BETA RELEASE -- CLU

[TRON]

Every time there had been a huge multiplayer grid game, Clu was there. It was box seats in a sense. If box seats were a massive room that was big enough to be a user's home. Tron didn't even have to wonder where Clu was at this time of day. It was always there, enjoying the destruction. Tron wasn't much for watching. He played them in dire situations too many times before where Clu knew he was going to win every single time he played. If only Clu faced off with Tron, he wouldn't be so confident about winning. This mighty security program was advanced at all games and a master of the lightdisc battles. Clu only ever wanted to do the lightcyle games. He stuck to what he was good at. What he was made to do. At least, that is how Tron saw it. He was completely transparent and easy to read, but this was getting harder and harder to see without the cold circuits running through his body. He was actually quite similar to the way Tron remembered Kevin Flynn - without the word 'perfection' running through his mind and pushing him to be a dictator. He didn't like to admit his obvious flaws, but Tron was still bitter about Clu when he was leading the entire grid with an iron fist and using him as a puppet, giving him another name like some pet.

Tron kept whatever Clu did under personal supervision. Any toe out of line and Tron would confront Clu immediately. He didn't want Kevin Flynn's program to run amok again. And next time he would, Tron wouldn't bother going easy on him. It would have been easy to take out Clu when he was going after Flynn. Tron had taken out the guards like they were styrofoam pillars, standing still and a distracted Clu would have been that easy as well, but no. Tron didn't want to destroy Flynn's program right in front of his eyes without at least trying to talk some sense into him. Clu was a good program before that so he just needed some work on his programming? But Clu had taken Tron out and formed him into a solider of his own bidding before Tron could do a single thing. Yes, next time, there would be no use for throwing fists or tackling to the ground. One swift lightdisk to the neck would do it.

The actions of Clu recently had put a red flag in Tron's circuits. Apparently, he had dismissed a violation of the system laws Tron had pulled together for the good of the programs and users inside the grid. They were placed there for a reason and were not meant to be thrown away like it was always going to be a simple warning before actions were taken to prevent laws from being broken in the future. No, they were to be dealt with on the spot. Tron stomped down the hall from the elevator to Clu's viewing area. He knew that he was being over dramatic about the whole thing, but he wasn't about to subject himself to be a Rinzler again. He was a leader too and they were meant to work together, but in Tron's mind, 'working together' was 'Clu listens to Tron'. Well after all that had happened, Clu shouldn't protest to that mindset Tron held. Clu owed him that much. Flynn would still be alive if he just ignored that outstretched word of perfection and did was his maker wanted instead of thinking perfection was going about his own ways. Clu was flawed. Tron needed to deal with him constantly and put him in his place. If he felt like he was doing wrong, he wouldn't get the wonderful idea of going out and screwing things up again. He would listen and strive to do what Tron told him instead of thinking for himself. There were just so many reasons that Tron needed to do these things.

The doors slid open in Tron's presence. Even they knew who was boss around here. Their swift movements were almost fearful compared to other programs that entered these doors. The building was always witness to Tron's power trip to Clu and it seemed to do it's best to comply, even though Tron knew that they just did as they were programmed to do. Then again, so was he, but things seemed to be different. His circuits were more open minded in a sense. More susceptible to growth. A door that was meant to open and close really had no way to go. Tron's eyes scanned the usual spot where Clu sat and saw his figure lounging on the couch. Of course. "Clu." Tron called out in a strong tone, the 'u' sound in Clu's name seemed to stretch on longer, adding more of that letter to his name. It was just the way he spoke. Many words he said tended to become elongated, but even stronger because of that fact. Approaching the couch, Tron stood in front of Clu's eyesight to prevent him from enjoying the games. "You gave that program permission to tamper with her light cycle. This is unacceptable, Clu. I will not be treated like some beta program. Do not undermine my authority!" He stated flatly, though he was technically treating Clu that way right now, but again, he deserved it and needed to learn. Tron stared down at him with distaste, clenching his jaw tightly and narrowing his eyes.

