Stranded on a Tiny Planet

When Merco was led back to the square there were carts of food waiting for him. He gently crouched down and sat nearby.

“Thank you very much. This looks delicious.” He complimented but then glanced around, “Have...you all had some?”

“We have already eaten, yes.” Elder Felreh assured him.

Merco still eyed the food guiltily, “I just...I just don’t want to put a strain on your resources. My appetite is too big for you to keep doing this.”

“As I said before, you are our guest, Merco and we will treat you as such. Please, eat.”

The man still hesitated. Guest or not, he felt guilty.

He sighed and took a basket of what looked like that chewy bread they called Iti, “Thank you. Just please let me know if there’s anything I can do for you and your people.”

Elder Felreh nodded.

Merco ate quietly until Commander Madala asked, “I would like to know what are your plans, now that you are...stranded here?”

Merco paused mid-chew, thought a moment, then swallowed, “I’m...I’m not really sure. But I have been wondering if you have any communication networks? Or those who specialize in such areas?”

“We have communications between our settlements but it can be very spotty. There are those who work with such technology.” She explained, “What are your intentions?”

The man looked skyward, “I’m not very good with most technologies...but I wonder if your network can broadcast a signal out beyond this planet.”

“You wish to call your kind here.” She conjectured.

Merco nodded, “Perhaps just enough to get a passing ship to notice.” He frowned, “But I don’t even know where your planet is...or if any ships pass by here.”

“You...would leave?” Pixie asked.

He glanced at her still sitting on his shoulder, “You have been kind to me...but I don’t belong here. I want to go home.”

Pixie gave a sad look.

“We can see if our specialists know anything about what you speak.” Elder Felreh offered.

“I would be grateful.” Merco nodded.

In a few more bites he finished the meal. He thanked them again.

“Tell us, Merco, what is your planet Earth like?” Elder Felreh asked.

He smiled and replied, “My planet is blue and green. On clear days Earth’s skies are mostly blue and our plants and trees are green. Most of it is covered by water; vast salty oceans cover most of it.”

The Ansheetans listened, imagining what he spoke of.

“There are all kinds of terrain: deserts, mountains, grassy plains, forests and thick jungles. And we have huge cities scattered across it all. In our skies we fly ships and some of our ships go out into the reaches of space. We’ve even colonized some of the other moons and planets in our system beyond Earth.” He explained.

“It sounds...pretty.” Anu commented. “Blue skies?”

“As blue as your eyes.” Merco nodded.

“Is it warm there?” Pixie asked.

“It changes depending on the planet’s position and where on the Earth you live. Some places are very hot and stay hot. The poles are bitterly cold. And some places get both hot and cold. Why? Is it always warm here?”

Anu spoke up, “Mostly. We don’t experience much cold here.”

Merco tipped his head, “Huh. That’s interesting. I came to this forest from a desert. Is most of your planet that way?”

“The Wasteland is very large yes. Few of our people venture across it. Only the strongest fliers could, but it hasn’t been done for many generations.” Elder Felreh explained.

“So, you don’t leave this place?”

The elder shook her head, “No. Our people are not suited for the harsh conditions beyond our lands. Those lands are inhabited by the Rogashay.”

“Rogashay...?” Merco tipped his head.

Traynar spoke up, “Boroxle...you remember him?”

Merco nodded.

“He is a Rogashay. The Rogashay went to war with the Ansheetans long ago, trying to seize these lands and wipe us out. But our people prevailed. Now they live in the Great Wasteland but they attempt to oust us from our lands and pillage our settlements whenever they can.”

“Is that what was happening when I found you?” Merco asked.

Traynar flicked his plumage, “We don’t know. I think it was merely a small contingent sent out to spy on our activities. Before you came we would patrol the area thoroughly. But... we perceived you to be the more dangerous threat and left our perimeters unwatched. They took it as an opportunity.”

“Are you at war with them still?”

“Not officially. But we are always prepared for an attack. The Rogashay have remained nomadic in the Wasteland for several generations.” Traynar explained.

Merco nodded.

