Acrylos was so proud of his programming for the Avatar Project. He was struggling to keep the operating system stable. Acrylos looked at his history with computer generated processors. His holograms had included the giantess, the embodiement of the processors on the Phoenix Colony - an epic failure and now the highly advanced Magenta I, the emergency medical hologram of Dr. Magenta Coren.
He could not believe what he was doing next when he contacted Henrietta Hatherton to come and give him a hand. In order to get his so-called Engineering Processor to function and to be able to successfully operate the Acrylos Ship Yards, he would have to stabilize the processor.
Henrietta reviewed his project and finally told him what he had always knew. The only way to have enough processor power to operate the ship builder, he would have to shutdown the Magenta project. Acrylos knew that it was the best solution but he could not bring himself to see the truth.
Acrylos needed the ship yards to be fully functional. The success of the Prince Edward had brought more requests for vessels. Acrylos also knew what losing the Magenta memories would mean to Nicole, to Elizabeth and to Illyan. The Bajoran paced on the decks of Lt. Governor's Station.
Acrylos contacted Fleet Captain Tania Branson aboard Governor's Station near Betazed and presented his case. He got the dark Borg answer he needed but did not want....
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...", Tania responded.
On April 22, 2392, Colonel Acrylos Teero shutdown the Magenta I project transferring its cognitive processor to the ship builder. He was very proud when the ship builder came online almost instantly. Acrylos looked at his creation which he chose to call Tacita Teero - named for his sister killed by a serial killer on the original Omega Colony. He had even enbossed her memories within his ship builder protocols.
Acrylos then had the very difficult task. He had to call Nicole and tell her that he had shutdown the Magenta I. Acrylos spoke the words. It was almost like he was in a trance. He did not show any emotion.
Nicole burst into tears falling to the flooor. She was not with the hologram anymore but she could always go to the Institute and see Magenta. Dr. Coren was often in the Academy with the pre-med students.
Catherine came in to find Nicole in an emotional mess. She begged to know what was the matter. Catherine then spoke the words that will haunt Nicole forever, "She was only a hologram...."
Nicole did not see it like that. To her, the Magenta I was a living memory. She and the avatar had actually made love. The feelings they shared were very real.
"How can you say that?", Nicole stood up, pulling away from Catherine.
Catherine grabbed Nicole and forced a kiss, "You see, Nikki, I am real."
Nicole felt nothing in the kiss. She thought that Catherine could be the one after falling out with Penny. Catherine obviously did not understand her at all. Nicole pulled away and went outside.
Nicole left for the institute. She was shocked to find a makeshift memorial put together by Maya and Winter. She stood outside until Maya invited her into the small room. Dr. Skylight Greene walked by, "I want this all cleaned up before the end of shift."
The words brought the same pain that Catherine had brought in her kitchen. Nicole felt the words tear at her heart. Maya and Winter touched the pictures and personal log pads. Maya looked at Nicole, "She loved you you know."
"And I her.", Nicole sobbed, wiping her nose.
Maya and Winter slinked from the room. Nicole stood there alone. She was startled when she heard a stiring interrupt her Bajoran prayer. She turned around to see Penny standng in the doorway.
"I thought you might be here.", Penny interrupted.
"Why did you come?", Nicole asked.
"I love you and thought you needed the support.", Penny started to cry.
"I know how much your marriage to Magenta meant to you.", Penny wiped her eyes.
"It was just a hologram.", Nicole tried to convince herself.
Penny looked at her and then slowly forced a hug, "It was a living embodiement of your true love."
Nicole at first resisted but then held Penny so tight. In her heart, she felt what was missing in her forced hug from Catherine.
Penny and Nicole walked over to the Doctor's Lounge and plunked down on the bed. Penny just held Nicole.
Now Nicole had a real mess... She was laying with her true love but her new love was in her house.
Posted by:
Nicole Branson
Governor
Ephyra Colony
King's Fleet
Colonel Acrylos Teero
Chief Engineer
Ephyra Colony
King's Fleet
