Time seemed to pass slowly as Starlight wiled away in her cell. She got visits from her mom, in disguise of course since Aisha was still supposed to be legally dead. It helped her know just how much was changing. Their old home in the Row was gone, the entire area renovated by the newly rising Ultor corporation. Instead Aisha had moved into a new home in Misty Lane, ready for Johnny and Starlight to move in if by some miracle they ever got out. Which would be difficult as Starlight had a life sentence while Johnny was on death row. But Aisha wasn't Starlight's only visitor.

"For the last time," Starlight said, "I don't care how much of my sentence you're willing to shave off, Dane. I'm not gonna become a human guinea pig." Dane Vogel was the Director of Special Projects for Ultor, and had taken an interest in Starlight's special telekinetic powers. The Board of Directors was also interested, and asked Dane to liaison with Starlight in an effort to gain control of those powers.

"I can understand your misgivings," Dane assured her, "But with the rise of the three new gangs causing havoc in Stilwater, the board wants a new soldier for the fight." Starlight scoffed. "You don't want a soldier, you want a weapon." "The board wants a weapon," Dane clarified, "But for my plan to work, I need a warrior." Starlight glared at him. "Why do you care what happens to the gangs anyway?," she asked, "Aren't you pitting them against each other? You even have a deal going on with the Ronin."

Despite Julius' last words to Playa, it seemed gang violence had risen once again. Three new gangs, the Sons of Samedi, the Brotherhood, and the Ronin. Dane sighed at Starlight's words and nodded. "And I'd be lying if I said that arrangement hasn't been profitable for Ultor. But no business ever lasted long by thinking only about the bottom line, and my estimate is that the escalating gang violence will be bad for Ultor in the long run. My plans for a rebuilt city will be meaningless if no one's left alive to live in it. I need someone who specializes in dismantling such gangs."

"So you need the Saints," Starlight noted, "After all, I can't exactly do it without a crew behind me. And with Julius missing and Playa..." She grew quiet. Sensing her sadness, Dane said, "Actually, Playa was retrieved from the river where the Alderman's yacht exploded, alive but comatose." Starlight perked up upon hearing that. "Where is he now?" "In the medical wing of this penitentiary," Dane explained, "Chief Bradshaw insisted he be kept on life-support, certain he would wake up again."

"All the more reason I stay here," Starlight said, "So Playa will see a friendly face when that happens." Dane sighed. "If you insist. So long as Stilwater still has its population and infrastructure when the dust settles. And once its done, I hope the Saints will be willing to accept Ultor's business arrangement in place of the Ronin." "One step at a time there, Dane," Starlight replied. She then realized something. "I just realized, you mentioned Bradshaw. Would that be Troy Bradshaw?"

"Yes in fact," Dane replied, "He was promoted to chief of police due to the death of Monroe and in light of his efforts to clean up Stilwater after the Saints' dissolution." He got up. "I hope the next time we meet, it won't be inside a holding cell." Starlight nodded. Dane had seemed to consider some things about himself after Starlight noted his personal theme song, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears, was made to mock people like Dane. She smirked at the thought of Dane changing just because of that, though he was an intelligent and calculating man.

Some months later, Starlight got a surprise in the form of a new cellmate. She raised an eyebrow when she learned it was a Latino man. "Isn't it dangerous to have co-ed cellmates?" "Don't worry," the guard said, "He's our most well-behaved inmate. Besides, if anything I'm more worried what you'll do to him than the other way around. You two behave now." The cell was locked, and the Latino sat down on the opposite bunk. "So," he said, "Are you really Starlight Glimmer?"

"Sure," Starlight replied, "But I don't think I know you." "Oh, you don't," the man said, "But you might know my brother. He was a member of the Saints." Starlight shrugged. "Sorry, I only remember my fellow lieutenants, plus Playa and Julius. The rank and file kinda blended together. What's your name?" "I'm Carlos," he replied. Starlight nodded. "You look like a recent transfer. You got any news from the outside? Like what happened to the other leaders in the Saints?"

"A little," Carlos said, "Lin and Donnie started a small mechanic's shop together. Unfortunately, its regulars are all Brotherhood soldiers, though I'm sure they'd drop the red and go back to purple given the chance." Starlight chuckled. "Donnie was never a Saint. Though I am glad to hear he managed to hook up with Lin. What about Dex or Julius?" "No idea what happened to Julius," Carlos admitted, "But Dex accepted a job offer at Ultor. Still, there's a rumor he's been gathering information on the three gangs. I got some people on the outside I can contact easily if you want to learn more." Starlight smiled warmly. "Carlos, this could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship."

Starlight and Carlos grew close over the next year, to the point they eventually became lovers. They never went further than kissing, and even then only in their cell. Starlight secretly wondering if Troy was behind something like this being allowed. There had been speculation among the Saints that she and Playa were an item, but in reality he was several years older than her and she preferred someone closer to her age, which Carlos happened to be.

One day Starlight got word. It looked like Playa was finally starting to stir, meaning it wouldn't be long before he'd wake up. As the two of them were wondering how to sneak over to where he was, the cell opened to reveal another inmate. He sneered. "I paid off a guard to let me in here. I've been eyeing you, girly." Starlight smirked. "Well, when opportunity knocks." The inmate got a surprise when she telekinetically threw him against the back wall of her cell, knocking him out cold.

Carlos was stunned, even more so when Starlight pinned his back to the bunk and started undressing. "I think I know where you're going with this," Carlos admitted, "But are you sure you wanna take it this far?" "Gotta make it looks convincing," Starlight noted, "Besides, I've caught you staring." She leaned in for another kiss. Once their love-making was over, Starlight did her best to look disheveled while Carlos got the unconscious inmate's shiv, then sat back down and positioned the shiv above his thigh. "Time for the hard part...," he muttered as he brought the blade down.

Author's Note

So yeah, Starlight hooks up with Carlos. Don't worry, this story won't go the tragedy route. I'm all about drama without the trauma. Also, while I did list sex as one of the tags, it's only meant to be implied, so nothing explicit (it's still a teen-rated story). Next chapter starts the Saints Row 2 arc.