Elder Felreh also nodded at Traynar, “I have long hoped to barter a peace between our peoples but the Rogashay will not hear it. I fear there is too much bitterness.”

Merco sighed, “Peace is a hard thing to gain and even harder to keep alive...but I know it’s worth fighting for.”

They talked a bit longer about their planets until Elder Felreh politely stood, “Well, this has been a most enlightening conversation, Merco. Please let us know if you need anything else. I am going to retire for the night.”

The man dipped his head with respect, “Thank you for everything.”

With that the older leader floated up, escorted by her entourage of guards and attendants. Commander Madala was the last to leave but before she did Merco spoke out to her.

“Commander, I understand you are the military leader of Anashee.”

She stopped and looked at him, “I am.”

“Did you order the attack on me?” he asked point blank.

Her eyes widened a bit and he couldn’t help but see fear flash across them, but then she straightened herself, “I did what I thought was necessary to protect Anashee. We had no idea what your intentions were; for good or ill.”

“I don’t bear any grudges.” Merco explained quickly, “I just want to ensure we are at an understanding now. That you believe I’m not here to harm anyone or anything.”

The female commander raised her tall plume and curtly answered, “Yes. And I’d like to keep it that way.”

He gave a small salute which made her look at him funnily.

He grinned and dropped his hand, “It’s how soldiers from my planet salute their superiors.”

Commander Madala merely nodded in acknowledgement before floating after the Elder.

“Kind of cold isn’t she?” Merco commented after she left.

Traynar and Anu both nodded, knowing their Commander.

“She cares for Anashee very much.” Traynar assured him. “But her trust is not so easily gained.”

“That’s not a terrible trait to have.” Merco commented.

Anu stretched, “I don’t suppose you’re tired?”

Merco gave an automatic yawn, “Oddly, I think I could sleep. At least...I’ll probably have to or my sleep pattern will be off.”

“I can stay with Merco.” Pixie offered.

Anu and Traynar nodded, “Well we’re going home to get some sleep. We’ll see you after the suns rise.”

“Good night.” Merco said with a small wave.

With that Anu and Traynar flew off, Merco glanced over at Pixie on his shoulder, “Won’t your parents be worried if you don’t come home?”

“Well, they know that I’m your ambassador now. So, it’s expected of me.”

“My...ambassador?” Merco raised a brow.

“Yeah. Anu and I are your ambassadors. Didn’t you know?”

He shook his head, “So, you have to stay with me?”

Pixie patted his shoulder beneath her, “I like being with you.”

Merco smiled at that, “You do, huh?” He gently touched the top of her head with a finger, “I’m grateful for that.”

“Are you here for the night, Merco?” Dr. Jasta suddenly appeared from behind them.

Merco swiveled on his hips a moment, “Yeah. Don’t want to get my sleep pattern thrown off.”

The taller alien nodded agreeably and made a gesture with his hands, “Your species is a daytime species like ours?”

“Mostly.”

Dr. Jasta nodded, “Well, if you are going to sleep, just lay down like before and we’ll hook you up for your next lessons. You seem to already have a good grasp of our language, albeit your accent is...odd.”

Merco arched a brow, “Pixie said I have an accent too...am I hard to understand?”

“It’s alright, Merco. We can still understand you well enough.” He reassured.

Just out the door Verin appeared. Pixie called down to him, “Verin, what are you doing here still? I thought you went back?”

Her brother shook his head, “No. Dr. Jasta offered me an apprenticeship here!”

“That’s great!” she congratulated.

“I know!” he agreed, seeming to gush with excitement.

Dr. Jasta smiled at Verin and then said, “Go prepare the language program like I showed you.”

Verin quickly rushed back into the Temple of Emergence to do as he was asked.

Pixie floated down to Dr. Jasta, “Thank you for giving my brother an apprenticeship. He’s talked nothing but science since I’ve Emerged.”

“He has a very promising mind. Great mental potential like that needs to be nurtured,”

“Emerged?” Merco asked, unfamiliar with the word.

Dr. Jasta looked up at him and then gestured to the open part of the facility, “Yes. When one of our kind emerges from their chrysalis to join Ansheetan society.”

