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“Do grace miss Earth, question?” Ryland Grace the man who was an unwilling replacement, on board the ship that was destined to save earth but never to return. Looked momentarily stunned, he hadn’t given much thought to what on earth, on earth he missed.
Maybe Carl? The man who fathered the Astrophage with Grace, went home shopping. And watched as Grace was tackled and drugged. Okayyy… maybe not. Certainly not the soldiers who tackled and trapped him aboard the spaceship, nor the older, experienced scientists that dismissed his ‘water being necessary for life is utter bullshit’ theory. He could say for a brief period of time he did consider Eva Stratt as companion, although that relationship was quickly destroyed.
However in-between the failures and kidnappings, there was a time where astronaut, head scientist and leading researcher in organisms from thousands and thousands of light years away also known as Astrophage, Dr Ryland Grace was simply known as Mr Grace. And the cause of headaches wasn’t from figuring out how to ration his limited food supply or finding out new life forms but from troublesome students repeating some 67 babyboo goo goo gaga meme over and over again.
Remembering when his breaks were often spent talking to particularly curious students, hearing the school’s gossip (yes, he was a teacher but, oh my god, I can’t believe Logan kissed him!) having his kids hassle him about giving them the lollies he kept under the desk, (they always won) or lending a shoulder to cry on, he knew not every one of his kid’s homes lives were ideal but those breaks notably heavy. Reminiscing about a time where he could simply fall into a habit of making PowerPoints and grading papers or joking around with his students, was weirdly bittersweet.
“Has lack of sleep made Grace brain break down even more, statement” Hearing the sarcasm seep through to the translator brought Grace back to Earth or well space. “hah, sorry Rocky just got a bit lost in my mind” “how can get lost in mind, question. Human brain so tiny, statement”
Ryland Grace wondered for a moment whether he should teach a near 200-year-old being from another galaxy what a metaphor is. After a mini mental debate, he did end up falling back into old habits and taught Rocky. While also trying his best to intimidate an English teacher who he thought was rather stuck up.
“Grace” “yes Rock?” “What miss on Earth, question” truth be told Grace honestly did not want to talk about his life on Earth “Well Rock, to be honest I didn’t have a mate like you. No family or pets, I had no one to miss or anyone who would miss me, the only people who might miss me would be” he paused realising just who would miss him. “I guess it’d be my kids” in that moment Rocky near broke his Xenonite hamster like ball. “Grace needs mate to reproduce! who is mate, question!!!!!”
“oh no no no rock, that is not what I meant.” Grace let out a huff of laugher as Rocky raised his front two arms, as if conveying ‘the hell do you mean then?!’ “I mean the kids I taught” Since waking up on the Hail Mary Grace had thought of his students. Oh god, what he would give to be back in front of a class again. Trying (and failing) to ignore the kids throwing paper planes or hearing students talk shit about him. ‘How could anyone miss that?’ He thought, then again Ryland Grace was not a stoic man. He can and will cry over a picked flower. Dead students are definitely on his list of things to cry about. Tears started to well in his eyes.
“I wonder if they miss me.” Grace stopped and sat down, now at eye level with Rocky. Every student in his class was all so full of light and joy. Natural curiosity that would take them so far. But a sudden and unwanted thought crossed his mind, only if they get the chance. How could he, Ryland Grace, a random middle school teacher, somehow succeed in finding the cause and cure for stars dying?
“Rocky there’re going to die, I can’t save them. Not just my kids but a quarter of the worlds fucking population. Best case scenario they’re going to grow up malnourished and traumatised. And I can’t do anything to save them. How the fuck am I meant to find to cure to literal STARS dying, you can’t even call our sun a star student cause its not the BRIGHTEST anymore. I can’t Rock, it’s all my fault, I’m sorry Eva was so wrong for sending me, both our suns are going to die with everyone we love.” His head hung between his knees, crouching in on himself, the tears now falling free.
Rocky too had been harbouring these anxieties, he quickly realised that him and Grace really weren’t so different. Having everyone you know and love lives pushing down on your shoulders, (or whatever the metaphor grace taught him was) would make Eridians even with the strongest exoskeleton crumble. However, Grace did not have an exoskeleton, he was a soft squishy blob. Evolved to be highly adaptive to climates and extremely stress resistant. This particular blob was so very smart and kind. Even if the squishy blob does not think it can, Rocky has seen wonders ineffable to Grace and he knows Grace will succeed.
“How could kids not remember grace, question. Just think dirty, unorganized, emotional, bad humour, fired from job, no mate, no money, kill earth most basic plant, only eat instant ramen, no confidence, bad inner organ system teacher”
“not helping Rock-”
“who also thousand lightyear away in space, discover new life, make friend with amazing life, near die, will save two planet, Statement. Grace must think Rocky fake, grace not alone. grace have not will not fail, statement. Grace Rocky, save stars”
Grace brought his head up to truly face Rocky and pulled him in, he held the dome as tightly as possible as if to phase through the Xenonite and properly hug Rocky. Resting his face on the ball feeling the warmth spread throughout his body. Right here at least for a few moments, hope in Grace swelled and grew, if not for him to succeed, but at least Rocky.
Had this of been any other time Rocky would’ve pointed out that grace was already a very liquidy blob and getting human liquids everywhere was not helping, however Rocky got the memo that this was maybe what Grace describes as a ‘moment’ and simply let him be hugged. Rocky filed this memory away to analyse and (not that he would admit it) but to also remind himself that there is hope for both of their homes.