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Dr. Friedrich Vale is the newest addition to the Petrova Taskforce, an expert in quantum physics, and - in the opinions of the researchers who have to share lab space with him - absolutely insufferable. To hear Dr. Vale tell it, he is a Very Big Deal: a tenured research position at Stanford, a slew of acclaimed papers, and a Nobel Prize nomination for his work in relativity and time dilation. All of which make him a valuable asset to Project Hail Mary, and absolutely insufferable.
Freidrich Vale is very vocal about his opinion that it was only a matter of time before the Petrova Taskforce required his brilliance, and he’s surprised they managed to get this far without him. Notably: Dr. Vale is not on the leadership team with Doctors Komorov, Lokken, and Grace. Dr. Vale is very vocal about his opinions on that, as well.
He has nothing but praise and respect for Dr. Komorov and Dr. Lokken, to the point of being the poster boy for ass-kissers where the two of them are concerned. But - for reasons completely unfathomable to his peers - he doesn’t seem to like Dr. Grace.
The entire leadership team is admirable, of course. Preeminent in their respective fields, ruthlessly competent, and possessing of the kind of drive that makes saving the world seem like a reasonable goal. But Dr. Grace is…different. Special. He’s approachable, in a way that should be impossible for the second in command to Director Stratt to be. They don’t have much time for fun or even relaxation on Stratt’s Vat; but all requests for leisure time and recreational activities go straight to his desk, and they always come back approved. Nevermind that Dr. Grace never has the time to use those commodities himself. He remembers everyone’s name after meeting them once, and makes a point to greet them by name as much as possible. When it comes up, he remembers people’s birthdays. It’s not uncommon for a crewmember to enter their workspace on their birthday and find a bag of sour skittles with a post-it note of well wishes attached. He never signs them, but everyone knows. There’s only one person onboard who’s allowed to have sour skittles; except, of course, on birthdays.
It’s small things like that, that make Dr. Grace special. To those that work under him - that is, everyone - those little moments mean something. They mean everything.
So Dr. Vale’s dislike of their First Officer is very confusing to anyone that hears about it. Which is quite a lot of people, because Dr. Vale is - again - very vocal about most things pertaining to himself. And Dr. Grace, apparently. It takes a couple months before anyone asks about it, though; because they all have more important things to do than listen to some guy on the astrophysics team bitch about their superior officer.
“What’s your problem with Dr. Grace anyway, Friedrich?” Dr. Samir asks during lunch, after yet another vague complaint from Vale. Dr. Vale doesn’t like being called by his first name. Naturally, his fellow researchers do it as much as possible.
He sniffs haughtily. Most things Dr. Vale does are haughty. “I simply don’t see why Director Stratt would entrust the biology team to Ryland Grace, of all people. Surely there were other, more competent candidates.”
The rest of the table stills, side chatter breaking off as they all stare at Dr. Vale in confusion.
“Dr. Grace knows more about Astrophage than anyone else in the world. He named it,” Dr. Katsuki - their team lead - points out. “Why would you say he is not competent?”
“The man is a pariah in his field. If you’d read his post-doctoral thesis,” Vale chuckles and shakes his head. “He’s not what I’d call ‘leadership material,’ in any case.”
The other scientists share baffled looks. They have read Dr. Grace’s thesis. Of course they have: everyone has. His theory is controversial, yes; but the paper itself is well researched, well written, and logically sound. It’s also funny, which is quite the feat for any scientific paper, let alone one with such an esoteric focus. Also, the idea that Dr. Ryland Grace - the second highest authority on the Project - isn’t ‘leadership material’ is…ridiculous.
“Dr. Grace is very well respected on this ship, Friedrich,” Dr. Cohen says with a hint of reproach. “While you’re here, perhaps it is best not to say such things in polite company.”
Vale rolls his eyes, but lets the subject drop with a muttered, “Really, what could Grace do to me?”
The astrophysics team experiences a collective realization: Friedrich Vale might be a complete idiot, actually.
Dr. Grace doesn’t often visit the astrophysics lab. He doesn’t really have a reason to, and he’s too important and too busy to do things for no reason. But he does progress checks every three months, to see what they’re working on instead of reading it in a report. Nobody says so aloud, but they all look forward to his visits. It’s circled in red marker on the lab calender.
“Knock, knock!”
Katsuki smiles and turns towards the door, where Dr. Grace is peeking around the door-frame. He always waits outside for permission to come in, even though he doesn’t need it.
“Dr. Grace, please come in,” Katsuki says, stepping away from his workspace to greet the man. “It is good to see you. Thank you for taking the time to come see what we’re working on.”
