The tiny ripples spread serenely over the surface of the water. They exuded an ominous steam, like the River Styx. It was, indeed, a water of death.
"You will have a bath now", the old slave told a little, dark boy, whose eyes will never shine again. "We need to sell you tomorrow, so you'd better be clean". The water was slowly heated, so slowly that it was not noticeable. The boy lost consciousness. "And pure", added the old slave, whispering, "So that you do not rebel."
The boy was named Alberto after this odd baptism, and sold to a man called Niccolo di Lupia. He came from the Vesco property on Planet Malta, so Alberto Vesco would be his full name. From early on, he was taught to serve. He did not know his origin, but he never wondered. It was not relevant to him, and even if he searched, it would probably lead him to a brothel. Free thought, he had learned, was not something that would lead him anywhere.
At first his tasks were cleaning the villa, but later, when he was strong enough, he was employed in the cardamine fields. He was noticed, over time, by di Lupia, because he always took his orders without objection and always completed them. Di Lupia was deeply involved in the cardamine business, and his political ambition was rising. It often happened that someone needed additional persuasion, when bribery was too expensive, and mercenaries could not be trusted. Vesco was enrolled in an extensive combat training, and he was prepared to become di Lupia's personal henchman from an early age.
During di Lupia's bribery campaign aimed to collect the necessary votes for command over a newly built battleship, the MNS Saint Mark, there was one noble family that regarded its nobility too seriously to be bribed. One night, Vesco stormed their villa, overpowering the few guards alone, and kidnapped the don's only son. The hostage was the insurance of the vote, and that no one would call the police. The family, of course, pressed charges after the father had voted and received his son back, but by that time di Lupia had, together with Vesco, ran off with the ship he had got, into deep space.
During their odyssey, which was probably no more than a wait until more suitable people come in power on Malta, whose scene of political actors rotated a number of times per year, Vesco was what Niccolo would call his "third hand". The only person he truly trusted was Vesco -- not even his brother. Of course not his brother! Brothers have always fought, or at least betrayed each other. He taught Vesco how to fly spaceships, but mostly how to command the Saint Mark, because he intended to return to Malta, and assume a political office. Someone would need to project his naval power during the time, and that someone would certainly not be his brother. Oddly, he did not teach Vesco how to read and write. Vesco was the only person who had access to di Lupia's files, and he did not trust him, even him, enough to let him read them.
This plan of di Lupia's has, so far, gone well. Di Lupia has returned to Malta, and he is now leaning confortably in his armchair, designing plots while looking at the stars. His stars, or that is at least what he wants them to be. And Vesco will, because it is the only thing he can do, ensure that his master's wishes are always realized.