Rave fell to his seat in disbelief as the panel left the room. Just like that, his military career was gone, like so much smoke. Most would think that was the worst thing, but it wasn't. The worst was Rave's lover, Kain, couldn't be found.

A hand landed on his shoulder. He turned, hoping to see Kain. His stomach sank when he saw his friend, Sela instead.

"It's no use, Rave. It's as if he's disappeared. His parents don't know where he is, either. I'm sorry."

He rested his head in his hands. "I can't believe it, Sela. He's out there, somewhere, hurt. He'd be here if he was able."

Rave looked up at Sela and saw the guards approaching behind her.

"I'll do what I can to find him, Rave."

He gave a sharp nod and turned to follow the guards to the pod waiting to take him to Devil's Island, his thoughts in turmoil. How would he survive the next thirty days? Being in the military put a target on his back and Devil's Island was one of the worst prison colonies in the universe. His heart ached at the thought of Kain, alone and hurt while he could do nothing about it. Nothing really mattered if Kain wasn't safe. The guard shoved him into the craft and shackled him to the seat.

After the criminals were processed, the ship started the journey to Devil's Island.

"Hey, you's that military thief? Yep, you is. You's the guy whose got fucked up the ass, but then, I hear ya like that, don't ya?" The passenger beside him snickered. "I'm sure you'll get plenty of action on DI."

Rave leaned over and yanked him close enough that Rave could smell the man's putrid breath. "Shut the fuck up."

"No need to gets with the rough stuff. I ain't after that pretty ass," the man mumbled as Rave shoved him back into his seat.

Rave closed his eyes to block out the upcoming nightmare. He had two hours to devise a plan that would keep him from getting killed while being detained. He had a lover to find.

One step at a time.

His thoughts drifted. What had happened?

That question played over and over in his mind. One minute, Kain had left the ship. The next, the Alliance had boarded the ship and arrested Rave. Two days before the ship docked, the crew had conducted an inventory and those government boxes hadn't been there. The Alliance had shown up, and suddenly, there the boxes had sat, pretty as you please. Something wasn't adding up.

Rave didn't do suspicion. He placed his faith in all his crew and expected their trust in return. Kain had never given him a reason not to trust him. Hell, Rave loved the man. He couldn't love a traitor, could he?

Focus, Damn it! Worry about now.

The force of take off glued him to the seat. He swallowed then bit his lip. He wasn't prepared, not really. All the training in the world couldn't prepare a person for a prison colony--an open world full of the worst criminals in the universe. He couldn't figure out why the Alliance wanted to send him to a high security planet. He should have been shipped off to one of the minimum security colonies.

When the flight smoothed out, Rave forced himself to relax. He had to get some sleep. He wouldn't get much on DI. Rave prayed he would wake from this nightmare, wrapped in the comfort of Kain arms, ready for their morning romp.

Kain, where are you?