Luceti Application
Name: Linds
Livejournal Username: N/a
E-mail: bettiebloodshed@gmail.com
AIM/MSN: bettiebloodshed
Character
Name: Gem
Fandom: TRON
Gender: Female
Age: Unknown. Do to her more robotic tone and movements, it can be assumed that Flynn made her early on within the second Grid. The Sirens appear more archaic than some other ‘later’ Flynn programs. In human years, she is most likely near Sam’s age, around 27.
Time Period: When the End of Line is Derezzed. Gem’s fate remains unknown.
Wing Color: White that are interspersed with silver feathers. At tips of each wing, there is one blue feather.
History: http://tron.wikia.com/wiki/Gem
A short Fanon backstory on her situation:
So Gem was created by Flynn. She and the other Sirens are earlier programs in the 2nd GRID (which is obvious to me due to their more robotic voices, and their stilted movements at times. Gem's less so, but thats what I'll get into in a moment). Originally, Sirens were supposed to be completely robotic looking, but it was too costly. Additionally, they were fashioned after the women who took care of Gladiators in Rome according to all the supplemental material I've read--which also agrees with what Kevin talks about in Tron: Betrayal of the Grid being like Rome.
Gem grew tired of simply caring for Programs in the Amory. As the cycles past, she felt suffocated by what she had to do. Work then Stasis. Comfort, then Stasis. She served no purpose to serve others; she never had a choice (again, we only see Clu's sentries in Stasis machines. It's a show of more simple program).
Gem wanted Kevin to update her software, but he never did--too busy with other things. While the other Sirens never seemed to care, she did. She felt out of place.
And here is where Castor comes in. If you read the info on him from some of the supplemental stuff, he was originally created to integrate anomalies to the Grid. To help them find their 'purpose'. After all, besides Clu, he's the only program who has reprogramming abilities--something he learned *himself* unlike Clu who was taught by Kevin.
Castor discovered that Gem wanted help. He offered Gem the freedom of the Grid; to be able to leave the Armory, to rest when she chose...to move where she wished. To mutate her--reprogram her so she had the ability. Of course the price he *stated* he wanted was loyalty, to help him gather information and report it back to him.
As Gem didn't have much choice (it was either take Castor's help or never get out of the Armory like the other Sirens), she took the chance.
But Castor reprogrammed her and 'locked' a much more stringent 'contract' of sorts into her programming--forcing the loyalty. She had to do what he asked. Hense her delivery of Sam, etc. She was forced into becoming his right-hand person, to do what was asked of her.
Personality: Like many things on the Grid, Gem is nothing what she seems. While certain personality traits are ingrained within her system due to Flynn’s programming, like many Programs on the Grid, she has outgrown her original purpose, to find her own way in things.
Gem prides herself in keeping her emotions locked tightly within her systems; in her work, this is imperative to survival-and that is one thing Gem is very keen on. Surviving. Out of all the Sirens, it is clear that Gem is the leader-the one who pulls the strings. But for Gem, it wasn’t enough.
As shown in the film, Gem is the only Siren seen outside of the Armory. Save the one siren who states that Sam is “Different”, the others do not speak, nor do they show emotions. Gem is the only one who seems capable of it. When Sam asks for advice, the answer is simple-Survive. But the way in which she extols the information is what is interesting. There is a smirk and bemusement in her tone…as if she was assured that Sam would live. There is a hope there, as well.
When we next see Gem, she is out looking for Sam, to bring him to Castor.
Before I get into the particular nuances of her personality we gain here and in the End of Line with her, let me assert an observation. Castor is a program that ‘reprograms’ anomalies-programs that no longer fit in-he helps them gain another purpose. It is my assertion that Gem (as seen by her loyalty to Castor, and her ability to move about the Grid while other Sirens do not), had ambitions-she took her fate in her own hands. Flynn was no longer able to assist, and update her programming; she wished for more than the Armory and made a deal with the devil that is Castor. She does as Castor asks her, and uses her natural gifts of observation to study the Grid, and gather information.
When she meets Sam again, she is under orders to take him to Castor-one could infer that she isn’t completely comfortable with this. While there is seduction in her ways (in the way she speaks of intuition, etc), she does make it clear that she wished to have met Sam under different circumstances.
While the viewer and Sam at the time think she means the Armory, it is clear that Gem means this cycle…this time. It is her way for apologizing for what she is about to do. We actually see genuine affection on her face after Sam thanks her-she smiles brightly, and tells him her name.
It is the first and only time we see her open and warm like this.
