Chapter Text
“You can what? Huh?” Grace asked, as Rocky, Adrian, and their close knit team of biodome suited engineers and scientists gazed back at him. Or, at least faced in his direction. There were no eyes for Grace to look into, of course.
The beach was comfortably breezy as per usual, and Grace had his shoes and socks off to enjoy the regulated temperature of the fake ocean. Was it fair to call it fake? Or was it purpose-made? Purpose-made Ocean.
He clenched at the purpose-made sand with his fingers. More like purpose-made gravel, really. The thick larger pieces were reminiscent of a beach in England. Not at all similar to the relatively soft sand of the pacific north west that Grace had been dreaming of. But the Eridian scientists’ effort to synthesize something like this just to make him comfortable was enough for Grace. It made this big rocky (hah) beach much more special than any packed west coast cove had ever been.
“Can you just, just repeat that for me?” Grace asked again, when the Eridians turned to look between each other, unsure if maybe Ryland had been less than impressed by their idea. It was the opposite, actually. The proposed experiment was something more like amazing.
“Since Grace not want trip to earth, we suggest focus instead on potential interstellar communication network,” Rocky repeated, his voice ringing and rumbling in that pretty way it always did. Hearing it again had Grace’s head ringing similarly. Nothing could move at the speed of light. How could they possibly imagine a system more advanced than a decades-delayed probe postal service?
“Scientists have extra time now since we retire Hail Mary Home plan,” One of the other Eridians said. He was an officer who often tagged along with the science team. Grace had dubbed him ‘Serpico’, keeping up the trend of 1970s American film characters.
“Eridian team eager to contact earth,” The reddish-purplish Eridian astrophysicist named ‘Kelvin’ said. His voice is softer, something like a croon. “Even if take several years, it is next step to advanced future.”
“It’s easy for you guys to get hyped about that, I guess,” Grace sighed, realizing that their idea may be more like a hundred-year spanning project.
“What word mean? Hyped?” Rocky asked, tilting his body in a curious way. Grace huffed a fond laugh and rephrased. It almost felt like when his students would laugh at him for trying to sound hip. The familiarity made him feel warm.
“You guys are excited because it’s possible to execute this in your lifetime,” Grace explained. “I’ll be long gone before we get any.. information superhighway up and running.”
“Grace doubt science team,” Adrian said, his usually charming song sounding quite flat.
“No! No no,” Grace said, waving his hands about in surrender. A gentle splash of a slightly heavier wave came up around his ankles for a moment. He shivered. “Uh- no. But, are you saying you think you could make this happen while I’m still here?”
“Don’t think. Know.” Rocky said. Adrian gave him a playful bump, as if to say: calm down. Grace wasn’t sure if it was the wind or his emotions, but his eyes were stinging.
“We know Earth healthy,” Another scientist said, and her rock colour was a blotted yellowish that inspired Grace to name her Sandy. The Eridian next to her was lovingly titled Rizzo. He hadn’t shown them Grease yet, but he was grateful every day that when he ran out of names off of the top of his head he could easily check the extensive film library on the Hail Mary. “So why Earth not send message yet?”
“They.. they might have sent one already,” Grace said, shuffling his feet around in the water. It rippled over his skin and reflected the great big artificial heat lights that the Eridians had crafted for him. It was incredible to see the process of setting it all up. It looked like when the camera on a sitcom set accidentally flicked upwards and revealed that the house had no ceiling. “Earth is not like Erid.”
“We know this,” Rizzo said, her low rumbling noises a little irritated. Grace was getting very good at interpreting the tones as well as translating on the spot.
“I mean, I mean Earth has a lot of conflict on the ground,” Grace said, looking forward over the purpose-made ocean. He watched the waves come slamming up against the cliffs. “They had no choice but to pour money into Project Hail Mary. It forced everyone to come together at least for a moment. But, something like this? Attempting contact for no reason apart from advancement? A lot of people would probably vote against it.”
“No reason? Is best reason! Grace is here!” Rocky said, up in arms about the prospect of earth having bigger priorities. Grace appreciated the frustration, but he had long since accepted that Earth did not harbour the team-spirit or ‘all for one, one for all’ attitude that Erid did. Or at least, not the former half of the three musketeers' theology.
