Stranded on a Tiny Planet

Aftermath

Merco barely had time to react when the concussive force of the explosive coupled with the hot stinging mist of fluids and viscera hit him. He automatically rolled over, covering his head until the echoing sound slowly faded into the air. The shaking was there; loud noises always made him flinch if not tremble. Rolling over he sat back up, wiping a pink substance from his face. It wasn't until he viewed the mangled, meaty framework of the mercenary laid over on the ground that he realized he was covered in a mist of his blood. He clenched his fist, trying to stop the shaking. It subsided quicker than he anticipated, most likely because it was an enemy and not one of his comrades who got blown to pieces.

It was over. The mission was a success.

He looked down at the broken remains of his prosthetic. It was surreal to see a once functioning part of himself now turned into a useless pile of junk. With slow movements he twisted the special ring that connected the device to the end of his arm. It clicked and the damaged part came free leaving his stump topped with an electronic, metal connector cap. The numbness was the most disturbing part. Even though his prosthetic didn't register pain it still was connected to his nerves in such a way that we could detect pressure and texture. Feeling nothing was disconcerting.

Whistling cheers rose up from within the city and in the air.

In seconds Anu was in his view, "Merco! We did it!"

The man smiled and nodded, "Yeah. We did it. Are you ok?"

"A bit deaf...but I'll be fine." Her eyes grew almost horrified seeing Merco without his prosthetic arm, "Oh...Merco."

He looked at his left stub and managed a gentle look, "Yeah. Kinda shocks me too."

Merco suddenly noticed a small group of EFP members gathered not far from the mercenary's remains. Painfully, Merco stood up and approached. It wasn't until he was a couple steps away that he realized what had happened.

Commander Madala lay on the ground lifeless whilst a medic was urgently trying to revive her. Combatant Coroc stood nearby, trying to remain stolid.

"Oh no..." Merco whispered as he got on his knees.

The commander wasn't responding at all and from the way her tiny head lolled every time the medic touched her, Merco knew she was gone. The impact of being swatted from the air by the mercenary was powerful and fatal. At last, the medic stopped her efforts, shaking her head with frustration.

The man sighed with regret for her, his eyes stinging. Though there were many times when she didn't give him the benefit of the doubt and always aired on the side of caution when it came to matters involving him, he knew she cared deeply for her people and Anashee. Her sacrifice to safeguard it was proof of this and only emphasized her bravery.

Very softly he touched her little forehead with his finger, giving her plumage a stroke, "She saved us...all of us." Merco mentioned quietly.

"Her heroism will be remembered by all of Anashee." Coroc said solemnly, "She must be brought to our Elder."

Several of the EFP began lifting her up but Merco held out his hand next to the tiny body, "I will take her."

Coroc waved his arm and gestured to the capsule laying across the field, "We'll take her. You should take the chrysalis pod back to the Temple."

Merco nodded and marched over to the capsule laying in the field. Several attending Ansheetans backed away from the capsule when he knelt down and plucked it up in his hand. He stood, moved to the city and stepped over the wall with a bit of difficulty considering he only had one arm but he managed to enter Anashee.