Stranded on a Tiny Planet

In Anashee...

Coroc entered the EFP commander’s chambers less than a nublar from when he requested a meeting with her. Madala knew Coroc well; he had been her combat flight instructor when she was but a raw recruit to the program. Time had seen them both in separate directions; Madala climbing the ranks to Commander and Coroc slipping into retirement. Upon hearing of his desire for a meeting, Madala didn’t hesitate to arrange it

“Coroc. I haven’t seen you for a long time.” She greeted, her back straight.

“Not since your promotion. It seems the position suits you.”

Madala lowered and lifted her tall plumage at the compliment, “I hear you wanted to discuss something of great importance?”

The older Ansheetan nodded solemnly, “I’m sure you’re aware that the people are growing restless. I fear riots and worse are about to happen if something isn’t done about this giant.”

Madala gave him a look, “Something?”

His plumage flicked slowly upward, “I am offering to slay this giant.”

The female commander leaned forward with an incredulous look on her face, “You think you can kill him?”

“You know this giant is not invulnerable. Anything that can get sick can be killed.” Coroc stated simply.

Madala scoffed and then asked, “Have you suggested this to Elder Felreh?”

Coroc sighed, “I have the feeling she would not approve of my methods...she never possessed the gumption for violence when it is needed.”

“And you thought I would think differently?”

He nodded, “Even when I trained you, you were never afraid to jump into combat. You met it proactively and head on.”

Madala sighed and closed her eyes. She did agree something needed to be done about this very real threat the giant alien posed, but she didn’t like the idea of going around Elder Felreh to accomplish it.

“How would you do it?” she asked, the doubt evident in her voice.

“Let me worry about the ‘how’. I merely need use of three able fighting squadrons to achieve it.” He gave her a serious look, “And I will also need the young one whose chrysalis was taken.”

Madala’s plumage lifted with shock, “The young one? Why?”

“I think the giant may want her back. She would make an excellent lure to get him where we want him.”

Madala mulled over that proposition a moment but then shook her head, “You may recruit any who are willing to assist you. I will not order them. But, using the young one is out of the question. I can’t have you thrusting a non-combatant into such a dangerous situation.”

Coroc thought a moment but then nodded with no argument.

“Thank you Commander. Will you propose this to Elder Felreh?”

Madala sighed, looking down, “Not until you succeed. If you fail I will deny all knowledge and say you acted alone against my better judgement.”

The older trainer nodded and saluted before turning and leaving.

At that moment her door guard burst in, “Commander Madala! I have two scouts with urgent news to report!”

Madala motioned her hand, “Bring them in.”

Coroc stepped aside, allowing the two young scouts to hurry in. They saluted smartly.

“Commander Madala! A small group of Rogashay bandits have invaded into our territory!”

The female Commander’s attention was rapt, “Where were they seen and how many?”

“Anu and Traynar saw them in the woods near the lake. She says there are six in the raiding party. Traynar needs a medic. He’s been injured.” The scout explained quickly.

“Injured how?”

“We don’t know. But there’s something else. The giant alien has recovered from its illness, and it has captured Anu, Traynar, and a bandit. We only snuck in quickly when it was distracted. Anu wouldn’t leave Traynar behind,” the scout explained further.

Madala’s eyes moved from side to side as she processed the news.

Finally, after a few moments she called out the door where she knew Coroc was still standing, “Combatant Coroc, go assemble your squadrons.” she turned to the two messengers, “Go inform the medical squadron that they need to report to Anashee Lake to assist Traynar and Anu immediately.”

Coroc and the messengers all nodded and marched away with purpose.

...

Near one of the gates of Anashee not long thereafter...

Seraysa sat on a public bench on the edge of the market waiting for her brother. He told her to wait there because he had a plan to get out of Anashee. Worry filled Seraysa’s eyes at the thought of not being able to achieve their goal. What if they couldn’t get out and the EFP was sent to kill Merco? Could they kill him or...would he kill them? Seraysa couldn’t imagine such a horrible thing. There wasn’t any need for any of it! She just had to warn Merco or make their leaders understand that he wasn’t a giant monster out to destroy them.

