Thread: Slaves of Mars Station Seven (Collector of Rarities x Rania Lark)

Caroline and Rebekah had been born second children to two different families in the mining caste. Both their fathers worked long hours in the mine on Mars so they were more absent than present for their families. Their mothers both worked up in the higher levels of Station Seven in food retail stores, regaling their families with tales of the opulence and luxury from up above, a place which they would never be a part of. Their families lived next door to each other in small apartments, barely big enough for two people let alone three or four. Since the girls were small children, they had been the best of friends sharing their secrets, sleepovers, playdates, birthday parties no matter how meagre. The two were inseparable as they grew up into lovely young women. Though the threat of slavery always loomed heavy over them and their families. Each year, the annual lottery would be held and both Caroline and Rebekahs names would be entered due to the order of their births. And every year after the tense hour, they would breathe a sigh of relief as others were chosen and dragged screaming from the housing units, their parents sobbing in despair as they children were brutally ripped from their arms. There were some as small as toddlers and others who were in their mid twenties. It didnt matter who you were or what age, every child past the first one was always put into the lottery. This year, the lottery came the day after Carolines twenty first birthday. The day had a distinct sombre air to it as both girls and their families knew they would be lined up with all the other children who were unfortunate enough to be born second or later and they would hold their breath with their families as the holographic names were projected above their heads in bold, red lettering. But the girls tried to be light hearted, for their families sake and the birthday party went off without a hitch. Then the fateful day came. Caroline and Rebekah were lined up along with about one hundred other children and adults of all shapes, sizes and ages. It seemed like forever as the best friends clutched each others hand tightly, terrified of the next hour as the warden prepared to display the unlucky names. Then they began. First, a boy named Tristan, who was a teenager, about sixteen years old but strong as an ox and it showed. He steeled his face as a woman in the crowd screamed in despair as her son was taken from her. A few more names were read and the tension rose in the room as more and more people were named. Some cried, others screamed. Most all of the parents collapsed in their spots as their children were not even permitted a goodbye before they were swept away through the sliding steel doors, separating them from the rest of the station. More names were called, more people taken away. Then Carolines name was displayed across the screen. Immediately, Rebekah grabbed hold of her best friend as Caroline burst into tears. Rebekah pressed her head against her friends forehead, whispering words of encouragement as the other girl cried in both fear and sadness. Im not going to let them take you, Rebekah whispered as the guards made their way down the line towards the two girls, They wont take either of us. Right after she said that, Rebekah, immediately took Carolines hand and began to run into the crowd pushing her way through the people, in a desperate attempt at escape. Caroline, regaining her composure and a small measure of strength out of desperation followed her friend. But it was no use. The guards caught up to them quickly and, tossing the struggling and screaming girls up over their shoulders, they left their parents on their knees in the crowd as they were ripped away from their lives, only a life of slavery awaiting them beyond the cold, steel doors.