“Earth might not think I even made it to rescue you, pal,” Grace explained. “They have no way of knowing I made it all the way here safe.”
“They are stupid, question?” Rocky pressed, earning chittering laughter from the rest of the Eridians on the beach. Grace couldn’t help a small laugh as well. “Earth observe Erid, Erid star not die, Erid safe. Logic is: Grace save Rocky, Grace and Rocky save Erid.”
“For all they know, I made it to save you, but didn’t make it to Erid,” Grace said, slapping his hands atop his knees.
“Grace make excuses for lousy planet,” Adrian said. The Eridian scientists laughed again.
“This why Rocky and Adrian perfect relationship, statement,” Rocky said. It earned a delighted chirp from Adrian.
“You are both very honest,” Grace agreed, looking down at the water again.
“See? Honest implies correct,” Rocky said, while Adrian nodded vigorously. Grace sighed.
“Not always,” Grace said.
“If Earth did send message, Grace think it still on way to Erid?” Sandy asked.
“Definitely. Earth doesn’t have technology to send anything quickly,” Grace said. “For humans, Project Hail Mary was quick.”
“Earth technology pathetic, statement,” Rizzo said.
“Hey, we tried our best,” Grace said. “Like I said, space flight hasn’t always been a huge priority. People on Earth argue about what is most important to spend time and money on.”
“If people eating and in homes, life quality beautiful, space is next step, yes?” Serpico said. And Grace squinted his eyes at the judginess leaking through his notes.
“..Not everybody on earth is always fed and housed,” Grace admitted. The Eridians all jumped back in terror. “Resources and money are a common source of conflict.”
“How Earth even send Grace in first place! Is miracle!” Rocky threw a couple of his arms up in exasperation. Grace could get behind that. It really was a miracle that any of this had happened. That he was still alive at all, that Earth had put together the means to send him. That they had the gall to force him.
It was a miracle that earth had harboured a personality so willing to make necessary sacrifices. Had Eva Stratt walked the earth a moment too early or a moment too late, the odds were that nobody would have pulled the task force together. Just as Grace had just described to the peaceful loving togetherness-oriented Eridians, humanity would have struggled in a million different ways to make project Hail Mary actually happen. Eva Stratt was exactly what the world needed, and evidently, so was Grace. Despite this, Grace had no desire to return or see her in person. It was hard enough to acknowledge the righteousness of her difficult job through the probe recordings. A part of him would always be scared and angry.
But the prospect of a line of a communication before he died, this was exciting at the very least. There was a lot of footage on the Hail Mary, but it would be beyond beautiful to see recent updates from Earth. Whether it was his grown up students, or a brief of how they were handling the environmental crisis post astrophage, Grace didn’t expect to be picky. Virtually anything would be amazing to see. It had been very hard watching earth from afar, even though Grace thought himself quite strong these days. Erid was a beautiful planet and he was more than happy to stay here. He had already declined a trip back, after all. But he would not say no to communication. Even.. maybe.. an apology? Was it self absorbed to crave something like that?
Should he have felt a different way about it? Should he have already accepted that Earth and Stratt and the task force didn’t owe him an apology? Was it wrong to want one even if he knew that they did what they had to? Was that small of him? Petty?
An apology was far from his number one wish from earth anyway. He felt it somewhere inside, sure, that he needed one. A simple sorry just to keep him going, an acknowledgement that the way they went about things was traumatizing. Something along those lines. But there was much more to see and hear from earth, he was certain. There had to be a great amount of wonderful advancements in the decades it had been since he was launched. Far less time had passed for him of course, and that really only made it more intriguing. What else did he really want to see?
A tiny, funny little idea formed in his brain then, as the Eridians chattered among themselves about the possible first stage of development. Grace looked out over the ocean and imagined that he was once more on the windy deck of the aircraft carrier. He let his eyes close for a moment as the wind drowned out the pleasant tunes of his friends. It was instead replaced by footsteps approaching behind him.
