Stranded on a Tiny Planet

Epilogue

Two years later...

"Gampa tell me a story!" the four-year-old begged.

Merco smiled fondly, setting Millie down in her bed and tucking her in, "What story would you like to hear my little pixie?"

"Tell me about the fairies again!" she begged, brushing her pile of dark curls from her face.

Again, Merco smiled at his granddaughter. Even though he'd kept his adventure with the Ansheetans a secret, even from his own sons, he would tell Millie stories of little flying "fairies" that echoed the real experience he had not two years prior. Millie loved to hear about Pixie's adventures and about her friends Anu and Traynar the brave warriors. She particularly loved it when her grandpa would speak in "fairy talk", clicking and whistling amid funny words. For the little girl they were wonderful bedtime stories, for Merco they were memories.

In his mind though he had been formulating a plan for a visit to that remote world. He'd taken leave of his job as a transport pilot for a while, so getting aboard a ship would be the first obstacle. He was determined to return and keep his promise...as well as tell his sons the whole story.

...

Sometime later on Anshai-tee...

The day had begun just like any other. Seraysa awoke and put on her EFP uniform to report for her scouting duties and to make a diplomatic trip to see the Rogashay settlement. Since Merco left Anshai-tee and there was no longer need for an ambassador, the Elder appointed her to be the liaison between the Rogashay and the Ansheetans. Though peace had been established and relations were diplomatic, there were sometimes minor spats that needed to be ironed out. Since the Rogashay leader Boroxle and his mate Kriees had high respect for Merco they gave little argument when Seraysa was appointed. If Merco trusted her then so did they.

With a small hop she ascended into the air to the reporting station where Anu her scouting leader would establish where she was to go today. Both Anu and Traynar had ascended the ranks of the EFP. Traynar, through democratic selection of the EFP and the Elder, had become the new Commander of the EFP upon Commander Madala's death. Anu his mate and Seraysa's mentor, had become the leader of the EFP scouting division.

Her new job was fulfilling and she had even started to catch the interest of a few males in the EFP. And yet, she still missed Merco. Some days she would venture out to the empty mat that he used to sleep on; unmoved and undisturbed since he left rotations ago. More often than not she would swing out to Lake Anashee to her place of Emergence just so she could stand in one of the massive footprints he'd left behind. They were slowly fading with each passing rotation but they always reminded Seraysa of her friend. She even had a dried scale of a Gold Scaled Leviathan decorating a wall in her home.

But, as she promised him, she carried on with her life.

She often wondered if he'd made it back to his home planet and reunited with his family. Who knew how far his home world was from Anshai-tee anyway? He might still be traveling. It had been almost five rotations since he'd left.

When she arrived at the scouting hub to get her daily assignment she entered Anu's new office and received a smile.

"Hey, Seraysa. You're early for your shift." She commented.

"I have to go meet with Boroxle today don't I?" she inquired.

Anu checked her assignment notes and nodded, "Yep. Apparently there's a dispute about fishing rights in a part of Anashee Lake that needs smoothed out between the Rogashay and the Trits." She made a face, "Shall I go with you? Might help to have two peacekeepers?"