Ideas and Rejects

Rejected Chapter: Merco meets Anu

A/N: This was a rejected scenario I wrote when I was first writing Stranded on a Tiny Planet. At first I was going to have Merco wear a sort of "universal translator" (like from Star Trek) so he could understand the little aliens. But I rejected that idea thinking it was too easy and felt it would be more character developed if they had a language barrier for awhile. Plus I got the idea to add Pixie into the mix and that felt nicer to me. But...still like what I wrote here.

Anu was so exhausted it hadn't taken her long to fall asleep. Traynar had to place her in her bed she was so tired. But once morning broke Anu was donning a fresh EFP jumpsuit and flying to Madala's office headquarters to get assigned. When she was admitted she found Madala sitting behind her hologram map table, staring at it pensively. A red dot was blinking near the Anashee Lake with three green dots blinking in a triangle around the red dot. Anu knew that must be the giant Merco and the EFP members surveying him.

"Anu...you're early." Madala commented, not really looking up from the map.

"I'm here for assignment." Anu stated shortly.

Madala inclined her head minutely and stood, "I'll get you assigned...but I don't know for how much longer this watch will be necessary."

Anu gave a puzzled look, "What do you mean? Has he moved? Is he coming this way?"

Her commander shook her head, "No. The giant is still at the lake. But the first wave of reports this morning tell me it appears sick."

"Sick?"

Madala circled the table, "Yes. They tell me it's laying down and shivering so hard they can feel it from a distance. They think from its reactions it appears the wound on its head is causing the sickness. An infection would be my guess. We could be lucky this time."

Anu blinked, "Lucky?"

"Yes. If we're lucky the infection will kill it and Anashee will remain safe. We won't have to fight or worry anymore." Madala explained in an even tone, yet to Anu it sounded cold.

"We...we're just going to let him die?" Anu asked, dismay evident in her tone.

Madala gave her a cursory glance, "I know it sounds terrible when you put it that way Anu. But given the choice of Anashee's safety or that thing's survival, I don't know anyone who wouldn't choose Anashee. Felreh agrees with me. We will continue our surveillance until further notice. Let's hope it won't take too much longer."

Anu didn't know what to say, she was almost struck dumb and mute by the coldness of her commander. While she understood the logic of it, it still didn't feel right.

But before she could launch an argument, Madala said, "If you're ready, you can report for surveillance duty in one hour. I'll be sure your mate Traynar is assigned with you. That will be all."

...

At the lake...

Merco could barely open his eyes come morning. His body chilled and shook as the sledgehammer in his head pounded away. He had his jacket on and made a pile of softer vegetation under his head for a pillow. The ground was less than comfortable and the burning pain in his head never ceased, so sleep had not been forthcoming. He carefully removed his bandana from his head and cringed as a bolt of pain seemed to crackle like electricity across it. It felt hot to the touch. Infected. He closed his eyes dismally, knowing he had no medicine nor any expertise to seek out the local plant life for some sort of relief. In time the wound would grow septic and being a head wound it would hit his brain first, killing him.

"What a way to go. Dying slowly of sepsis on an alien planet. So much for trying to survive by my wits. A stupid head wound is going to be my death blow." He thought miserably.