Fourteen-year-old Diego only knows the rolling hills and pastures of his father's hacienda in 1829 California. His peaceful, simple life is shattered when aliens invade, and Diego is captured by reptilian warriors. He is now a slave on a huge space ship surrounded by technological advances not yet imagined. Unable to communicate, Diego struggles to survive and gain the respect of his captors. When trouble comes, will he be able to unite his fellow slaves to fight a more deadly enemy, or will he betray the trust of Ziron, the ship's commander? And will Diego regain his freedom and eventually return home to Earth?