Her interactions with Castor are telling as well. When he speaks of Quorra with affection, we get the first signs that she is capable of distain as she rolls her eyes. The nostalgia Castor feels is annoying to her, and while she keeps her mouth quiet, her body positioning open and submissive, she isn’t pleased. Throughout the fight, when Castor throws Sam to the Black Guard, she is seen pacing behind Castor, and finally sitting. Her face is unreadable, but she does not have the glee that her leader does. This isn’t something she wanted, but she is passive-she is not going to step in and stop it.
She also finds Jarvis annoying in his blatant and pathetic attempts to impress her (in her mind she is no longer a Siren to be made to give comfort at a whim), again it is only a roll of the eyes. She doesn’t speak while Clu and Castor speak with one another…and as the End of Line is set with charges to blow, there is only a flicker of a frown on her face.
Gem goes to her death (?) seemingly unwilling to give any program the joy of seeing her emotionally compromised.
Strengths
*Calming systems.* In the event of an agitated or injured program, Sirens can ‘hum’ at a frequency that can calm programs-this was used in particularly towards programs near de-rezz in games.
*Extra Energy Reserves.* Allows Sirens to transfer more energy than a typical program without risking their own de-rezz. Used to help programs in games, as well.
*Intuition & Observation.* Gem tends to read people better than others, due to her own natural intuition, and her ability to watch and learn. Gem seems to be more observant than most Programs on the Grid. When Sam appears within Zuse's sector, she is able to find him relatively quickly. While she may have been alerted to his presence within the general vicinity, it is Gem who is able to find him before other Programs, and guide him to 'safety'. She also observes that Sam is nervous and quickly puts him at ease.
*Connections* This is shown within a few comics (which I don't have scans of, sadly) where Gem locates a few rebels to pass on information; these rebels are not the easiest to find; it is clear she has met with them multiple times, and has connections everywhere. While this may be something that came from working with Zuse, it does not change the fact that Gem can use these connections for her own use if need be.
*Charm/Confidence* Gem is nothing if not charming. She exudes confidence, and seem to be fully in control of any situation she is placed into. Despite Sam's initial distrust of her, Gem quickly bats her eyelashes a few times at him, grabs his arm, and guides him through the End of Line club like she owns the place. Not only does Sam appear to become attracted to her, he relaxes as she takes command.
Even within the Armory, she has full control of the situation. She is the one who leads the other Sirens with quiet confidence. There is also a distinct allure to her, especially in the little smirk she gives when she advises Sam to 'survive'.
*Stoicism* It is difficult to tell what is going on underneath the surface of Gem's face. She chooses to show others what she wants them to see--and save a few instances (ie: irritation), she rarely breaks from that. As seen when she is about to be de-rezzed, she shows no emotion on her face. One could easily infer that by being so stoic, and choosing to show emotions only when it suits her, it keeps her safe in a cold and unkind Clu-Controlled Grid.
Weaknesses:
*Easily Irritated* Gem has little tolerance for idiocy or sentimentality. This is shown twice within the film. The first occurs when Zuse becomes a bit emotional thinking about Quorra-- Gem rolls her eyes and seems annoyed, as if she's heard the story once too many times. The second occurs when Jarvis tries to 'charm' her heavy-handily. Again she rolls her eyes and immediately dismisses him.
For all her stoicism, it is the emotion of irritation that seems to always get the best of her--which is not the best when facing down Programs that are stronger than one's self.
*Early Program Type* As a Siren, Gem was one of the early programs on the new Grid. She has a distinct way of walking, one that is not overly fluid and very distinct. It is evident in the first scene, where the Sirens are nearly robotic in their movements. Even in later scenes, where Gem's movements are a *bit* more fluid, it is clear that her suit, her shoes, are restrictive. Her mobility is highly restricted because of this.
*Vulnerable* While Gem would rather not admit it, Gem appears to be vulnerable and isolated. While there are other Sirens, it is clear that all of them stay in their Stasis machines until needed by a Program. And as many Programs were derezzed quickly in Clu's version of the Games, there were few around for her to become acquainted to. Additionally, as Zuse is her leader, she naturally wants a bit of attention from him. He seems to be more keen on getting things from her, and moon over Quorra, much to her irritation. The only time we see a genuine smile on her face is when Sam tells her 'thank you'. It can be inferred that she doesn't hear that much, and is grateful for it.
*No fighting training.* Sirens have no typical Grid weapons, and are not trained in fighting-besides her disc and her finger tool, she has no natural fighting abilities.
*Sympathetic programming.* While this is a positive thing in many cases, it also makes her more susceptible to attacks to her programming.
*Inorganic.* If you cut her, instead of bleeding, she partially de-rezzes.