Chapter 2

The 100 guardians of the expanse

Last chapter didn't get much attention if anyone is liking this really please review because if people aren't reading this one I most likely won't bother continuing it.

Romany long-range traveller asteroid harvester – Maxwell

Near Saturn

As several cold dark rocks moved through space pulled along by the forces of the giants around them a great lumbering structure of blackened steal moved towards them slowly but surely eventually swallowing them hole like some great wale swallowing it's pray. Inside the ships massive mouth two figures stood in there space suits monitoring the robotic arms breaking the rocks apart in order to harvest them for the minerals the ship's crew sold.

'You know when we get to Callisto Frank I'm thinking I'm going to take my pay check right to that spangles places' one figure said casually nodding his head slightly.

'Seriously Paddy' frank said smiling 'you're going to blow your pay check again'.

'Why not' Paddy said grinning 'it will be fun why don't you come with me'.

'How about because the captain doesn't like it' frank said grinning 'never good to piss of your boss and leader plus you know full well my wife would lose it if I did'.

'O come Frank it won't be the same without' you Paddy said pouting.

'Are you a child' Frank shouted exasperated now 'I said no'.

'Come on' Paddy said again drawing out the words.

As the this argument went on never of the men noticed the rocks that had broken away from the asteroid and were now heading towards them they were still arguing in fact when the rocks impacted Paddy said him flying backwards like a rag doll 'Paddy' Frank yelled running after him.

In a room in the primary crews quarters Bellamy smiled at Gina's laughing as he kissed near neck and sucked making a deliberate popping noise 'Bellamy' she laughed.

'What' he said matviously leaning up so he could look at her?

'You're a prick' she laughed.

'Yea but I'm your prick' he said leaning back down and kissing her on the mouth pushing down on her squeezing her against her bed.

'At the risk of ruining to mood' Gina said a short why'll later when her and Bellamy were just sighting leaning against the wall of alcove her bed was in still for the most part both naked 'were is this going'.

'Gina' Bellamy sighed turning to look at her.

'Come on Bellamy' Gina said quickly 'is this' she gestured at her bed 'all this is to you'.

'No' Bellamy said quickly 'but'.

'But what' Gina said determined now 'eight months' she added 'that's a long time Bellamy'.

'You know I'm still technically not part of the crew' Bellamy began slowly trying to think of a way out of this.

'That can be fixed' Gina scoffed 'you're an indentured officer for peek sack your lot like the guys we have haling cargo if you asked my dad he would make you and Octavia for that matter a full member of the crew'.

'Your farther' Bellamy smiled thinking about the Capitan 'he still doesn't know about us Gina I doubt he'd be OK with you shaking up with me I'm not a traveller remember'.

'He's not that narrow minded' Gina laughed punching his shoulder lightly.

Before Bellamy could respond to this his radio bussed on Gina's table 'Bell' Octavia called 'you seen the XO no one can find him'.

Thank you sis Bellamy thought getting up and quickly grabbing his radio 'no O but don't worry I'll go track him down'.

'Thanks Bell' Octavia said and then her voice disappeared.

'Guess you were just saved weren't you' Gina said snidely getting up

'I have no idea what you're talking about' Bellamy said quickly distracted by Gina's completely naked form.

'Sure you're not' Gina smiled leaning down and picking up her bra not wanting to get in to anything Bellamy just started looking around for him own clothes.

Stepping out of Gina room a few minutes later Bellamy walked away quickly wanting to get down to the business of tracking down the XO as quickly as possible not really wanting to even think about what Gina had just been talking about it wasn't that he didn't care about her he did he cared about her a lot. He wasn't entirely positive but he thought he might even love her but there was the problem of why him and Octavia were hiding here frowning as he thought about this Bellamy walked in to one of the ships living arears at the end of the corridor.

Looking around he didn't see the XO but he did see Maya seating at one of the rooms table with Paddy seeing a massive gash on his arm 'what happened to you' Bellamy said walking over shocked.

'This one wasn't paying attention to things he should have been' Maya said snidely sowing up the gash.

'I'm not bothered' Pady said defiantly 'we will be at Callisto before to long they got really good doctors there they'll fix me up'.

'Thanks' Maya said sarcastically frowning.

'Don't worry Maya' Bellamy smiled 'I think you're a very good doctor.

