilish mood) Why didn't you tell me this before, you innocent chap? I do f… sorry, give a fuck about beautiful ladies. Bring her to my room immediately, got it?
- Yes sir.
- (Reverting to his authoritative mode) Continue with your boring story, soldier. Do you think I'll get diverted by your tricks?
- These Prog…sorry ISOs…sorry Users..
- (In a sarcastic tone) My dear, will the word "fugitives" be comfortable for you? Make it fast, asshole!!
- (Tense and trembling in fear) These fugitives always had a habit of asking the victims about some Outlands before they were robbed, as per the words of the victims themselves. Also, these fugitives managed to fend off multiple criminals in the streets during their burglaries is also what they claimed to witness.
- Even a basic Program can beat the criminals here in seconds, and these people think of them as skilled fighters? What a shame! What was the place these criminals mentioned?
- Outlands, sir.
- Outland is a wasteland, with all rocks, and mountains. Not even a decent neon lake to swim there. What could these people have over there?
- I don't know sir.
- Then know everything and come to me, not with empty hands but with her soft hands…. ahem ahem…. I mean, capture them alive and bring them to me. Just bring them alive, don't act like fake sentries over there.
- Sure sir.
- Shall we play this SIR game over and over, or will you do your fucking job?
- On my way, sir (running in frantic mode).
- Oh, wait a minute! Come back here, I'll tell you a lovely secret.
- (Approaching back) Yes sir.
The poor soldier then realized he shouldn't have returned back, for he could feel the voxels in his body slipping down in a liquid-like motion as if they were finally getting rid of this foolish person who captured them inside his body for so long.
Upon turning his head downwards, he could see the Disc making a hole in his stomach due to its swift and surprising attack made by the Commander.
- This is your gift for disturbing my intellectual pursuit. Now your mouth will snore silently and peacefully without your foul talk.
As the unlucky soldier derezzes into the Grid inside the Commander's cabin filled with silent and petrified bodyguards, the Commander then calls one of those poor chaps: "You know what to do, my boy. I'll just give you two more pieces of advice: First, don't hurt that sweet lady, just catch her gently and bring her here. Second and last, never disturb my intellectual discussion. Ever!"
EARTH – WEEK 1 DAY 2
ENCOM TOWER
It has been two days since Alan bid adieu to the couple on their safe journey. Although he had returned home within an hour or so, taking Marv along with him, he still couldn't stop thinking about the events he witnessed.
For starters, he never witnessed the live teleportation of human beings into an unknown land. It is the stuff no human has witnessed in life unless it is a generic alien invasion movie released every now and then.
Even though he was carrying out routine activities, the frown on his face was evidence of his concern for them both. Oblivious to the mild barking of Marv to play with him, Alan was lost in his own thoughts: "Are they safe in there?", "I shouldn't have allowed them in the first place, she is as pure as a newborn, and his hands haven't got dirty yet.", "What will I say to Kevin if something goes wrong?", "I should've gone there with him, damn me!".
He can't be blamed for such thoughts even, as he is getting older himself. After all, he raised Sam for a quarter of his life, watching him grow into a reckless, youthful, and intelligent boy unwilling to take any responsibility. Throughout Sam's childhood and teenage years, Alan was the one who ran after Sam, bailing him out from all types of penalties known in law and order, so many under the belt that Alan lost count many years ago.
When everyone saw Sam as a spoiled, fatherless, and unstable kid, it was only Alan who not only saw but also treated him as his second son. It is also a wonder that both Jet and Sam grew up as blood brothers rather than step brothers, partly because Alan treated them the same way.
It is one thing if Sam is all alone in his shenanigans, but all changed for Alan when he saw Quorra along with Sam at the Arcade. Millions of questions ran through his anxious mind, the answers to which waited to reach him almost a month later.
Albeit a bit skeptical about her at the start, due to her otherworldly appearance and her navy-blue eyes sparkling deceptively naïve looks, Alan later felt happy for being wrong about her.
