Chapter 17

Castor led Alex, Sam, Quorra and Gem to his private table in the massive nightclub. "Libations! Quickly!" Castor called to a waiter. Then he slid his scarecrowlike physique into the seat beside Sam and Alexander.

As Quorra's gaze met Alexander's, a silent understanding passed between them. Her subtle nod affirmed what Alexander already knew: Castor's true identity Zuse. With this unspoken confirmation, they shared a brief moment of acknowledgment.

Smiling, Castor or Zuse lifted his top hat and extended his hand.

"Castor, your host," he said. "Provider of any and all diversions. At your service."

Sam got right to the point. "I'm looking for Zuse."

Castor arched an eyebrow. "Indeed. Many are…" "Where can I find him?"

Castor's gaze swept over the crowd, but it was Alexander's smirk that caught his attention. In that moment, a knowing glint flickered in Castor's eyes as he met Alexander's gaze. It was as if an unspoken understanding passed between them, confirming that Castor was indeed Zuse.

Castor then spotted everyone was watching. Everyone was listening. All of them pretended they weren't.

"This, good sir, is a conversation best had behind closed doors," Castor said, rising. "Perhaps we should adjourn to the private lounge?" Castor waved his hand, dismissing the Siren.

But as Sam, Alexander, Quorra and Gem were hustled away, off the platform and through the crowd. They paused when they arrived under the elevated booth that housed the club's DJs. Castor spoke to them briefly.

"I'm slipping away for a moment, boys," he said, waving a lazy hand to encompass the club. "Change the scheme. Alter the mood, would you be so kind?" Castor tapped his cane to slow the music's beat. The DJs responded. The club darkened. The color scheme changed. The blue waves of plasma running along the walls now pulsed in a deep purple. Soon the entire building throbbed with a purple glow, both inside and out.

Castor smiled with satisfaction. Then he tapped the floor one last time. Sam jumped backward when a section of the ground opened, but Alexander, Quorra and Gem we're calm. An ornate spiral staircase emerged from the pit. The staircase spun like a drill bit as it shot upward. Finally it stopped.

"Whoa," Sam whispered. "designed it myself," Castor boasted. "Elegant, no?"

Sam,Alexander, Gem,Quorra and Castor were ascending the club's spiral staircase. Castor's private lounge was located high above the End of Line Club's dance floor. The lounge's ceiling, floor, and walls were all glass, and the room was bathed in the same purple glow that lit the rest of the club.

"You can't be too careful," Castor said. "You've caused quite a stir with your arrival. Als. There is talks about Kevin Flyn making movies causing whispers of revolution to gain volume. The grid is alight."

As Castor's gaze shifted to Alexander, a flicker of curiosity danced in his eyes. He couldn't shake the feeling that Alexander was more than he appeared to be, perhaps another user. Furthermore, he recalled the rumors circulating about Kevin Flynn's supposed return to Tron City months prior, but now Castor realized that it was this user's presence that had stirred up the rumors, not Flynn's. The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fall into place, painting a clearer picture of the situation unfolding before him.

Castor offered Sam, Alexander and Gem a chair. "Zuse has been around since the earliest days of the grid," he continued. "To survive, he had to mind all the percentages, all the angles."

"So when do I meet him?" Sam asked. Castor bowed his head. "You just did."

Sam blinked. He hadn't seen that coming. "You're Zuse?"

Alexander nodded knowingly and remarked, "Indeed."

Zuse, intrigued, inquired, "And how did you deduce it was me?"

Alexander, with a confident smile, responded, "Your presence, effortlessly steering people away like Barik, without even a word exchanged with Zuse, spoke volumes of your authority as a host. And then there's Quorra; she recognized you from before, your assistance leaving a lasting impression."

Zuse's gaze shifted to Quorra, a realization dawning on him. "You're the last ISO, I helped smuggle out." he murmured.

Quorra affirmed with a nod, meeting Zuse's gaze. A genuine smile curved Zuse's lips as he acknowledged her presence.

"After the Purge, I needed to reinvent myself," Zuse slowly explained. "Self preservation, you understand. Now, what can I do for you?"

"I need to get to the Portal," Sam said.

Zuse pointed his cane at a light shining on the horizon. "The spire to the east, as I'm sure you're aware. It's quite a journey. Beyond the far reaches of the Outlands and across the Sea of Simulation."

"Then you can help me?" Sam asked. "Of course," Zuse replied.

Before Zuse could interject, Alexander's voice cut through the tension. "If you're entertaining thoughts of bargaining with Clu, using us as leverage, forget it. Clu doesn't negotiate with those he deems inferior. He'll see it as insubordination and end you without hesitation."

Zuse's initial plans crumbled in the face of Alexander's warning. He had considered brokering a deal with Clu, offering vital information about Kevin Flynn or his son, Sam Flynn in exchange for Tron City.

But now, Zuse grappled with the harsh reality: Clu was ruthless and irrational, unlikely to spare anyone who dared challenge him.

Forced to reconsider his strategy, Zuse cautiously asked, "What assurances do I have for my cooperation?"

Gem, with a steely resolve, answered on behalf of Alexander. "He can grant you ISO status if you desire it. Moreover, he can offer joint ownership of Tron City, provided we overthrow Clu."

Zuse's playful demeanor shifted to one of grave seriousness. "Overthrow Clu," he echoed quietly.

Though aware of the immense risks, Zuse understood that aligning with Clu or attempting negotiations would only lead to his downfall. With clarity replacing greed, he saw this daring move as his only hope for survival and redemption.

Zuse nodded solemnly. "I'll assist you, but meeting with Kevin Flynn is imperative."

Alexander nodded reassuringly. "Rest assured, we have a plan in place to handle Clu. Let's reconvene with Barik tomorrow to discuss our next steps."

With a sense of determination settling over them, Zuse hummed in agreement, ready to face the challenges ahead.