Work Text:
I am about to meet life that didn't evolve for the first time.
Well, actually, not the first time. It's a second. But this is intelligent life, counts for something, right?
I've been calling their ship Blip-A. It's freaking massive!
About 10 minutes later
What the heck? It's connecting. Our airlocks are connecting! I am the first human being to meet intelligent extra-terrestrial life. Ilyukhina would've loved this moment. Yào, too. We would have been the first three humans to meet extra-terrestrial life. I don't really remember them, to be honest. I don't know why. I know Ilyukhina was a fun person to be around, and Yào was always stoic and serious. But I don't remember anything other than that.
I thought about it, how do I know this lifeform isn't thinking of me as dinner?
In movies, I would be a delicious dinner and that's the end of this mission. But in movies, my crew would be alive. That's one difference.
Our airlocks have connected... Depressurizing and... Oh. It's pitch black in there. Maybe they used a flashlight or something? Also, is this lifeform an it? That sounds mean. I think "he" would be nicer... OH MY DAYS.
He's freaking adorable and terrifying. He's spider-like and rock-like. But he's got a pentagonal carapace and five legs? Or arms? I'm going to say arms. Arms sound nicer. Where are his eyes? This is freaky. His arms got an elbow each, and then three fingers. More like claws. Also, he's tiny! Naming him Rocky, for sure
I heard him say (I think say is the right word), "♫♪♪♫"
Why did I half expect him to speak English?
I don't know.
But he's so tiny. So stinkin' tiny. The size of a labrador tiny.
He keeps speaking. I don't understand him. He probably thinks I'm weird for watching him. But I'm curious. Like what is the stuff in the airlock? They range from opaque to transparent.
Wait! No! I can't see him. The only logical answer is press my face against the wall separating us, right? Well, wrong. Whatever that is, it is HOT. Like I think my face got burnt hot. I squeaked, then immediately pulled away from the Hot Wall of Pain. It hurt so badly.
Our ships are connected. And again, a logical thing to do is give this guy a measuring tape. I watch him pull the tape. I think he's definitely a scientist
A few days later
I told this guy about pop culture references from Earth. And I told him he does jazz hands a lot.
"What are jazz hands, question?"
"Kind of a thing a long time ago on Earth. It was a meme"
"What is a meme, question?'
"Something funny that everyone likes"
"So you are a meme, question?"
"What?"
"You are a meme"
I don't think Rocky understands this meme thing. Hell, I don't think I do, either.