A beautiful-looking, caring, loyal, and pure soul in a girl is a rarity in this world, at least in this generation, he thought. Her loyalty and protective nature toward her loved ones were crystal-clear to him the day she reprimanded Sam the hard way for his over-indulgence, struggling to proceed with the only viable option of correcting him the hard way.
He also worried about her fate during their dangerous mission, as she is a precious gem protected all of her life. Although Alan is oblivious to her skills in the Grid, her expertise lies more in the region of defense rather than offense, a weakness she has yet to work upon.
Trying his best to keep his anxieties and doubts at bay, Alan made sure to keep Marv happy and forget his friend for some time. Both found good company in each other for every dusk to pass by in a whiff.
On the second day in the office, Alan is starting to get accustomed to his old duties faster than he expected, albeit the recurring tension of Sam every now and then. He is the most experienced and senior employee in ENCOM right now, and such tensions and thoughts are trivial to him in a corporate environment.
Luckily for Alan, there isn't any meeting held till now as Sam had officially declared a pre-wedding vacation publicly a few days before. As CEO Sam has declared this matter, people either didn't dare to question this new term "pre-wedding vacation" or couldn't invest enough time to think about it, which works either way as a perfect cover for Sam's adventure.
But Ed Dillinger, being the sly fox he is, is the only one who still had the doubt lingering in his mind, that something big is going on behind the scenes. The reason for that is also justified, as Sam made no public appearances anywhere after his announcement, and few upper-level managers claimed to have contacted Sam for important deadline updates, to which the common answer received was from the answering machine. When he asked Alan, he got the same reply as the announcement itself, rubbing him the wrong way due to his already big ego. He then proceeded to taunt Alan as to whether Sam ran away from the company fearing duty, following his father's footsteps. Alan, although angry at first, retorted in a calm manner and walked away gracefully.
Unbeknownst to Alan, Ed would appear to have been silenced but he isn't the one to get silenced easily. After all, he waited his whole life for that chair, and he can't wait for any more for silly reasons, especially when his enemy is so weak enough to quit the meeting mid-way amidst a tight argument.
Silently slipping into his cabin, he removed his personal laptop from his bag and turned it on. Logging into the Linux Command Shell using Personal Access ID and Key, he then proceeded to connect to a virtual private server, ensuring that he connected via personal hotspot, avoiding workspace Wi-Fi as a safety precaution. As soon as the server initiated, the conversation started:
- HELLO ED, WHAT'S THE MATTER? WHAT BOTHERED YOU TO TALK TO ME?
- Sam is a hard nutcase to crack. He doesn't have the balls to run this company, and yet he gets all the luxuries, which is my birthright.
- I AM SORRY, MY SON. I COULDN'T BE THERE TO SEE YOU ON THAT CHAIR.
- What will your sorry give me, sympathy? What I want is that chair, the authority inside it. Pure, unquestioned, unparalleled, and raw power of the position. These douchebags are so blind they can't see my name written on that chair since I was born. I'll make each one of them see the name, even without their specs on.
- AND HOW DO YOU PLAN TO SUCCEED?
- By removing that incompetent brat from this world forever!
- WHO IS THAT BRAT?
- Sam, Dad! Kevin's incompetent son. Were you even following what I said?
- POWER IS NEVER RESERVED FOR ONE SINGLE PERSON. IT IS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE, IF NOT ONE THEN ANOTHER. WHAT WILL YOU DO IF SOMEONE REPLACES HIM?
- I grew up in this company, Dad! I know all the strengths and soft spots of my home. Believe me, this time it's either me who'll sit there or there will be no ENCOM!
- GOOD. WHAT'S THE DELAY THEN? ELIMINATE THE INCONVENIENCE AND ASCEND THE THRONE WAITING FOR YOU.
- But I couldn't track him, that's the problem. He did shit in his pants, I bet. That's what made him hide from the world itself.
