Stranded on a Tiny Planet
Chapter 24: Visiting Anashee pt 1

After the aliens and Merco had eaten their fill of the fish there was just a bit left. The citizens set to work picking off every minuscule flake of meat to be saved for later. That was fine with Merco; no sense wasting anything. He was about ready to haul away the bones and other inedibles, but the aliens went to work disassembling that too. Merco watched for a time, fascinated by the ant-like efficiency. He wasn’t sure what they’d use the bones for but they obviously wanted them.

Eventually, he bid them good night and made his way back to his place in the canyon where he’d left his jacket and fishing pole, relaxed, and went to sleep for the night.

...

In Anashee the next morning...

Anu awoke with a hard stretch, yawning. She felt as if she’d slept through several sunrises. A gentle hand stroked her forehead where her plume began. She looked up and saw Traynar leaning over her bed to greet her.

"Sey-tala my love,” he greeted, touching his forehead to hers. “Did you sleep well?”

She nodded, “I almost forgot what it was like to actually sleep in our home.”

Her mate smiled and cracked his back, “Yeah. Sleeping on the ground for three days wasn’t great.”

“How’s your wound?” Anu asked.

He lifted his sleeping shirt and she examined it. The slice looked mended and wasn’t showing signs of infection.

“Hurts still...but not as bad.” He admitted.

At that moment there was a banging at their door and Traynar went to answer it. Outside were two EFP members. The yellow dots on their shoulders indicated they were part of the Elder’s personal guard.

Traynar flipped his plumage in salute and they returned it, “Traynar, Anu, you are requested by the Elder. Please come with us.”

Quickly the pair got dressed in their uniforms and were led to Elder Felreh’s place of meeting. She greeted them warmly and they sat together.

“I am going to announce the opening of Anashee’s gates. Our people will no longer be confined.”

Anu and Traynar nodded with approval.

“I believe it would be best to do this first, let Anashee breathe a sigh of relief, and then tomorrow near sunset, we will host a celebration to introduce Merco.” The Elder continued. “This will give the people time to prepare. I do not believe bringing him here without forewarning them would be wise.”

“I agree, Elder.” Anu nodded.

“As ambassador for our visitor, you will be given the responsibility to convey this invitation as well as act as liaison between Merco and the people when he arrives.” The Elder continued.

A series of tones began playing loudly over the speakers outside, signaling the Ansheetans to the main market square.

Elder Felreh rose, “I will be announcing this shortly. Please attend with me.”

Together they, along with the personal guard, flew out to ascend the huge central tree that acted as the platform for an Elder’s speeches. They all alit on a balcony that extended out from the thick, black tree. Below the square was beginning to fill as the population gathered at the tone’s calling. Several minutes passed before the Elder raised her arms and her plume to the Ansheetans below.

She spoke into the sound amplifiers before her, “Ansheetans, I offer great news this day! Our planet has a visitor from another world.”

The crowd murmured in a humming thrum.

“His name is Merco. I, Commander Madala, and these two fine members of the EFP, Anu and Traynar, have met with this alien visitor. He is a peaceful being and means us no harm.” The Elder said with gentle inflection as the crowd continued to whisper, “I come to you today to say that after this meeting I have determined that today Anashee’s gates will be reopened!”

A thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd.

When the fervor died down, the Elder continued, “Tomorrow near sunset there will be a celebration to welcome our alien visitor. Everyone is invited to attend. It is my wish that we extend friendship and an alliance with him. I thank you for your attendance.”

She raised her hand and looked around, “Open all the gates!”

Again, the crowd whistled with elation and the city was filled with talk and activity.

Elder Felreh turned to Anu, “I will see that the plans are attended here. If you could go to Merco and convey this invitation for tomorrow?”

Anu nodded.

“We will be sure to give Anashee plenty of forewarning prior to his arrival. You and Seraysa will probably be very busy tomorrow and get many questions.” She gave a small smile.

“I doubt we’ll be able to answer most of them. But we will do our best.” Anu admitted.

...

A bit later in the morning at Pela Canyon...