“Didn’t expect all this, did you?” Carl had asked, coming up to lean against the railing of the aircraft carrier. Grace had been focused on the inky abyss out ahead of him, the lack of light pollution in the middle of the ocean creating an unbeatable view of the stars. And the waves were miraculously calm that night, careful almost, even as they came crashing up against the hull of the vessel. It was all so far beneath them that Grace could hardly hear them. Or maybe, the ocean had been so loud all around him that it all blended together. Grace wouldn’t know then, but later on, he would equate this blanket of noise to the silence of space. Looking out at all of the distant celestial bodies, the inaudible life that may be out there. It felt the same. Carl’s voice had rung through the envelopment of wind and water in a more than welcome way.
“About none of it, yeah,” Grace had admitted, with a small huff of laughter.
“Missing the classroom yet?” Carl had asked. And the question could have been taken as lacking taste, considering Grace had been an unwilling resident of the boat. Or, less unwilling and more unknowing. It had all just happened.
“Of course I am. I missed it the moment I left. Even when I thought that I would be back the next day,” Grace had laughed again, as though the person he had been a few months ago was silly or weak for not foreseeing the great purpose his life would be taken over by. He had left the school that day with Eva Stratt following him all the way to the bike racks, and at the time he hadn’t had an inkling of how useful he would be to the earth. But he had certainly missed the classroom. He always did. He had a quiet small life on the edge of the city in an apartment that was only big enough for him. His life revolved around passing on knowledge to the next generation. And he loved doing it. It was the only part of his life that felt right and true to him. Every time he went to his dim home, neglected to flick on the lights, sat in his lonely living room, he only wondered about the lesson plan the next day. Not much more.
When the van had pulled up, full of people in suits, he had felt only a small rush of terror. This little sense of dread, like he knew right then and there that he would not be teaching any lesson the next day. Or that he would not even return to his apartment to plan it. And Carl had been there then, as straight-faced as his boss. But the way his shoulders were loose and his stance was easy, it had been somewhat comforting. His expression, his quick response with a name to call him, it was just friendly and welcoming enough to allow Grace to find it in himself to get into the vehicle.
And then there he was. A whirlwind later, a friendship bubbling between them, certainly. The only adult friendship he had had considered to be more than just a colleague in a long time. Although one could argue that Carl was also only a coworker. Just the same as any of the teachers who’s classes neighboured his. Or parents who enjoyed small chats after report card reviews. But Grace’s early adult life had been a lot of conflict and name-calling and fumbling what could have been good long-lasting friendships. And Grace had at a certain point sort of accepted that he would never find real community. Teaching the children and finding a use for his many years of study had been good enough for him, at the time. Despite his home life being so miserably simple. So something like Carl, who at least came to speak to him outside of each of their unique duties, it felt like something more than colleague.
“You’ll be back soon,” Carl had reassured him then. And it’s this memory that eased Grace’s mind so many years in the future, settled onto Erid. Carl was extremely honest. These small words let Grace know that Carl hadn’t known all along that Grace was the third pick. The next in line if something were to go wrong. For all Grace knew, this information was never even written down. It was probably not known to anybody save for Stratt. Maybe nobody at all until the explosion happened. Perhaps Stratt hadn’t ever thought of it until the worst came to pass. “Just enjoy this science playground while you can.”
“Is that what this is?” Grace had asked. Looking to his side to see Carl’s dark pretty eyes lit up with the starry night. His mouth curved into a soft smile as he side-eyed Grace. “Don’t you feel more pressure?”
“Not my problem,” Carl said, with a shrug.
“You’re not.. worried about if this whole place explodes one day? And we all go missing in the middle of the sea?” Grace remembered asking. What a morbid thought. But they were hard not to have when you were working with an explosive alien lifeform. Hardly a playground by Grace’s standards. But Carl had shrugged again.
“Nobody would even report me,” Carl said, with an eerily accepting expression. As if he was completely fine with that fact. And Grace had felt a prick of something or other in his chest. Relatability, maybe. The realization that the two of them had a lot more in common than Grace had previously known.
“You don’t.. uh..” Ryland had tried, clearing his throat when he realized that it was really none of his business.
“You know how it is. Work takes time. Nothing left for anything else,” Carl had said. “From what I hear, you’ve got a similar lifestyle.”
“A lonely one?” Grace had joked, although it hadn’t really been a joke.