'What do you want Bellamy' Maya said turning to face him seeing through is fsared right away.

'I'm out of contraception strips' Bellamy smiled down at her 'but for the record I do think you're a good doctor' without a word Maya reached in her bag and handed him a small box and then turned back to Pady 'pleasure as always' he said slightly cockily turning around and walking out the room.

Walking down another corridor Bellamy absentmindedly looked around at the ships cracked structure wondering absentmindedly how things really were in more important parts of the ship if on cew Raven appeared walking out an open hatch door ranting to Charlotte who was walking next to her about the state of the ship.

'It is ridicules Charlotte how do they expect us to keep containment on that reactor under these conditions' Raven almost shouted walking a head of Bellamy not noticing he thought he was here.

'Carme down Raven' he said smiling she could be very passionate woman at times.

Clearly shocked both girls spun around 'high Bellamy' Charlotte said smiling brightly.

'Hi Charlotte' Bellamy smiled back 'you two been having fun'.

'Don't be an ass Bellamy' Raven sneered turning back around and starting walking again.

'Come on Raven' Bellamy smiled walking after her with Charlotte trailing behind them 'I have confidence in you and every mechanic on this ship that reactor isn't going to explode on your watch'.

'Yea Raven' Charlotte added 'you would never let that happen'.

'It might not be that simple' Raven sighed as they all came to a lift 'Bellamy you have the captains ear' Raven said pushing the button as they all stood in front of the door began to wait for the lift to arrive 'what are the chances he takes the ship in so the reactor can be overhauled'.

'Not a chance' Bellamy said smiling slight amused at the concept 'even if he wanted to do it which he doesn't the elder counsel would never allow it I doubt we could even get our fleet commander to bring it them to be honest'.

'You know I've never got that name' Raven chuckled sarcastically 'fleet commander really our guy only as three ships that he manages one of which from what I've heard is now so run down they don't think it is ever going to leave Uroper and were saying he commands a fleet'.

'Yea you've got a point there' Bellamy chuckled as the lift arrived and the doors slid open with a screeching sound.

'You don't really think that's all true do' Charlotte said sounds a little scared as they walked in to the lift and the doors closed behind them 'you don't think the counsel or the captain would ignore what the ship needs do you'.

Bellamy looked down at the small girls worried face as the lift started moving upwards and immediately regretted what he had said 'were going to be fine' he said quickly laying a hand on her shoulder and squeaking it reassuringly 'you don't need to worry, does she Raven' he added giving Raven a manfully look.

'Yes Charlotte' she said quickly 'don't listen to me I'm just being' she trailed off in to silence here falling over her words not sure what to say.

'Raven's just getting angry' Bellamy said taking over 'you say things you don't really mean when you were angry' he knew everything he had said was true but at fourteen Charlotte really shouldn't be worrying about this kind of thing.

'OK' Charlotte said slowly not looking completely convinced but willing to except what Bellamy was telling 'so you don't think I need to worry'.

Bellamy paused here saying no would be a bare faced lie something he didn't really want to do with the girl it would set a bad kind of president 'you don't need to worry' he said slowly deciding to take this tacked 'this something that the grownups need to be worrying about Charlotte not you'.

She gave him a look here that said she thought he was being an condescending idiot clearly like all teenagers she thought she was old enough to be treated like an adult but she didn't say anything in response just turned away from him and looked at the lifts doors 'he's right Charlotte' Raven said smiling at this reaction 'it's our job not yours'. Charlotte gives a polite but weak smile to this but one that also says she is not one hundred percent convinced sighing Bellamy decided to not try to push the point any fever and they all just fell in to a tense silence why the road the lift upwards.

Sighing as he got to the bridge Bellamy looked around making sure the XO wasn't here he didn't think he would be but the bridge was on the way to his quarters so it seemed stupid not to at least check but there's only the people who are supposed to be seating at various consoles.

'Hay Tom' Bellamy said casually walking up to one of them and patting him on the shoulder 'how you doing'.

'I'm fine' Tom said casually 'you'.

'I'm good' Bellamy smiled 'just saw Charlotte by the way I think she might be worrying a bit about stuff going wrong with the ship'.

'Yea' Tom said drawing out the word smiling 'she does that my dear daughter does worry about things doesn't she'.

