Knights of King *HIATUS*

Chapter 1

Life aboard Battleship King wasn't bad at all. It was infinitely times better then working at a shipbuilding site or digging up coal from beneath the crust of some miserable planet that they were lucky enough to find work on. Still, the thing about life on King had some drawbacks. Like if you managed to piss of the wrong person, you would find yourself running around the space city, praying that you didn't slip and that you'd make it to safety. Sadly, running fast over a great distance was not Leo's forte.

The soldiers caught up to him in time, sure he'd led them around the city for a while. They'd seen many wonderful aspects that they didn't get to on a daily run; perhaps they should thank him. They'd passed the Grand Central, the pristine white entrance where new cadets and new citizens arrived when they came to live on King. They'd taken their run through the Lowland cities, or the Graffiti lands if you so choose to call it that, they'd made their way into the shops where the fresh smells of stews, pies, and pastries wafted from shop windows and into the air. Yet somehow they'd found themselves closer to the barracks then they'd started. Leo cursed in his head, he'd hoped to take the run past the barracks and down to the gardens, least there he could die with a happy sight.

When they finally caught him, they tackled him. Not one, not two, but three soldiers lunged and tackled him to the ground. As he hit he bit his tongue, not the smartest move at all but maybe it would keep them busy. As he was pulled to his feet he relished the metallic taste in his mouth.

One of the soldiers steps forward. "Name yourself, boy." He ordered.

Leo glanced up at the man. "Pardon?" What need was there to give his name?

"Name." The man growled. His uniform was close enough to Leo's face that he could see the different badges and medals that decorated the right breast. There were many to his name, but for some reason Leo had never seen this man here before.

Leo spit at the ground. "What's it to you?"

The cadet standing beside the man pulled back his fist and nailed a punch in Leo's gut. He gasped, air leaving his body for a few seconds before he was able to control his breathing again.

Around the corner of the room, another group of military men and soldiers appeared. The crisp uniforms and shining medals that covered their fronts made them stand out. The punch Leo just received felt like a pillow with the stone now resting in his stomach at who lead this party.

"Oh great." he muttered, mainly to himself but the soldiers holding him cast a small glance his way.

The soldiers in their neat outfits halted and allowed the man leading them all to continue walking forward. He had his hands behind his back, a frown on his face. This man Leo knew well; Palace, the Director of the GCA and General of the Fleet.

"Leo." Palace spoke softly, disappointment creeping into his voice.

Leo ducked his head. "Hey."

The man sighed. "Honestly my son, is this becoming a weekly routine?"

The boy shrugged as best he could as he was still restrained by the soldiers. "Who knows, maybe I'll amp it up to daily. Gets the men running."

A girl steps up beside the man and a look of disappointment is directed at Leo. Oddly enough, he saw the look before her striking blue hair. He gapes and glares at the man. Where she'd come from he had no idea, typically she was able to be pointed out in seconds with her blue hair.

"C'mon Palace, you brought her!" He snaps.

Palace shrugs. "She was quite persuasive." The small grin the older man gained was hardly missed by Leo.