Epilogue
Six months later….
Nico sighed and stood up, dusting off her hands. Today she wore a tank top and jeans because it was her day off. Since six months before, after that eventful cycle, she had gotten a promotion as an assistant to Alan, which left her time to go to the Grid and help rebuild New Argon. Now, they were sufficiently running again and have become part of the rest of the Grid.
She dusted off the laser before running a hand through her hair. She still had the grey temple streaks, but with her fake story of genetics and graying out early, nobody questioned it.
She sighed, opened the door as she glanced down the hall, then leaned back in before pulling out her phone.
[Are you coming? We can't be late!]
She sent this as a group text and sighed. Normally, her Saturday would be sent asleep on the couch with a movie playing on the TV.
But today was special. And she wouldn't dare miss it for the world.
Her phone went off and she saw a text from Sam:
[We're on the way. Coming down the hall right now.]
She sighed, locked her phone, and set it on the table on the other side of the room. She turned as the door opened and the four came in.
"Hurry up! We're going to be late if you keep going so slow!"
"Nico, we've got thirty minutes until it starts." Roy said, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, well the rest of us already needed to be there. They're counting on us to show up."
Roy decided not to argue as he set his phone down next to hers on the table.
"Have you decided yet?"
"No, I'll come to a decision tonight. But for now, I want to enjoy today."
Nico sat down in front of the computer.
"Alright. Everybody ready?"
There were replies of agreement and she typed in the command string as they were sent to the Grid.
Later, Nico and Quorra stood side by side as programs filed in and sat down in chairs. They both wore matching formal outfits_right down to the circuit. Sam stood on the other side of the space and Alan stood behind them in the middle as Roy sat in the first row.
The building was new; nicely decorated for uses like this. One of the first of many of these events in the newly rebuilt New Argon.
Quorra saw Nico tapping her fingers against the side of her leg, "Nervous?"
Nico nodded as she took in a breath. "Yeah."
"I'm glad this day is finally happening."
"I know…I'm nervous about the whole idea of it. I can't explain."
"Beck must be nervous, then. It is a big day for him."
She nodded, "Yeah…"
The side door opened and the program they had just been talking about came out. He wore a nice suit as well but he seemed uncomfortable as he made himself walk over next to Sam.
Nico leaned over to him, "You're nervous, Beck. Just calm down."
He nodded, taking in a deep breath.
"I'm still surprised, though. I hadn't expected her to…you know."
"I did. Trust me, it'll be fine. Just smile."
He nodded again as everyone quieted down and looked back to the door and Alan stood behind the altar, taking a deep breath.
After a moment, the doors opened and Paige came in, hooked arm-in-arm with Tron and Yori on either side of her. Today, Paige wore a dress of white, like the traditional women's clothing for this occasion in the User world. A white band was weaved in her hair simply and she looked about as nervous as Beck was. Sighing, Beck smiled at her as she came to a stop at the altar across from him. Tron stood next Sam and Yori next to Quorra and Nico.
Alan cleared his throat and looked up, "Today, we come together to celebrate the unity of two programs, two that all of us here have grown to know well."
He looked to them both, "Are you ready to start?"
They glanced to each other before looking to Alan and nodding.
"Very well. Let's begin. Beck, do you wish to take Paige as your partner in life, through rich and poorer in times and wealth, in sickness and health, until death part you both?"
After a moment, Beck nodded, "I do." He took her hands in his and smiled at her. After a moment, she smiled back.
"And you, Paige: do you wish to take Beck as your partner in life, through rich and poorer in times and wealth, in sickness and health, until death part you both?"
"I do."
Alan nodded, "Now will you both take the ring and take it in your hand?"
Paige turned to Nico and she handed over the blue band. She turned back to Beck as held a thinner, smaller, blue band.
"Beck, if you will repeat after me: With this ring, I wed us together."
"With this ring, I wed us together."
"Through the good and the bad, to love you as I do today and on forever, until death do us part."
"Through the good and the bad, to love you as I do today and on forever, until death do us part."
Alan nodded, "Place the ring on her left fourth finger."
He nodded and did so.
"And now Paige, repeat after me: With this ring, I wed us together."
"With this ring, I wed us together."
"Through the good and the bad, to love you as I do today and on forever, until death do us part."
"Through the good and the bad, to love you as I do today and on forever, until death do us part."
"You may place the ring on his left fourth finger."
She did and he smiled.
"This contract between two programs has been completed and from this day on, they shall be recognized as one."
He turned to Beck, "You may now kiss the bride."
Beck leaned forward but Paige pulled him into the kiss. Nico grinned as Beck set his hands on her waist and everyone began to clap. She felt tears begin to flow, so she wiped her face with her arm.
They broke apart as they clasped hands and began to walk down the aisle, leading the way to the reception. Everyone got up and began to follow. Sam and Quorra hooked arms, as did Tron and Yori. Alan, Roy, and Nico followed behind everyone.
In the reception, programs stood around all the side of the large dance floor, talking and drinking energy.
Nico walked up to Beck and Paige, who were talking, "Hey."
"Hey." Paige greeted back, then noticed her wet eyes, "Are you crying?"
"Oh," Nico said in flustered-ness, before wiping her face, "Yeah, seems so."
Paige hugged her, "Oh, don't cry. You'll make me cry."
