Vertical Slice

Vertical Slice
Geographical information
Region	Arq Grid
Points of Interest	Artisan District Automata Embassy Terminal Bar Park Apartments Penthouse Flynn's Arcade Core Base The Repository District (formerly)
Other information
Designer	Alpha Kevin Flynn
Owners	Core
Inhabitants	ISOs
Behind the scenes
Appearances	TRON: Identity TRON: Catalyst
Gallery

Vertical Slice is the oldest city in the Arq Grid. It was founded during cycle zero by a program named Alpha, who built the city's first settlements, which was overseen by Kevin Flynn, the Arq Grid's creator. It is the main setting of TRON: Identity and TRON: Catalyst.

History

Founding

A statue of Alpha, founder of Vertical Slice, located in the park of the city, the site of his final conversation with Kevin Flynn.

Vertical Slice was founded during cycle zero by a young program named Alpha, with the intention that it would serve as a celebration of Kevin Flynn, the creator of the Arq Grid. Alpha led the earliest settlers and directed the construction of the city's old capital, along with early settlements. Flynn, the Arq Grid's creator, oversaw progress and was impressed with Alpha's development of the city. A statue of Alpha was erected in the city's park, the site of his final conversation with Flynn. The city's desire to call back to the Arq Grid's past, along with a generally conservative approach to its city planning, has made much of Vertical Slice resemble cities of the primary Grid.

The Repository

Query approaches the entrance of the Core Repository, the site of his investigation.

At some point, a governing faction known as Core came into being, and established a large building known as the Core Repository in its own district within the city. The building was built by Core to serve as a data archive of the history of the Arq Grid and its hundreds of cycles, as well as a secure place for information thought to be too dangerous for public knowledge.

TRON: Identity

In 2023, Query, a detective program and Disciple of Tron, was assigned to investigate an explosion that occurred at the Repository, along with the mystery surrounding it, by Prinz, the Repository's administrator. After a long night, Query began defragging the Identity Disc of Cass, a young amnesiac program who was stationed to guard one of the building's vault, with the two discovering that the Arq Grid is going to end.

TRON: Catalyst

Following Query's investigation, Core tore down the Repository. Since then, Sierra, the leader of the Automata, commissioned the development of an Automata Embassy in its place in the north east end of Vertical Slice, built by Automata architect Sum. The embassy is accessible via the artisan district. Sierra directed the construction of the embassy as an attempt to seem less "strange" to other, according to his conversation with Spectre during the "System Crash" primary process. Automata fashion has been picked up by the city's inhabitants. As a result of the Automata's growing influence, Core has expanded its presence within the city, keeping an eye on the Automata.

Exo talks to Ling, a black market Light Cycle dealer, on a rooftop in the city.

Light Cycles are banned for all programs, except for Core officers. This has resulted in the formation of Light Cycle black markets throughout the city, often located on rooftops to avoid Core.

TRON: Identity Codex

Vertical Slice

The Repository is immediately surrounded by parks and public galleries. Core have learned over hundreds of cycles that the soft power they enjoy relies on engagement and cultural buy-in from the community. By curating and sharing the data they validate, they have turned a system of control into a public utility.

Beyond the park, Vertical Slice is a bustling hub. The oldest part of the city, but also its cultural and infrastructural center.

Grand Window

Outside, you see the Vertical Slice district laid out before you. This was the beginning of the city, the first foothold on the Arq server. Over a thousand cycles it has persevered and maintained the aesthetics of Flynn's master server. Tradition defines it. You can imagine why Prinz likes the view.

Your work takes you to all corners of this Grid, but of all the districts, Vertical Slice makes you the most uncomfortable. The forced nature of it, of programs miming out traditions they never experienced first hand. Sometimes, you're more sympathetic to Automata than you'd like to admit.

Data Tree - Flynn's Promise

Flynn looked out over Vertical Slice. A small cluster of structures and buildings. Isos worked below to expand it at a rapid rate. He turned to the young program next to him, Alpha.

"You're doing well, real well!"

Alpha nodded, gratefully and with respect.

"It will be a great city one day, and forever. In celebration of you, Flynn."

Flynn winced imperceptibly, rubbed the back of his neck.

"Sure! We can work out the details next time I'm here. I gotta go back, give Clu one more chance to throw in the towel on his whole, 'perfect world' thing."

Alpha smiled.

"We shall await your return."

TRON: Catalyst Codex

VERTICAL SLICE

Vertical Slice is the oldest city of the Arq Grid. Here, Alpha built the first settlements, witnessed by Flynn himself.

Since then, Vertical Slice has begun to show its age, slipping into disrepair. Its smaller streets and structures are dwarfed by grander cities elsewhere. Following the demolition of the repository district recently, Core have made their presence more known as they assert themselves in the face of incoming Automata presence.

Vertical Slice fulfills an almost spiritual role for the programs of the Arq Grid. It represents a new beginning, and monuments throughout its streets celebrate that history.

ALPHA'S GIFT

On cycle zero, Alpha founded Vertical Slice. He led the programs who first settled here, and oversaw construction of the old capital.

This statue is placed at the site of his last conversation with Flynn.

Depictions of the great User are considered taboo, so only Alpha himself is shown, the tilt of his head implying that he is listening to his unseen creator, through eternity.

You are skeptical of statues of 'great programs'. They tend to be built either by their subjects, or by later programs looking to use their image as a statement. All history is, after all, written by someone.

The trees around the statue are a better monument, their data a more honest depiction of this area's history.

AUTOMATA EMBASSY

Still under construction, the Automata embassy is nevertheless impressive. Grand organic forms and light mark a space bustling with new ideas and futuristic technology. You can see why Core are so unsettled by its presence.

It is exciting to see new structures in the city. A desire to call back to our past, and a generally conservative approach to city planning has made much of the city resemble the primary Grid. You understand the politics of this, but still long for more of this new architecture. Maybe the city's population will take inspiration from it the same way they've drawn on Automata fashion.

Anything to see a little less cyan.

Trivia

• Vertical Slice is likely named after the project management term "vertical slice," which refers to a cross-sectional slice through the layers that form the structure of a software codebase, intended to demonstrate progress across all components of a project.