Carla felt like she was walking through a thick fog on a cold morning, she could barely make out the figures around her, sounds were muffled and she couldn't distinguish the smells that assaulted her senses. Her last clear memory was of her and Kusa Sarraf leaving his freighter, from that point on it was a blur.

She was certain that she was under the influence of something, what, she didn't know. She had felt wrenching and pulling, her clothes being removed and her body being felt by hands that weren't her own. In a state of panic she had pulled away and lashed out, a dull throbbing pain emanating from the back of her neck the only indication that her retaliation hadn't been appreciated. In the end, she hadn't been able to speak or react, she remembered being scared, wanting to fight back but being unable to do so.

So in that moment, as she became faintly aware that she was stood in front of a large heckling crowd all she wanted to do was run and scream, to fight, to do something. Because being able to do nothing was the most terrifying part of it all.

"We'll start the bidding at two thousand!" The sound of a man's voice permeated the fog in her head, she couldn't work out what was happening but felt someone tug at the chain that was fastened to her neck, pulling her around in a small circle as if she was a show pony at a state fair.

"Two thousand." Came a reply from the crowd.

"Three!"

"Three and a half!" Carla's vision cleared a bit as the minutes went by; evidently whatever they had given her to keep her subdued was beginning to wear off. She tried not to panic, to keep her movements lethargic. If she had any chance of escaping this was her only opportunity. She kept her eyes down, she desperately wanted to look around the room, who was there? Where were the exits? How many people would she have to get through? She wondered if McCoy had made it. Had he followed her and been killed already? Did he even know where she was? She could feel the panic rise in her chest, taking a few deep breaths she tried to get her emotions under control.

"Can we try before we buy!?" A person in the crowd heckled the auctioneer, the crowd laughed and jeered.

"Not this time I'm afraid, this lot is non-refundable." The auctioneer replied jovially, leering at Carla himself as he spoke.

"Five thousand."

"Six."

"Seven."

"Ten." The audience fell silent, a few low whistles could be heard from the back of the room.

"We have a bid of ten thousand! Still a steal for this one I can assure you. Do we have any advance on ten?" Carla's breath got caught in her throat, she dared to peer around the room. The first face she spotted was Kusa Sarraf's, he was sat with a huge smile on his face, rubbing his hands together in glee. She wanted to jump over the tables and strangle him, slit his throat...anything. She felt sick to her stomach.

"Going once." Her heart was beating out of her chest, she found herself backing away from the crowd and the hands that were clawing at her ankles.

"Going twice." The man holding her chain pulled it so hard she lost her balance, stumbling she felt herself falling into the crowd, a barrage of hands pulled at her and the crowd began to laugh and holler. She tried to pull herself up, the chain around her neck tightened and pulled her back but not before someone pulled at the thin fabric covering her frame. It tore away and scattered around her waist, she fought the urge to cover herself up with her arms and hands, knowing she was still supposed to be listless and unaware. So she allowed the strangers to assault her, closing her eyes and wishing she was anywhere else.

"Ten thousand! SOLD!" Carla felt the man tug at the chain again, this time pulling her off the platform and into a back room. Attaching the chain to the latch he pushed her against the wall silently, then sniggering he pressed his body against hers, his evident arousal apparent against her leg. She was taller than he was, and as he buried his head into her neck Carla closed her eyes and tried to disassociate herself with reality.

Other men and women, in a similar state to her were stood waiting and watching. She wondered how long she'd have to wait, how long would it be before her 'owner' appeared and took her away. Would he treat her the same way as she was being treated now? She looked around, people were being led away, others were unconscious on the floor. She saw the door open and close, the auctioneer, a hideous looking man, walked through followed closely by a man whose face was covered by a large dark scarf. They were walking towards her.

"Trent, quit it! That one's sold you know that." The way he rolled his eyes and exhaled wearily told Carla that the man's actions weren't uncommon. Trent ignored the feeble protest from the auctioneer and continued to touch Carla, her neck, her breasts, her hips. His hand was still moving violently between her legs, his fingers invading her in a way that she knew would give her nightmares. Even in that moment, she knew there would be nightmares. Until the man stood next to the auctioneer bounded forward and with a heavy, strong hand pulled him away from her. She thanked him silently for the small mercy. A large knife was at Trent's throat in a flash, the stranger pushing it into the soft skin.