“If you want to put it that way, sure,” Carl had responded, with more seriousness than Grace had expected. “Nothing wrong with that. I like what I do.”
“..Me too,” Grace had said, unaware of the wonder in his voice. Carl’s smile and grown just a little bit then. And then they both looked away from each other back at the ocean again.
The waves had taken over again for a few brief minutes. And Carl’s long jacket had been waving like a flag.
“Playground it is,” Grace said, eventually. “It is nice to be in this world again.”
And boy would those words haunt him. Little did he know that being ‘involved in this world again’ was only the beginning of his journey right out of it forever. The science world was nothing if not cruel, demanding and unforgiving.
“I’m sure learning a lot,” Carl had said.
“Honestly, Carl,” Grace remembered being sort of childishly shy about the following compliment, but it had felt right in the moment. “You have more exciting scientifically plausible ideas than half of the people I used to deal with. They should be learning from you.”
And Grace had leaned over further in an effort to make his face less easy to see in case of any frustrating pink flush.
“Wow. Should I be flattered?” Carl had tilted his head, looking down at where Grace was leaning, bent at the waist to rest his chin on his forearms. The railing cold through the sleeves of his rain coat. “I heard that the people you used to work with were ‘wasted carbon’..”
”I’m never living it down,” Grace had shook his head in disbelief, a small smile on his face nonetheless. Carl laughed too, in that silent way he did, where his shoulders would shake and he’d shove his hands in his pockets.
“You should be more proud,” Carl had said, quietly. As if he didn’t want the ocean to hear them. “Your whole situation. It’s.. cool. It’s respectable.”
And Grace had turned his head back towards Carl, chin still resting on his arms. He frowned and blinked several times. Grace had thought he couldn't be serious. His career path and life journey was laughable.
“Are you making fun of me?” Grace had asked, completely sincerely.
And, completely sincerely, Carl had responded. “No. I think it’s nice.”
Grace supposed that he still looked confused and doubtful, because Carl carried on explaining.
“You found a way to keep doing what you love, even when ‘the world’ as you said, pushed you out,” Carl had elaborated, gazing down at him in a way Grace had never had anybody do before. Ever. And he remembered feeling a stillness in his ribcage for a moment or two, a complete pause of all body systems just to marvel at whatever was glowing between the two of them.
And wasn’t that ironic, in hindsight, that Carl had been another person to send him off. ‘Push him out’ on a much grander scale. Carl had said all of this, and then, several months later, he had put Grace through it all again. In a much more literal sense.
Finding himself again after losing his job had been what he thought would be the hardest and most emotionally challenging experience Grace had ever had to go through. Now, living on another planet, that designation was obviously belonging to his much larger adventure. But the point still stood that the rediscovery and exploration of his value, purpose and enjoyment in life were a great big question mark for a few debilitating years.
He had no family. No friends. And then suddenly no job due to his own mistakes and boldness. And while he did eventually find something different, solace in teaching, love and hope in his students, he also shrunk on the way there. He became a much quieter, much less intruding version of himself. Maybe a much more peaceful Grace, in spite of what he lost. And Carl had stood there on that boat and congratulated him on that metamorphosis, completely unaware that he would trigger another one in a few months' time.
“Thank you,” Grace on the aircraft carrier had said, near tears, but suddenly emboldened to feel no shame about it. He’d always been a crier anyway. “You know he’s here, that guy?”
”Hm? Wh- no. Waste of carbon guy?” Carl had laughed, looking around incredulously although they were alone on the deck. “No way.”
Grace had stood then, turning slightly to wipe at his eyes. “Yeah, hah, he’s here. He was staring me down hard the day we arrived.”
“No way,” Carl had repeated, laughing into his fist. “That’s so funny.”
”I know,” Grace had cracked then too, and they both devolved into a couple of forms shivering with laughter as the sound of the waves below them disappeared completely. Their hushed, huffy giggles taking Grace away for a brief moment from the impending doom. From the pressure.
“Grace,” Carl had said, turning to him again as their laughter settled.
“Hm?”
“Grace!” Rocky’s chiming song cut in through the waves and the memories. The picture of Carl and the aircraft carrier dissipated, a smile frozen on his face, the purpose-made daylight of Erid’s biodome came to be once more.
