Stranded on a Tiny Planet
Chapter 17: Nightmares and Soup

At the lake, nightfall...

It was dark by the time Seraysa and Verin reached Anashee Lake. Of course, being a large lake, they weren’t sure what part they had reached, but they made it.

Seraysa tried to see any indication of her giant friend but it was too dark to see much of anything. He could be right behind them and they’d never see him. However, she did listen for the deep, telltale rush of his breathing she knew all too well. That he couldn’t hide; not at his size. But all she could hear was the gentle patter of water droplets falling from the trees.

Verin was out of breath as he rummaged in his bag for a light, “Come on Seraysa. Let’s replace a place to rest. We won’t be able to replace anything this late...and I’m tired.”

“Do you think we beat the EFP here?” she asked.

He shrugged, “Probably. They wouldn’t be able to fly at all during the storm...and they don’t fly at night either unless it’s dire, so I think we’re ahead of them.”

“I hope so.”

She still wanted to look for Merco, but her body was spent for energy. Rest was what was needed now. They would try to replace him when the suns rose.

Verin found his light and it glowed a whitish blue.

He shouldered his bag and began to walk slowly toward the trees, “Let’s replace someplace to rest-OOF!" his voice extended when he suddenly fell down.

Seraysa ran to help him up “Verin! Are you ok?”

His “borrowed” EFP uniform was covered in mud as he pushed himself up, “Yeah.” He looked at his muddy state, “[Sigh]...I don’t think I’m going to be able to return this.”

As he got up and shown the light around, Seraysa suddenly noticed something and said, ”That big.”

“What?”

She pointed around him, “That’s how big his foot is.”

At first Verin was confused, but slowly he began to see the clean edges of the depression around him. His dark eyes widened with realization: he’d fallen in a footprint.

“No...way.” He whispered, spinning his light in a calculated circle.

“Merco was here!” Seraysa exclaimed.

Despite how tired he was, Verin was already measuring and calculating as he observed the massive footprint.

“Wow...oh wow! He’s way bigger than I thought...oh...way bigger,” he gaped as the numbers danced and then became ordered in his brain.

Seraysa had to smile at her brother’s scientific enthusiasm, “Just wait until you meet him.”

His plumage lowered a bit, “M-meet him? I-I don’t know...” He stepped out of the footprint and then gestured with his light, “Come on. Let’s replace someplace to sleep. Lucky for us I’m prepared. Got two heated sleeping pouches for us.”

"Borrowed sleeping pouches?” Seraysa’s tone was teasing.

“Maybe...at least we won’t get cold.” He argued.

Together they searched until they found a nice niche in a fallen, dead tree that wasn’t too wet. As they uncanned their sleeping pouches, Seraysa promised herself that at first light she would begin her search. With any lucky she’d be able to warn Merco before the EFP arrived.

...

Pela Canyon about that same time...

After the rescue, Anu had returned to where she left Traynar with two of the settlement’s medics. They had offered to take care of Traynar’s injury once the injuries of their people were attended. Two deaths, a few broken limbs, and minor injuries was the report; much less than what would’ve happened if Merco had not aided them.

When they arrived, Merco was asleep, arms crossed across his chest, leaning back against the canyon wall.

Anu still didn’t know why he left the scene so abruptly. The Pela settlement had been very grateful for his help and despite their initial fear of him, expressed their desire to honor his deed. But his sudden departure left everyone puzzled. Was he simply tired and needed rest? Despite the enormity of what he’d done, it didn’t seem a strenuous task for him. Anu couldn’t begin to guess what was going on in his alien mind.

When Traynar saw them he seemed shocked, “Anu?”

“Long story, Traynar. I’ll tell you later. These medics are from the Pela settlement and they are here to help you,” she explained, sitting beside him.

The medics set to work on Traynar immediately. Being from a mining community their clothes were made from the fibers of bio-luminescent fungi that grew in the caverns below, so they were glowing with a blue to purple light. They produced more light when they began to examine Traynar.

