Tron Legacy - It's Your Call - Initiate Sequence (15 page)
Read Tron Legacy - It's Your Call - Initiate Sequence Online
Authors: Carla Jablonski
Tags: #Fiction - Young Adult
D
on't worry, Alex,” you say. “We'll go soon. I just need to have some grown-up talk with these gentlemen first.”
“Is it a mini?” Bartik asks, pointing at Alex.
“Are you guys freaks or something? Don't call me it!” Alex fumes.
You're confused by their reaction. Then it hits you. You're inside your father's digital world. These are computer-generated programs!
“It is a child,” you explain. “I used to be one. And Kevin Flynn was one, too. And there's a reason we have this in common. We're very close. Like family. In fact, we are family.” You take a step back to see what affect your words have.
Exactly what you'd hoped. Their suspicious looks transform into awe. “You are the Son of Flynn,” Bartik whispers hoarsely. “You're why the Portal is lit once again.”
“I don't know about any Portal,” you say. “But yes, Kevin Flynn is my dad. And it sounds to me like you know something about what's happened to him.”
Bartik glances at Veltor, who gives a sharp nod.
“Headquarters. It will be safer to talk there.”
I
f that person who streaked through is being chased, you want to find out by whomâor what.
You cross the room and peer through the doorway to the left. This is another enormous dark room. Off in the corner you see the shadowy outlines of a figure, but it's not very distinct.
That's weird, you think, rubbing your eyes. It's as if I can't focus my eyes.
You move deeper into the room and hear strange rustling sounds. Rats, maybe? Then you feel something brush your face. “Hey!” you yelp. You whirl around. But no one's there.
The figure is on the move again. It's almost as if it's leading you somewhere. You round a corner and see it drop through a trapdoor. Now voices are urging you to followâ¦followâ¦follow.
What is going on? You whip your head around again, trying to figure out who's talking to you. Your eyes widenâhundreds of ghostly figures are reaching out to you.
“Yaaaaa!” you cry, and fall backward through the trapdoor. You land, hardâbreaking your neck.
You have fallen victim to the ghost programsâprograms that have been deleted but exist in shadowy form at the edges of the Grid.
While they may unfortunately be ghost programs, you're now a full-fledged ghost.
THE END
Y
ou look back and forth between your dad and Quorra. “That doesn't make any sense! We have to make a run for it.”
“We're safe here in the Outlands,” your dad says. “As soon as we step on that Gridâbelieve meâthere's no move we can make Clu hasn't considered. Nothing happens unless he wants it to.”
“That's not true,” you protest. “Look at me. I'm here. We're together.”
Now your dad and Quorra exchange a cryptic look.
“Tell me,” your dad says, “what brought you here to the Grid?”
“Alan got a page from you,” you say impatiently. Your dad knows all this!
“I didn't send any page, Sam,” your dad says.
Your jaw drops. Is he saying what you think he's saying?
“It was Clu,” you father says, confirming your fear. “That's why you're here. He wanted a new piece on the board to change the game. And with you he got more than he ever dreamed. This is precisely what he wants. Us together. Heading for the Portal. It's his game now, Sam. And the only way to win is not to play.”
“That's a stupid way to live,” you snap.
“Perhaps,” your father says.
“We can go home,” you argue, almost pleading. “Don't you want that?'”
“Sometimes life has a way of moving you past things like wants and hopes. Quorra will show you to your room. Good night, Sam.”
Y
ou don't have time to waste. You fling your disc at Rinzler. In the gladiator games you learned how to put the right spin on it to get it to return to you. You keep throwing itâfaster and faster. You can see that Rinzler is getting rattled as he ducks and weaves. The bridge undulates and shakes, making it hard for him to keep his balance.
Finally Rinzler manages to throw his discs at you. You take aim andâclack! Your disc hits one, then the other, and sends them both over the bridge.
“No!” he shouts. As he reaches out to try and grab them, he loses his balance and tumbles over the side. You hear him scream all the way down.
There is no time to waste. Your father leaps across the gap in the bridge and you all rush to the Portal. But Quorra takes a step backward.
“I'm not going,” she says. “This is my world. I want to stay here to ensure we never go through something like this again.”
You gaze at her in admiration. “I guess I understand.” You grin. “And we'll work on making a safe way in and out so we can visit each other.”
Quorra waves good-bye as your father steps up to the Portal.
“Hey, kid,” he says. “You owe me a bike.”
“Don't worry, Dad,” you reply. “There's one with your name on it at my place. And I can't wait for you to meet my dog, Marv. He's a mutt.” Your dad grins. “Imperfect. Just how I like 'em.”
THE END
Y
ou start shouting again. “I'm not like the rest of you!” Vwip! The disc pings off an embankment and whooshes straight at you. Before you can duck, it slices into your chest.
Your knees buckle and you drop to the ground. “Help me,” you beg. But no one moves. They stand staring at you, mesmerized by the blood oozing out of your wound. Then it dawns on you: they've never seen blood before. Which also means they don't have the kinds of doctors you'd need.
You feel woozy as you try to stop the bleeding. But it's no use. This isâ¦
THE END
Y
ou carefully creep to the doorway on the right, trying to avoid
creaking floorboards. You want to hear what they're talking
about before you introduce yourself. Being the son of Kevin Flynn
doesn't quite have the pull you thought it would have here.
You lean against the doorjamb, listening.
“We must find Flynn,” a voice growls. “We need him on our
side.”
“We don't even know if Flynn is alive,” another voice protests. “Or if he'd be willing to join us.”
“There are rumors,” a female voice says. “The son is here. The Portal is alight.”
“The rumors are true,” you say, stepping into the room. “And I want to help.”
Three startled programs stare at you: a burly man with a scar across his face, another equally huge guy, and a girl with a shaved head. Wow. What kind of group have you just joined?
“Grab him!” the scarred man shouts. “He'll rat us out to Clu.”
“No!” you cry as they pounce. “I'm Sam Flynn! Kevin Flynn's son! I can prove it!”
Now they release you so quickly you fall to the floor with a thump.
You stay on the floor and show them your disc. Now they gaze at you with awe. Which feels a lot better than being attacked. But only barely. It's more than a little weird.
Y
our father. Kevin Flynn. Your real fatherâthe age he would be now, had he never disappeared.
“Sam?” he says uncertainly.
“Long time,” you reply.
“You have no idea,” he says. He approaches you slowly, still staring at you as if he's not quite sure you're real. “You're here.”
“Looks that way,” you say.
He keeps smiling and then frowning, as if it's too much for him to take in. “Howâ¦?”
“Alan came overâ”
Now he nods. “Bradley. Alan Bradley.”
“He got your page. I found the office under the arcade. You know the rest.”
Puzzled, he looks at you. “A page ⦔ He blinks a few times.
“Dinner is soon. We'll continue then.” He strides out of the room, leaving you with more questions than answers.
“You have to understand,” Quorra says softly. “He thought he'd never see you again. This is very ⦔ She shrugs.
“That's cool. I get it.” You gaze down at your feet. You don't want her to see the emotions flooding through you.
She points you toward a room down the hallway. “Why don't you rest up before dinner?” she suggests.
You exit, grateful for time alone.