Dr. Grace returns his smile easily. “Yeah, of course! You guys are doing some incredible science here. I’m lucky to be able to see it up close.”
Charmed, Katsuki’s smile widens. Dr. Grace just has that effect on people. “Well, I won’t leave you in suspense. This way, please.”
The tour goes well. It always does. Dr. Grace greets the researchers by name, listens attentively as they explain what they’re working on, then launches into a series of enthusiastic and insightful questions. Because Dr. Grace loves science, beyond it being his job. It’s extremely refreshing - even inspiring - to see.
Then they approach Dr. Vale’s workspace. The man doesn’t stand to greet them, just looks up from his chair with a snide smile. Katsuki suppresses his spike of irritation at the disrespect to Dr. Grace and says, “Dr. Grace, this is Dr. Friedrich Vale, our newest addition. His specialization is relativity and time dilation.”
He does not introduce Dr. Grace to Vale. Dr. Grace does not need an introduction.
“Welcome aboard,” Dr. Grace says, and offers a hand to shake. “I’m Ryland Grace.”
Now Vale stands. He does not shake Dr. Grace’s hand. Instead, he sneers. “Oh, I know who you are, Grace.”
Dr. Grace doesn’t look angry at the slight, just uncomfortable. Friedrich Vale just made Dr. Grace uncomfortable. Friedrich Vale is now on Katsuki’s shitlist.
“Ohhhkay, well uh, what are you working on?” Dr. Grace asks, gesturing to Vale’s desk.
Vale chuckles. It is not a nice sound. “I didn’t know you got a degree in astrophysics, Grace. And on a teacher’s salary, as well. Impressive.”
Friedrich Vale is now at the top of Katsuki’s shitlist, because what the fuck. Dr. Grace looks offended now, brow furrowed and shoulders tight. Katsuki immediately shifts to damage control.
“Apologies, Dr. Grace; Friedrich is rather protective of his research.” Then, because he cares more about getting Dr. Grace the fuck away from Vale as fast as possible more than he cares about telling his First Officer what to do, he says, “Perhaps - in his case - the written reports can suffice?”
Dr. Grace sighs, looking very much like he wants to agree, but: “Stratt wants me to look over all the projects. Redundancy. So…yeah.”
Shit. Okay, great. Okay. Katsuki can handle this. First step: keep Vale from opening his mouth as much as possible. “Friedrich is currently researching the mental and physical effects of relativity on subjects in long-term comas, much the same as Doctors Cohen and Budny. He lacks your understanding of biology, however; so his progress is rather more theoretical than actual. Perhaps your insights could assist him?”
“Hmm,” Dr. Grace hums, one hand lifting to his cheek in thought. “I’m no astrophysicist, but I understand the basics of time dilation. What about the biology are you struggling with, specifically?”
It is very easy to remember that Dr. Grace was a teacher before he was brought onto the Taskforce, mainly because he still is. His questions are always direct, his explanations easily accessible even to those with no scientific knowledge whatsoever. His background as an educator makes him an incredible boon to the entire Project.
And Vale is looking at him with so much blatant condescension that Katsuki has a sudden and powerful urge to throw him overboard. Surely Director Stratt would understand, once he explained his reasoning. She’s a reasonable woman.
“I’m sure I don’t need help from the likes of you, Grace. My research is ‘progressing’ perfectly well,” Vale drawls, and Katsuki can’t help it: his jaw drops. Vale is so fired. There are not accurate enough words in any language to express how fired he is. Oh my god.
But Dr. Grace doesn’t fire him. Dr. Grace sighs, and shrugs, and says, “Alright, I can’t force you.”
He can. He absolutely can. “I’ll have to tell Stratt, but at the end of the day it’s your research.”
But he won’t, because Dr. Grace is just like that. Even to complete idiots who should be thrown overboard. They don’t deserve him, truly.
Katsuki sees Dr. Grace out with a smile and a heartfelt ‘thank you.’ Then Katsuki loses his entire shit.
“Are you out of your mind? Why would you speak to Dr. Grace that way?” he hisses at Vale, the rest of the research team glaring from their desks. Vale is many thing, but ‘quiet’ has never been among them. The entire team heard every word he said, and they aren’t happy.
Vale scoffs. “Please. It’s not as if I was wrong.”
“You - ” Katsuki pauses. He takes a deep breath. “You realize you could’ve been removed from the Taskforce for this, right? You are aware of that?”
Inexplicably, Vale rolls his eyes. “Simply because he is Director Stratt’s boytoy doesn’t mean - “
There’s a commotion from behind Katsuki. He doesn’t turn to look; he’s too busy fighting the very real urge to throw Vale overboard.
