She knew something had changed when she awoke but couldn't define the difference until she wandered into the hanger. The Yeter was exercising, as he often did in the ship's arbitrary morning. He moved in graceful steps and fluid gestures that reminded Beth of Taijiquan, alternating with rapid series of punches like a shadow boxer.

    She watched and sipped the cylinder of water. Her eyes wandered to the open portal and the changing pattern of stars, lost in aimless thoughts. She gradually realized the Yeter had stopped in his routine to watch her and Beth prepared for his newest abuse. He didn't move toward her, standing silently but wearing that hateful smirk. A novel and creative trick would follow when he looked at her that way. Well, she couldn't avoid whatever he'd planned, and her eyes glided back to the unfamiliar configurations outside.

    The cylinder sounded like a bell as it struck the floor. The hunter warded her blows, grunting when she passed his guard, time after time. The hot tears in her eyes caused her eventual defeat, blinding her, allowing him to grasp both wrists and twist, using her arms as a straightjacket. She wrenched violently and screamed but, once caught, the fight was over. Her frenzied strength ebbed with each frustrated sob.

    Beth ignored the prohibition and cried out, “You promised, you promised!” She crumpled in the vise-like embrace.

    His panted breaths betrayed his effort to subdue her. Later, that would be a scant solace but for the moment she filed away the information without further reflection.

    “I promised you'd live. Not that I'd return you.” He licked the mixture of sweat and tears from her neck. His erection burned like a brand on her thigh.

    He turned slightly so she could watch the gas giant race by. Not Jupiter, not Saturn. Maybe Neptune, she thought. Maybe not even her Solar System. The stars turned from blue to red as they shifted from one side of the opening to the other. She watched as the celestial stream flowed unbroken, ignoring the Yeter as his insatiable appetite drove him deep into her. She let her mind slip away, not caring if he punished her for her inattention and non-response.

    For the first time, Beth considered suicide as a viable solution.