Stranded on a Tiny Planet

The high-pitched echo that hit Merco was unbearable; like a microphone feedback accompanied by a migraine. He dropped his head, instantly regretting agreeing to whatever they were trying to do to him. He was seconds from ripping the devices from his head when it seemed to fade away to a softer buzz that was no longer unpleasant. Merco opened his eyes as the whispering, dull sound seemed to surround him in either ear. Then it felt like a tingle was running across and around his skull in waves. It was strange...but not horrid like the first sensation. Then, in a minute or so the lighted cables ceased their pulsing glow and the sensation stopped.

And then it happened.

“Hello Merco, how are you feeling today?” Pixie asked clear as a bell...and he understood her!

The man was shocked and could only utter, “What...the Hell?”

How...how was he able to suddenly understand her? What was really weird was he knew what to say back.

“I...am fine thank you.” He replied in a language he never knew he spoke.

Equally strange was those two phrases plus “I don’t feel well” were understood in that language too, but nothing else. He stared at the cords attached to him with bewilderment. Now he understood what was going on. The whole setup was a way to teach him their alien language...and it worked! Now he wanted to learn more.

He smiled beside himself and gestured to the device, making an urging motion to get more from it. His friends seemed equally excited when he replied. Jasta was giving orders again and then Pixie looked at him with bright eyes. She pointed to the cords on his head, made a gesture of ‘sleeping’, and expanded her arms wide.

“So...I need to sleep to learn more?” he guessed.

The problem now was he wasn’t the least bit tired, if anything he was excited by the prospect of understanding his alien friends. It was then that a large group brought him some more of the same material that he used for a pillow last night and a second group carried the same thing but a bit bigger. They set the second one down and touched a panel near its side. Like a self-inflating air mattress, the green material unfolded itself into a mat big enough to service his torso but not his legs. They also brought what was essentially a large metal pot filled with some sort of liquid. Jasta pointed to it, made a drinking gesture, and closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.

“A sleeping aid?” Merco asked, picking up the tiny vessel to smell it but it didn’t give off any noticeable odor.

He shrugged, “Well...ok. As long as you don’t mind me sleeping here in your city?”

Carefully he placed the mat under his back and the pillow where he would lay his head right beside the building. Then with a quick tip he swallowed the liquid and winced hard at its sharp bitterness.

“Ugh. That’s worse than cheap vodka.” He groaned with a shake of his head.

Taking care of his surroundings he laid down on the improvised ‘yoga mat’, stretching his legs out as the warmth began to creep into his stomach and spread out. He exhaled and stared up at the sky, waiting. Then sleep wrapped around him like a fluffy blanket, pulling him down into the dark.

...

Dr. Jasta was indeed prepared when he produced the sleeping accoutrements and sleeping aid for Merco. Somehow, deep down, he had a feeling it would work so he wanted to be prepared for a full educational session. He turned to Verin who had been with him since yesterday helping to make the preparations.

“Congratulations young Verin. Your theory seems to have worked.” he smiled.

The young Ansheetan was beside himself with excitement when Merco responded in their language. He couldn’t keep his crest from fluffing up with elation. And now he was being complimented by Dr. Jasta, a scientist of great repute!

“Greatest day of my life,” was all he could say.

When Merco had fallen asleep the new language lessons were being organized. First he would learn basic words and phrases and they would build from there until he had a firm grasp of their language. It was uncertain how many sessions it would take. Chrysalis language lessons varied depending on the individual as some could absorb faster than others. Merco would probably need several sessions but Dr. Jasta had no way of knowing how many yet. Perhaps, conversely, they could even learn his language and make education probe lessons for it in the future? In any case it was a major breakthrough and victory for he, Verin, and the team.

...

Later that night...

When Merco’s eyes fluttered open it was getting dark.

How long had he been asleep?

He sat up groggily as his head felt weird, almost hung over. As his hand came up to his head he felt the wires attached there.

“Merco! You’re awake!” Pixie’s voice called out from his right side.

He glanced down at her, eyebrows raised when he understood her.

“Pixie...I can understand you!” he all but whispered.

She floated up to his eye level fast with a smile brightening her delicate features, “You can?”

“Yeah. This...this is incredible!” he announced. “I’m...I’m speaking your language.”