The slice across his abdomen was fairly deep and needed to be melded with fresh connective tissue. After removing the bandage, one of the medics cleaned and disinfected the wound whilst the other prepared the melding device. When ready, the stick-like device lit up and expelled a clear, connective tissue culture across the wound. Traynar hissed with pain but held onto Anu’s hand for comfort. The clear goo filled the gaps and then the device switched over to its second mode which would activate the culture and meld it to Traynar’s tissues, thus sealing the wound. With time the culture would replicate with Traynar’s own cells and form new tissue. Only a small mark would remain.

“Your pain receptors have been dulled for now. You should be able to move easier for a while.” One of the medics explained, “Just don’t get into any fights or strenuous activity until it starts to look like the color of your skin.”

Traynar sat up and blinked, noting the horrible pain in his middle felt duller now, “Can I fly?”

“It should be all right...just no stunts. And don’t push yourself. The pain will come back for a bit but should lessen as it heals.” He concluded.

“Thank you.”

Anu touched her forehead to his, relieved he’d been properly cared for.

“Is he...supposed to be doing that?” one of the medics asked, voice laced with fear as she stared at Merco.

Anu and Traynar looked over at Merco whom was still asleep but was twitching sporadically. His arm flinched, his head lolled, and behind his eyelids his eyes were darting.

“He’s dreaming.” Traynar stated.

Merco grimaced and his huge body flexed, cracking the canyon wall behind him.

“Doesn’t look like a good dream,” the other medic concluded, starting to back away.

Suddenly, the twitching morphed into full blown thrashing. Anu, Traynar, and the two medics all throttled backward with cries of fear when the giant alien threw his arms in a blind punching motion and his titanic body slammed back against the canyon wall. The force caused a landslide behind him as he erratically stood up. Then he collapsed on his side with a quaking [Boom!]. His legs and arms thrashed as if he was trying to get away from something. And then...he woke up. On his back, stretched out, hands up, his gigantic chest heaved fearful gusts of wind. His eyes darted to the sides of their sockets until he closed them, muttering something under his breath. Gradually his breathing slowed down and his arms dropped their defensive poise. He sat up, paused, and put a hand across the span of his eyes. A hollow sigh left him.

...

They were everywhere. His enemies. Faceless but familiar. They were killing his comrades. They were trying to kill him. Explosions on the left. Blood sprayed his face. Was it his? Whose blood was it? His arm...where was his arm? They were grabbing him...his faceless familiar enemies... tearing him apart.

Suddenly, it stopped. He was awake. His heart slapped against the back of his ribs aggressively. His hands were up, fending off...no one.

He closed his eyes and counted . ”One...two...Slow down. Slow your breathing. three...four...You’re not in battle. Five...six...the war is over. Seven...eight...nine...you lived. You’re all right... ten.”

The veteran sat up a bit disoriented but winding down. He covered his eyes with a hand.

His lungs finally calmed their panicked fervor as he gently exhaled, “Shit.”

Another war nightmare. He should’ve known he’d have one and it would be bad considering earlier. Why couldn’t his mind leave that shit dead and buried? Why did he have to relive it almost every night? The war had been over for decades dammit! The psychological exercises only seemed to calm the episodes, but they sure as Hell didn’t prevent the damned night terrors.

...

The four Ansheetans were huddled together when Merco finally ceased his violent outburst. None could deny they were shaking after the ordeal. Luckily, he had been far enough away that they were unharmed by his intense struggle. But it was no less traumatic to witness.

“Has he ever done that before?” one of the medics asked fearfully.

Anu remembered distinctly the first time she came close to Merco, trying to replace the chrysalis. He had lashed out in that same manner.

“Yes. He...he acted like he was fighting something.”

“Whatever scares him, I don’t want to know.” The second medic admitted.

Seeing the giant alien calmer, Anu flew over to him despite her mate’s protest.

His huge form was hunched over, face covered.

“Merco?” she said his name since it would get his attention.

Slowly, he uncovered his eyes, hand dropping down to his chin, “Hey, Anu.” Then his head perked, eyes scanning, “Are you all right? I didn’t hurt anyone, did I?”

She didn’t understand him of course, but his tone sounded concerned. After a moment, his eyes lowered again, face a mask of shame or sadness. He made a fist and rested his brow against his knuckles. He then began speaking to her but Anu didn’t comprehend a rumbling word.

