I woke up to see a curious man staring. He had his nose pressed against the window. I burst out laughing. His expression was hilarious. I opened the door and apologized. I told him that he was making a funny face. He asked me where I was from. I said that where I was from is a secret. I am not interested in my home world. I am interested in a place where I can live in peace. Not prison not war and absolutely not stupid politics. I want to travel the galaxy. He asked me how I landed here. I explained about the arrival of the troublemaking called the Mangalers. They loved shooting people for no apparent reason. I have no clue what possess these beings to shoot innocent bystanders. I am lucky to be living. He asked me if I wanted to go home. I said that I am not interested in going home. I am born from refugees so I have no place I can actually call home. As far as family is concerned they are all dead. The man looked sympathetic. He directed me towards the mountains. The place looks ok but felt out of place. Something told me to get out of the planet as quickly as possible.
The man introduced him as Shi zhi. He was slim built. His hair was cut short and he wore simple clothes. He behaved in a manner which dictates he was trying to remain unnoticed. He said he has been here for some time. He has no clue how to get out. He was wondering if I could help him. I said that I have a bad feeling from this place and I want to leave. He seemed genuinely interested. He said that he has been trying to leave the planet for ages. But he believes there is nothing to see out there. He took me through the mountain pass. By nightfall I felt exhausted so I sat down to enjoy some saltines and some water. A shadow came out of nowhere. There was no one within sight except us. This shadow was sentient and independent of any living organism. It surrounded us both. I felt the deepest pain for some reason. Instincts took over and I set these things on fire. They glided away screaming in pain. I shot fifty foot flames and made my way out of the mountain regions. These things came back with friends. I was so angry that the electric charge came out without me summoning it. These things got hit. They changed their mind and went back the way it came. The shadows are relentless. So I focused and my shadow turned into a blade and launched itself and sliced the shadows into pieces. The creatures screamed in pain and left me alone. I walked out and used seismic waves to map out the terrain. An avalanche came down with deadly force. So I used fire manipulation to pull lava and the snow melted around me as the rest passed with no problem.
As I walked away from the snow sheet I felt someone was behind me. I accused him for being the one who directed me to those death beasts. I threw balls of fire at him and he ducked to avoid all of them. He hid behind a rock and asked me nicely, "Where are you from?" I replied, "I told you. I am from nowhere and I am going somewhere." He asked me if my name was nobody and I said it was Neo. He grinned as he asked if he could tag along to go somewhere too. I told him that he had deliberately taken me there to kill me. He promised he didn't know that these things were here. He takes the route every night but he has not met them because he usually makes it to a safe place before nightfall. I walked away not wanting anything to do with him. I made it clear that the farther I am from him the safer I will be. I cautiously walked in the direction where I felt the presence of a spaceship. I was feeling tired so I used earth manipulation to propel me forward so I would reach it sooner. I reached the two person vessel. I was tired and slept inside it.
I opened my eyes to see that he was outside staring in. I asked him to leave me alone. He said that he wants to go home. He has lost his family and he lost hope so he chose to stay here. Now he wants to get out of here before he loses his mind. He believes that he has a better future now. He wants to find better opportunities. I told him that he has to prove it. He said, "Name your terms." I took a deep breath, "You better not help Tenebrae and her crazy army. If you face them you better not associate with them. If you do I will find you and cook you." He blinked several times as his smile grew. He answered delicately, "I promise to have nothing to do with violence. I just want to make something of myself" I opened the door and he hopped in. He stared at the controls as though he had no clue how to operate anything. I realized the ship simply needed a charge so I zapped the ship. It switched on and he watched delightfully as we took off. As we reached the stratosphere a drone caught up to us and started sending a signal. I felt a headache but the other guy was writhing in pain. I opened the window of the cockpit and focused on how to melt the damn thing. The thing fell downwards and he said thank you. The sensor pinged more so I quickly went upwards and opened the star bridge to get us out of here. Wherever here was. His face was one of delight. I said to myself I hope that I never come back here ever again.
We stopped at the border of the outer regions. I got out and wished him a safe journey. He didn't seem to understand goodbyes. He came too. I asked him if he was feeling ok. He said that he knew nobody so he preferred a familiar face. I told him that he can offer his services to anyone in exchange for transport. It is exactly what I did. He asked if I could join him. I said that I can drop him off somewhere but that's all. He seemed disheartened but he didn't argue. We boarded the ferry leaving the planet. He watched in awe as we had lift off. He braced himself as though expecting pain. When we landed I asked him what skills he possessed. He said none. I lowered my head. He asked me where I was taking him. I said to the only place that will take some like him. It was the bistro. He was shocked to see the place but said nothing. I wished him well as I made it back to the port. He told me to call if I am ever here. I told him that I only visit a place once. His curiosity peaked, "Really" I retorted, "I have the entire galaxy to explore." I made it out and hopped on a refugee resettlement craft. They were sent to Agrippa an agricultural hub. This planetary system grows food which is sent to resorts. As guests prefer organic produce with no chemicals.
The locals were pleased to have us and we were taken to our homes. They looked like yurts. They are a mix between a house and a tent. I set my belongings on the table to look out the window. Shi Zhi was here too. I asked him what his motive was. He said that he is curious about the galaxy. He is hoping to see the galaxy too. The sky turned dark and dismal. The ground began to frost over as the air became biting cold. I saw my breath begin to frost. I came out and told everyone to go indoors. He came too but he stumbled a few times. I felt his presence was useless. So I ordered him to go back but he refused to go. He replied, "I need to make a stand or I am just useless." I wanted to yell, "You are useless" but chose to shut up. He took a farming implement and stood still. The others came and I told them to back up. I saw the wraiths that I saw from the other planet and I let out a charge or electric energy. The creatures all screamed in pain as they died. The next one was the faceless one. He led an army of Chimerean. Large green skinned, tusk teethed and red eyed creatures. I screamed into the air and they got angrier. So I couldn't use fire so I used the earth instead. I hardened the earth after mixing it with water. And raised spikes and different intervals. That was till the last one was dead. The faceless one had no choice. He retreated and I went back to my tent. Again Shi Zhi asked me, "Where are you from" one of the farmers said that it is possible that I am from either Josean, Karasan, Midgard or Tartarus. He asked for directions and was told that they have no ideas.
I told him to go back to the bistro where he is in less trouble. He seems to attract these things here. He made it clear that these things are most likely here for me. But I reminded him that he was from that planet. He said that he is innocent and he is willing to go the extra mile to prove it. I told him that I don't need convincing. I want a solitary life not solitary confinement. He chuckled as he was asked to help with the first watch. He fell on a pile of mud as he tried to walk on the uneven surface. I had to pick him up and he thanked me as he walked away. I asked for food in exchange for money and they gave me a day's worth of bread and some water. I thanked them. I was walking away when I saw a little girl sitting by the fields playing with dolls. I thought it was a cute sight to see. I didn't hesitate as I boarded a new ship to get out there. I saw Shi Zhi trying to catch up but he was too late. The ship took off and I felt happy to be by myself again. The ship opened a space bridge and made its way elsewhere.