[CLU]

The Games. Even when he wasn't competing, Clu found himself constantly viewing the arenas. It was better than being forced to do administrative functions, even when he knew that Tron wanted to have most, if not all, control over everything that was going on. The tension between the two male programs was becoming increasingly obvious. Clu wanted to be treated like a man in charge, and less like Tron's lap dog. Whatever happened to forgive and forget? Then again, he didn't exactly expect Tron and Sam to just forgive and forget what happened with Kevin, what happened with the Grid. Some things you can't just let go of.

But Arria's lightcycle mods, you definitely could.

Clu hadn't expected Tron to just waltz right in and get into his face. He watched as the taller program stood right in his line of sight, but Clu didn't give him the satisfaction of tearing his gaze away to look up at his face. Instead, his line of sight was transfixed on where his view of the arena had been. He may be staring right at Tron's abdomen, but he didn't care. He wasn't going to look in his eyes and feel the overwhelming power of submission. He wasn't going to let him demean him like that. Not this time. He listened to the harsh tone and the words that flowed freely from his raspy tongue, knowing that Clu's decision had been made without him. Arria was harmless. She wasn't plotting against the Grid, against him. Clu knew that Arria's admiration of Tron ran deep, the thought of her trying to sabotage him was laughable. She was too good.

Finally, Clu looked toward Tron, his eyes irritated yet hidden behind his visor as his helmet was wrapped around his head to conceal the rather frustrated expression on his face. It was always about him.

"You gave that program permission to tamper with her light cycle. This is unacceptable, Clu. I will not be treated like some beta program. Do not undermine my authority!"

With that, Clu let off a rather biting laugh as he rose to his feet, looking at Tron, even if the program was taller than him, he wasn't going to feel smaller. He shook his head slightly before the helmet pulled free and out of the way as his face was met with Tron's. "Your authority...Excuse me for handling something that was brought to my attention, Tron. I deemed it harmless, the girl was simply curious. She's not a threat to your security intel. Keep your skirt on."

[/color] Clu huffed before walking away from Tron, his attention returning to the gamin arenas as he sidestepped him and walked toward the glass. He knew that this wasn't going to help him in the long run, but he wasn't about to get on his knees and beg for forgiveness. He wasn't programed to be weak. He didn't care of Tron hated him, hated his decisions, he wasn't going to let him treat him like a dog. "If you had that giant bit removed from your ass, you might learn to ease back a little bit, man."[/color] He said, a smirk curving his lips as he lowered his head a bit, watching a program derezz on the ring game grid. He was waiting for it now, waiting for Tron to explode and things to get ugly.

Like they always did. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify][/size]

[TRON]

Clu ignoring him sent his body into a tense, rigid state. He couldn't yell or flail around because that simply wouldn't help any. Clu would just laugh or ignore him further. Tron was learning at a slow pace at how to deal with Clu. Waiting with a stare seemed to be faster and tended to get him to talk...eventually. It was as though Tron wasn't even there. Clu simply stared forward. At least, he thought he was. With the helmet, it was so hard to tell. His eyes unblinking, he kept his focus on Clu even though there were multiple thoughts running through his mind about what was going to happen. With Clu, Tron barely thought about the consiquences of his actions. He just thought about going here and taking him down a peg, but didn't know what would be said in return. Most things worked out smoothly for Tron. He'd run into something headfirst and it would all just work in his favor, but with Clu, he was wary. He had found a worthy opponent.

A laugh echoed through the helmet toward Tron's ears. The circuits in his body whirred faster in irritation, almost causing the purring he had once emitted. It was the high adrenaline that caused the electrical currents to run so fast they made a hum. It caused the inability to think straight as well. The massive power Clu had given him before was like nothing he had ever experienced. His brain was shut away from his eyes as he then craved the energy like oxygen to users. He went forward with Clu's every demand just to get another taste. He was not himself. His conscious mind was trapped away in a completely separate sector of his brain. Only when he locked eyes with Kevin Flynn was when he could break away from the walls that enclosed him.

