<snip>

He nodded and led her out of the alley and then said =/\= Computer, move location to Kane Mark Six =/\= The scene shimmered and then snapped back into clarity. They were standing in a very beautiful park. Flanking the green space were spiraling, gold and silver towers… they were in the elite section of New Detroit. Kane looked around and said “This way.” He led towards a road and looked around before setting off again. His movements here were not like they had been previously. In the slums and sprawl they started in, his steps were sure and he simply moved through the claustrophobic oppression as if he was born to it… because he was. Here, however, his steps were less assured. He paid more attention to landmarks and paused to get his bearings from time to time. A few minutes later they found themselves in front of a tall, luxurious building. A gold sign above the door read ‘Halcyon Spires - Tower 3’. Outside of the front door stood two large Orions in suits.

Kane

This part of the city felt even more off than the rest. It seemed even more out of sync, but in a way that was very subtle and made one paranoid. She looked at the two Orions and stood closer to him, some instinct perhaps. She glanced around again, “This place feels more dangerous than the slums and brutal violence.” Maybe it was just the way Solomin didn’t move so effortlessly through here.

Lt. Cmdr. Kane, AMO

Kane nodded. “It is. Back there, they’ll just beat you or kill you, but its survival. Here? Here they will use you… they kill you slowly… and they will enjoy it. Revel in it. Hell, one of the most popular past times here was betting on how long it would take you to drive someone to kill themselves. Bonus points for style doing it.” He looked away from the building and looked at Alecis. “That’s how a few of the people in this building made and kept their fortunes.”

Kane

It was awful and beyond cruel. This must be where the syndicate was, or where they ‘owned’ him. He was young when that happened, or Alexis thought he had been. “Did they try to do that you?”

Lt. Cmdr. Kane, AMO

Kane chuckled and looked at the building. “Only once. I think it cost someone over a thousand credits.” and he looked back at Alexis. “And two fingers when I found out who made the bet.” He winked and then led her inside.

Kane

Alexis knew Solomon had a violent side, born of a need to survive. She’d seen it, but it never bothered her, and despite what others might think, it was never to excess. Enough to make his point and make sure it wasn’t forgotten. He was different here though. There was new sharper edge to him, or really, probably one she’d just never seen before, brought about by the place and the memories. She followed him inside, the guards, like everything else, completely ignoring her.

Lt. Cmdr. Kane, AMO

Kane led her inside to a well-appointed lobby. The contrast between this area and the place they began was so drastic it was nauseating. Where before they were stepping over bodies in stairwells and on the street; here was impeccably clean and smelled softly of flowers and fresh air. The people walking around were well-dressed and seemed to not have a care in the world. But even here, the cruelty of this New Detroit was visible if one looked. A janitor with a fresh black eye. A doorman who was pushed forcibly to side to make way for a baby stroller. The receptionist trying so hard to smile through the degrading come-on of the much older human man. Those who had, had. And those that didn’t, even in this area of cleanliness and seemingly peaceful atmosphere, lived with a fear that showed constantly in their eyes.

Kane led her through the lobby of the tower and to the lifts. Wordlessly, he pushed the button for the penthouse. As they rose up the outside of the building, the view was only of the City Center and all it’s lights and sun and sky. When the lift stopped, they were almost a hundred stories up. The doors opened onto an almost palatial room. Comfort and luxury were the themes, and it showed everywhere. And there, seated in the middle of the scene, were two Orion women. Kane’s jaw involuntarily clenched at the sight of them. “Dravilla and Shaen.” and he looked at Alexis. “They are the ones who bought me.”

Kane

There was an emotion that Alexis wasn’t familiar with - rage. And a desire to protect him from the nightmare that he was facing. She quietly slipped an arm around his waist, for just a moment to hold him to her. She studied the two women. They were beautiful, gorgeous in fact. Their bodies screamed of pleasure and things that would even make them blush. It was obvious and if one looked long enough, it was repulsive. “They died when the building collapsed.”

Alexis

“They did.” Kane said flatly. “Shaen’s body was found. They only found a third of Dravilla’s torso.” Kane stared at the two green-skinned women. “These two…” and he shook his head and looked at the floor, “… these two taught me a lot, I’ll give them that. None of it was anything a kid should know; but it’s served me well after I got out of New Detroit.”

Kane