Amarillo by Morning

[Angel Ryder]

"Oh? Someone in mind?" Angel said as she removed her blouse and turned her back on Bellatrix. "Because I was willing to give you Independence free and clear because of this. I believe you when you say torture is not your style, but you still let it happen." she rebuttoned her blouse and looked her in the eyes. "I did have an ulterior motive, that you'd use Athena and Independence and whatever ships you'd build to send Dominus straight to hell. My father... thinks we're going to fight and have a little show when we gave you Athena. Make it look 'good'. But I am a mother first and foremost. And I have no clue what my daughter means to you, but she means the world to me. "

[Bellatrix]

"None as of yet. Bartryn is not my mess, and his idiotic actions would get him the kliden if it were up to me. Let's just call it a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card if you will."

[Angel Ryder]

"Then if he isn't your mess, then I would suggest staying out of Alliance space, because it's open season on him." Angel said as she zipped up her uniform and picked up the Independence device. "So you really wouldn't take this in exchange for my daughter? I'll be honest, I always hated that ship. I served on her. One of my first postings as an assistant department chief. Too big, always smelled like welding torches, sweat and farts. Dad held onto it because it was 'his' masterpiece. Not to sound too egotistical, but..." she extended her arms. "I'm his masterpiece. Not that ship. That said... I want MY masterpiece back. Or I'm following you everywhere you go and I have a gallon of Ethan vomit that smells like half dead cow and whatever rot gut he was drinking that I am just dying to beam to your ready room."

[Bellatrix]

Bellatrix clicked her tongue, "That's the problem isn't it? She's far too valuable for me to just release her, but you can't afford her price. At least afford it in a sense that wouldn't destroy your little government." She shrugged, "But, never say never. Who knows, she might just show up on your doorstep one day with a, 'Hey mom. I'm home'. It's a beautiful thought. I'll tell you what; I promise you from one mother to another that Trinity shall not be harmed any further. And, there are many things said about me, most of them true. That includes, my word is my bond. As far as Empress Stormtalon. I'm sure Dominus will be done with her in 9 to 10 months. It would be interesting to see how the Narlins deal with the sudden emergence of their old Empress. I wonder if it would cause another Civil War... nah I doubt it."

[Angel Ryder]

"You guys are sick." Angel said as she leaned against the conference table. "Venom aside, this may be the last time we actually meet face to face, in a... civil manner. So. What IS it you want? Just out of curiosity... perhaps we can come to some agreement. The Rebecca Sandoval I know and love, is a fair woman, feisty and driven, yet she's sane. I think you're a complete psychopathic sociopath but everyone has a point of view and a brain." she crossed her arms. "Why are you so damn insistent on keeping Trinity? She doesn't use the Iljuna. She's short. And her husband will badger me until she comes home."

[Bellatrix]

She smiled, "Her husband seemed to have learned it. And I think she has it in her. I can sense it. Kat, energize. Until next time Admiral." A transporter beam sweaped her away, Tereska was left in her place.

[Angel Ryder]

Teri held her severed wrist and gave Angel a look and grimaced. "Can we kill that bitch?"

"It'll happen... it'll happen." Angel said as she wrapped her jacket around her. "Let's get you to sickbay, you will positively geek out when you see what we can do to your old hand, unless you want a bionic one."

"As long as I don't beep at metal detectors." Teri said, trying to distract herself from the pain. "They did a number on your daughter, I was truly hoping we could have gotten her back, but she's not even in the system, I have no idea where they took her."

"I tried... believe me. I was going to give up quite a lot to get her back, but one hostage at a time." Angel said as she guided her through to the private transporter alcove that immediately deposited them into sickbay as if they just walked through a door.

"Holy shit... did we just transport?" Teri's head whipped around as she realized just where she was.

"Fast transport systems, we can literally make it as seamless as walking through a doorway, uses a bit different... nevermind... I get like dad when I talk about this ship." Angel motioned to the doctor.

"Ohh what the hell did they do to ya?" he said and snapped a pair of gloves on. "Cut's clean... damn kildens. Upside, we can entirely repair or replace it, at least your hand was beamed right into stasis after it was taken." the Doc said as he chewed on the end of a stylus, the after effect of quitting smoking cigarillos for 30 years. "We'll fix you up kid, good as new, better even."

"If you can make it look like I didn't slit my wrist, I will go on a date with you old man." Teri said as she wrapped the sheet around herself. "Unless you're married then wifey can come."

"Single." He smirked. "May take you up on that."

"Dude, she's barely legal age... you've got grandkids older." Angel made a face at the thought of the old Doctor from the New Zealand dating an alternate of her grandmother. "I need a drink to get that vision out of my head... Where Ethan?

[Ethan Talon]

"Right here," he grunted. "It looks like we're a bit short on missing family members." He handed Angel a bottle of aged whiskey, and by the smell of him he'd already been tugging on it.

[Angel Ryder]

"One step at a time Ethan." Angel said as she took a pull on the bottle and didn't even cough or get affected by the very strong alcohol. "C'mon... let's give Doc and Tereska a little privacy."

"You just don't want me to smooch him." Teri giggled as she was given a hypospray.

"My personality traits are soooo making a lot more sense now." Angel said as she left the sickbay with Ethan. It took another pull on the bottle before she handed it back to him. "I tried to get her back, she was not willing in the least to give her up, I think she's got the same mojo our parents both have. And that we have." she sighed heavily as she tapped the turbolift controls. "Deck 9. We're going to my lab. We need to talk in private."

[Ethan Talon]

Ethan followed her to the lab in silence. He leaned up against a counter with a heavy sigh. He took another long drink of the whiskey and offered her a drink. In his left hand he played with a pistol bullet. "Okay, we're here. What's up?"