Aahna "Ash" Ashina, a former Blade Runner from Los Angeles, is one of the only survivors of a Replicant attack on a remote Off-world mining colony. Ash was protecting young Cleo Selwyn, a.k.a. Rabbit, who was rescued from the slaughter by the Replicant Padraic. Cleo and Padraic accompany the Replicants to Ramanuja Station, a nexus of Off-world trade routes.Ash is found in the colony wreckage by Hythe, a new Blade Runner who carries a warrant for Ash’s arrest for the murder of Cleo’s mother Isobel years before.But rather than take Ash into custody, Hythe offers to reinstate her as a Blade Runner and restores her cybernetic back brace, in return for Ash’s help in tracking down Cleo.Ash accepts.