Present-day high school student Ryan never returned from summer camp on Europa. The last footage shows him unconscious, a slave collar locked around his neck, and being dragged away by the young space pirate Rona Sidero-daughter of the infamous Sidewinder.
Commander Weston and Captain Val, Ryan's assigned protectors, traced him to a pirate ship. However, that ship blew up in deep space. Apparently destroyed by another pirate.
No ransom. No trace. Just wreckage in a dead zone filled with nothing but lifeless rocks and uncivilized planets with who knows what. Maybe just people stuck in the dark ages, or... maybe dragons, trolls and fairies?
If Ryan's alive, he's stranded somewhere primitive and dangerous. No tech. No help. Just survival. Oh, and he must be a slave.
Primitive, dangerous? If he is alive, he just might show them primitive and dangerous.
But... how does he get home? Maybe this barbarian planet is now home?