“Sorry if I frightened you. I don’t know why I do this...I wish I didn’t. The war...it’s just a part of me and I can’t get rid of it.”

He sounded sad...regretful.

It took some mental convincing, but Anu slowly floated close to his fist and laid her own hand against one of his rock-hard knuckles. At the light contact his eyes opened and he peeked around his fist at her. She raised and then lowered her head plumage expressively and repeated it several times. To Ansheetans it was a gesture that said, ‘I am here. It’s going to be all right.’ He probably didn’t understand. And yet his expression softened, his mouth curving up slightly.

“Is he ok?” one of the medics called over.

“Yes. I think so.” Anu confirmed loudly.

“Will he be coming back?” the other asked.

“I...don’t know.” Anu admitted.

Traynar looked at them, “Coming back? What do you mean?”

“He saved eighteen Pela citizens from a landslide tonight. We wanted to honor him with a ceremony and our Crackling Rain Soup.”

Traynar seemed shocked but soon realized this is probably what Anu was going to tell him, “And...no one is panicked? Warning Anashee?”

The other medic shook her head adamantly, “Not after what he did. You should’ve seen it! We never would’ve saved those eighteen before they suffocated. He moved that entire landslide away like it was dust and pebbles!”

The male medic seemed confused, “You mean Anashee doesn’t know of him?”

“Oh, they know of him. The city has been locked down ever since his arrival. Had you not heard?”

“Only in rumor. But we’ve been so busy lately with the ore and fungus harvest that we haven’t dwelled on it. We usually get overlooked down here by Anashee when it comes to news.” The male medic stated honestly, “Anashee is really closed up?”

“Five sunsets now.”

“Well that explains why our traders haven’t come back on schedule. We all thought they were having too much fun in Anashee and were late coming back.” The female said.

“Don’t you have communications down here?” Traynar seemed confused by their lack of knowledge.

“It’s outdated...and frankly we can’t get any good signals down here. We were supposed to get a new system with this latest trade but...”

Traynar nodded with understanding.

“So Anashee is locked down because of him?” the female asked.

Traynar nodded again, “The EFP has been watching him and we were ordered not to reveal ourselves in the hope that he’d move on and never discover us. That...backfired. Now Anu and I are familiar with him and the storm drove us here. But...last I knew...the general consensus in Anashee is that he is a monster and will destroy us.”

“But...he’s not. A monster wouldn’t have done what he did.” The female argued.

Traynar gestured to Anu, “My mate hopes to prove that same thing to our leaders so there won’t be a panic. That’s what we’re trying to avoid.”

The male medic then mentioned, “You all must come to Pela settlement. Your mate is also to be honored for her service, evacuating the trapped citizens.”

Traynar smiled at that. Usually it was he who rushed into danger during a crisis, but his Anu had apparently proven herself a capable rescuer. He couldn’t help but feel pride for her.

Meanwhile, as they talked briefly, Anu was trying to convey to Merco that they were invited back to the settlement.

...

Anu’s light touch to his knuckle was as soft as a down feather brushing his skin. But it was enough to make him stare at the tiny being floating before him. She did a funny up and down motion with her head plumage repetitively and Merco wasn’t sure what it meant. However, her touch he understood. She was trying to comfort him. He gave her a small smile.

Then the aliens off to the side began talking to her and with Traynar whom was now standing. Merco wasn’t sure how that had happened since the male alien had been immobile since he’d first found them. He could only guess that the two newcomers had something to do with it. Despite the darkness, he could see the newcomers easily. Their clothes glowed with a bright blue-violet light, like a couple living glow sticks but much brighter.

As they talked, Anu patted his knuckle until he looked at her. She flew back and then away from him, gesturing for him to ‘come with her’. He wasn’t sure why she wanted him to go.

“What?”

She flew toward him and back again. At first his brain concocted the idea that there were more little aliens in need of rescue, but her body language wasn’t frantic, nor urgent. It felt more...casual.

Gradually he stood up, “O-K. Where are we going and why?”

