I decided not to attend. I gave the mayor an excuse. I explained how exhausted I was so I would like to rest. He accepted my excuse and wished me wonderful dreams. I waited till he left and sank to the floor. I was now all by myself. The place was beautiful but it was my prison. If I go out I will be chased by zealots. I felt like a empty husk. I don't know how long I was there before the servants came. I broke into tears. The moment was interrupted by the roar of engines. I asked what was going on. The woman explained my land was about to go through some changes. I didn't order any changes so I stormed out. I introduced myself to the businessman outside. I showed him the proof of ownership and made it clear I want this property as it is. He was shocked to hear it. He assumed I was a real estate broker who had purchased this place so he could turn the place into a bunch of condos. I smiled, "I bought this place to live here. Gardening gives me peace. This place is everything for me. So please leave or I will file a complaint and have you evicted." The man explained how this planet has never sold a square foot. The place was kept as a resort tended by the locals. I am the first outsider to own land here. I smiled, "As the owner, I order you to leave." He tried to bargain with me. He tried, "I can pay you." I grinned, "You can pay this planet's weight in anything but my answer is simple. Get out of my property and let me live in peace or I will take you to court. Are we clear?"
I turned to see the woman in native clothing. "Please bring me a communication device." The commotion was bad enough for the Secretary of planetary affairs to come. I showed him my documents and proved the businessman is trespassing. The secretary told him to leave. The man offered to buy the land. I smiled, "Not selling this place till the end of time." The man made a mistake, "You mean till your dying day."I thought to myself, "I am immortal so I don't know what you mean." The man stared blankly. I counted to five and called my lawyer. The machinery was shut down after he talked to judge. I asked him if he was leaving or not. He answered defiantly, "I want to build condos on this planet and I am not leaving till it is done." I asked the secretary if he could send the law enforcement to rid this person. The man explained he is leaving but the machinery will stay here because he is demolishing this place. I laughed as I imagined making a fist to crush and dismantle the equipment. The man wanted to say something. But I pictured myself shooting fire out of my fists. The flames melting the metal into a puddle. I grinned, "I came here for peace and solitude. To learn the heritage of this planet and to live my life without incident. A life of purpose. Are you going to be a problem? Because you will be facing my lawyer and he will happily see your business shut down" The judge was made aware of an outstanding warrant. This is for the attempted murder. As he escorted away he promised to come back. To his dismay the equipment was dismantled and taken away. His wealth was divided amongst the families he had wronged as he was sentenced to prison.
I happily walked back to my house and lay down on the floor. I stared at the starry night sky. I took a deep breath and I didn't want to get up. It wasn't laziness. It was a sense of helplessness. Followed by a feeling of overwhelming weight of loneliness. My body quietly drained out all emotions and I felt lifeless. I felt useless, unwanted and also unnecessary. I was surrounded by spectacular scenery with vivid colours and yet all I saw was black and white. I felt tears well up till my vision blurred. My eyes stung for a moment and then they slid down the side of my face. I gasp for breath as I recalled the fact that I took a wrong turn. I didn't go to a Kabbohera meeting. I went to a resistance meeting. I discovered this when I saw the hostess from the party talk to the director. This mentioned Supreme Sovereign while the good guys were trying to make a Galactic Sovereign. I tried not to think about all the children growing up without parents. While everyone else was someone these little darlings had nobody. They won't have anyone wipe their tears away. Or read them bed time stories. They won't anyone comfort them. To tell them how they will overcome the storm. No encouragement no familiarity. Raised by strangers who may or may not love them. The life they deserved robbed. Crying themselves to sleep. The imagery is disheartening. Anyone with a conscience would move heaven and earth to make them smile again. But their futures looked bleak. I was tired.