'Yea I was the same way when I was her age' Bellamy laughed looking at the read out on Tom screen out of curiosity.

'O uw' Tom laughed 'was that just an in site in to the mysterious Bellamy Blake'.

'Not a poetically big one' Bellamy laughed leaning back up.

'Dame it' Tom said in mock frustration 'thought I might be able to win the pool then for a second'.

'Really' Bellamy said still chuckling 'how much is it up to by the way'.

'A lot' Tom said seriously looking up at him 'the crew are really curious about you and your sister, I mean most indentured works are no bodies with next to no real skills who work as janitors or something in exchange for room and board'.

'In fairness I did start out as a janitor' Bellamy smiled.

'True' Tom nodded but 'must people who agree to be indentured works don't have the skills sets or brains necessary to get promoted to a first officer bastion'.

'Well that is the mystery isn't it' Bellamy said trying to smile why'll holding back a frown 'now if you excuse me I've got to track down the XO' he continued turning around deciding it was best to end this conversation.

'Fine run away Bellamy' Tom called after him laughing 'but just so were clear I know that's what you're doing right here'.

'Did you hear me deny it' Bellamy called back laughing again.

It didn't take him long to get the XOs room after that I really was close to the bridge 'Alex' Bellamy called knocking at the door 'you in there' he didn't hear anything at first but then he what sounded like something breaking 'I'm coming in' he shouted quickly hearing this worried. Forcing the door open I moved to go in but then stopped shocked Alex the XO was sighting almost naked on the floor surrounded by several broken flower pots 'what is this' he asked taken aback by the sight of him forcing himself to step fever in to the room.

'Why Bellamy' he almost sobbed fingering one of the plants not looking up 'why do we break everything'.

'Excuse me' Bellamy said taking another step forward looking around the room his hands raised as not to spook him trying to think of a course of action.

'Why do we break everything' he said again looking up now tears streaming down his face.

'Break what' Bellamy asked taking another step forward so he was within arm's length now.

'Everything' he wailed 'we destroyed one plant and now'.

'O' Bellamy said realising what he was getting at now 'you can't let that kind of thing get to you Alex' he began but as he said this Alex pulled a pistol from under his bed and held it up to his head 'no don't' he shouted jumping on top of him grabbing for the pistol thankful manging to get it out of his hands just in time.

'I'm sorry' Bellamy said about an hour latter to the captain as he and him sat in his office and watched the security camera feed on one of the captains screens of Maya wheeling the XO out of his room with the help of several of the crew 'I knew he was having trouble but I thought he would be able to pull himself through it'.

'It's ok Bellamy' the captain said turning off the feed leaving a news feed from earth the only thing showing on any of his screens 'one of his sons are on a ship that will be at Callisto the same time we are I'll get him to take him Mike should be with family'.

'Your right' Bellamy nodded 'you can't keep him on the ship it send the wrong kind of message to people'.

The captain gave a satisfied smile here 'you know that's how a leader needs to think Bellamy' he said meaningfully.

'Wait' Bellamy began reading his expression but before he could finish he put the XO badge down on his desk right in front of Bellamy 'no' he said quickly 'I don't want'.

'Why not' he said cutting across him.

'I can't I don't want not me' Bellamy spluttered think about the conversation he and Gina had just over an hour ago now.

'I know about you and Gina' he said coldly.

Errrm Bellamy said gulping 'what are you talking' he began thinking he might be able to lie his way out of this.

'Give me a little credit' the captain laughed in response to this 'I do have some skills of observation Bellamy and if I had a problem with it I assure you I would have stopped it before now'.

'You approve' Bellamy said shocked.

'Yea' he said grinning 'if you treat her right that is I think you and I can both agree she deserves a commitment from some body I was think that could come from you or am I wrong Bellamy'.

'It's complicated' he began sighing.

'I have now doubt it is' he chuckled 'I remember when you and Octavia talked you ways on to the ship as I recall you would do whatever I asked as long as I kept you and your sister on the ship and did tell anyone I didn't absolutely have to'.

'Yea' Bellamy said grinning slightly 'I did didn't I'.

'You certainly did' he smiled 'why made you're an officer even though your still working on an indentured contract but you didn't just do anything I asked you did it better than most of this crew could' he paused he thinking 'I never asked questions' he said after a few minutes 'but I did hope you could trust me with knowing the full story'.