Finally, Verin appeared, his personal satchel unusually bulky. He made a gesture that told her to come with him, so she hopped up and followed him.

“Where were you? You took forever!” Seraysa asked.

“Shh! Come on. Don’t act suspicious. Just follow me,” he hissed, his walk a bit brisk.

After walking a block or two away from the market, Verin ducked under a massive tree root arch that branched off one of the housing structures and took off his bag.

He opened the bag, explaining, “We can’t sneak out through the gates. Too many guards. But if we don’t look like ordinary civilians...”

Seraysa blinked seeing the EFP uniforms tucked inside the bag, “Verin! You stole those!?”

Verin nodded with a grin, “Great plan huh?”

Seraysa shook her head with mortification, “Oh...Verin...We are going to be in SO much trouble!”

“Look, it’s the only way out of Anashee right now. Besides, no one saw me. And I fully intend to put them back once we’re done with them. We’re just borrowing them.”

Though not happy with his methods, Seraysa conceded mentally that his plan would probably work. Merco’s life was in danger and she had to warn him no matter what.

“But...we still can’t fly. What if they notice we can’t fly?” she asked voice tinged with doubt.

“We won’t have to. All we need is the uniforms. We go up to the guards and say we’re on the next scouting mission, they’ll let us out, and they’ll close the gates behind us. Easy!”

“But...don’t the EFP fly out of the top gates?”

Verin nodded, “Yeah. Typically. Look, just get on the uniform. I’ll do the talking when we get there. Oh. And use the hood on yours.”

“The hood? Why?”

He touched the short feathery scales on top of her head, “You’ll look too young if they see your crest.”

Nodding, Seraysa and Verin both changed out of their casual rompers and into the blue and maroon uniform jumpsuits. Seraysa untucked the hidden hood from the back and pulled it over her head. Her long thin ear tips poked through carefully placed holes in the side; a design that kept the hood up and allowed the long Ansheetan ear tips freedom. The uniforms weren’t a perfect fit, but they didn’t look ridiculous.

Verin turned around, “How do I look?”

“Like you can fly.” Seraysa allowed a small smile.

“Good.” He gathered his satchel and said, “Ok. Just follow me and walk with your head up and proud until we get there. Then let me do the talking. Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

Together the disguised siblings walked tall and confident appearing. Ansheetans regarded them with looks of mostly respect as they passed. It seemed to be working. Seraysa only hoped the guards would be so easily fooled.

In no time they were at one of the gates on the lower level of the city. Five guards stood at attention there.

“Ok, Seraysa. Here we go.” Verin whispered.

She swallowed a nervous lump in her neck and nodded.

With a confident stride, Verin lead her and approached the guards. They noticed them immediately and seemed to ready themselves with slight movements.

Verin approached the guard sporting the yellow tips on his plumage, “We’re with the next scouting mission.”

“What squadron?” the guard inquired.

Verin looked to Seraysa but then improvised, “Don’t know. We’re just the replacements they sent. Kind of last minute.”

“Well we’ve been told not to open this gate unless there’s an evacuation. EFP members exit out topside.” The guard explained shortly.

Verin continued the act but Seraysa felt the nervousness rise, “Really? I mean we’re already down here and we’d be out in a blink.”

“Well you’re a flyer. Shouldn’t take you long to get up there and out.” The guard offered.

“Yeah. Yeah. All right. If that’s the protocol.” Verin convincingly said as he led Seraysa past the gate and around a corner.

Both siblings let out a held sigh.

Seraysa’s eyes were wet, “What are we going to do now?”

“Take the topside gate.” Verin concluded.

“But... we can’t fly!”

Verin held her shoulders, “Seraysa. We don’t have to fly far. Just float until we’re out of sight.”

“I...can’t.” she almost cried.

“Yes, you can.” His eyes moved as he was thinking, “You were able to sustain a hover for fourteen nubles (seconds). It should only take us ten nubles to float down, land, and then we can walk the rest of the way.”

