Part 2

"Smile for the camera," James teased. "We wouldn't want dear Edward to think I'm mistreating you, now would we?"

"Go to hell, leech!" she spat.

Chuckling, he swiveled the tiny camera and zoomed in on her head, "Did I tell you how much I'm looking forward to finally ending him? How I'm going to tear him limb from limb while you watch?"

"Suck shit and die you pulse deprived mosquito!"

Grabbing her by the jaw, he pulled her face round to the camera lens, "I have killed for lesser insults, perhaps I should just kill you and send Cullen the video hmm?"

"Bite Me!" Bella squeezed out between her forcibly pursed lips.

"Now that is a very good idea. Why didn't I think of that?"

Snatching her hand, he sank his fangs into her soft flesh as far as they would go, wiggling his jaw to help the venom flow into her system. The moment he released his hold she felt the sting. Burning, itching pain began at the points of entry, swelling, and redness already developing.

Shuffling backwards until her back hit the wall, she cringed at her stupidity. Edward had told her of the danger of vampire venom during one of their long chats about why he refused to drink human blood. Much like a snake bite on Earth, it would slowly make its way around her organs, killing her slowly.

"Surely it's a good way to die, in the place of someone else, someone I love? Noble even. That ought to count for something," she whispered to the camera.

"That a girl," James encouraged. "And it's just in time for the live uplink too."

Cullen swore at the screen depicting Bella. "It's that son of a bitch James who has her! I'll kill him, I swear I'll rip him to shreds with my bare hands!"

Glancing at Commander Darcy to make sure he was momentarily distracted, Liz made her move. Pulling the young officer from the seat, she settled herself in and hit the warp nine. The ship lurched forward with the sudden boost sending the crew members flailing on the floor. The short-range sensors blinked a warning of debris in their flight path but she shot it into oblivion with a single pulse of the laser.

"Lieutenant Bennett, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Darcy roared, struggling to get to his feet.

"Getting to my best friend before that sick shit does anymore damage," she stated calmly.

At the speed they travelled, it only took a few minutes to catch up the small ship holding Bella captive. Liz engaged the cloaking device and decelerated, creeping up to within teleportation range.

"Get ready to board his ship Commander, we'll be in range in five, four, bring her back safe Sir, one, teleporting."

Commander Cullen spared no mercy for the vampire that took his woman. The laser cut him up mid stride as they materialized on the main deck, his head bouncing across the floor to land at Bella's feet.

Darcy carefully picked her up and teleported them to the infirmary where Cullen joined them a moment later.

"Lieutenant Bennett?" Darcy asked into his wrist com.

"Yes Sir?"

"As soon as we are far enough away blow that piece of trash from existence."

"With pleasure Sir."

"And Lieutenant?"

"Yes?"

"Excellent work."

Later that evening Darcy sought out Liz. "I've come to commend you for using your initiative today," he said.

"You confuse me."

He frowned, taking a seat beside her on the sofa, "How so?"

"I hear such different accounts of you that it makes my head spin."

"That is a great defect you know, to listen to gossip."

"And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody," she countered.

"I don't hate everybody, only those I find intolerable."

Liz giggled, "You're insulting, arrogant, and insufferable."

"And you," he replied with a smile, "Have a tendency to willfully misunderstand a complement."

Blushing, she settled herself more comfortably and found herself relaxing enough to enjoy his company as their topics of discussion strayed. From friendships to the latest innovation in technology she found they shared similar opinions and the evening spent with him ended much too soon for her liking. She bade him a reluctant good night as she rose from her seat.

As she reached the door however, he called to her, "Will you consider staying on with the Pemberley?"

"Why?"

"Your knowledge of the ship is surpassed only by mine. I feel your abilities would be an invaluable addition to the crew," he swallowed before adding, "and I would like to get to know you better."

*******

"Welcome home," Commander Cullen said with a smile as he guided Bella to her seat on the bridge of the Swan after a week of recuperation. "Would you care to take us out of here, Bella?"

She coughed, "You'll have to be more specific. I'm afraid Liz has abandoned us for pastures greener."

"Huh, I don't understand. What has Lieutenant Bennett got to do with it?"

"Well, she normally makes the decisions on where to go next and Commander Darcy has asked her to join his fleet, so you need to suggest somewhere."

"I thought she couldn't stand him?"

"Apparently he's not all bad and she rather likes him now."

"Just like that?"

"Yup, his praise for her handling of the Pemberley helped."