*Ding!*
...
Task Complete!
Reward: 2500
Bonus Task Complete!
Reward 25,000
Previous Coins: 12,050
Present Coins: 39,550
...
Looking at the system notification I was happy that the 10,000c that I had spent on the Healing Piano was already earned back with some extra coins to spare, but I quickly dismissed the notification because I now needed to transfer all those that wanted to leave to Earth.
Looking at the line in front of me I was happy to see most of the aliens wanted to leave, unfortunately some still had chosen to stay, mostly the older men. Marking this desolate planet as one of my teleport points was not something I really wanted to do, but I still chose to do anyway, it was the easiest route to moving these people. There was no way to delete marked points that I created in the teleporter so at least for now, I had to waste one.
After telling the first five to hold onto me, I moved them to Moonlight City and then repeated the process until all of the ones that wanted to leave had gathered there. Most of the faces seemed happy, some were in awe of the beauty and uniqueness of the City, a couple were still stunned by the warp technology I had just used to bring them here, and a couple still seemed somewhat sad.
I assumed they were homesick or missed someone that had died back on Warworld. Many of these people had been sold to Warworld and if they returned to their planet they didn't know what awaited them, some had been born and grew up on Warworld as a slave, and others have their own personal reasons for not wanting to return home.
Apparently, Lola had already spent quite a few resources originally to transfer the ones home that wanted to go home. Fearing Mongul would return, she also moved the rest to the desolate planet. She was worried for nothing really, because Mongul was currently locked up in my prison at home.
Seeing the mixed emotions of the group, I figured I would give them a little push and started to speak. "This city I have transferred you to isn't perfect, for example it's full of crime, but it is also slowly changing due to the King of this City called King Moonlight, his disciples, and every day people like myself that love it here. I recommend you stay in this city due to many of you not being able to blend in with the rest of earth. Maybe with time you will be able to go elsewhere, but until then, I recommend you stay here."
Hearing my words, a blue scaled alien with long sharp claws and big eyes asked a question. "Are you forcing us to stay in this city?"
I chuckled a bit at the question. "No, you can go wherever you want, it is only my recommendation. Most of earth fears alien life because they fear the unknown. We have alien protectors on earth, but because most of them look a lot like earthlings, people are less afraid of them. There is however a few that don't look human. For example, a well known Martian that lives on this planet who doesn't look human. At times he does experience xenophobia, but if you ask most people, they will say they love Martian Manhunter because he is a great Hero. He gained their trust with time" .
"Hero?" asked one the male sibling that had caught my attention while I was singing a bit ago due to the fact he and his sister seemed to hang around the battle torn old man.
"Yes, Hero. On this world we have strong beings that have decided to use their strength to protect the weak. They are similar to the Green Lantern Corps that peace keep in space. In fact one of the green lanterns is considered a great Hero on Earth."
The young boy actually knew what a hero was, but he had only ever heard the word used in stories. He only asked because he wanted to hear what a regular person that lives on such a planet with heroes thought of them.
Following her brother, the girl spoke up this time. "Can anyone be heroes here?".
I nodded. "Yes, to be a Hero, you only need a good heart that wants to uphold the laws of this world. In Moonlight City anyone can gain power if they want it, they only need to wish for it."
The old man beside the two sibling had a skeptical look in his eyes as he spoke up next. "What do we have to do in return for this power?"
I understood his lack of trust, these people were all slaves of some sort not long ago and they did not trust easily. I understood that because I also had to learn that most people could not be trusted. I learned that the hard way in my past. It's something that comes with experience.
"The power can be earned, but you risk your life to gain it. We have a thing called a tower that was granted by the King of this city. The tower gets more dangerous as you climb each level, but the rewards are greater the higher you go. You have the option to leave the tower each time you complete a level. It is not required, but if you wish to be one of the Kings Knights you have to climb very high. You can choose to do whatever you want with the power you earn, just know that if you choose to do evil, our cities Heroes will take care of you eventually."
The old man was still a bit dubious, but decided he would figure things out with time for himself.
"This is earths currency and you can buy food with it, if you wish to earn more of this, you will need to get a job." I said as I handed a hundred dollar bill to each of the nineteen that had chosen to come along.
"Where can we find shelter?" asked one of the ex prostitutes.
It was a good question, but it was the hardest pill to swallow of this deal also. "We have shelters for the homeless, but they are only temporary places to lay your head. I strongly encourage you all to use whatever skills you have to make a living here and then you can afford to have your own place with time. I know this is probably not an answer you wanted to hear, but I truly believe it is better to be homeless temporarily here, than to be sleeping on that cold barren planet each night waiting to die like you were previously. If it's any consolation, my start on this planet was similar. I started out homeless, but I am now doing pretty well as a musician here."
After taking a couple of more questions, I teleported back. None had decided to come back with me, all of them wanted to try and make it work on earth which was a relief. Coming back to the Planet Telos, Sodam, Lola, were still on, I approached the old people that had decided to stay one last time. "Are you sure you want to stay here? You are only awaiting death if you do."
The old people all answered similarly. "I am ready for death", "I have no will to go on", and "I have nobody or anything to go back to, it is better to die here".
It was depressing, but I had no idea what these old people have been through. Who was I to tell them how to live or die?
After leaving behind a bit of food and drink, my shipmates and I all boarded the ship and left the dead planet, never to come back again.