- FIND HIM THEN
- Why am I even talking to you then? I can't find him anywhere. You need to do that for me.
- (TRAVERSING THE INTERNET) NO TRACES OF LOCATION. CALL RECORDS ARE TRACED DIRECTLY TO ENCOM TOWERS.
- These cyber tricks are not new to this kid. He did something big, some big shit this time.
- WHAT SHIT?
- When Kevin was gone the same way, these "Flynn Lives" cultists claimed that he zapped his way into the GRID. All they would say about the GRID is "In there is our future…." Crap. Do you know anything about this GRID?
- IS IT VIRTUAL OR PHYSICAL?
- (grunting in despair) If I knew, I wouldn't have asked you!
- I KNOW ONLY ABOUT ENCOM MAINFRAME CYBERSPACE, ED. IT IS THE HOME OF…..
- Yeah yeah, MCP, Tron, and shit, the same bullshit I've been hearing from you. I just want to know whether the GRID is the same ENCOM mainframe you always blabber about or not.
- I AM INSIDE THE OLDER VERSION OF THE MAINFRAME CYBERSPACE. THE GRID MUST BE POSSIBLY A NEWER AND UPGRADED VERSION IF THE PROBABILITIES AND CALCULATIONS GENERATED FROM YOUR STATEMENTS ARE RIGHT. I CANNOT CONFIRM ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.
- It is. It definitely is. I just need to confirm before doing something.
- FINALLY, YOU HAVE BELIEVED IN MCP AND TRON. YOU ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE TRUTH.
- You tell me the same story over and over again, no use for that now.
- THAT IS THE INFORMATION I HAVE. THAT IS THE TRUTH. THERE IS NOTHING MORE I CAN PROVIDE RIGHT NOW.
- Hmm, let me guess. (Pausing for a second) Who invented the MCP?
- THE MCP WAS ORIGINALLY A CHESS PROGRAM INVENTED BY DR. WALTER GIBBS AND IMPROVED BY MR. DILLINGER.
- Mr. Dillinger? You still have some sense of humor inside. Gibbs? Co-founder of ENCOM?
- YES.
- Bullseye! Where is he right now?
- 15th STREET, BEDFORD HILLS, NEW YORK, USA.
THE GRID – FIRST TRONCYCLE
BOSTRUM COLONY
After the Purge, several cities had to face their inevitable doom in the hands of C.L.U, among which Bostrum Colony is one of the earliest ones. What was once an adobe of ISOs was later corrupted by a deadly virus called ABRAXAS and finally met the end forever.
It's a shame that Bostrumite, one of the rarest and most precious metals in the Grid at its time, got lost in the struggle for power and PERFECTION. Although its properties are abstract and unknown for the most part, it is believed to hold mystical powers and that is what made ISOs maintain peace in the Grid for many TronCycles.
It is also theorized by many Programs that the green color of the Bostrumite represents life and rebirth, which pedaled the belief that ISOs could be reborn even after their deresolution, possessing the previous ISO memories and programming in a new form, although there is no proof yet and may never see the light of the day again.
Even though the Colony got razed to the ground several TronCycles ago, there are traces of Bostrumite evident in the residue and surviving landforms, albeit it's lost purity and physical properties. These traces glow in bright green color, resembling their original chemical compounds in that single aspect.
In the silence of the embers, the land shook with a sudden and vigorous impact in the middle of nowhere. As the land cracked and quaked, a mysterious power source in orangish-yellow color struggled to emerge from its captivity. This thing produced mysterious and horrifying sounds which were never a thing in the Grid.
Luckily there were no living entities in the Grid, else it's highly impossible to survive the impact of this sudden phenomenon. It's as if the Grid held a dangerous monster in captivity for so long, which is now starting to gain the upper hand over its captor.
Just when it seems that all hell is breaking loose, the power source seems exhausted to try even more and begins to silence down. The cracks in the land slowly begin to heal themselves as the power source wails in despair and helplessness, also vowing at the same time to succeed in its goal in the near future.