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Chapter 2 Chapter 4

To Bell the Belle - Chapter 3

Time: Day 2
Location: Winnipeg Drift

Patrick Bellamy sat quietly in the Bellamy family business office staring at the computer display console as it showed the progress of the data transfer from the computer in the office to the computer aboard the Enchantress. As soon as the data was transferred he wold initiate a complete wipe of all data on the office computer. It wasn't likely that the data would be useful to him once the FTA put a price on his head, assuming they hadn't already done so, but there was a chance it could, and he had no intention of letting the FTA get its hands on it.

All the physical records of the family's business had either been destroyed or transferred to the Enchantress. As soon as the transfer of the electronic data was complete it would be time for him and his crew to leave the drift. Though exactly where they could go was at this moment a large unknown.

His introspection was interrupted by a knock at the door to the office. "It's open," he said.

The door opened and in walked Yeager, the Enchantress' third engineer, who had been overseeing the destruction of the Bellamy family books.

The engineer gave a cursory bow to Patrick. "Beggin the Captain's pardon, Ser, But there's a visitor to see you."

"Who is it, Yeager?" he asked.

"The lady Carla Abernathy, Ser"

"Carla?" asked Patrick in surprise as he got out of his chair. "I would have thought she left when the Puffer departed. What does she want?"

"She didn't tell me, Ser. An' I didn't think it was me place to ask. Should I send 'er in?"

Yes, please. And see what you can find for refreshments."

"Wine, Ser?"

"No, I think tea might be more appropriate."

Yes, Ser," said Yeager as he gave another bow and began to exit the room. "I'll send 'er right in."

A moment later a diminutive dark haired young woman, walked into the room. She moved with a dancer's grace and her face while not beautiful would have been considered attractive had it not looked so worried. Seeing Patrick standing before her she dropped into a full curtsy. "Captain-Owner Bellamy," she said in way of greeting as she bent her knees.

"Lady Abernathy," Patrick responded. He reached out his hand to help her back upright and as she stood he bent low over her hand in a formal bow. "It is a surprise to see you here. A pleasure, but still a surprise. I thought you had left with your family."

"The Takahashi's Hakucho is on the drift. I'll be leaving with them. Is it true what I've heard? That you're no longer advocating that if the FTA decides to occupy the drift we should resist? That the drift should surrender without a fight? We can fight, just like we did on Yalta."

Patrick released Carla's hand and gestured her to the one chair in the office while he perched on a corner of the office desk.. He shook his head in disagreement over her words. "Yalta was a Pyrrhic victory, Carla. Two thirds of the inhabitants died and the drift was so badly damaged it had to be abandoned. The FTA aren't the Magog or the Ogami. They're not interested in plundering the drift or savaging the population. It would cost them too much to rebuild and re-man. They'll simply take over and use it to gain a strangle hold on trade between Andromeda and the Large Cloud.. With the exception of Guild members I doubt that they'll be interested in any of the population. But you and I need to be well away from here before they arrive. I have no desire to be executed as a pirate, and while I doubt that they would execute you, I expect that after a month or so of servicing one of their private mercenary units you would be wishing you were dead."

Before Carla could reply there was a knock on the door and Yeager entered carrying a tray. "Tea, Ser," he said.

Patrick took the tea service from Yeager and placed it on the desk then carefully poured a cup and offered it to Carla

"Ever the gentleman, Patrick," murmured Carla as she took the cup, "even when our world is crumbling around us."

"Especially when the world is crumbling," said Patrick as he poured himself a cup. "Now as much as I appreciate your company, I suspect that you didn't come here to convince me to pit the Enchantress against a flight of FTA fighters. So just why are you here, instead of aboard the Puffer or the Hakucho?

Carla put her cup down. She looked distinctly uncomfortable as if she wasn't sure how to say what she wanted to say. After a moment she began speaking. "When the Hakucho leaves we wont be hiding or looking for a sanctuary, Patrick. We'll be joining my family and then we're going to try and find your father. And if we do find him we intend to either kill him or capture him and turn him over to the FTA"

"I see," said Patrick in a carefully neutral tone of voice. "And you're here hoping I can give you some information that will help you find him?"

"No, Patrick, answered Carla. "I'm here to ask you and the Enchantress to join us in finding him."

Chapter 2 Chapter 4