Déjà Vu

The military had no solid evidence connecting Kail to the space pirates, so the loss of the prison key was labeled as an unfortunate accident. But that didn't change the fact that his reputation was in tatters.

The aftermath was brutal. Kail was stripped of his rank, kicked out of both the military and political circles for life.

If that wasn't enough, he was sentenced to fifty lashes—an old-school punishment reserved for the harshest of crimes.

The sentence was to be carried out in the execution room behind the military court. They stripped him down, leaving him completely exposed.

The whip they used was no ordinary weapon; it was specifically designed to bypass Peculiars' enhanced defenses. Each strike cut deep into his skin, showing no mercy.

Before long, his bronzed skin was crisscrossed with raw, angry welts. Blood oozed from the gashes, trickling down his legs and pooling on the cold stone floor.