Rene had departed with the Inyorin and Solae stood at the entrance to the Amber Horizon's spaceship listlessly. Her fingers were curled around the heavy pistol that hung at her side, the cool metal touching her hip, and she stared where he had disappeared through the trees. Gone was the enchanting warmth of the kiss he had planted on her lips.

Truth be told she was not a fan of the plan to rescue the Syshin. The marquise had more empathy for them than most, especially this community, but she also understood the great risk it posed to Rene. She feverishly wanted to believe he was invincible. If Solae convinced herself that the circumstances surrounding the 'Rat Trap' and his escape was an act of destiny rather than luck she could rest easy that she had not seen him alive for the last time. A shiver trailed down her spine as she shook her head and chased away morbid thoughts. This was something Rene could handle or else he would have asked for more Syshin to accompany him. That Rene was divinely blessed and protected was not something she could force herself to believe, but she had faith in him as a soldier and lover. He would return to her.

[i]"You wait here?"[/i] Enro asked. His face was creased in an expression that Solae did not understand implicitly. Her strong suspicion was that he was either perplexed or concerned.

[i]"I want to be the first to see them come back,"[/i] she confessed a bit shamefully. Enro paused and then nodded in understanding. While humans and Syshin had their differences, the bonds that kept their societies intact were not dissimilar. The clear devotion that Rene and Solae had towards each other (and the vulnerability they possessed because of it) had done much to persuade the Syshin to trust them with their home.

[i]"I must seal the door in case they fail,"[/i] the older male Syshin told her. Solae dipped her head in acknowledgment and stepped outside onto the grass. The smooth metal slid into place and hissed shut as safeties of the spaceship were engaged. Most of these decommissioned vessels were gutted but hull integrity was typically not one of them. Rebels and degenerates of New Concordia would not be able to penetrate the thick outer shell without heavy machinery.

For several minutes she stood alone listening for the sounds of combat. Rene and the Inyorin were probably too far away for her to hear but she strained for any sound that might confirm where he was or give clues as to what was transpiring. Instead of gunfire Solae heard rustling and the sounds of boots on underbrush to the east. She crouched down instinctively as she glanced around wildly. Her heart thudded in her chest and temporarily drowned out even the calls of nighttime insects in the trees. Fortunately the three slavers were not even attempting to conceal themselves. Each had a large rifle slung over a shoulder and strode confidently towards the spaceship with malevolent purpose. The tallest of the trio was carrying a rectangular box stamped with military insignia either smuggled or taken from the massacre Rene had barely survived.

Solae had proposed leading the attackers away not even an hour ago. To not do so now would be making herself a liar and disappointing her hosts and beau alike. Steeling herself with what little courage she had she bolted away from Amber Horizon Encampment and back towards the train tracks if only because she was familiar enough with them to know where they led. Running in a direct line made it a direct contest of speed she could not hope to win. She strafed to one side and the other, breath ragged with rising panic and exertion, as she turned to look over her shoulder. All three were giving chase with wild eyes that invoked more terror than she had felt since watching the life drain out of Marlene's gaping wound.

The weight of the pistol made her realize she was still clinging to it tightly. Rene would expect her to at least [i]attempt[/i] a shot to slow them down or scare them off. She did not judge him nor any other soldier for taking the lives of others, but she the knot in the pit of her stomach told her she could not do it herself- not yet. Taking a life would change her until the end of days. It was a line that she had to be absolutely certain she was ready to cross because the trauma was not insignificant. Men and women came back from service [i]changed[/i] in ways words could not express. Some of them could never cope with what they had done even in the most impossible circumstances and they broke. The Stellar Empire tried to suppress the news but everyone from the highborn scions to the completely destitute knew suicide among the discharged was not uncommon.

Although she had been genetically engineered for various forms of superiority, she could not compete with the athleticism and natural strength of a man's physique. One of the slavers, a burly man at least ten years her senior and with a full thick beard, grabbed hold of her arm mid-stride. Her leg buckled as she was yanked backwards and the angle, as well as momentum, saw her slam into the ground on the side of her sutured hip. The pistol went flying out of her hand and clanged as it bounced away. Pain coursed through her as blood oozed from the injury. Solae screamed as she found herself captured and the agony of the impact made her gasp for breath.

"Well well, if it isn't Solae Falia, the most wanted woman on New Concordia," the larger man mocked as he licked his lips. He made a motion for his comrades to pin down her arms which they did so obligingly. All three eyed her like hungry wolves as they let their gazes slide over her torso. The bounty had been posted all over the planet but had failed to capture exactly how appealing the modified noblewoman looked.

"What was she doing near Amber Horizon?" the slightly smaller, stocky man asked.

"Who cares? Let's do her now," the tallest one said as he dropped the rectangular box on the ground. It landed with a loud thud that indicated the machinery contained within was incredibly heavy. "Duke wants her alive, but didn't say we couldn't have fun first," he stated as he tried to convince the other two. The other that held her arm hooked his fingers into his waistband in anticipation of being allowed to have their way with her. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity regardless of the monetary award.

"No, we stick to the plan. Once we get back to the plantation we can fuck her," the largest man announced. Solae realized from the authority in his voice he was in charge of this operation. He had sat down on her legs and covered her mouth with one hand as he drew a syringe from his belt with the other. They had come to Amber Horizon Encampment because there was a window of opportunity their greed would not let them ignore. As one form of government crumbled and another poised to take its place there was a brief period of anarchy. No one would be watching or prepared to stop them- so they could take females (and occasionally males) from the surrounding areas to sell on an open market. Syshin were the easiest target but they had also managed to reap a few young adult children from lords and ladies that were slaughtered in the initial attack. Solae would be a prize that catapulted them to unknown riches but their avarice knew no bounds. They would take all they could while they could.

Solae thrashed as all the horrors she imagined had began to become reality. She was no match for the slavers, one of whom laughed at her futile efforts. The leader of the group took his syringe and plunged it into her exposed flesh as he pushed a translucent liquid into her bloodstream. He gestured to his companions who abruptly let her go, but she realized belatedly this was not an opportunity to escape. Her limbs felt like lead and creeping inky mist clouded her peripheral vision as a crushing weight spread throughout. She thought she heard cursing above her but the sound was muddled by the drug that spread like wildfire as it snuffed out every nerve with reckless abandon. It was quick-acting, something meant to render their victims unconscious for easier transport, and Solae could not fight the strong dose that had just been administered.

Sprawled on the edges of the abandoned railroad she succumbed to its effects. A dark stain was painting her battered side as her pants, albeit tight, were not able to stanch the flow entirely. Her golden hair had been half torn out of its ponytail when she had been writing in overwhelming panic and despair. The tangled strands stood testament, if nothing else, that even when she was faced with odds she could not win against she had not submitted.