It was the strangest sensation, speaking the language. It was like a skill he’d acquired long ago, forgot, and then remembered again. Listening to the pace at which Pixie spoke he felt like he was talking in slow motion. He held up his hand and Pixie delicately landed on it like a friendly bird.

Merco smiled gently at her, “I’ve wanted to talk to you for a long time.”

“Me too.” She giggled at him, “Your accent sounds funny.”

“I...have an accent?” Merco hadn’t realized.

She nodded and then asked, “How do you feel?”

“Um. Strange.” He admitted.

“That may be because of the information overload.” Dr. Jasta appeared. “You absorbed much more language than I thought you would in one session.”

Dr. Jasta floated up and looked closely in Merco’s eyes, waving his hand to test their response.

“Absorbed...so I learned this in my sleep?”

He nodded, “Are you feeling any symptoms? Headache, nausea, muscle fatigue?”

“Headache...but not a bad one.” Merco admitted. “Is that normal?”

“For you...who can say? I’m just learning this too.” He floated back down to the monitors, “You may remove the sensors if you want. Just be gentle with them.”

With careful movements, Merco placed Pixie on his knee before he removed the cords and nodes from his head. He itched and massaged his scalp once he put them down.

“I hate to be a bother, but I’m very thirsty.” Merco admitted.

Dr. Jasta pointed to a “large” metal vessel similar to the one he’d taken the sleeping aid from, “The fountains out front have fresh water. You are welcome to have some.”

Merco took the tiny shot glass sized cup and did so, drinking well over fifteen cups worth before his thirst was slaked.

“Wow.” Pixie said; impressed.

Merco shrugged, “I was thirsty.”

“When you’re ready to sleep again Merco, you can return here and we’ll give you more of these lessons.” Dr. Jasta explained. “That is, if you’re feeling up to it.”

“Uh, sure.”

The tall alien smiled up at him, “This is truly a breakthrough. Thank you for allowing us to try it.”

“Thank you for...teaching me.”

Jasta made a motion with his hand above, “I believe our Elder and your friends have many questions for you. I certainly will later.”

Merco glanced to where he gestured and from above a group of aliens was descending to the square where he was sitting. The golden robed leader was among them.

There were also many other aliens beginning to gather in the adjoining streets looking at him. It seemed a crowd had arrived inexplicably.

“What’s going on Pixie?” Merco asked as she landed on his shoulder.

“That’s Elder Felreh. She’s our leader.” Pixie explained, landing on his shoulder. “She is wanting to speak with you. I guess everyone else came because they’re curious.”

“Elder Felreh.” Merco already knew the name but not the title associated.

The group landed near him, guards and attendants as well as Elder Felreh, Anu, Traynar, and another female dressed in a distinct maroon uniform.

Pixie pointed to her, “That is Commander Madala. She commands the EFP.”

“EFP?” the letters sounded strange in the language.

“Elite Flying Patrol.”

“So...military?”

Pixie nodded, “Anu and Traynar are members of the EFP. They are some of the best fliers in Anashee and they help defend it.”

“From me?” Merco inquired.

“Not anymore.” Pixie assured, patting his neck.

Merco wondered if Commander Madala was the one who ordered the attack on him. Not that he held any grudges, but he was cautious of her view of him. In his experience it was never good to get on the bad side of any higher ranking military officer.

After a few moments of settling and setting up some chairs the group looked to Merco.

“Hello, Merco.” Elder Felreh greeted him, “I’ve been told your first lessons in our language went well.”

Merco bowed his head respectfully and said what he’d been wanting to convey since yesterday, “Yes, Elder Felreh. I want to thank you for inviting me to your fine city and giving me so much. You have been very generous. I only hope I can repay you in some way.”

The group gathered seemed excited, baffled, and impressed at Merco’s sudden grasp of their speech.

Elder Felreh nodded, “And I must thank you for rescuing our citizens at Pela Canyon.”

Merco nodded, “I was glad to help them.”

“So Merco, please, we’ve been wanting to know, what are you?” she asked.

“Oh. Well, I’m a... human.” He had to use his word since there was no Ansheetan word for it.

“Hu-man.” She tasted the word, as did a couple others present. “And as I recall you said your planet was called Earth?”

“Yes.”

“How many ‘hu-mans’ live on your planet?”

Merco thought a moment before he had to admit, “I...don’t know the word for your numbers. But...I can tell you we have a big population.”

Pixie, on his shoulder asked, “Are all ‘hu-mans’ really big like you?”

