Anna tugged on her bonds again but the hissing constraints only snapped at her, shocking her with the residual electricity. She cried out, shouting out her frustration, and slumped back against the wall. Another tug was out of the question since there was nothing she could do.

The door opened and Anna tried to stand. The restraints pulled tight, yanking Anna's arms behind her, but she managed to get to her feet as Carlisle entered. He stopped in front of her, clasping his hands behind his back.

"You've gotten yourself into a bit of trouble Ms. Smith."

"It's Mrs. Bates."

"That's right," Carlisle shook his finger at her, pacing her cell as if she were a child getting a reprimand from the headmaster. "Your local priest buried the records deep in the system."

"It wasn't a priest."

Carlisle stopped, "Excuse me?"

"I'm not Catholic."

"Your husband is."

"He's not practicing." Anna shrugged, "To each their own in terms of religious observance."

"Yes." Carlisle snapped his fingers, "But the peculiar part, about those records, is that someone else dug them up recently."

"Someone did tell me as much." Anna squinted one eye as she tried to remember. "I don't remember when it was. The days are all blending together for me now so I couldn't say exactly what day but a member of the RA apparently went fishing in your government records… which doesn't fill me with an overt sense of confidence that the system is so easily hacked anyone can find anything in there."

"You've got a temper to you."

"I've got a business to run very far from here and I'd like to get back to it as soon as I'm able."

"Back to your son, you mean?" Carlisle's lips curled up and Anna bit down on her back teeth to restrain herself from reacting. "Yes, I thought as much. Though your local doctor was almost as qualified as your… pastor, in hiding the records of marriage."

"The best ways through the system are around it."

"I'll add it to the list of charges we've drawn up for you."

"Being in the wrong place at the wrong time one of those?"

Carlisle laughed, "I don't think that's something you can claim now Mrs. Bates."

"Can't I?" Anna adjusted against the strain on her shoulders, "Our ship suffered a mechanical malfunction and those smugglers picked us up. Whatever you found there was just the two of us as victims of circumstance."

"In this instance, there's a possibility we simply got lucky in your capture. However, as you well know, your husband is a known antagonizer of the government and there are warrants out for his arrest."

"Taking is leg wasn't enough for you?"

"It wasn't enough for him." Carlisle paused, "Just as you didn't seem to be enough for him either."

"I'm sorry?"

"Think about it, Mrs. Bates," Carlisle stopped in front of her, mouth widening in his sneer. "He had you, he had a son, he had a choice to slip into the shadows on your little backwater of a planet and instead he chose to keep fighting his idiotic fight. Which, to me, suggests marrying you wasn't enough for him to give up what will cost you both your lives."

He tipped his head sideways, "What do you say to that, Mrs. Bates?"

"I live on a moon, not a planet."

"You've nothing else to say?"

"Not without a solicitor present."

"We don't provide solicitors or lawyers to the residents of Wonderland."

"Or medical treatment, I take it." Anna retreated a step toward the wall, sighing slightly when the motion eased the pain in her shoulders. "I saw the tapes just like everyone else in the galaxy."

"You mean the forged tapes?"

Anna snorted, "I do hope that's loyalty speaking and not ignorance."

"Can you say your treatment, here, has been anything like those tapes?"

She shrugged, "Not yet but there's still time. And, if we're both being honest, we know that it's my husband who has all the information so I think he could tell the both of us more about the validity of those tapes."

"Your husband's been our guest here before."

"I always wondered what mad house took his leg the first time. I knew the proprietor but not the location." Anna paused, "Is that why you're holding us? To impress his ex-wife?"

Carlisle shuffled, "I'm an agent loyal to my government."

"You're her lapdog and don't deny it." Anna laughed, "It'd almost be a comedy if it wasn't so tragic."

"And you wouldn't laugh at all if you knew what Vera Bates could do to you, what she will do once she returns."

"Where is she?"

Carlisle shook his head, "It's not for the likes of us to know where Madame Boron goes when she's in service to our government."

