Copyright
1999, Lyta. All rights reserved. No part of this story may be re-posted in part
or in full without written permission from me.
Disclaimer:
Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict is copyright 1998, Tribune
Entertainment Co. Its characters are used without permission, no infringement
is intended.
Rating:
PG
Title:
Reconnecting: Belle
Author:
Lyta
Lyta_1028@yahoo.com
Summary:
Belle’s perspective on her conversation with Da’an. Companion piece to “Reconnecting:
Da’an”
Spoilers
for “A Little Bit of Heaven”
“Reconnecting:
Belle”
Belle gently placed the baby in Da’an’s
waiting arms. She had approached him somewhat hesitantly, a shroud of defiance
covering her anxiety. More than any other, the Taelon had shaped her life when
he saved her and gifted her and Steven with not only life but the opportunity
to take another step forward in their evolution. Although he later had
abandoned both of them, Belle still craved Da’an’s approval and hoped the child
now in his arms would aid in bridging the gulf that had developed between them.
The baby giggled and blushed a brilliant
blue with Da’an blushing an identical shade not even a minute later. Belle
found herself touched by the sweetness of the moment. A vague memory surfaced
of the Taelon explaining to both her and Steven the dire situation the Taelon
race was in and his hope that hybrids such as the twins would be their
salvation. Belle wondered how long it had been since Da'an had beheld any
infant with even partial Taelon lineage.
“I’m sorry about what we did to Major
Kincaid.” Belle said suddenly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other
nervously. She knew that Da’an was enthralled with the baby and would be
sharper in his reproach for their crimes than at the moment. At another time
Belle would have been glad for the temporary reprieve, but now she decided
rather have that discussion behind her.
“The Major suffered no permanent damage,
unlike Ms. Drake.” Da’an said referring directly to the most serious of Belle
and Steven’s offenses, though Belle noted a peculiar inflection when Da’an
spoke Kincaid’s rank.
“She saw us once.” Belle said quickly. “We
were able to explain it away, but when Major Kincaid came to town and started
asking questions about the girl who escaped Steven and I were afraid she’d put
two and two together. It was Steven’s idea to plant the girl’s stuff on Carrie
and smear the blood on Kincaid’s trousers. It would never have held up in court
anyway so the worst would be a few days in jail and by the time they thought to
look for us we’d have left with the babies.”
“Your justifications do not excuse your
actions. However, I am not fit to judge you and it was my neglect of you and
your sibling that led the two of you to embark upon this course of action.”
Da’an told her, handing the child back to Belle. “What I wish to know is why
you took it upon yourselves to acquire and biologically alter these children.”
Belle looked down at the baby in sadness.
“It was just me and Steven. We were alone and always different in ways neither
of us could explain and we wanted others like us around. I am really sorry
about Major Kincaid, Da’an I really am.”
“That is the second time you have
apologized for your actions concerning my protector.” Da’an stated.
Belle flushed. “When I met him in the
diner and I felt a…connection to him. Steven said it was just infatuation like
he felt for the girl who got away, but it seemed deeper than that somehow. It
seemed as if he had more in common with us than the others.” Belle finished.
Da’an turned away from them to stare out
the window at the cityscape of Washington D.C. and blushed again.