Merco viewed the dark teal colored pods he indicated. It seemed ‘emerged’ and ‘born’ were somewhat synonymous.

“Do humans come from a chrysalis?” Pixie asked curiously.

And there it was...

“Uh...heh...no.” Merco couldn’t hide the awkwardness in his tone.

“I would be most interested in learning of your people’s process of reproduction and how it compares to our own.” Dr. Jasta commented.

Merco blinked rapidly, then cleared his throat, “Uh...well...[ahem] that is a very private matter...and uh...”

“Ready Dr. Jasta!” Verin called out.

Oh, thank God.

After a bit of the same rigging, Merco was fitted with the wires and laid down. The familiar hum returned across his skull. He closed his eyes and gradually he fell asleep again.

...

Early morning...

Seraysa was given a sleeping mat in the Temple of Emergence while Verin faithfully stayed up through the night, keeping an eye on Merco’s learning program. It was just breaking light over the horizon and Verin was starting to bob his head with fatigue when Merco’s arm muscles flinched. The monitors bleeped a warning as his brain pattern changed which brought Verin jolting forward with alarm.

“Wha-?”

His monitors were showing the front of Merco’s brain was flashing with activity. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but the probes were indicating that he wasn’t receiving the language information. It was as if the front of his brain was distracting the middle. Verin peered over the edge of his monitor at Merco outside. He appeared to still be sleeping. His eyelids were undulating as his eyes darted beneath them.

“Dr. Jasta...” he called out into the facility where the scientist was resting in his own bed, “DR. JASTA!”

Verin’s shout brought him stumbling out of his quarters, “What is it Verin?”

“Something weird is going on with...” Verin began but was suddenly silenced by a horrible crashing outside which shook the buildings.

Merco’s huge body jerked violently, sending his boot smashing through one of the buildings in the square. A cloud of dust rolled through the air followed by the calamitous collapse of debris into the streets.

“What’s going ON?” Seraysa shouted, awoken by the loud noise.

Dr. Jasta leaned forward staring at the screen intensely, “He’s dreaming...”

They all looked across the room when the thick bundles of cords attached to Merco’s head began to slide outside. He was rolling over. In short order the cords were pulled taut outside the building.

“Oh...no.” Dr. Jasta’s hands flew to the monitor, quickly touching the icons for the education probes. “We’ve got to disconnect before he rips it out of the machine!”

An uncomfortable groan of plastic and metal sounded as the cords were stretched. The metal on the side of the machine popped as it started to buckle. With quick action, Verin leaped from his chair and ran to where the cord was secured to the probe monitor. He feverishly began unlatching the mechanism.

“Verin WAIT!” Dr. Jasta protested but the last fastener released, sending the cord whipping violently around, striking him.

The young Ansheetan fell hard, blue blood staining his arm. He lay on the floor shivering with pain.

“VERIN!” Seraysa shouted.

A second loud impact shook the facility as Merco thrashed again.

“MERCO! WAKE UP!” Seraysa screamed, trying to fly outside.

Dr. Jasta caught her arm and pulled her down under the monitor desk, “No! It’s too dangerous! Get down!”

Merco suddenly sat up violently and roared something in his language. His powerful arm swung out, crashing into the Temple of Emergence with violent force. The impact shook all of them, almost making their heads hurt from the aftershock. The groan of metal and the shattering of glass filled the air until it went quiet. Debris clattered outside. Merco’s huge, panicked breaths echoed around them.

...

Merco was fighting his faceless familiar attackers. They were holding him down. A blade was at his neck. His men were screaming in agony somewhere nearby, screaming for him to help them. No...it wasn’t his men...it was his sons.

Tony...Martin.

They were screaming for him, begging him to help them. With violence he struck one of his attackers across the jaw with his arm. It shattered like glass.

“LET THEM GO!” he shouted.

And he was awake, soaked in cold sweat. He was breathing hard, trying to orient himself.

Where was he? Where were Martin and Tony?

At once he felt a slight pain in his right arm. He looked over, seeing it embedded in the side of Dr. Jasta’s facility. Glass and metal bent and twisted around his forearm, cutting his skin. Merco’s arm pulled away, shaking with disbelief and horror at what he’d done.

