Aunt Rachel’s wasn’t a place for nice clothes, but nice clothes did a lot to give that inner voice a little less ammunition. So did being showered, so did having her hair perfect. There were dogs milling around, the occasional dog barking, and signs of horses. There were people pulling together with unloading trucks and getting temporary shelter up.

It was funny, but Aunt Rachel’s had been one of the further-flung settlements, for a certain type of person with certain skills and tolerances. Now it was expanding. Thirty thousand people in all, and they were people content to stay on Gimel, to be cape-adjacent.

She navigated the winding path down the hill.

Rain was out there, talking to someone, and it didn’t look like he had backup. Beside him was the greenhouse they were building, using the glass they’d collected while scavenging.

She didn’t recognize the person Rain was talking to. He looked like a lawyer, old, wearing a suit with muddy doggie footprints on it, from an enthusiastic greeting.

She tensed as she saw the others. People in Patrol uniforms, geared up for a fight. Light power armor, laser rifles. They didn’t look like they were planning to shoot, so the situation wasn’t tense.

But it was still strangers, still weapons, still battle-readiness.

She was halfway to him, when she saw Cassie in the stable. Cassie beckoned.

She entered, and saw that Aunt Rachel was there too, as were Lily and Sabah.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice quiet.

Lily’s expression was sad. Cassie looked worried.

“He’s leaving?” Chastity asked.

Lily explained, “It’s someone from the legal system. They have a prison. They’re checking on some of the people who didn’t accept the sleeping death for humanity’s benefit—”

“What? But Rain—”

“—and the escaped prisoners, from when the prison was opened. Deciding on a case-by-case basis what they’re going to do.”

Chastity looked, studying Rain from a distance.

He looked… happy. Or maybe that was the wrong word. Relieved. Like a weight had been lifted. He looked a year younger, almost.

He wanted this. It weighed on him all the time, and now he wanted to go to jail, to atone.

Stop them. Say something.

She took Cassie’s hand, and squeezed it, hard.

He’s good to you, Chastity. He’s one of the only people who is.

Rain nodded, the smile dropping away. His expression was so serious.

The soldiers in armor approached. One pulled out a set of handcuffs.

You can hook him in. Give him your virginity. Play on his natural heroism. You can do something. Anything. Before he leaves and becomes someone entirely different.

I have to be good to him too. I have to let him go.

A hand settled on Chastity’s head, and she flinched. Her hair, which she’d just gotten right…