Chapter Text
I’m dying… My light is fading and all I am now is a crumbling rock. I had a few scrapes, but those are long crystallized by now.
The red and black of Eden is all I see. It’s evil red eye… I’m scared. I’m so so scared, but I know I shouldn’t be. I know I’ll be reborn—maybe—I haven’t reached the end so I don’t know if I even will be reborn or if I’ll just be stuck here until another poor soul comes across my frozen body. Either way, I’m scared to die. I don’t want to die.
“Child…” A soft but strong voice speaks.
”Huh..?”
”You needn’t fear death, as all life and light is reborn eventually. My child, would you like to spread your gift of light to others once again?”
”I- I mean. Yea- yes. Yes, Megabird. I do.”
”Good. My child, your light will fade right now, but you will be reborn in another world. That world’s light is dimming, and they need someone like you—a being of light. A creation of the stars—to help that world’s people return it. Just as you have returned and freed our spirit’s memories—our souls—will with return your favor by lending you our light whenever you may need it. We are always with you…”
”I… okay. Thank you- thank you for letting me live to spread light to others again. And not just to this world, but far beyond that.”
“Of course, dear. Now, feel no fear nor pain and sleep peacefully. Let go of your worries for now and close your eyes…”
Megabird’s light is so warm. It fills the soul, even in death.
Grace’s POV:
”That is where he is.” I say, pointing to Rocky from around the corner while recording myself on the record.
”Hello Grace.” Says Rocky.
“He’s right here-“ I point in Rocky’s direction.
“Hello Grace friend.”
”Okay.”
”Did Grace find sampler instruction?”
“Yes, I found the sampler instruc- Yes! I found the sampler instructions.” I had to repeat myself because the first time I forgot to look at Rocky and not the camera I’m holding.
Rocky then chitters like he’s laughing, and I sigh, going back behind the corner.
“Anomaly in the ‘Screen Room.’” I hear Mary say.
“What?” I ask.
”Anomaly in the ‘Screen Room.’”
“Well, fudge. Rocky! I’m going to check out this ‘anomaly.’ It’s probably nothing big, but still.”
“Ok Grace! Grace be careful.”
“I will bud.” I say to Rocky—smiling—before turning and making my way up the latter to reach the “Don’t Go Crazy Room,” as I call it.
* * *
I’m nearing the top of the room from the latter when I see a faint, yellow, light.
Huuh? I think. That’s odd.
I reach the top of the latter and pull myself atop the floor before looking up and seeing… a child? Well, they look like a child- a glowing kid with dark brown skin that fades to a diluted yellow at their hands and paws—paws? But still a child. They also seem to have a single tan stripe starting on their upper arms and going completely around their arms twice before ending in a spike on the third row and- focus Grace! Focus! What’s a kid even doing in space? How in the world did they even get here?! They definitely don’t look human, not completely. Maybe they’re an alien that can teleport or something. Okay. They seem to be fine in my atmosphere, so they’re probably ok to touch. I think as I slowly and carefully walk forwards to try and nudge the kid a bit. I’d prefer if they could wake up so we can talk cause I’m not sure what to do exactly… Rocky! Maybe he can help me with this! He’s an alien!
I should probably bring them to Armondo though, just in case. I mean, they look decently human enoughhhh? My mind voice raises at the end in uncertainty. “Okay. Let’s do this!” I pick up the kid—are they even a kid? Does their species just happen to look like a kid to me?—Whatever! I’ll figure that out later! “Up we go.” I say, trying not to pull at their cape or tail. They’re light. Much lighter than I thought they’d be.
Carefully, I bring us both down the latter and to Armondo—laying them down flat on the table below Armondo’s arms.
“Who is that? Question. Is the anomaly, question?”
“Yeah, Rock. I think this was the anomaly. It’s another alien! Though, I don’t know how they managed to get on board our ship? They seem fine in our atmosphere, and they’re weirdly light, with a cape that doesn’t seem to come off—considering it somehow didn’t fall off while I was carrying them down here… what’d’ya think Rocky?”
“New alien human weird, statement.”
“They’re not human bud. They’re kindaaa shaped like a human, yeah, but they’re definitely not human.
“Oh. Statement. Is because of animal leg, head, and tail, question?”
“Yup. Their skin is unnaturally a grey-ish brown that fades into a lighter yellow color at their hands and feet, they have an animal head with unnatural design patterns, they have a tail, and they have a cape that seems to float slightly just above their shoulders with an iridescent kinda shine and colors similar to a crow’s feathers on Earth.
. . .
I cannot see light. Statement… human stupid.” Rocky said that last bit in a judgmental way that I didn’t particularly like.
“Okay, well, I’m just saying what you asked. State. Ment.”
”Do not put blame on me. Your fault, statement.”
“I-! Ughh. Whatever.”
. . .
“What is 2 + 2?” Armondo says.
“Huh-?” I say, slightly surprised at the new alien waking up so soon. At the same time, I turn around and find the new alien awake and sitting up right, staring at both me and Rocky.
*Honk!*
“Wrong answer. What is 2 + 2?” Armondo repeats.
*Honk!*
“It’s 4, Armondo,” I say. I assume they can’t talk in English, similar to how Rocky can’t either. “Hello. I’m Grace, that’s Rocky over there. What’s your name?”
*Honk! Honk!*
. . .
“Right. Um…” Darn. I need to make another translator, huh? I hope I have double of the tech I used for Rocky’s translator. I mean, I probably do, somewhere on the ship. I should find those supplies. I think to myself.
“Can you understand me?”
They nod.
”Okay. Great! Um, I’m going to make a translator for you so me and Rocky can understand you, like how you can understand us. Ok?”
They nod again.
“Alright! Rocky! Why don’t you show them around the ship while I’m gone?”
“Yes yes yes.” Says Rocky. “Hello new alien! I am alien also! I show you around the ship! Come come come!”
I watch Rocky roll away in his xenonite ball with the new alien jogging behind them.
“Alright.” I say to myself. “Let’s do this! Time to find some new parts, build a translator, and then sit and add so many new words, and.. Get back on track! Ya! Okay, I’mmm gonna go now.” I trail off.