Seraysa and Verin were given a place to sleep at the Pela settlement for the night. When morning came, Seraysa woke up first and went out to see if Merco was up. She flew and walked through the canyon in spurts. She felt, much like exercising a muscle, that she could fly for a longer time. One day she hoped she’d get good enough that she could fly like Anu and Traynar. She didn’t necessarily want to be part of the EFP, but she did enjoy the sensation and ease it gave her when traveling.

Soon she could see Merco’s huge form filling the span of the canyon. He was laying on the softer, sandy ground on his side, his jacket piled up for a pillow under his head. A deep resonating snore echoed against the canyon walls as he slept. Seraysa approached his huge face, unafraid. She gently reached out and tapped his nose to try and wake him. But he slowly rolled over onto his back in response to the tickling sensation. His snoring continued. Seraysa flicked her plumage, deciding not to give up. She floated up and landed on his forehead, using her foot to tap him. In response, he wrinkled his forehead. The muscle movement jerked her forward and she fell onto the bridge of his nose, between his eyes. His eyes slowly opened as he groaned at the disturbance, only to feel a tiny presence straddling his nose and a tiny foot kick the corner of his eye. He flinched and closed his eyes again.

“Ach. Pixie...what are you doing?” his voice sounded irritated yet still gentle.

"Sey-tala Merco.” She greeted cheerfully as she stared into his right eye.

"Sey-tala." He returned the greeting groggily. He closed his eyes again, “Ugh. It’s too early Pixie. Go bother someone else and let me sleep.”

“Merco?” she reached down and patted his eyelid. “Come on! Wake up.”

Merco made a deep groaning, growling sound in his throat as his huge hand reached up and plucked her from his face. Seraysa thought it might mean that he was going to get up. But instead the enormous fingers encircled her completely in a loose fist before settling down on his chest. Seraysa struggled, pushing against his skin to free herself.

“Merco! Let me go!” she protested.

“Sleep Pixie. Let me sleep.” His voice shook her.

She didn’t know what he’d said but she had the feeling he was subduing her so he could continue his slumber. Seraysa wriggled until she squirmed her way out of his hand and flopped down on his rising chest. It was obvious he was not going to be disturbed for now, so she quit trying to pester him and settled down onto his chest. The familiar boom of his heartbeat was soothing to her; the first thing she remembered hearing before Emerging. Gradually she couldn’t help but fall asleep too.

A nublar later, Seraysa felt Merco’s breathing change pace beneath her which awoke her. It was faster as was his heartbeat. Before she could react, he sat up suddenly a thunderous shout deafening her. She clung to the fabric of his shirt as his chest heaved beneath her. Slowly, his breathing settled to a more normal rhythm. Seraysa grunted, trying to maintain her grip but she eventually couldn’t and slid down the giant’s chest until she settled onto his belly.

Merco blinked and looked down at her, “Oh. Sorry Pixie. Bad dream.”

“Merco!” Anu’s voice suddenly rang out from above, making Merco look.

"Sey-tala Anu, Traynar.” He greeted which they returned, landing on the ground next to him.

Seraysa greeted them as well, “What’s going on?”

Anu gestured, “They’ve opened the gates of Anashee.”

“Thank goodness.”

“Tomorrow near sunset there’s going to be a celebration and Elder Felreh wants Merco to come to Anashee.” Anu explained.

“Really?”

She nodded, “I’ve just got to get Merco to understand.”

Traynar grabbed his energy staff, “Here. We’ve done this before. Merco.”

The giant alien watched him draw the map he’d drawn before with the canyon, the lake, and Anashee. Merco nodded with remembrance. Traynar pointed to him and then to the drawing of Anashee.

“Anashee. You are going to Anashee with us.” He said.

...

A few pictures in the sand and several gestures later, Merco figured out he was being invited to what he could only assume was these aliens’ capital city. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it. On the one hand it was of course good that they weren’t seeing him as a monster to be feared and were wanting him to come. On the other hand, every horrible thing that could go wrong was playing disturbingly in Merco’s head. What if he accidentally destroyed something? What if he stepped on someone? He wasn’t sure if it was overall a good idea. But he couldn’t turn down the invitation if he wanted to foster good relations with the natives. He was, after all, going to be stranded here for a long time.

