Chereads / Finny's Travels / Chapter 8 - The Man Who - Decided to Leave

Chapter 8 - The Man Who - Decided to Leave

As Finn woke up from his short nap he looked up and noticed he was not alone in the room. A petite lady was standing at the corner of the room, arms folded and leg raised backward as she leaned on the wall and stared at him with a mysterious intensity.

" Can I help you with something?" Finny asked, but she didn't answer. She just kept staring at him. Finn cursed softly and threw his head back as he leaned into his chair. Things had become ridiculously more complicated than he'd hoped.

He just wanted to be left alone but everything seemed determined to work against him and his sleep lately.

" Alright then, where's the other guy?... The large one with the pictures and the death to all criminals glare?"

Still no answer. That was his cue, Finn stood up slowly, stretched his long limbs and stared at the contraption they had used to cuff him to the table.

He yanked on it softly, testing it. It was tight, he promptly started dislocating joints and popping bones till he slipped his hand out of the thing. Turning towards the door, he noticed she had changed position and was now standing directly in front of him.

"Step away from the door, I'm leaving." This time he meant business, he was clearly not going to get any answers sitting around in this room and he had things to check on back on his ship. It was either she moved quietly or he would move her himself.

She didn't move. Finn wasn't impressed, he moved to touch her but suddenly the door slammed open.

" Please wait!" Cried the regent. The old man shuffled into the room and Finn moved back a few steps folding his arms. The situation had become rather perplexing.

The last time he had seen the man he had looked as white as a ghost. Sighing, Finn looked at the regent and then the lady. " What do you want?", he asked with one raised eyebrow.

The little lady moved to pull out a chair for the regent to sit on, as he settled in, she moved to pull another for Finn but he refused the offer with a frown. " I apologise for the treatment you've received, but you must understand the gravity of the situation you are caught up in", said the regent.

"This could easily be a misunderstanding, but somehow I doubt it is. So, I will ask you just one question." The regent paused to gather his strength and looked Finn straight in the eyes with a doubtful yet fearful gaze. "Are you the being who made the dome?"

All this fuss just for a single question thought Finn, He just wanted peace... As he weighed his options a thought occured to him. Maybe he had overstayed his welcome on this planet.

The royals he had made first contact with seemed to have died off and currently he really wasn't up to the stress of dealing with a new monarchy.

With a deadpanned stare Finn answered the question. " If you mean the giant blue green sphere which has protected your planet for the last 500 years while giving your people and land good health and increased fertility then yes. Yes, I made that dome".

The regent's face showed the many emotions that flickered through him, First joy, then relief, then worry and finally fear laced with determination.

" If that is true then you have lived for over 5 centuries but haven't aged a single day... How is that possible?" He looked at Finn expectantly.

Finn chuckled and smirked, "Well, if you're asking for the secret of my immortality, I must tell you that I don't feel quite inclined to share... Considering. " Finn trailed off as his gaze fell upon the handcuffs and uncomfortable interrogation desk he had been chained to just a few minutes ago.

The regent gulped and nodded. "I understand... But, we have been searching for you for years now, why now did you choose to appear? What were you looking to find in the castle?".

Finn rubbed his neck, this was getting tiring. " Look, I haven't exactly been hiding. The royals have always known my whereabouts and I came to pay a visit to an old friend. It seems, I came a bit too late though... " A sad smile crossed his face, " Seems I still can't shake my lazy habit of putting things off for sleep".

" Enough questions, I'm leaving. " Finn moved off the wall and started striding towards the door. "But where will you go? We aren't done here, I- "

With a hand on the door handle, Finn stopped moving. " I'm leaving your planet, Isn't that what you wanted to ask of me? I'll save you the trouble. I'll take the dome with me while I'm at it."

The regent frowned wondering how he could have possibly known but remembered he was in the throne room when court had been in session.

"You don't have to leave, just taking the dome down would be enough. The people are eager for interstellar travel. "

Finn chuckled softly at that, "I feel I should warn you about how things outside might have changed... But I'm sure you'll find out quickly enough. I wish you and your people well."

That was the last thing the regent heard before the door slammed shut.

Turning to look at the lady in the room with him, he asked " what have we done? Do you think we're ready for this?

I don't think we're ready for him to leave... Stop him. "

She ran after Finn.