It was over. And the how's and why's of it all were set aside for the thank heaven's now we can go about our lives, lives with renewed meaning. Did he care? No, not really, he never did it for the praise or glory. He did it because like the others he wanted to go on with his life. But for now it was a time to heal and rebuild all that was destroyed, which covered the whole of the world.
Cities and towns and villages; all needed repair and all would be rebuilt in time but the population was diminished to only a tenth of what it had been so there was no need for some cities, some towns, some villages. He traveled despite his mother's pleas to remain at home. There were those who needed help to get back on their feet after years of death and destruction.
And sometimes he wished he hadn't started his travels. No, there were times he wished he had stayed at home. He had seen far too much in his life but nothing, nothing could have prepared him for what people would do in the aftermath to make ends meet, to fill their own pockets and to get ahead in a world that now held promise. Greed and power. The sources of a new evil.
"Settle down folks! We're about to bring out the last and this one is by far the best!" A short, stocky man on a makeshift stage announced into a large crowd of people at the edge of a village.
He entered as the announcement was made, walking into the crowd unsure of what was taking place but he had a fair idea. "What is going on?" He questioned an older man with graying hair.
The man turned to him with a goofy grin. "The auctions boy! I'm sure you've heard of them by now and they've finally come here. Hear that they got a good one this time around. Rumors spreading around like wildfire." He then looked over the young stranger, tall, well built, long purple hair and piercing blue eyes. "You're new here. What's your name boy?"
"Trunks sir. Yes, I live pretty far from here. Just traveling around." He offered a smile though he didn't feel much like smiling. Trunks knew about the auctions. He detested them and had tried to catch up with the ringleader to put them to an end but he was always one step behind. Always so close.
The man nodded then turned back to the stage. "Watch this Trunks…it should be a good one." There was that goofy grin again.
And Trunks turned his attentions back to the stage. For a moment the crowd buzzed with talk. Something had them riled up good this time around Trunks thought. He had seen a few auctions, stopped them mostly to the annoyance of many and the pleasure of a few but none held this excitement.
"This is fucking bullshit! Let me the fuck go! I swear I'll fucking kill every last one of you!" A female voice yelled and all the buzzing stopped. "I said LET ME GO!" Then a scream. "FUCK! STOP!" This sounded pained unlike the first string of profanities.
A young girl was tossed out onto stage landing on her hands and knees with her head bowed forward, her long strawberry colored curls hiding her face. "Here is the last of the stock!" The announcer yelled and then pulled the girl to her feet. She kept her head bowed. "Look at the audience dear they'll want to see what they are buying." He tilted her head up and many gasped Trunks included.
She was a site to behold. Gorgeous. Fair skin that literally held an unearthly glow about it, wonderfully green eyes that shown of emeralds, a small pink mouth. She was flawless physically, like an angel and then she spoke. "You should all fucking burn in hell for this you assholes!" So much for flawless Trunks thought but then he noticed that she had something the other slaves he had helped had not. Around her neck and wrists were thick, heavy looking silver bands.
"This one folks is a real firecracker!" The announcer began in a pleased voice, his balding head reflecting the sun slightly. "She was captured in her sleep because she is impossible to capture awake. Had to drug this one. A real firecracker. Stronger than any human you'll ever see! And you can control her with this!" He held up a controller.
"Oh fuck that! That thing may hurt like a bitch but you will never control me." She yelled defiantly.
The announcer looked at her and the back at the audience. "Let me demonstrate!" Without looking he aimed the controller backwards and the girl stood tall, not wavering for even a moment. But this lasted till the button was pressed then she cringed. "You see it can send a shock through her!" He let the button go. "Two knobs. One controls the amount of strength she can use and for safety she can never reach full power and the other controls the shock wave." She turned the knob and then press the button again.
"Fuck!" She screamed and fell to the ground digging her thin fingers into the wood and it cracked beneath her, splintering. This caused more buzzing in the audience, yes, she was indeed strong.
"See there…her power will get plenty of work done and you can keep her under control! And…" He pulled her to her feet. "She's a pretty little thing ain't she? Might have other good uses." He laughed and Trunks clenched his fists in anger. How dare they! "We'll start the bidding at 10,000." He shoved the girl back to the ground.
And they were off. The offers getting higher and higher at the price of that girls life. They didn't even give her name. Like she wasn't a person. Higher and higher. Then it started to slow. They were running out of money to bid. Slower and slower.
"700,000!" Trunks yelled out bidding the last by 50,000.
Everyone turned to him startled. "Boy!" The announcer yelled. "You really got that kind of cash?"
Trunks walked forward pushing people out of the way rudely and he didn't care; these people didn't deserve his kindness for what they were doing. He stood at the stage's edge looking up, his face stern and looking older than he truly was. First he glanced at the girl who was still on the ground breathing hard trying to fight the pain that the announcer was now using as a constant. Then he looked at the somewhat annoyed announcer. "I have more money than you will ever see and none of it is blood money." He said in a disgusted tone.
"Who are you kid?" The announcer asked.
And Trunks walked onto the stage though he didn't have to walk. "My name is Trunks Brief. I have the money, I assure you and I suggest you take it and leave and if I ever, ever catch you doing this again I will not hesitate to end your life and those who are helping you. Tell that to your boss." He was a firm believer in second chances but a second chance was all you would get.
This seemed to anger the announcer some and then a look of dawning crossed his face. "You…you were…"
Now Trunks smirked, an inherited trait. "I've built a reputation among the auctions. So you know I am not bluffing. I'll give you the money as an incentive to start over and do something right…"
With this the announcer nodded. "She's yours." He said in a small voice.
Trunks nodded then took a capsule from his pocket. He tossed it to the man. "That should cover it. Count it if you'd like." Then he took the remote from the man immediately he turned the pain dial to zero and the power restriction to it's lowest. He knelt before the girl who looked at him with distrust. "Come on…"
When he tried to help her up she shrugged him away and stood of her own free will. "I don't need your help." She snapped.
Not taking her anger to heart Trunks turned to the announcer who was sneaking away. "You! How do I get the cuffs off of her?"
The announcer cringed and turned to Trunks with a nervous laugh and smile. "Well you see…they're…umm…well they're permanent. I couldn't tell you how to get them off…they are resistant to all levels of strength for uh, safety reasons."
Trunks looked at the man and decided this was the truth then nodded. "Fine." He said and turned to the girl. "Come…we're not welcome here anymore." He said and jumped off the edge of the stage.
The girl stood for a moment longer not sure what to do. She considered running but heavens knew if one of the others had a controller and then she was up shits creek for sure. Her best bet was this fellow. Yes, she heard about him freeing others like herself but they weren't truly like her. No, they were different, wait, really she was the different one. So she followed, jumping off the stage and walking behind the young man who had rescued her. And she cringed at that thought. Had she been reduced to this?