Merco wanted to make a good impression as he had with the canyon settlement so he decided he’d go to the lake and try to get the blood out of his clothes and of course have a bath. He had a tough time trying to ask if they had any soap or something of the nature to clean his clothes and himself. However, what they showed him in the forest wasn’t soap but some sort of blue colored bush that smelled almost like spearmint with a touch of floral undertones. A strange mix but not unpleasant to his nose. He picked a few of the bushes and then had to convince his little friends to not follow him there.

Pixie had eagerly landed on his shoulder and he had to gently place her back on the ground, pointing in a ‘stay’ motion. He didn’t need an audience for his bath. She looked disappointed but he had a feeling after he washed all of his clothes he’d be naked for a while whilst they dried. His little friends didn’t need to see that.

...

The next day...

Merco couldn’t get the blood all out of his shirt but at least he and his clothes both smelled nicer. He even borrowed Traynar’s energy spear and shaved his neck and trimmed his beard so he wouldn’t look like...well...an island castaway. Shaving was apparently entertaining to his friends who had watched him with rapt interest as he used the alien weapon like a tiny razor. He swore they were laughing at him as they tittered quickly at one another. It was a surprisingly good tool for it. But when he was finished he looked and felt much better about his appearance.

After he seemed ready he was led away from the canyon by Anu and Traynar whilst Pixie and Verin rode on his shoulder. The two fliers led him to what he could only assume was an Easterly direction, through the forest and away from the lake. He walked for well over an hour following his guides until he approached a mountainous area with huge dark rocks that looked like giant pieces of layered shale, jutting up from the ground at all angles. Amid them he started to see trees that were different than all the others growing. They were wide, tall trees, taller than even him with black bark. As they passed one, Merco noted that there were walkways winding around the thick trunk as well as nest-looking shops dangling from the upper branches. He could also see some of the little aliens on the spiraled walkways going around the tree.

He smiled and gave a small wave, ”Sey-tala.”

A few of the aliens watched him walk by but more dashed into the nearest doorway to hide. Merco dropped his hand, not feeling as optimistic as he tried to be. But he kept following Anu and Traynar through the rocks until they led him through a space between them. He had to squeeze through, turning sideways. He grunted and came out the other side.

Anu and Traynar had stopped and they pointed, “Anashee.”

Merco beheld the city built into a crescent of rocky mountainside. Using the mountains for two-thirds of its border wall the city spilled out from the rocks and into the valley below. The same huge black-barked trees formed skyscrapers that rose throughout the city with a particularly fat, large one at its center. Each tree was connected with vast networks of roped walkways that flowed all the way back to the mountainside. The trees were carved beautifully with curving geometric designs and were covered in small openings, like a vast bird house made to look like a high-rise. A wall made of mosaic-like bricks adorned the front of the city complete with two large gates on the top of the wall and at the base. Beyond the wall lay geometric quilts of what looked like farmland and a veiny river flowed through all of it.

Merco raised a brow and felt himself awed by the sight. It was very pretty. However, he felt a strong reluctance for getting any closer, even though they were still several miles from the gate. He felt like he was about to walk into a vast china shop filled with rare and valuable glass baubles that if touched would shatter into a million pieces. Anu and Traynar flew down and indicated what looked like a road or path off to the left. Merco looked down and noted that it was paved but he still felt hesitant.

Pixie patted his neck reassuringly and said something to him along with his name. He turned his head a bit and sighed deeply.

Here goes nothing.

Merco followed the two fliers, treading on the path one foot in front of the other as if he were tip toeing on a tight rope. The path wasn’t much wider than his boot and whatever it was paved with seemed to hold up fine even under his weight.

So far so good.

Slowly and tediously he walked along, keeping his eyes down to ensure he wasn’t going to step on anything he shouldn’t; number one concern was to avoid stepping on someone. It was already stressful and he wasn’t even next to the city where the population was yet! With every step he drew closer and closer to Anashee but they hadn’t seen anyone using the road.

He came to the river and a little bridge that spanned the lands cut by the waterway. Though the bridge was wide enough for both of his feet to sit side by side he stopped immediately, not trusting its structural integrity against his weight. Last he knew, Merco weighed shy of two hundred and forty pounds at six foot three inches. He used to weigh more in his military days but he’d lost a bit of weight as he aged. On this planet he had no idea how that translated to tonnage and he had no intention to replace out. The river wasn’t wide in and of itself, but it consisted of many tiny branches that flowed through a marshy valley that fed the surrounding farmland. He could’ve jump it when he was younger but his knees weren’t great anymore and if he accidentally fell...