I remember closing my eyes for a second and when I opened my eyes it was morning. I wasn't hungry and I wasn't in the mood to get up either. I felt it was safer where I was. The lady from earlier came to tell me about a visitor. I tried to get up but for some reason my body felt heavier than before. It felt like it was fused to the floor. I tried to get up several times but unfortunately my body wasn't cooperative. So I told her to take a message since I am not ready to entertain guests. She told me it was my lawyer. I requested her to bring her here. The woman saw me carefully sitting next to me and gave me several documents to sign. I read all of it and signed them all. She stroked my hair several times before leaving. She promised me I will be ok. I raised my hand and gave her a thumb's up. She wished me safety and happiness before she disappeared. I stayed on the floor till I finally collected the strength to get up. As I got up I realised this felt completely alien. It felt like a robot taking commands from a damage remote. I rose till I was seated but after several tries to stand my legs refused to move. Finally I had to twist my body in order to get my legs to get me upright. Standing was an issue since I swayed left and right as I tried to balance myself. I felt like a baby learning to walk. With each step my body protested. It wanted to lay down and stay on the cool stone floor. My knees wobbled and I dragged my legs towards the house.
The lady kindly filled a sky iron tub which had all sorts of patterns with warm water and some powder that made it fragrant and bubbly. I dipped my finger and the water turned cold immediately. I wrapped a towel around myself before I got in. The temperature changed several times till I found the sweet spot. The woman scrubbed me from head to toe. After several deep breaths I plunged underwater and stayed on the bottom till breathing became an issue. Then I finally felt the urge to get up and change. The Astrikan fabric was amazing. But I wanted functional outfits so I decided to purchase a few local ensembles. I first contacted Arman and had my plants brought for cultivation. There were empty spaces and I imagined filling those pockets. The governor promised to send them over. He promised they would arrive within a day or two. The woman introduced her as Anela Alohi which means shining messenger. She inquired why I bought the place and what was the intention in future. I explained how I am going to bring a few rare and almost extinct medicinal plants and decorate the empty spaces. The locals will curate the place to make sure nothing is out of place. I just want a place to call home. I am a gardener and I used to be a medic. So this place feels like home. She gave me a nod. The ship arrived with my plants and I started transplanting them. The place felt like an adventure. I looked tiny compared to most of the foliage here. A tiny little thing walking amongst prehistoric giants. I was having a laugh when the woman explained the palace is actually a sacred place. I asked them if anyone comes here to worship. She said no. This place was created to form a balance. No one has lived here for many thousands of years.
I felt like I walked into the haunted house across the street from granny's bakery. The place was normal but the room tends to distort itself whenever anyone goes in. People have gone mad. Panicking I actually jabbed her several times to check if she was real. It took her two seconds to understand the situation she started snickering, "I am not a spook. I am a person of flesh and blood like you. Don't you get tired of wearing that mask? Why don't we take it off?" I didn't realise that I had the thing on my face. It was my grandma's Nin mask. The beautifully crafted clay mask with vibrant colours. I looked different to them. My skin was slightly paler. Their skins were tanned from hard work in the baking sun. They had geometric tattoos. Some were triangles arranged to interlock with one another and other designs. This place is actually called Samoa. I told her if a place is built people must live there or the place has no purpose. I am the official resident of this house. No one is barred from this place. Everyone can come and go as they please. I asked them not to go through my stuff. She gave me a smile and she asked me if I wanted to meet the indigenous. I smiled, "I have made this place my permanent home so I might as well meet my neighbours."
I walked with her for three hours before I heard a sound resembling a human. The entire time all I saw were beautiful trees and exotic Aves and other creatures. The argument was between two strangers. They were complaining that the place was supposed to be empty but for some reason the place is now occupied. The man pointed at me and the other came at me with a sense of authority. He demanded the property. I opened my fist at his face and a ball of flame popped up. He jumped back. I grinned, "Make me" and both walked away without a word. Anela laughed as I sent balls of flames at them. They picked up speed. I made a fist and struck the ground. Spikes rose and they yelled out loud. I called, "The next time I see you. Please have an invitation" I looked up to see a man swaying left and right. He fell down and I ran to help. I summon water from the nearest shop to use to heal him. He got up and stared at me. I pat him on the head before going with Aneli to go shopping. I found a few pieces that complimented the tropical climate beautifully. I tried a few delicacies and went to pay. The cashier was being robbed and I used telepathy to make him think he was seeing monsters. He dropped the weapon and ran like he wanted to go as far away as possible. I happily paid the lady and walked out with my new belongings. I took three steps and someone whispered in a grave voice, "Nox" I turned around and he took a long look before he wished me a nice day. I paid no attention to his expression as I went back home.