Merco chuckled, “I’m a bit taller than average...but yes. Humans are much bigger than your kind. Ansheetans? Is that the word?”

Elder Felreh nodded, “Earlier you conveyed that you had been left here. Your kind has space traveling capabilities?”

“Yes. And...you don’t?”

She shook her head, “Until you arrived Merco, we didn’t even think there was other life on other worlds.”

Merco sighed, clearly disappointed by that statement, “I was afraid of that. Your kind has never left this planet?”

The Elder shook her head.

“So I guess I’m the first ‘alien’ to your planet?”

“It would seem so.” she confirmed.

“Why were you left here?” Commander Madala asked, unable to hold her question.

“I wish I knew why.” Merco admitted, “A couple of ...um...you don’t have a word for it...‘mercenaries’...they took over my ship and told me they were being paid to dump me somewhere to... die alone.”

“So, someone wanted to kill you.” Commander Madala conjectured. “Why?”

Merco shrugged, “Someone who had a grudge against me after the war...I still don’t know who or for what reason.”

“War? Your people were at war?” Commander Madala inclined her head.

“A long time ago we were. It’s peaceful now. But someone didn’t want to let it go I guess.” Merco explained.

“You were a soldier then?” Elder Felreh asked.

“I was. Now I’m a...umm...you don’t have a word for it...I transported goods to other planets in my ship.” he fumbled.

There were nods of understanding.

“Is that how you lost your arm? In the war?” Verin piped up.

Some of the other aliens present seemed puzzled by the question as they had never seen Merco’s prosthetic beneath his glove.

Merco smirked at Verin, knowing his fascination for his mechanical forearm and flexed the fingers of his glove, “Yes. I was injured in an attack and my arm was too badly damaged to save.” He peeled the black glove off and the gathered aliens all seemed to gasp as one, “So, I got this.”

He flexed the mechanical fingers in the air, turned the arm, made a fist, and opened his hand again. The Ansheetans watched it like it was the most amazing thing they’d ever seen. After a few more moments Merco put his glove back on.

“It took some getting used to.”

“Truly amazing.” Elder Felreh commented.

Merco looked at them a moment, “What I think is amazing is that you all can fly. How do you do that?”

The Elder looked over at Anu who floated up to him to illustrate, “We are able to control the magnetic fields around our bodies. Some of us who are able to fly longer and with more control become members of the Elite Flying Patrol. But most are only able to float a little bit.”

The man nodded, “So it’s a skill you have to practice?”

Anu bobbed her head, “Somewhat. Some are born with it but it can be practiced.”

“Hm. You know amongst my kind we have stories about little beings that can fly. We call them ‘fairies’...or ‘pixies.’ ” He gave Pixie a pointed look.

She tipped her head, “That’s why you called me Pixie?”

He nodded, “Minus wings of course.”

“Do they really have wings?” she asked.

“No. No. They don’t exist.It’s just...a story.” Merco explained.

At once his stomach whined loudly making the aliens look at him funnily.

He grinned, holding his middle, “Sorry. Guess I’m a bit hungry.”

Elder Felreh nodded at him, “We will see to it you are brought something to eat.”

“Thank you. But I don’t want to be a strain on your people.”

“You are a guest. We will treat you as one.” She insisted.

Merco looked down, “I feel I’ve been a burdensome ‘guest’ for you. I would like to be worthy of your generosity.”

Elder Felreh gave him a kind smile and then looked to Anu, “Why don’t you give Merco a proper tour of the city?”

“Uh...heh...I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Merco shook his head, glancing around at the Ansheetans. “I’m...a bit big in your city. I already damaged one of your buildings.”

“Which was not your fault.” Traynar interjected, “If our citizens had heeded to stay indoors as ordered, you would not have had that incident.”

Merco shook his head, “Incident or not, I could’ve hurt someone. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“I am very glad to hear that.” Elder Felreh admitted, “But I trust you will be as careful as possible. Please. View Anashee. We will have food brought here to the square soon.”

Merco sighed but nodded, “All right. I’m gonna stand up now.”

His feet slid under him and the movement made the gathered Ansheetans back up as he rose over their buildings.

Anu and Traynar flew up and found a cleared street, “Come on this way. We’ll show you the Cliff Market first.”