“Yeah...better not. Guess I’ll have to go through it.”

Arching his feet up like he was wearing high heels he stepped to the side of the bridge and all but tip toed across the marshy expanse. Despite his care, his boots left deep muddy holes that filled with water and merged several of the river’s branches as he crossed.

“Well...damn.”

In about four or five stretched steps he arrived on drier ground with muddy boot soles. He turned back and made a face at the craters he’d formed. But, none of his friends scolded him or gave a look of protest so he guessed it was ok.

Beyond the river was the patchwork of what looked like fields. All kinds of exotic alien plants of every hue grew in neat contained rows. Anu flew down over a pink looking field gracefully and fetched up something before flying back up to Merco’s eye level. She held up...something...it looked like a magenta squash with tentacles all over it. Merco couldn’t help but make an uncomfortable expression. She clicked in what sounded like a laugh and took a bite from the strange piece of produce. It appeared she liked it. She held it up to him and he held out his hand to accept it. This time she didn’t startle and dropped it into his awaiting palm. Merco rolled it around until he could get a grip on it. Suspicious he smelled the alien fruit...vegetable...thing...but it didn’t smell like anything. He popped it into his mouth and crushed it with his teeth. The second he did a foul, acrid taste assaulted his tongue. Merco’s eyes got big and he spit it out fast, making a face of disgust.

“Oh God...tastes like a sweaty sock.” He all but choked.

Anu looked horrified but then she seemed to laugh at his expression. Verin and Pixie were twittering with what sounded like laughter too on his shoulder. He wiped the offensive taste from his tongue with the collar of his shirt and shivered.

“Thanks...but that’s a hard nope for me.” He admitted. “You like that?”

The little aliens seemed to still be laughing at him but eventually Anu and Traynar resumed their flight ahead of him.

He followed and noted that he hadn’t seen anyone out and about in the fields or on the road. Perhaps they’d been warned about his visit and were staying out of his way? Perhaps...they were hiding? Not that he was complaining. It made walking much less stressful without tiny bodies near his feet. But he wondered if they were afraid of him. He wouldn’t be surprised if that was true; he probably did look like a giant monster to them. It took almost three days and several encounters for Anu and Traynar not to flinch anytime he moved. Pixie had only been briefly afraid but she had just hatched from her cocoon and probably didn’t know any better. The aliens from the canyon had been afraid of him until he saved a few of them from a landslide. Now he was about to be thrust amongst a bigger population who had yet to see him. True he’d been invited by the leader, but would they still panic? Would they all hide from him? Merco certainly didn’t want to start a riot or a panic by just showing up.

Soon they were almost at the front gates of Anashee which came up to Merco’s waist. On the top of the wall Merco could see sentries stationed at most of the points that surrounded the city all dressed in uniforms like Anu and Traynar wore.

“That must mean Anu and Traynar are part of Anashee’s military or guard force?” Merco surmised in his head.

They had seen him coming from miles away and looked stiff with readiness as he approached. Merco could also see lots of the little aliens crowding the parapet just behind the wall, eyes boring into him. It was very quiet...awkwardly quiet. The fearful anticipation was palpable. Merco stopped abruptly, making Pixie and Verin grip his shirt tightly. He was probably ten yards from the wall and didn’t feel comfortable walking right up to it.

“That would probably freak them out. Just...be cool. Quiet.” He thought carefully to himself.

It was like trying to approach a deer; stillness and silence would bring them closer...walking up to them would make them flee. Merco swallowed nervously and then slowly lowered himself to the ground and sat in a casual recline, careful not to jar his shoulder passengers. Then he waited quietly.

From the front gate on the top arch he saw a small group float up. The distinct golden robe of the leader whom he’d met with him a couple days ago caught Merco’s eye. Anu and Traynar flew to meet them. After a moment the golden robed leader shouted out over what sounded like a speaker system that echoed through the city walls. Merco heard his name but didn’t understand anything beyond that.

And then the lower gates opened.