Nicole was flying back from New Terra after visiting William Hunt in discussions of the future of the fellow Colony. Nicole was not even thinking clearly and was not paying that close attention to the approach line. She had the highest faith in Lt. Cheko. Gecko had never let her down before.
People are quick to forget about the horrid devastation that had befallen Governor's Station after the Klingon crisis. A massive portion of the outer ring had been destroyed and broken away. Though recovery had begun and had been more prominent under the authority of Commodore Tan, the Station still struggled in a lot of ways.
The Tongue approached slowly but the access was still tenuous at best. Lt. Cheko never even saw the piece of debris still floating in the air as it hit the side of the special slipstream ship causing all its systems to fail simultaneously. The Tongue slammed into the side of the grand station.
Summer Vasa screamed at Operations. She was in total shock. Tan was freaking out. He made the call to Omega Prime. Within minutes, Phillip Lexington and his staff were on the station, beamed directly to fire supression. This was a very dangerous time.
Commodore Viceroy joined the Station staff and the attempt to save both Cheko and Branson herself. Vincent was in a fit of worry as Lexington and his staff withdrew the Vice President of the Phoenix Federation from the debris field. Nicole was beamed directly the Dr. Leonard McCoy Teaching Hospital.
Dr. Magenta Coren-Branson came to the hospital in a rush. Dr. Greene informed Magenta of the tragic events and updated her on the status of Vice President Branson and Lt. Cheko. Cheko was in stable condition but Branson's condition could only be listed as Grave.
Within a few hours, Branson's condition had deteriorated to comatose. Magenta was in a horrible state of worry when her mother and Governor Eugenio Coren arrived at the Teaching Hospital. Dr. Greene suggested that specialist hormone could restart Branson's psyche. The hormone occurs naturally in Betazoids. Magenta was overjoyed, "I will gladly donate."
"You will need to be tested.", Skye responded.
After a few anxious moments, Skye returned. Dr. Greene looked at Magenta and shook her head, "There are slight differences in your hormone structure. The hormone is deteriorated within your system. If only there was someone with your hormone structure but who had remained on Betazoid longer."
Magenta grabbed Elizabeth by the arm, "My mother!"
"You could be tested, Mrs. Coren.", Dr. Green requested.
"Look Magenta, maybe this is a message. You may need to rethink your lifestyle and your partner. This may be a chance for a new start; a new life.", Elizabeth lectured.
Magenta burst into tears. Eugenio stood there stunned. Little Brenna came running around the corner, "Is my mommy Nicole okay?"
Eugenio picked up his little granddaughter. He may be governor of the Phoenix Colony but first and foremost, he was a grandpa. He took that role as seriously as any.
"We are working on it.", Eugenio smiled, hoping to reassure the little one.
Elizabeth glared at Eugenio, "There is no point in giving the child false hope. Brenna, your mother's condition is very serious. She could die."
Magenta grabbed Brenna, "Don't listen to the old bat. She does not know Nicole."
Magenta took the child and walked up to the containment unit. Nicole lay there in stasis. Brenna and Magenta shared a silent tear.
Eugenio looked at Elizabeth, "She is my grandchild."
Elizabeth snapped at Eugenio, "She is not your grandchild. She is not Magenta's. Hell, she is not even Orchid's. She is no ones. She is a Sovendara Experimental Freak!"
Eugenio grabbed Elizabeth by the arm, "Do you hear yourself, she is my granddaughter. These relationships are not about blood. They are about something else. Being Betazoid, you would think you would know that."
Elizabeth looked at Eugenio. He never stood up to her.
Eugenio looked at Elizabeth, "You can walk away and lose Magenta, lose Brenna and lose me or you can help out and gain Nicole and our respect."
Elizabeth walked away looking up at her once proud damaged station. The broken outer ring was like her spirit. Her relationship with Vincent Viceroy had broken a perfect circle. She had a chance to set it all right.
She walked back to Dr. Greene, "I will be tested."
Once injected with the hormone, Nicole's condition quickly improved. She was soon sitting up in the bed and smiled as Magenta and Brenna came in.
"I knew you'd make it.", Magenta smiled, trying to hide her tears of joy.
Dr. Greene had explained what had happened. Magenta took Brenna out. The poor little thing had to pee. Elizabeth walked in and looked at Nicole.
Nicole looked at Elizabeth and teared up big time. Elizabeth did not say a word.
Nicole finally broke the silence, "Thank you..... Mom..."
Elizabeth felt a joy in her heart that she had never felt in the entire relationship between Magenta and Nicole. She felt a Betazoid connection to Nicole she never thought was possible.
Elizabeth walked up and put her hand on Nicole's. She did not speak. Words were not necessary here.
Posted by:
Nicole Branson
Vice President
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Commodore Vincent Viceroy
Omega Academy Chancellor
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