Merco nodded and carefully maneuvered himself around the square and down the empty street. Traynar flew lower and further ahead to ensure there was no one in the way. Since it was darker, there were lots of lights lining the streets and the buildings had a certain glow to them. It reminded Merco of a few cities he’d visited but it still held an alien uniqueness.

Pixie was comfortably seated on his shoulder when she asked, “How old are you Merco?”

The man thought a moment. He knew his age of course, but Ansheetans had different increments and names for their passage of time that he could not decipher yet.

“I...don’t know how to say it in your language.” He admitted, “But...on my planet I am fifty-four ‘years’ old.”

“Is that old?” she asked honestly.

He chuckled, “A little yes. I’m past the middle of an average human life span.”

He thought a moment about asking Pixie if she was a child, but he was surprised to understand that Ansheetan had no word for “child”, only “young one” or “offspring”. Technically, Pixie was just a child if the cocoon was how they were born. However, Merco didn’t want to open the “where to babies come from” can of worms just yet. If he asked he’d have to explain human copulation and that wasn’t a conversation he was ready for.

So instead he asked, “So where does your family live, Pixie?”

“Verin told me we don’t live in Anashee. We live in the forest...but I’ve never been there.” She admitted.

“So...Verin is your brother?”

“Older brother.”

“Ah. I was wondering if you were related or if you were a couple. You seem close.” He kept his eyes locked on the streets, ensuring he wouldn’t damage anything.

Anu flew in front of him pointing ahead to the mountain that formed the back part of Anashee, “That’s the Cliff Market. It’s where most of Anashee’s merchants work. You can get almost anything there.”

The mountainside seemed aglow with lights and different alien signs.

She pointed again, “Just be careful of the walkways.”

Merco could see the rope bridge walkways she spoke of because they were lit up. They traversed along the mountain and out to the huge black trees and to the walls as well. The black trees were taller than Merco but the majority of the walkways were at his chest level.

“So, do Ansheetans live in those trees? Or are they something else?” he asked, pausing to look.

“The trees are home to many of Anashee’s citizens.” Anu confirmed.

“My species would call those ‘high rise apartments’” he used his word. “Do you live in Anashee, Anu?”

“Yes.” She pointed to the other side, nearer the gate, “We live in the EFP quarters.”

“So...Traynar is your mate?” he did not have the word for “husband”.

“Yes.” She looked at him with curiosity, “Did you have a mate on Earth?”

Merco sighed, “I did once.”

Anu and Pixie both looked concerned, “What happened to her?”

“Nothing. We just...grew apart.” He admitted, “We had two sons together though.”

“Mar-tin and Tony?” Pixie asked, remembering the picture he showed her.

Merco nodded. Anu could immediately see the sad look that crossed his face and decided not to press the matter so she flew ahead, pointing out more landmarks and specific buildings to Merco. He was very careful, ducking under the walkways and tiptoeing through the streets. Many Ansheetans came to their windows or stood on the walkways, watching him pass with awe. A few fliers had even taken to the air and were following after the colossus that traversed their city.

“Do you have cities like Anashee on your planet?” Pixie asked as he continued to walk.

“Not exactly like this, but yes. Vast cities, full of humans like me, with lots of lights and tall buildings; taller than your mountains.” He described.

Pixie’s blue eyes seemed to dart with imagination, “Wow. I can’t imagine something that big.”

Merco smiled, “We can’t fly like you, but we have machines that can fly and take us into space.”

“What’s it like out there?” Pixie asked with wonder as she looked up at the sky.

“Empty...really. It’s only when you get to other planets and the space ports that you really get to see something.” he explained.

“Like what?”

“Uh. All kinds of things. There’s strange foods and drinks, other life forms besides humans...”

“Really? Are they all big too?” she asked.

Merco laughed, “You Ansheetans are the smallest alien species I’ve ever seen.”

Anu turned around and seemed shocked, “We are?”

“That’s why I was very surprised to see you.” Merco admitted.

Anu flew around to him, “Well...you surprised us too.”

“Don’t you mean scared?” Merco inquired, glancing over his shoulder at the little aliens following nearby.

They stopped, some backing up a bit.

“Am I really that scary?” he asked uncomfortably, turning back to Anu and Pixie.

The pair looked at each other until Anu said, “Not as much as you used to be.”

Merco sighed, “I guess that’s progress?”

Anu nodded and Merco got to see as much of Anashee as he could before they began to head back for some food.