"Hey man! No harm done." Trent laughed nervously, obviously seeing something in the man's eyes that scared him. The auctioneer placed himself between the pair, ushering Trent away.

"I think you'll be very happy Mister…?"

"Garzo."

"Mister Garzo, yes, I think you'll be very happy. I know I would." The auctioneer stood in front of Carla and lifted her head by placing his fingers under her chin. She allowed him to turn her head from side to side, the back of his hand slid down her neck and across her chest. She couldn't take anymore, she leapt towards him, the chain snapping taut and the cuff cutting the skin around her neck, blood trickled down over her collar bones.

"Don't touch me you piece of shit!" She shouted at him.

"Silence! Or I'll get Trent over there to teach you a listen."

"When can I take her?" The man asked gruffly, interrupting the altercation and taking the attention away from Carla.

"Somebody's in a hurry." The auctioneer laughed as if nothing had happened and answered that they simply had to complete the financial transaction first.

"Credit alright?"

"Of course, please come this way." Carla noticed the buyer seem to hesitate, peering up through her eyelashes she looked into his eyes for the first time. It was him! It was Leonard! He seemed to realise that she had recognised him, not saying anything he quickly followed the auctioneer. Carla stared after him, the feeling of relief being almost too much to bear. It felt like a lifetime before McCoy returned, this time she kept her eyes down not wanting to risk their escape.

"Here's the code for the cuff." The auctioneer handed McCoy a small PADD. "And your receipt." McCoy nodded silently, he inputted the code and released the cuff around Carla's neck. "I wouldn't advise that Mister Garzo, apparently this one has a bit of fight in her."

"I've paid you haven't I? She's mine to do with as I wish isn't she?" McCoy loomed over the auctioneer, he was losing his patience very quickly.

"Of course, of course. If you don't mind me saying Mister Garzo, I haven't seen you around here before, should we be expecting your business again?"

"Perhaps." McCoy responded abruptly.

"Excellent, excellent. Well, it was a pleasure doing business with you Mister Garzo, this one comes from my best procurer. There's more where she came from." Carla felt McCoy's hand grasp her upper arm and pull her away, walking behind McCoy she allowed him to lead her out of the room. She didn't dare say anything or look up, neither did McCoy it seemed because he hadn't looked back at her once.

They made their way out onto the promenade and Carla's arms instinctively went up to cover herself, she shivered against the cool air and recoiled when the crowd jostled around her.

"Hang in there Cece." It was the first time McCoy had spoken to her and Carla felt like bursting out crying then and there. He continued to walk a little further down the promenade and then stopping and turning, he placed his arm around her waist and pulled her to one side. Pulling up the material from around her McCoy tied it around her neck. "Are you okay?" He asked her as he checked her eyes and took her pulse.

"No." She answered helplessly.

"Did they give you something?" Carla closed her eyes, suddenly feeling dizzy. McCoy's hands were running through her hair, checking for injuries she presumed.

"I think so, yes." She answered numbly.

"What do you remember?"

"Nothing, I remember nothing." Carla opened her eyes, she could feel herself begin to panic again. "Leonard!" She didn't know what else to day, her heart was racing. She didn't know whether it was as a result of whatever they had given her or the fact that Leonard had saved her.

"Hey, it's alright. You're okay Cece." McCoy enveloped her in his arms, pulling her head into the crook of his neck. His left hand rubbed her back gently, while his right stroked her hair. "We need to get out of here Cece." He whispered into her hair.

"How?" She asked tiredly.

"We're going to steal Kusa Sarraf's ship." He answered determinedly. "Do you still feel sick?" Carla nodded her head. "Alright, it's nearly over okay. Let's go, just follow me like…"

"You're my owner?" Carla looked into his eyes, she could see the anger. McCoy nodded sympathetically and then pulled her back into the crowd.