“Wha- hm?” Grace asked, back to earth- or- back to Erid.
“You approve this plan, question?” Rocky asked. “Grace all in head about it.”
”I think it’s a great idea, Rock,” Grace said, willing away any more memories floating about. “I’d be delighted to hear from Earth again. But.. don’t pour resources into it if.. if they’re better used on Erid. For.. Erid problems. I’m happy here. With you.”
”Grace speak nonsense. We are utopia compared to Earth,” Rocky said, causing his Eridian teammates to chitter and bounce with laughter. “We have much to spare on Earth-Erid communication network. Is exciting. Hyped.”
Grace snorted, too entertained to correct Rocky on the placement of the word. He understood it well enough. The Eridian science team began to chat again as they made their way up to the biodome exit, Kelvin giving a playful salute that Grace had taught them all to do.
“We get started! Believe in Erid, Grace!” Sandy commanded, as the team left. Rocky stayed behind with Grace of course, as he always did during the visits. Not before giving Adrian a little snuggle, and a shared goodbye gesture. Grace loved listening to the playful guiro-esque song it made.
They walked along the beach again, away from the camouflaged cliff face exit that the Eridians used. There were really several exits and entryways, and the Eridians often used them to perform maintenance and upgrades. Grace was spoiled, that much was certain. He even spent quite a bit of time these days outside of the dome, in a special purpose-made suit just for him. It was much more aerodynamic than the one Rocky had made on his ship years ago now. Erid was a beautiful planet. Full of beautiful people. Grace felt honoured to call it his home.
Grace gestured to one of the higher cliffs, and Rocky hopped a couple times affirming that he would love to hike up. They did this a lot, a small walk to a nice viewpoint. Nothing too strenuous as the gravity was hard enough on Grace as it was. But Grace enjoyed making his way up the easy switchbacks with Rocky by his side.
“Grace have bigger feelings about this, statement,” Rocky observed, having obviously noticed that Grace was lost in thought earlier. Grace kicked a pebble, a purpose-made earth-duped pebble. Not an Eridian baby. The two should not be confused.
“Of course,” Grace admitted. “I almost.. It’s complicated.”
”This something humans say when is not complicated,” Rocky said, and Grace laughed.
“I shouldn’t have let you watch so many movies,” Grace said, fondly.
“Human entertainment is very revealing,” Rocky said, almost like he agreed. Grace laughed again.
Grace thought about it. And, maybe Rocky was right. Maybe it was less complicated and more so a matter of his own indecisiveness. Maybe to an Eridian it would be clear as day. Earth wronged him, in a way, and he had virtually nobody back there who he left on good terms. In that light, there was no reason to speak to anyone again. But those were personal, petty nitpicks of specific relationships.
On the other hand, he had been dying to know the real details of Earth’s successes. what had they lost? What had they gained? Had Grace missed out on a great new band? A reboot of a fantastic franchise? A brand new one? What iPhone did people have now? Who was the president? The royals? Who was prime minister of Canada? Did everyone ditch electric cars to help warm the earth? Was everybody’s perception of a carbon footprint and global climate consciousness completely backwards?
And he is only one person. Erid is a planet full of new information, new life forms, a scientific wonderland. All of which could be added to Earth’s knowledge and potentially strengthen and inspire them. Grace and his relationships had only a tiny fraction of relevance in the greater idea. The Eridians might have thought that they were establishing a line of communication for Grace, but Grace would rather believe it was for everything and everyone else.
“Grace scared to speak to Earth. Worried about losses, question?” Rocky had asked, as he scrambled up a small patch of gravel. Grass sprouting between the larger rocks. ”People Grace miss too much?”
“Um.. Yes, in a way,” Grace said, feeling awkward about the reality of it all. How would he tell Rocky that they had sent him up and away by force? Rocky would probably shut the whole thing down out of spite. He was already mad enough that Earth had sent him without a return ticket. God forbid he found out it was against his will. “People I wish I had a better goodbye with. A better send off.”
”Rocky like Grace goodbye. Human goodbye is sweet. Dancing, waving. Word is nice too,” Rocky said.
