system restore (open)

[a_perfect_end]

It was a good year.

The year before everything--no, he just designated it The Year Before, the last full roll of the system calendar when everything had moved on schedule, when all deployments were robust and full-featured, when everything tricky shook out in beta and bugs were rare, easily stamped out by coordinated, efficient action between key

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[namesram]

The actuarial program lounging against a wall was still amazed at how quickly the city had grown since he'd come online. It wasn't usual for him to get out in the middle of it like this -- his tasks usually kept him pretty busy -- but the throng of programs filling the plaza with multicolored lights was as good a way to ring in the year as any he could think of.

Maybe there'd even be fireworks.

[[Just to be clear, this means 'year before Clu's revolt'?]]

[a_perfect_end]

Contemplating the City always drew him to a halt. It was one thing, from a distance--Outland patrols, Recognizer drills, surprise inspections laid out weeks in advance--but up close, it was a marvel. Octagons inside hexagons that sprouted trapezoidal data stacks at dizzying heights, gleaming spires braced along them at precisely 45.468 degrees to the level plain of the Grid itself.

Flawless. Flynn had once compared it to standing inside a cut diamond, then laughed when Clu corrected his diffraction analysis.

And it would be different, this time, whether he showed up or not...

Even by the tedious, slow units that Users worked with, 'midnight' was fast approaching. There would most definitely be fireworks. Or the echo of them, perfect fractals of heat and light and celebration.

He'd missed the clean, bright burn of white circuitry, the low hum of blue light. He'd never analyzed it to scale before.He slipped through the throng, nodding to those who nodded to him, waving to those who had picked up the custom, Basic and ISO alike

[namesram]

Pushing himself upright, the young program extended a hand with a welcoming (if slightly awed) grin. He knew, of course, who this was: Clu, the Grid's only program directly written by Kevin Flynn.

"I'm down in Statistics most of the time. Designed for actuarial science, but it's been some job staying current with the way the system's been changing. Though if it's often like this, I might need to get out more often!"

[[That's an awesome mental picture. *wants a wallpaper of it now 8D* Hmm, that'd be neat -- residual Flynn memories of the other Grid's history, maybe? -- especially as right now, Ram hasn't found his backup memories yet and doesn't recognize anything about Clu at all. XD *evil*]]

ffff Hi I am Clu, and I am a slow tagger. (first of twelve steps is admitting it XD)

[a_perfect_end]

He brightened, eyes a little wide, hand extended--

Oh, right! The--shake, thing. Hand shake. A friendly interface gesture.

Clu gave him a brisk one. And it always went with a shoulder clap, so his new friend got one of those, too.

"I bet." A ghost of a chuckle, there--he had a full schedule most of the time, too. There was so much new data, especially since the ISOs had appeared, that Clu made it a point to be around when Basics needed to be seen and heard, just to pass the functions to Shaddox for a few milicycles. "We do cut loose now and then. This is a--New Year." He tilted his head. "I think your department brought us µ for the incoming resource load..."

Still smiling. "Uh. Didn't catch your name, man." Gently. "Can't shake the feeling that I know you, though."

[[OH MY GOSH I wish I could draw! That would be amazing. And so shiiiny :D And I love this idea! They would totally be bros if Clu wasn't nuts, so let's go with that~ RESIDUAL FLYNN MEMORIES ARE GO :D]

retro timewarp! back in '86 when Jalen was Jalen!

[infectthegrid]

Another year, another step closer to Basics and ISOs working together in one parameter. A step closer to peace and understanding. The Grid, possibly heading in the direction of his dream. There was little that could compare

and before Jazz's best friend died

[meghedi]

The redhead and the blonde were standing at the edge of the plaza chatting away and watching the crowd, giving their opinions on some of the other programs and ISOs that were in attendance.

"He is kinda cute," Mika began, earning herself a flat stare from her best friend. "What?"

"Nothing," Jazz said with a snicker as she looked around. Upon spotting Jalen's arrival, she nudged Mika and nodded towards him. "Is that....?"

Mika looked and smiled. "Yes it is!" she said, waving to him. She'd seen him around Arjia once in a while, but never did get to introduce herself.

yay! and darn it disney needs to release what jalen looks like.

[infectthegrid]

It was certainly a sight to behold. The city was much larger than Arjia, and held a far greater populace. There were many more Programs present, almost as though it were a Grid Game with Tron participating. It was good to see. So many happy, celebrating, enjoying the moment. Not a sight of Basic and ISO not getting along.

Something he always loved to see.

Peace.

The sight of the two girls waving made him smile, as he waved back. He'd been recognized had he? Not that he supposed it would be hard for those that knew him. He was after all one of the first ISOs, he worked with Flynn, and alongside Radia. Not a face that was hidden from the population - especially in Arjia.

"Enjoying yourselves?" he questioned, walking over to them.

Yes they do

[meghedi]

Both girls nodded in unison, although Mika was the one to speak.

"Uh huh," she said. "Um..I'm Mika, and this is my best friend Jazz. I've seen you around Arjia before haven't I?"

Poor Anon missed that year. Have him from 1990 but ending up in '86

[traceurmonitor]

Things were tough since Anon had been introduced to the System. So much of value had been lost - according to Flynn, at least, and he believed his Creator - and there were occasions where he wondered if he was the only Basic program that noticed it at all.

The System Monitor didn't often get out to Tron City anymore - not in public, at least. But it's a new year, and celebrators probably wouldn't notice his presence overly-much. Especially since the first thing he notes is the lacking amount of red lighting and the presence of ISOs. He hasn't seen them in... well, close enough to a long time. Something is odd here, but he's not going to take it at more than face-value. Yet. After all, he likes the ISOs well enough and being in their company again isn't unwelcome.

He's edited his lighting back to blue for the night, ridden in from the Outlands, and is determined to enjoy himself.

It's a new beginning, after all.

Hay, Anon! Welcome to the 80's, there's totally nothing insidious going on here at all....nope :D

[a_perfect_end]

All kinds of functions and routines and full Programs were arriving, and ISOs with them. The nearly tangible excitement running through the throng almost made up for the fact that they were milling around, out of synch, dithering this way and that with their friends and usual associates in no set order.

A shoulder nudged his, he caught an elbow in the ribs, a Bit shrilled yes yes yes from the dark corner of the narrowband alley route to his left, and Clu hurried past.

He'd never seen this Program before--not yet, and not usually in blue.

"Really something, isn't it?"

They'd probably agree on that much. After all, it was a new year. Again.

We'll see about that, evil program before... evilness. Confusion shall reign!

[traceurmonitor]

This was all odd, but... surprisingly enjoyable. He didn't particularly mind the jostling from the crowd, since the apparent peace - and the almost bizarre juxtapose of the utter chaos - more than made up for it. Somewhere behind that helmet of his, Anon smiled a little.

The voice is one he recognized easily. Not that it was necessarily a good thing. Identifying it as Clu didn't take him much longer. But something was... different. The lighting, at least. After a moment, he nodded.

"It is." Anon hadn't seen this since that rally. ISOs and Basics, in harmony. Well, as much harmony as could be expected from the groups, anyway.

Belatedly, he added, "You're Clu. Aren't you?"