Nico laughed slightly as Beck made a funny face behind her. "Alright. I will keep that in mind."
"Beck stop making faces." Paige said, not even looking back, "I know what you're doing."
Beck laughed and shook his head, "You know me well."
Nico and Paige broke the hug as Paige turned to Beck, "Yeah well, it's called knowing you for a long time."
Nico shook her head, "Hey, there's one habit you can get rid of."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. Beck will no longer be self conscious of using the word 'girlfriend'. You're his wife now."
Paige smirked and shook her head. "That's true."
Beck hadn't said anything, but was watching Nico for a moment, as if he had sensed something. She looked away awkwardly. Who knows what he sensed?
"And now," Roy called, in charge of the DJ set, "We will have the newly wed couple's dance."
This broke Beck's stare as he looked startled, "What?"
Nico covered up her worry by looking back up with a smile as Paige laughed, "You heard Roy. You gotta dance."
"But_" Then he turned to Paige, "That's why you both were giving me dance lessons the other day!"
"Wow, Beck. You really missed the not-so-subtle hints in that one, didn't you?"
"But_"
Paige shook her head and grabbed his arm, "Come on."
She led him to the dance floor and readjusted his pose, whispering for him to follow her lead. After a moment, the music started, a soft and beautiful song, and Paige led the way around the dance floor.
Nico smiled as she watched before walking over to join Roy behind the DJ set.
"So?" Roy asked as she sat next to him.
"I thought about it some more….and I'll do it."
Roy nodded as he watched the couple dance, "I'm sorry I made you come to a decision but I need to know."
"No," she shook her head, "No, it's fine. The hardest part is going to be telling them."
Roy nodded, "You don't have to tell them now. We can all enjoy ourselves for now."
She nodded as the song ended and Beck and Paige stopped dancing as programs clapped. Roy smiled and put on a fast-tempo song, "This is a song for everyone to join in on. Have fun!"
He turned off the mic and Nico got up and moved away, intent to enjoy the rest of the time.
Later, Nico sat outside on one of the benches, looking at the portal. She didn't want this cycle to end, but already it was winding down. Many programs were drunk (the only word she could think of to describe seeing them over-concentrated on energy), so many were stumbling down the street towards their homes, giggling hysterically.
She watched them with a small smile for just a moment before sighing and looking down.
"You alright?"
She looked up as Beck sat down next to her.
She sighed, "I guess, yeah."
They sat in silence.
"I um…" he started but hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I sensed sadness off you, earlier when we were talking. I've been thinking about it for a while now. Is something wrong?"
"No," she shook her head as she swallowed, "I just…"
"There you guys are."
Nico and Beck looked up as Paige joined them, smiling. Her smile faded, though, at their expressions.
"Is something wrong?"
"I…I might as well tell you both now, since you're here."
"What?" Beck asked, turning back to Nico. Paige touched Beck's arm, but listened.
Nico looked down for a moment, "I um…I agreed to start this new project. I won't be here for a while."
"What is it?" Paige asked, clutching Beck's arm.
"…There's another system in the User World. Roy and Alan want me to digitize myself into it, and see if there's any way to help them. I'm uncertain, I'm getting the feeling from Tron and Yori that it won't be easy. Might be dangerous."
Beck bit his lip.
Paige let go of Beck and pulled Nico into a hug, "Oh….Nico. When do you leave?"
"Tomorrow. They want me to start as soon as possible. I might have to leave soon."
Paige sighed, "I wish you didn't have to go."
"Me too. I wish I could stay here."
Beck nodded and joined in the hug after a moment.
"We wish you could too. You've become our closest friend after all this time."
Nico blinked at Beck's words. It was a nice feeling, to be told that. A beautiful feeling of belonging.
After a moment more, they broke apart.
"Make sure you visit when you can." Paige said, "And be careful. We don't want to hear of any issues because you weren't using your head."
Nico laughed, "It's probably going to be more like I literally tried to use my head and got a concussion instead."
Paige held back a laugh as she shook her head. Beck chuckled before setting a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"Stay safe. If you ever need anything, I'll know. I'll get the Users to send me after you."
And that's what she would miss from both of them. Since the start, they've had her back and even when's she gone, they won't stop. She loved them, and knew they loved her. That was the power of their friendship.
"I better go." Nico said and they had a group hug again, "I'll miss you both."
"We'll miss you too."
"Come back soon."
"I will." She gripped them before beginning to walk off.
When she reached the portal, only then did she look back. They were watching her, so close, yet so far away. She felt herself begin to cry again, but bittersweet tears and she didn't stop them. She gave one final smile and wave before stepping into the portal. She looked up into the light and smiled.
Their friendship would last through the thick and thin, giving her something to remember and hold close as she went ahead.
And with that, she closed her eyes with tears still flowing, and was sent through the portal once more.
End.
So that was Fragments. I hoped you liked it.
For me, this was such a bittersweet ending. I mean, it was happy, but the fact that I have finished it makes me sad. This was a fun project and I didn't realize how attached I became to this story until now.
Yes, I'm crying.
But it was a journey for me to write the story of Nico and the Grid and programs. ANd their sotry may be phsyically over, but to me, it lives on. And I hope it gave you the same feeling. Well, not sure I want you guys crying. That's messy. But I think you get what I mean.
Anyways, thanks for reading and I hoped you enjoyed reading.
-Kris.