No...NO...NO.

He glanced around him noting similar areas of destruction near his feet and legs. With fast movement, he pulled his legs up closer to his chest as if to avoid any further accidents. Haphazardly the cords on his head dangled in his eyes causing him to tear them off thoughtlessly and casting them aside.

Immediately he leaned downward, peeking inside the facility. His tone was full of worry and concern, “Pixie? Verin? Dr. Jasta?”

“Merco?” Pixie’s voice called back.

Then he saw her appearing from under a desk with Jasta following. She looked shell-shocked.

“Are you... all right?” he asked gently, his voice hitching.

He spotted Verin, sitting up and holding his arm which was bleeding light blue.

“Verin! You’re hurt!”

The young Ansheetan grimaced but waved his good arm, “It’s...nothing. Just got cut by the metal on the cord. That’s all.”

Pixie and Jasta came to Verin’s side, checking him.

“The cut is deep. It’ll need to be sealed. But it’s not broken.” Jasta confirmed. “You shouldn’t have tried to unfasten that cord like that.”

“Yeah...stupid.” Verin agreed, wincing.

“I-I’m sorry...it was a nightmare I-I didn’t mean to...” Merco apologized in a voice full of regret.

He hadn’t had a PTSD nightmare for a while and he’d been so eager to learn the Ansheetan language he didn’t pause to consider the dangerous ramifications of sleeping within the city walls. He’d let down his guard...and now he had done the very thing he promised not to do. All the good things the Ansheetans had given him and he repaid them with injury and destruction? His hands were shaking. The buildings around him were damaged in multiple ways; holes, craters, broken arches, shattered glass. He couldn’t see any others injured but several frightened Ansheetans were either fleeing or flocking out to see what had happened.

“Merco? Are you alright?” Pixie asked, approaching him.

“Why have you done this?” a voice shouted near him.

Merco could see several Ansheetans appearing, “I-I had a nightmare...I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“The Elder said you were peaceful!” someone else accused.

“Look at what you’ve done!”

“Why are you trying to kill us?”

“Why don’t you go back where you came from and stop destroying our homes!”

“I-I’m sorry. I really am. I didn’t mean to hurt anything.” Merco tried to explain.

Pixie tried to defend him but Merco knew it wouldn’t do any good. Their trust for him was just as wrecked as the buildings around him. He needed to remove himself from the situation. He stood up in a hurry and marched down the street back toward the wall.

“Merco! Wait!” Pixie called after him.

But he ignored her. He couldn’t be in this city...he would hurt more Ansheetans if he remained. All his efforts to be careful and gentle were subsequently eliminated with one unconscious act. They’d never trust him now. He’d broken his promise to them and to himself. He needed to get away from Anashee as swiftly and safely as possible.

When Merco got to the wall, he put his hands on it and vaulted his long legs over the side. He landed hard on his feet on the opposite side and found the little road that led away from the city. He followed it, making his strides long without running. A few traveled the roads but they fled long before he came to them. He sidestepped the bridge and traipsed through the river lands until he got across to the road again.

“Merco!” he could hear Pixie calling him distantly, “Merco come back!”

He didn’t answer her and kept going, knowing she wouldn’t be able to keep up with him. All he wanted right now was to be left alone and to leave. He’d almost made it to the end of the path where the slanted rocks came together when Anu and Traynar flew like bullets in front of him.

“Merco! What happened? Where are you going?” Traynar called out to him with arms raised.

He didn’t look at either of them. Briskly he walked through them, causing them to quickly part to the side.

“Stay away from me.” Merco warned in a far-off voice, “I might hurt you too.”

“Wait! What do you mean, ‘hurt you too’?” Anu shouted, darting in front of his face. “What happened?”

He weaved his head around her and began squeezing through the rock opening.

Merco briefly glanced back at them, “Please extend my gratitude to Elder Felreh for all the hospitality and let her know I didn’t intend for any of this to happen... but it would be best if I didn’t come to Anashee anymore. For your safety.”