Stepping back as Clu rose to his feet, Tron's eyes bore into his as though doing so might cause him to perform tasks the way Tron wanted them to be done. Or fire. Fire would be nice too. "We have these laws for a reason, Clu." The program said in a low volume and tone. "Pretty soon, all programs will think they will be able to do whatever they please! One harmless thing could lead to..." He trailed off and averted his eyes for a moment, pondering the last word of Clu's sentence. "I don't wear a skirt, Clu. Obviously." He looked down just in case something had been programmed onto his hips. Tron's head turned from his confusion toward Clu walking away. And then the petty insult happened and Tron's mild confusion turned back into irritation and madness. "You deemed it harmless?! Well that makes sense coming from you. I guess this issue wouldn't clash with your perfect world" He threw his hand into the air and walked toward Clu's arrogant mass. "I am not Rinzler!" He yelled, his chest rising and falling with great intensity at the height of his emotions. A few moments passed before he calmed from his resentment. "I will not ease back any longer... I did that for too long because of you. You will consult me on laws you feel the need to overlook." He turned away and lowered his head into his hand, rubbing his temples gently. A chuckle emerged from his lips as the thought of what was previously said from the program he was supposed to be getting along with. The statement was really quite humorous. "I do not have a bit in my ass, Flynn." Tron murmured, not recognizing his mistake in the least.

[CLU]

Pain. A feeling that Clu had all but forgotten, or at least, he'd like to think he could forget. However, Tron made it almost his mission to make sure Clu never forgot his transgressions, that he'd always remember the pain and the wrong doings he had committed. Almost like he was shoving it in his face just so he could keep Clu in line. He realized that his position was merely luck on his part, and all Tron's doing. But sometimes Clu liked to think it was all for show. He didn't have any actual power did he? No, Tron and Sam, they were the ones that were running this circus, and all Clu was doing was pretending like he mattered at all. He knew that his words had struck a nerve in Tron, so as he stood there, almost like a statue, he waited for the onslaught that Tron was inevitably cooking up within his circuitry. What Clu hadn't been prepared for, was how painful it would be to hear. He winced a bit, his gaze hitting the floor below him as Tron's words sliced through him like a knife, something he should have just embraced. He knew who was in charge here, but as he slowly lifted his gaze from the floor to look at Tron, he felt a sense of anger wave over him. So many cycles have past, he has done so much good, but it didn't matter. Tron wouldn't let go of the past, he was still holding onto it as if Clu were just simply waiting for a window of opportunity to bring his vision back. Clu didn't think that way anymore, or was that not clear?

"Tr--" He tried to interject, but Tron wouldn't have it as he spat at him, shouting about how he wasn't Rinzler anymore. The very name made Clu wince again, his gaze dropping back to the floor as he let Tron finish. He told Clu that he would be consulting him from here on out. Like a child asking for permission. He would be an authoritative figure, who needed to ask for permission from Daddy before he could actually do anything about the task at hand. What kind of work would be done that way? None, and he certainly hoped that Tron would see that. He scoffed, looking away from him as his jaw seemed to tense. "Whatever you say, man."

[/color] Clu muttered, almost disinterested in everything Tron said, but he heard it. He comprehended it. He just didn't care for it. Then to top it all off, the name that slipped from Tron's lips made Clu's eyelids flutter almost too much as he looked away. Flynn. He then felt a bitter, almost pained laugh leave his lips as he walked away from Tron completely, trying to hide the look on his face as he ran his hands down the sides of his face. "No, and again, I'm sorry I'm not your precious Creator. Trust me, if the roles were reversed, I'd be pleased." He said, looking around the room before he slowly turned back to face Tron, his eyes darting from side to side rapidly. "Are we done here? Or do you need to remind me further of my transgressions?"[/color][/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify][/size]