"I'm sure that level of ignorance is practiced in the event someone decides to put you on trial when the government falls and you're taken in for war crimes."

"There's no war here, Mrs. Bates."

"But there is, Mr. Carlisle. It's a war against humanity and it might surprise you to know that humanity is fighting back." Anna settled, dropping against the wall to the relaxation of her shoulders. "I've got nothing more to say."

"You will." Carlisle walked back to the door, "Insurgents at Wonderland always do."

"Do you always deny them a trial once you've arrested them too or just wait until they'll tell you whatever you want to know?"

"I honestly don't know." Carlisle stopped, waiting a moment before pivoting to look back at her. "How's that for my defense should you're pathetic little revolution ever decide they're going to put me on trial?"

"Enough to have them brand something on your forehead before sending you back to the world."

The door shut and Anna leaned back against the wall. She hung her head as she pulled her knees closer to her chest. Resting her head on her knees she focused on her breathing and tried to fall asleep.

A loud bang woke her and Anna grimaced, the strain on her neck sparking. She leaned back, stretching her neck, and blinked at the figure coming through the door. Her face moved to a frown at the woman in front of her.

"My name is Edith Pelham and I'm here to ask you a few questions."

"Edith?" Anna moved her legs under her body, cringing when the pins and needles sent shocks up her system. "Are you my lawyer?"

"That's what they think." Edith took a seat in front of Anna. "I'm here because I've got a bit of information for you."

"What kind of information?"

"Jack is alright. Mary says he's an absolute darling."

Anna took a deep breath, closing her eyes. "How long have I been gone Edith?"

"It's been a month."

"A month?"

"From the day you were kidnapped to this moment it's been a month on Plutonium." Edith shifted, "Jack's fine but I can record something for him if you're up for it."

"Please." Anna adjusted her position as Edith pulled a small camera from her pocket. With a nod from Edith Anna swallowed and began. "Hello Jack. It's Mummy. Daddy's close by and he wants you to know how much he loves you. We're coming home to you soon but we've had a run of bad luck. I'm so sorry we're not there with you and that we went away but we're hurrying back as soon as we can. I promise Jack. We love you so much and we're coming home to you."

Anna's voice choked up and she shook her head. Edith nodded, tucking the camera away. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make that too painful."

"It's fine, it's just-" Anna tried to wipe at her eyes but the restraints stopped her. Edith reached over, removing the restraints, and allowed Anna the use of her arms again. "I've been away from my boy for too long."

"And it might be longer I'm afraid." Edith looked down and then back up at Anna. "We're working very closely with Mr. Napier, Mr. Gillingham, and Mr. Blake but they're still struggling against the government body."

"What are they trying to do?"

"They're working with my father, actually, and they're having a time of it trying to convince the main Parliament to take the outer territories seriously."

"They never really do." Anna rubbed at her wrists. "Do you know what they've done with my husband?"

"He's a few doors down." Edith shook her head, "They won't let anyone see him. We can't get any of our agents in and, what I've heard…"

"Edith," Anna put a hand out, "Please tell me what they've done to my husband."

"I think they're trying to torture him and there's nothing we can do."

Anna rested her head back on the wall, closing her eyes a moment. "Do you know what they're doing?"

"No." Anna cracked her eyes open to see Edith shaking her head. "We've got no access to the cameras. We've been trying to shut this place down for ages but we can't get grounds."

"Then just burn this place down." Anna held up a hand, "I'm sorry. That wasn't called for."

"You're not wrong." Edith checked her pocket watch. "I've only got another minute before they pull me out of here but just keep your chin up. I promise, we'll find a way to get you and Mr. Bates free."

"Will he be losing another leg?"

"I honestly don't know." Edith stood, "I'm sorry Anna, for all of this, but I know we're doing all we can."

Anna went to put her hands in her lap but Edith pointed to the restraints. Anna lifted her hands again and Edith reattached them. "I'm sorry."

"I understand."

Edith finished and stepped back, "I'll get this information to Mary. I promise Jack'll know you miss him."

"I hope so." Anna jumped a little when the door shut. "I hope so."