'Maybe one day I'll tell you' Bellamy grinned weakly.

'One day' he smiled 'you know one day Earth and Mars our finally going to hammer out a treaty' he added pointing at the screen which was showing the floor of the UN on earth 'and guys like you and me will finally be able to get out of the asteroid mining business and in to the planet building business'.

'You really think that is how this cold war is going to end' Bellamy said curious everything he knew said that was far from the truth.

'Yes I do' he smiled nodding 'see her' he said pointing at a smartly dressed woman on one of the UN's central tables 'Abby Griffin that woman has been fighting for peace for years now as long as Earth and Mars have people like her we will get peace one day'.

'That's a nice thought' Bellamy smiled 'we could all do a lot of the UN and UCA stopped all this grandstanding'.

'Exactly' the captain said smiling pointing at him to make a point 'you could be on the ground floor of that Bellamy you and Gina just thinking of the future you two could have my boy don't you want that'.

'Of course I do' Bellamy said sighing pleading almost 'but it's just'.

'Try it out for a few days' he said quickly cutting him off pushing the badge fever forward 'you might find you like it'.

'Captain' Bellamy said slowly picking up the badge looking up at him but one look at the man's face tolled him this was not something he could turn down 'OK' he said finally taking in a deep breath 'just for a few days'.

'Good' he nodded smiling nodding clearly very pleased with himself to Bellamy's relief his radio started buzzing here saved by the bell he thought as the captain picked it up frowning 'yes' he said twisting the correct diel.

'Captain' Gina's voice said formally 'were picking up a distress call we needed you on the bridge'.

'Come on my new XO' he said immediately getting up from behind his desk scowling Bellamy followed him still no idea how he was going to avoid becoming XO.

'OK what have we got' the captain said gruffly as he and Bellamy entered the bridge and saw a reasonably size crowd gathered.

'Were picking up a distress call captain' Gina said in the canter of the crowed at the communications station.

'Really' the captain said sceptically.

'Yea' Bellamy added 'where are you picking it up from coming from'.

'Here' Gina said bringing up a map on the bridges main screen showing a red dote in the middle of several asteroids close together.

'That's way out of the shipping lanes' Ton said from where he was standing sounding concerned.

'Yea' Raven said joining in 'that has pirate bate written all over it'.

'What if it isn't' Gina said loudly sounding dismayed 'they could just me miners like us who went over the beaten track'.

'Come on Gina' Raven said with murmurs of people agreeing with her 'how likely is that'.

'It's still a possibility' Gina said bitterly 'if that was us wouldn't we won't someone to come for us' there were murmurs again of people agreeing with Gina but not as many.

'Alright' the captain said loudly calm down 'as it stands I think both your girls could be right'.

'So what do you want us to do' Gina said flippantly grumbling.

'Well I think this is something I happy with our new acting XO deciding' he said smiling looking in Bellamy's direction razing a hand drawing attention to him.

Bellamy glared at the captain as the looks of shock and admiration where shout his way Gina looking more shocked than he had ever seen here and Octavia giving a really disapproving look he would have to explain to her as soon as he could why he wasn't able to refuse this. 'What kind of transmitter is it' he sighed angrily after a few minutes tearing his eyes away from the captain to Gina who was still looking at his shocked but with a slight pleasure that was heart breaking for Bellamy he could tell she thought he had asked for to be XO not that he had effectively forced in to it.

'It's an older transmitter' she said after a few minutes turning back to her counsel 'consistent with the type you see in lower end ships' she said slowly 'sort of transmitter that gets put in as a replacement for an old or broken one'.

'O come on' Raven said loudly gesturing at Bellamy 'that has pirates written all over it we all know there ships are frown together out of scrap'.

'So is ours Raven' Gina spat clearly getting annoyed.

'You take that back' Raven said sounding offended.

'You know it's true' Gina said glaring at Raven.

'Girls' the captain said quickly firmly glaring at them both calm down they both glared at him but went silent 'well XO' he said after a minutes tens silence turning to Bellamy 'what is your decision'.

'It's too much or a risk' Bellamy said frowning looking right at Gina wishing he didn't have to do this 'the chances of it being a trap are just too high'.

'Bellamy' she said annoyed.

