The young boy was quick to learn that trust was never just given to you, not even by you family. No, you had to earn it. Harsh as it sounds, the young child understood that instantly. He stood, in his baggy trousers and pale blue shirt, with wrists tied loosely by rope and feet bare. He stood there, bottom lip quivering and snot running from his nose. He was just a boy. Barely age seven. He should not be crying, there were things you learned on Gaelu, things you learned to survive. One past the age of four rarely shed a tear. They were laughing at him now, pointing and jeering as the boy cried silently.

Then suddenly the crowd parted. A man, mature and with grey hairs beginning to show, was walking through the part in the sea of people. He was grinning, and holding up a stick with a number pasted on it.

"I bid 6,000 Silver Lira." He announced.

The crowd was silent, whispering amongst themselves. What kind of person on Gaelu had that kind of money? Only the richests of businessmen could casually toss that much around. And for a boy who was in tears on the auction stage? Things just didn't seem right.

The strange man produced a pen. "Boy," He called to the child on the stage. "Follow the light with your eyes."

Then the pen began a dazzling display of lights. There were different ones but his eyes could keep several in their sights time after time. A few seconds had passed when the lights disappeared. The strange man pocketed the light pen and nodded eagerly.

"I change my bid, 6,000 Gold Lira." He shouted to gleefully to the auctioneer.

Everyone was silent. The boy sniffled, his snot crusting along his upper lip.

The auctioneer blinked and looked around the crowd. "6,000 Gold Lira for the boy, do I hear a 7,000?" He sweept the crowd with his eyes before slamming the mallet onto the pad infront of him. "The boy goes to…"

The man gave a small bow. "Director Palace, pleased to meet you."

Whispers spring up instantly at the name.

The auctioneer nodded quickly, the name striking fear. "Yes, the boy goes to Director Palace."

Two brute men grab the boy and set to drag him off. Palace holds his hand up. "Stop, you'll hurt him doing that." He sighs. "Honestly, don't you brutes know anything about handling children."

They share a look and shrug.

"Untie him would you, he is under my care now, I refuse to let another bruise appear on his body from you fools." Palace instructed.

The men pull the ropes from the boy's wrist. As they do the boy's eyes never leave the strange man's. They seem to be in a staring contest, neither one willing to look away for a moment. The boy knew the look in the man's eyes, it was pride. Something he'd seen only a few times in his father's eyes before that very man had slapped a number and his lowest price and shipped him off the be auctioned. That look made him weary, what did this man see in him? Did he plan to take him away and to some place where he could be sold for an even higher price?

Palace extended his hand to the boy. "Come along son, we've got much work to do at home."

The boy's eyes widen at the nickname given to him. Son? When was the last time he was called that? Never. Maybe in the hospital when he was born, maybe one of nurses had said "you've got a son." but that nickname had never left his father's, or mother's, lips. It was a foreign word.

The boy stepped off the stage, the crowd scooting back from him as he walked. As he came to a halt in front of Palace he stared up at the strange man. Question after question running through his mind.

"What's your name?" Palace asked in a kind tone, his body bending slightly.

The boy looked up at him. "Agnidev."

Palace nodded. "Well Agnidev, I think that you'll very much like your new home."

With that he turned and began to walk away from the auction stage. Agnidev stood in his shadow, walking the strange man who'd just bought his life walk away. He turned over his shoulder, walking a man in uniform had the 6,000 Gold Lira over to the accountant for the auctions. His eyes fell onto someone he hadn't expected to be there. The man who was his father. Aiden stood with his crisp jacket and nicely button up shirt, he was a man who demanded attention. And being one of the wealthier coal miners, it was a shock to see him standing there. But even more shocking was when the treasurer handed over the Lira without missing a beat. His father, Aiden, ducked his head to could the money quickly and then slipping it into his inside coat pocket. Turning away from the auction stage, his business was done.

Agnidev turned as well, catching up to Palace whose legs were much longer and could move faster than his own. One of the men in uniforms opened the door to a sleek vehicle and waited till Palace and the boy were inside. When the door shut Agnidev jumped slightly. Palace let his gaze fall to him.

"Agnidev, my son, listen as I tell you this." Palace whispered. "Inside you there is great power, power that no man has been able to wield until now; you are one of the first of your kind. Do you understand me?"

Agnidev blinked. "Is that why I was given away? Because I'm different then my brothers?"

Palace shook his head. "No my son, you were sold off to make money, I regret to say that on planets like Gaelu it happens often. When sickness strikes, like it has now, they have to give up things to pay of the medical bills."

Agnidev nodded. "Where are we going?"

Palace leaned back into his seat. "Home."

Happy images of a grand house with waiting maids and butlers entered his mind. If this man had enough money to carelessly throw 6,000 Gold Lira away on a boy, his house must be huge! Agnidev found himself smiling as he thought of what kind of rooms there would be to explore and what kind of games he could play there. Would there be other children? Did this Palace go around and save children from auctions like he had with Agnidev?

The car slowed to a stop and the door was opened again. Agnidev jumped out, eyes shining as he searched for the huge house that the man must live in. Palace stepped out after him. He waved him forward, urging him to follow to the pod. Even as a child on Gaelu he knew a spaceship pod when he saw one. They stepped aboard, the interior better than any pod he'd glanced in or been in before. THen they were moving, leaving the atmosphere on a smooth ride.

Palace hit a button that glowed a steady light purple. "King, this is Jester; we're on our way home."

A voice with slight static responded. "The court is ready, Jester. Welcome home."

The light flicked off and the pod began slowing down as it reached space. He was pressed to the windows, eager to see what lay amongst the stars he'd looked at every night.

"There it is my son, your new home." Palace smiled, waving his arm with a flourish.

Agnidev's eyes swept to the other window. He froze. Sitting in space was a colossal ship. The entire bottom was flat, serving as a base for the city on board. There were green plants, trees and bushes that could be seen through the glass outer wall from the pod. Tall buildings were raised up in the bubble like roof. It was unbelievable. It was surreal. It was his home.