Part 1 - (12 years in the past)

Science discovered portals to habitable worlds. The problem? It's a one-way ticket. Everyone who tried to come back liquefied.
The worlds became prison colonies of various degrees and crime slowly dwindled.
Parker, a cop, ends up exiled to these worlds when he discovers that his partner is corrupt.
Ten years later, Maria just wants to protect her brothers who got caught up in underground street fighting. Forced to steal in exchange for their lives, she crosses the law and loses.
On her way to the Gateway, one of the arresting officers begs for her help: Find Parker and the evidence he'd hidden.
Now she's destined to spend life among criminals when all she really wanted to do was obey the law and discover new cures in her research labs. But her new world is hostile and hierarchical and she's not the type to just accept servitude.