'XO Gina' the captain said grinning pointing at her 'now guys' he continued turning 'your heard the man get back to work' as everyone started moving around the bridge he walked straight towards Bellamy 'you looked like an XO there' he smiled at him and then walked away.

'Since when were you someone who caved under pressure' Gina said coldly that night as she opened her rooms door and saw Bellamy standing there.

'Be fair here Gina' he said meaningfully stepping in as she moved side and the closed the door behind him 'you know that was most likely pirate bate'.

'I don't know that and never do you' she snapped as Bellamy turned around to face her disapproving face.

'OK I don't' Bellamy nodded frowning 'but is it really worth the risk to you there are children on this ship I have to think of'.

'First' Gina said pursing her lips 'like I said on the bridge wouldn't you want someone to come if it was us second I thought you didn't want to be responsible that you didn't want to be XO'.

'Your farther didn't give me much of a choice on that one' Bellamy said flippantly 'and also about being responsible I have never once asked to be responsible but people keep making me responsible for some reason' he added sighting down on Gina's bunk feeling slightly defeated.

'What do you mean he didn't give you a choice' Gina asked her bough furrowing stepping forward distracted by this.

'O yea Gina' Bellamy said only now remembering he hadn't told her 'he knows about us he pressured me in to in his words try being XO for a week to see how it feels because of it'.

'How do you feel' she asked smiling sighting down next to him on her bunk.

'I don't really know' he sighed and that was actually the truth he couldn't tell Gina all of his reasons for being conflicted but he really didn't know how he felt about this.

'O Bellamy' Gina sighed laying her head on his shoulder smiling Bellamy raped an arm around her as they both just sat there quietly.

Unable to sleep Bellamy just lay next to a sleeping Gina staring at the top of her bunk and the pictures there, there were several different ones but two in particular drew his attention they always did when he found himself here unable to sleep the first a picture of the city sky line under the new Sydney dome the capital of the new Australia colony on mars always reminded him of fond memories of home. It's where his mouther had lived before she had been recruited for the project and she'd always told him nice stories about life there it was hard life in a colony like new Australia on Mars generally was but it was good and in the end that was what mattered it was the kind of life he wished he had.

The other was a picture taken of the sea from new York earth's capital Gina had no more seen the occasion than he had so this picture was something they could both enjoy he had been dealing with water rations his entire life so it really was incredible for him to think there could really be that much water on earth. Sighing as he thought about this Bellamy got up how could they pollute something so beautiful he thought as he eased past Gina deciding to give up on sleeping he driest slowly as not to wake her and then left.

Sighing again as he started walking Bellamy wondered what was like for Gina with that picture he had never seen an occasion but he had seen swimming pools on mars manmade lakes and rivers under the domes but she hadn't even had those experiences the most water she had ever seen was probably the tank at the centre of the ships rescaler system and it wasn't that big. Distracted by theses thought Bellamy almost walked in to the lift door as he came to it back away quickly he stared at the key pad next to the lifts doors and an idea accrued to him he turned it over in his mind for a second but deciding to go with it in the end he pressed the button.

Getting to the bridge Bellamy saw that Alex was on shift sighting at one of the stations staring at it screen absentmindedly 'hay Alex' he said walking up to him.

'Hay Bellamy' Alex said turning around 'or actually hay XO now'.

'You now Alex' he frowned 'I can't really sleep so how about I take the rest of your shift'.

'You sure' Alex said surprised his eye brows razing.

'Yea' Bellamy said forcing a smile 'I think so'.

'Alright' Alex smiled getting up 'you don't have to ask me twice'.

Bellamy waited until he was gone but once he was he walked straight over to the communications officers station Gina's when she was on a bridge shift sat down and started looking for the recording of destress call it didn't take him long to find it but once he did he paused it could mean anything he thought. So then what's the problem a little voice said in his head 'yea' he said under his breath clicking on the recorder in order to get it to play.

'Help me please help me' a woman's voice said 'my name in Nylah'.

Bellamy stopped it playing here 'dame it' he said under his breath almost growling sighing he highlighted the recording on the screen and dragged it in to a file ready for transmission to the elder counsel someone the captain couldn't say no to.

Well there we go that's it like I said anyone liking this please really should review and tell me because as it stands right now I probably won't be continue with this one.