Though he felt silly for asking, he was almost asking himself. Anu repeated the action until he stepped after her. Then, the two glowing aliens began walking back through the canyon, their suits seeming to light the way. Traynar slowly ascended into the air, like someone who hadn’t walked in a long while, but he joined Anu in the air. Without knowing why, Merco followed them back through the canyon.

“What the Hell...I’m awake now anyway.” he thought with bemusement.

It wasn’t long before he could see more light at the end of the canyon; the same place they’d come from before. He still couldn’t shake the idea that they were needing his help...perhaps? The two glowing aliens ran ahead toward the light whilst Anu and Traynar flew at a steady pace ahead of him. It wasn’t until he banked the corner that a high pitched keen echoed across the canyon walls. Merco stopped instantly in his tracks, thinking it was screams. But the more he listened to it the less it sounded like cries of terror. It sounded like a chorus of whistles. Anu turned and gestured for him to keep coming. He raised a suspicious brow at her but stepped out from the channel that opened into the settlement. The numerous whistles increased in intensity.

Merco squint his eyes ahead and saw hundreds of little aliens congregated together near the walkways, lights, and openings of their dwellings. Rows and rows of them lined up on the canyon wall walkways as well as crowds on the canyon floor. They were all making a whistling noise and every eye was on him.

He felt his eyes widen slightly, mostly from bewilderment. What was this? What was going on?

...

When they approached the Pela mining settlement it appeared that the entire population was gathered. Lights from the walkways and their bio-luminescent clothes lit up the dark. A cheering whistle greeted them signaling the crowd’s elation at their arrival. Anu and Traynar felt themselves smile at the welcome. But when Anu turned she saw that Merco had stopped, frozen in place. His eyes seemed to bear confusion as he looked around.

Anu flew into his sight line and reassuringly said, “Come on Merco!”

But the giant alien didn’t move.

...

It was then that Merco came to a guess that this was some sort of celebration. And he...was the guest of honor. But he felt uncomfortable with the whole scenario.

He shook his head and waved a dismissive hand, “No. No. No-no-no. I-I don’t need this...this...is unnecessary.”

He stepped backward in an effort to leave, but Anu darted forward and grabbed the lip of his gray shirt pocket. Forcefully she tugged toward the gathering.

“Anu... I don’t need this.” Merco protested.

But she wasn’t being denied as she kept pulling at him. Of course, should he choose, he could easily walk away no matter what she did. But... it would probably insult the natives if he didn’t attend.

He sighed with defeat, “All right Anu. All right. I’m coming.”

With marked, careful steps he approached the gathering. He felt like a lion approaching a group of mice. Any sudden movement could frighten them and send them scurrying. It was an uneasy feeling. Although... they did seem glad to see him, rather than terrified. And he didn’t think Anu and Traynar would lead him into a place where he wasn’t welcomed.

Finally, when he felt he shouldn’t get much closer, Anu turned and made a lower gesture with her hands, indicating he could sit down.

Merco checked behind and around him meticulously before he did so. With slow movements he knelt down on his knees, placed a hand to the ground beside him, and lowered himself into a sitting position; one knee raised and the other curled down on the ground. His prosthetic draped over his raised knee while his other hand carefully rested in his lap. He did his best to keep his movements casual and restrained. He didn’t want to shake them off of their walkways or have a careless limb crush anyone. Other than the first rescue this was the first time he’d been around so many of the natives of this world. He definitely wanted to make a good impression and not make himself out to be a lumbering brute.

When he was settled he still felt the countless eyes watching him. His own eyes looked around a moment before averting from the awkwardness. Anu and Traynar landed on the ground gracefully and were presented chairs to sit in. Then, one of the green skinned aliens strode forward. He was dressed in a different sort of uniform than what Anu and Traynar wore and the tall, feather-like scales adorning his head were tipped with yellow.

A chief or leader? Perhaps a religious figure?

He spoke to the gathering with a raised voice, gesturing grandly and broadly to him and Anu. The gathered crowd listened and then when he finished speaking they raised that whistling sound again.

Perhaps...that’s their version of applause?

Merco watched as the crowd of little aliens parted and several groups marched through the opening carrying between them large metal cauldrons of what looked like a clear soup with colorful pieces floating in it. The smell of it caressed Merco’s nose and he instantly remembered it from earlier.