“I didn’t uh. I didn’t dance and wave with them. Didn’t get to say the word either,” Grace admitted. “Most humans don’t dance to say goodbye though. I just felt like it would be poetic to do that with you.”
“Rocky happy that was not real goodbye,” Rocky said, the soft exterior of his biodome suit making rubbery noises against the rough terrain. “Even though it was good one. Why Grace not even say word with old friends?”
“Didn’t uh. Didn’t really get the chance,” Grace said, omitting the details. Rocky was too smart. If he gave away any more than this he would probably figure it out. For the sake of Earth and Erid, it was better that he kept this information from Rocky for as long as he could. “Had to leave quickly to save Earth. You were already waiting alone at that time, Rock.”
“Always time to say goodbye,” Rocky argued. And Grace wished he was right about that. Although he was sure that here on Erid, that was most definitely true. Maybe it was the longer lifespans, or some biological trait the Eridians all shared— there was just so much peace and kindness here. A true expectation of harmony and respect that Earth only ever pretended to have. “You will get chance now.”
Grace had pursed his lips, as he and Rocky found a place to sit at the top of the hill and hopefully talk about something else. Development of the communication line was only a concept right now. He could worry about it much later.
“Yeah, I guess I might,” Grace said, bringing one knee up to his chest. The waves crashed against the cliffs way down below them, and Grace blinked away the memory of the aircraft carrier once again. Rocky settled into his side, comfortable and cushioned by the thin layer of biodome suit between them. Thin compared to Rocky’s ball, that was for sure. Grace put an arm around him, his best friend in the universe. “What was that you were telling me about Adrian’s mom?”
”Humans have such funny word for this,” Rocky said, as he had a million times before. He mocked the word in his singsong, much prettier translation. He dragged out the Eridian version to mimic the noises English made. Grace was so good at real-time translation now, he could practically hear it in the computer voice they had used on the Hail Mary. Rocky’s language was just so beautiful. So much personality in every chirp and rumble. “Moooom. Daaaad.”
”I’ve told you it’s because babies have an easier time with simple sounds,” Grace laughed.
“Human babies much less capable than Eridian babies. Our babies talented vocalists,” Rocky bragged.
“Very true,” Grace said. And it hit him then that he’d never see a cute little useless human baby again. Unless of course they got this communication network .. working. Damn. He supposed he’d keep finding reasons until it eventually came to be. ”So, mom.”
”Adrian moms, both of them, suggest again,” Rocky said, allowing Grace to put together the pieces. Rocky made a great big sigh. “Always annoying us about kids.”
”You don’t want babies?” Grace asked, imagining what shape and colour a little Rocky-Adrian pebble might be. The variety of the children in his classes on Erid was spectacular. They all had a million different patterns and textures, and the rest of Erid was chock full of incredible shape and detail. It was a world of opportunity. The expression and personality in their appearances was more than humans had ever conceived for an alien species. In earth fiction, it was always the same slimy green bipedals, or some other idea of that nature. Something that wore human clothes, something with earth-like deep-sea tentacles. Grace liked to think that part of the beauty of life was the boundaries. Eridians were an incredibly strong species with a million unique qualities, and a million traits that earth would consider handicaps.
Even what they were made of, humans would see it as less than efficient. They couldn’t see light, and it held them back from a gazillion different scientific revelations. But they were advanced in several other ways. And they were beautiful in ways that humans could not recognize. Grace would never see Eridians like they see themselves. Their unique patterns and divots all observed through a profoundly complex and evolved version of echolocation. All that to say, their bodies were doubling as a visual wonder and an audible one.
What might a little Rocky-Adrian pebble sound like? He should have asked.
“I do want,” Rocky said. “Adrian too. But is little early. Moms is… how say on earth? Classic?”
“Old fashioned?” Grace said, blinking a couple times. How interesting of a similarity to have. How deep does conservatism go on such a perfectly future-oriented planet?
”Yes, old fashion. Want babies fast in case Erid explode,” Rocky said.
“Wh- huh? Is that something to be.. to be worried about?” Grace asked, disturbed. Maybe not so comparable to conservatism. Were Adrian’s moms a couple of conspiracy theorists?
”Is old belief from before new studies,” Rocky waved him off. “Adrian moms just old. They worry too much. Will have babies soon.”