At first, only doubt choked at Seraysa. Verin had way more practice than she did, and he might make it but if she fell he couldn’t do anything to help her. He wasn’t a strong enough flier. She didn’t want to drag him down with her! But...she had to try.

She finally nodded to her brother and he touched his forehead to hers, “We can do this.”

They set off, winding their way through the passages and bridges that connected the massive black trees of Anashee together in a seemingly endless transit system. After much walking and weaving they arrived at one of the EFP upper gates. To their astonishment there was already a large formation of EFP members crowded before the arched opening. They all had their hoods up and carried a battle belt and pack stocked with energy weapons and explosives. Verin and Seraysa shared a look and quickly stood behind the members, blending in seamlessly.

As they stood there, they both caught sight of Combatant Coroc standing before the group. Behind him was the opening arch on top of the natural mountain wall that served as a “gate” to the fliers of Anashee. Seraysa’s heart sank upon seeing him. How had he assembled so many EFP members so fast?

“Squadron!” he barked.

The EFP perked at attention, plumage up.

“The mission you have agreed to undertake is a dangerous one. But if successful, we will free Anashee and all its citizens from this threat. Fly out!” he commanded.

With timed precision the gathered EFP members strode forward, each line toward the front flying up after Coroc, whom took the point.

Seraysa and Verin were in the last row by themselves and thus far no one had paid them any attention. In her head Seraysa coached herself, prepping herself for the lift off. All she had to do was float a little ways and land, just like her brother said. Just far enough to fool any guards at the gate that they belonged with this group. The lines dwindled with each take off until Verin and Seraysa strode through the archway toward the cliff that framed the outer wall of Anashee. The sheer drop to the forest floor made Seraysa hold her breath.

“If you don’t fly you DIE!” Her mind screamed.

Verin took her hand encouragingly and together they stepped to the edge.

“Don’t look, just concentrate on floating.” He whispered.

She nodded and she closed her eyes. Her skin tingled and felt slightly tight around her shoulders. She held on to that sensation, knowing it was her natural manipulation of the magnetic field around her body trying to work. She strained with concentration as she stepped off the edge. The tingling grew in intensity and much to her astonishment she didn’t feel the pull of gravity. Her blue eyes slowly opened, and the forest sat beneath her, unmoving, not screaming toward her.

Verin was floating right next to her. His face was alight with a smile as he mouthed, “You’re doing it!”

Then together they floated outward away from the gate. The other EFP members were already well ahead of them and flying fast over the treetops. The siblings then began to float away and gradually down, well out of sight of the guards. It felt like an eternity before they were halfway down. The tingling at Seraysa’s shoulders was growing weaker, like a muscle fatigued from holding up a weight for too long. Without warning she dropped several lengths with a cry of shock. Verin floated down to her and caught her hands.

“Hang on Seraysa! I’ve got you!” her brother groaned, clearly strained. “Focus!”

Seraysa’s wild blue eyes were alive with panic but she scrunched them shut, trying to concentrate again. Unfortunately, she was too tired from the effort and wasn’t much help to her brother. Grunting and dropping more rapidly, Verin sped toward the ground at a steep angle. Like a paraglider Seraysa’s feet touched the ground and she ran under her brother. Verin finally dropped, stumbling and rolling in the dirt. He breathed hard, plumage rising and falling with his breaths.

“Oh thank the Deities. We made it!” he groaned from the ground.

“I’m sorry Verin. I tried to get it back but...”

He waved a hand, standing up, “No! You did fine! That wasn’t bad for a first time. At least we landed in one piece.”

Seraysa was grateful for her brother but she cast a look of concern toward the sky just above the towering trees, “We’ll never catch up with them!”

Verin looked up too, “No...not at the speed they were flying. It’s going to take us most of the day to even get to Anashee Lake. Lucky I brought some supplies.”

“We’ll be too late by then.” Seraysa’s eyes watered, “That squadron is going after Merco!”

Her brother looked at his wrist device that helped him navigate. He pointed to the left and started walking.

“Come on then.” Verin encouraged, shouldering his supply satchel, “We’ve got to hurry.”

Still upset but determined, Seraysa followed him. She hoped they wouldn’t be too late.