“So that’s what I was smelling. Smells really good.” Merco thought to himself.

There were ten kettles of soup brought out and placed in front of Merco. To him they weren’t much bigger than a small shot glass, for the natives each one would hold enough soup to feed most gathered there to satisfaction. That thought alone humbled him and made him feel uncomfortable at the same time. He was hungry and the soup smelled wonderful, but he felt bad taking so much from them. Were they giving him all they had? Would it put a strain on their community? Would they go hungry tonight because of him? Troublesome questions that made his appetite wane.

The food bearers stepped back, and they all stared almost expectantly at him.

“That’s...very kind of you. But I can’t accept such generosity,” he admitted, waving his hand.

The little aliens all looked around confused by his foreign speech and then to Anu, but she had no translation. Merco sighed, not sure how to tell them he didn’t want to eat them out of house and home...that he was trying to not be a burden to them.

Anu then stood from her seat, spoke to one of the food bearers, and they produced a bowl and ladle for her. She scooped out a portion into the bowl, held it up for Merco to see, and then drank some.

Did she think that he believed the soup was poisoned and he wanted to see them eat it first? What a morbid thought.

He pondered a moment and then decided his next action. Reaching out with his gloved prosthesis, he picked up one of the cauldrons between his fingers. He smelled the hot odor wafting from the pot. He couldn’t pinpoint the scent, but it had deep tones of meat, higher vegetable smelling aromas and something else he didn’t know. Gently he blew on the hot liquid for several moments, swirling it to get it properly cooled throughout.

He had a split-second thought of his not-so-pleasant experience with other world cuisine. He hoped this one wouldn’t upset his stomach.

His lips experimentally gripped the edge of the pot and he sampled a taste. Merco smacked his lips gently to let the taste cover his tongue. For a split second it felt like the watery base was made with something carbonated as it tingled on his tongue, but it faded quickly. Then the warm, rich taste came in. It definitely tasted like a meaty, vegetable soup but with a sharpness and spice that was completely new to him. He liked it.

His eyebrows raised approvingly, “Mmm. That’s good.”

With a quick tip, he dumped the entire contents of the cauldron into his mouth, savored it a moment, then swallowed.

A collective gasp sounded from the crowd. Merco’s eyes darted at the awkwardness of being watched. He felt like an exotic animal being watched at the zoo; minus the cage. He placed the empty vessel down and took a second one and drained it in a similar fashion.

By the time he emptied the fifth one he made a conscious decision. Pointedly he plucked up each of the five remaining cauldrons of soup and set them closer to the gathered aliens. They backed away from his hand but stared at what he was doing. He then pointed to the five cauldrons and gestured around to the crowd and then back to the soup. The leader with the yellow tipped crest seemed perplexed but then gestured back with spread hands to the soup and then to him, indicating that it was for him.

But Merco shook his head, motioning again for them to partake of the rest. True it had only been five mouthfuls and he could easily eat the rest, but he couldn’t shake the guilt nagging at him. To enunciate his gesture, he patted his stomach and waved his hand to show he was full...even though it was a lie.

Looks of bewilderment passed between many of the green and lavender aliens. After a moment they raised a loud collective whistle and the leader began calling out orders. Several members of the crowd left, but soon returned carrying bowls and utensils to distribute. The food bearers now became servers as the lines for soup formed behind each huge pot.

A satisfied smile curved Merco’s mouth as he watched the crowd get fed.

Yeah...that felt good to see.

As he watched the crowd feed itself, he noticed a couple small groups approach him directly. They were cautious in their movements but Anu met them, spoke to them a moment, and then led them closer. Merco watched them intently, holding very still until Anu said his name, pointed to the group, and then pointed back to where the landslide had occurred. Merco gathered that they were some of the survivors he’d helped rescue. They spoke to him and lowered their plumage in a motion that Merco could only guess showed gratitude. He nodded his head deeply to them in almost a bow.

One of the males in the group boldly stepped forward, said something with large eyes, and held up a hand to him. Merco very slowly held out his own hand and extended his index finger. They touched. The little alien jumped visibly and released a big breath. Merco nodded to him and the little guy soon nodded back. As near as Merco could tell it was a thank you.