“That’s exciting, Rock,” Grace said, eager to hear more. He knew a lot about Eridian biology, these days. Geology, he had joked, once. It was interesting to learn that Rocky would carry pebbles were Adrian and Rocky to have babies. Even more interesting that it was not due to predisposed traits or a set of body parts and more a relationship dynamic choice. Grace thought it was pretty incredible that they could just decide like that. He was excited to see the day Rocky came along to visit the biodome with a little hamster sized ball rolling next to him. Grace’s heart would probably burst.
”Hyped,” Rocky said.
“Okay enough with that,” Grace laughed.
They stared out at the water, it tended to calm towards the end of the day before picking up at nighttime. He had informed the Eridians that he found heavy waves quite comforting when sleeping. And he found glassy water at sunset to be really gorgeous. They just gave him whatever the hell he wanted. Life was beautiful.
“Grace want children, question?” Rocky asked, somewhat carefully. They were past any timidity and awkwardness, about virtually any subject. But Rocky still treaded lightly on Earthly experiences he knew Grace missed out on. Mark! Mark! He would rave. And Grace didn’t have the heart to tell him that that girlfriend had only lasted a month or so anyway.
”I mean, you know I love kids,” Grace said. Rocky made a little chirp that Grace couldn’t translate for a moment, maybe to protect his own heart- or maybe because Rocky was muffled against the biodome suit. “What was that, Rock?”
“Grace would have been perfect dad, statement,” Rocky said. “Sorry we can’t make more humans.”
“Hey. Stop it with that,” Grace said, trying not to think of anybody he may have wanted to start a family with once. Even just in a ‘crazy idea before bed’ kind of way. A self-indulgent dream. “You’ve given me everything I could have ever hoped for. I thought I was dying on that ship, Rocky. And it keeps getting better! You’ve just decided to get a communication line up and running.”
Rocky gave him a look, and Grace was aware that Rocky had no face to discern any particular expression on. But when you spend a decent amount of time with anybody, crab-like alien lifeform or otherwise, you can read an unimpressed stare.
“You say is complicated,” Rocky pointed out. And Grace cursed his big brain for the millionth time.
“Well… yeah,” Grace nodded, hugging his knees. “But complicated is much better than being dead in space, right?”
Rocky didn’t respond. And the synthesized sunset began through the thinning layer of fog. No matter how many times Grace watched the handful of organic weather patterns the Eridians set up, it didn’t get old. Rocky seemed to be thinking through something.
”When Rocky and Adrian have baby,” Rocky started. “How to say human way.. Grace can watch over? Be a part?”
Grace teared up instantly.
“Like a godfather?”
Rocky jumped, moment ruined immediately.
“NO! What?! Like movie about Carleone?!! Mafia boss!?” Rocky asked, panicked about being misunderstood. Grace started laughing, the tears still threatening to come out anyway.
“No remember- in the movie he is like a third parent to those kids?” Grace said.
“This is not.. earthly religious thing, question?” Rocky asked, calming down, embarrassed by the freak out. His body language shifted into something like sheepishness.
“Ah, maybe for some people. But it evolved as a term for anybody to use. Legally and socially. It’s an extra guardian for your kid. If something were to happen to you,” Grace explained, unable to hold back the grin on his face, so completely touched by Rocky’s sentiment.
“Yes I mean this,” Rocky said. “Grace is Rocky and Adrian baby godfather.”
Grace was silent for a moment again, and when his shoulders started shaking Rocky leaned in closer and instantly began to mock him.
”Leaking again!” Rocky cried, a string of musical giggles followed.
The sunset carried on with the same whispy streaks Grace recalled requesting, and he thought of a little Rocky family coming to visit and drink coffee with Armando in the morning. It was a pretty picture. And his heart clenched once more at his idea of a tiny Rocky rolling around the place, curious and excited- akin to when Rocky first entered the Hail Mary. Grace squeezed his eyes shut and tried not to picture any other humans there too, but the idea of a screen projected on one of the walls of his cozy Eridian house, displaying a meeting room on Earth, or maybe just a living room. Somebody on the other end of a video call. It was an undeniably pleasant vision. And it might not have been so far off.