Work Text:
Grace would never know how his legacy would carry on within earth. He would never find out if the Beatles actually landed, or if earth was in an eternal ice age. He would never know—lying down on artificial sand with his closest comrade. Or at least—that’s what he remembered anyway. He never managed to recall Yao or Ilyukhina, it was one of those things his mind could never rebuild.
But that’s okay, he’s made peace with it. He did the math when he sent out the probes back, he knew it was probably there by now. God, time dilation was always a difficult thing. Humans nor eridians have ever managed to figure it out completely.
But they will some day, maybe one of Grace students would crack the code. Maybe he did teach them well.
Again, he might never know.
And he has made peace with it.
Back on earth, humans continued to learn—they continued to beat the odds of all things science and prove again and again that they are sentient—sentient enough to not only clone the taumeba, but continue to improve its composition. Perhaps one of his own students were helping out… it was a pleasant thought.
Maybe he did save all of humanity—maybe he was a hero. But, humanity didn’t matter here in Erid, they’re probably doing alright.
That’s the beauty of it. It had a certain elegance. Humans learn and learn and learn—forming simple solutions to complicated equations and vise-versa. It made him feel oddly proud in a way. It felt… parasocial. Conversing to himself about something that he might—no will never experience again.
He was happy here with Rocky, Adrian and the other Eridians. He was happy knowing that he not only might have saved his own species, but another as well. One that is highly intelligent at that.
…
His memory was getting worse for wear—distant hazes caused by nearly-there thoughts. He knew he was… someone. He knew that he saved something, helped it grow and caused a new generation—whether that be consciously or physically.
There was a presence next to him. They sang beautiful tunes and allowed him to rest on them. He knows them… somehow. He doesn’t remember their name, not entirely at least. He felt like it might’ve been something entirely anti-climactic—but he didn’t have the energy to ask.
The humming continued, becoming background noise as he dwelled more and more on his fading thoughts.
The humming reminded him of something, an important person in his life. Who were they?
…
Then one last memory flashed across Grace's mind. A memory of a dark room with ambient lighting and a hand combing through his hair. A young voice came from him—no older than five or six. He was… asking something. He doesn’t know what it is, but it’s fine isn’t it? The person—no, woman, was a calming presence.
He was lying on some kind of bed. The hair continued to go through his hair as he laid, gently untying knots and unmatting it. Scratching his head as well as continuing to hum thoughtlessly.
Oh.
His mother.
That’s what this reminded him of. The other’s actions reminded him of his mother. It was calming. He felt… content—at peace in a way.
He could feel another presence in the back of his mind. Staring at him and his companion. He couldn’t quite place his mind on who it was however, but their presence was welcomed nonetheless.
He was content. Laying on his head waiting for death to cradle him in her arms, allow him to rest his aching joints and fable his existence. It was a weird thought—knowing he was probably going to die.
But that’s the beauty of life he supposed.
…
A life that he has used to save billions.
Rocky was at his bedside, humming a melody that sounded like reassurance. Adrian was just behind him, with their large teal carapace sat in a melancholy way. They could both hear his heartbeat slowing down, its tunes getting deeper and deeper.
Before stopping completely.
Ryland Grace—a hero to many—is no more.
His breath evened with a smile on his face, perfectly at peace with his fate. Rocky and Adrian stayed by his side for a very long time, with Rocky continuing his melody. Adrian left first, talking about having to check on something. Rocky knew they were just trying to avoid the thought of one of their bestest friend’s corpse lying there motionless.
Rocky couldn’t blame them—but he chose to stay anyway.
He brought up his arms, with one sat atop one of his markings. He then dragged one up across its markings, creating a beautiful güiro-like rhythm. He then pulled it back up, signaling a “see you soon.”
He knew Grace wasn’t coming back, Grace told him that when a human stays perfectly still and stops making noises, they die. That was it—the end of the road came for him.
Maybe Rocky took human death for granted… they were inefficient. Weakening way before their bodies even had a chance to age enough. Eridians lived long for a reason, they reserved their bodily functions properly and have many mechanisms in place for end-of-life. But humans didn’t have that…
Stupid, inefficient leaky space blobs with stupid, inefficient biology.
But that didn’t change anything, did it?
Because Ryland Grace, savior of both humans and Eridians, has died.
With a smile on his face, and a collection of not-yet faded memories imprinted onto an old, long-lived mind.