“You are lucky,” he grits out, “So very lucky that you did not say that while Dr. Grace was here. I - are you actually that stupid?”
Vale’s brow furrows. “What the hell are you on, Katsuki? It’s Grace.”
Deep breaths. In, then out.
“Yes,” he says in a tight, measured voice, “it’s Dr. Grace. Your boss. My boss. Everyone’s boss. Dr. Grace, who could’ve had you on a jet back home tonight for the shit you just pulled. So what the fuck do you not understand, Friedrich?”
Vale visibly pauses. At length, he asks, “What the hell are you talking about? He leads the biology team.”
The silence in the lab is deafening. Holy shit. Vale isn’t just stupid: he’s terminally stupid. Forget a doctorate, how is this guy alive? Katsuki stares at him, stunned.
“Dr. Ryland Grace,” he says slowly - taking a page out of Dr. Grace’s book - like he’s speaking to a child, “is the First Officer of the Petrova Taskforce and Project Hail Mary. He answers only to Director Stratt.”
Vale snorts in disbelief. Katsuki stares him down, utterly serious. The color begins to drain out of Vale’s face.
“He’s…he’s not qualified, he- it’s Ryland Grace! Is Stratt insane? I thought she wanted this Project to succeed, not blow up spectacularly and fade into obscurity. That’s what Grace does!” Vale rants, volume raising incrementally until he’s shouting. Katsuki just stares at him like a toddler throwing a tantrum. When it seems like Vale is done, Katsuki quirks a brow and crosses his arms.
“Dr. Grace was the first person on Earth to study Astrophage. He named it. He figured out how to breed it. He was in the room when Director Stratt made the decision to pave the Sahara Desert just to make enough of it to get the Hail Mary to Tau Ceti. Do you imagine that was an easy decision to make, Dr. Vale? Could you make that decision, if you had to?” he asks. Vale stares at him, then begins to splutter. He doesn’t seem to be able to use any actual words, so Katsuki cuts him off with a raised hand.
“I’m not an idiot, Dr. Vale. I have a PhD, in fact. Everyone in this room does, for that matter. We are not stupid, and you are not subtle. I know you think yourself better than everyone here. I know you think you’re better than Dr. Grace. You probably think you’re better than even Director Stratt. You certainly have more accolades,” he says. Vale is doing his what appears to be his best impression of a caught fish. Katsuki steps closer, not quite into the man’s space.
“But it doesn’t matter.”
“What - “
“It doesn’t matter. Even if you are better, smarter, more qualified, more renowned. None of that matters: because Director Stratt chose Dr. Grace as First Officer. When he says ‘jump,’ we ask where, when, and how high. And if you are going to continue to take issue with that and blatantly disrespect him, I will personally see to it that you are taken off this Project; and I will tell everyone on this ship exactly why I did it,” Katsuki tells him evenly. “There are a lot of very important people onboard. Can you really afford to burn those bridges?”
Vale is - for once in his life - silent. He stands wide-eyed, glancing between Katsuki and the rest of the research team. All he finds are icy, expectant looks. Knife-blade tension fills the lab as Katsuki waits him out. Vale is a gifted scientist, and the time it will take to find a replacement for him is time they might not have; but Katsuki will not have someone on his team that doesn’t understand the ultimate unspoken law of Stratt’s Vat.
Do not fuck with Dr. Grace. Director Stratt is a given, of course; but she’s too competent to let anyone fuck with her. Dr. Grace is competent, but he is also kind. Warm and personable in a way that perfectly balances Director Stratt’s ruthless pragmatism. He lets them have fun, so long as the work is getting done. He gives people skittles on their birthday. He makes terrible jokes and doesn’t get offended when people don’t laugh at them, because he knows they’re terrible. They’re all stuck on a boat in the middle of the ocean, racing against the clock for the slimmest chance of saving humanity from extinction. It’s tireless, time-consuming, difficult work under pressure; and everyone is hoping, praying they don’t crack right down the middle from the weight of it all.
Dr. Grace reminds them to breath. He reminds them to smile. He reminds them what all the sleepless nights and hard days are for. Dr. Ryland Grace, who is a middle school science teacher thousands of miles from his classroom, trying his best to make sure his students get to see the Sun.
Director Stratt is the guiding hand, the iron fist. Dr. Grace…he’s the heart.
“Well, Dr. Vale? Shall I email Director Stratt about your termination, or can we get to work?” Katsuki prompts after long minutes of Vale not speaking.
“...I mean seriously, Ryland Grace?” Vale asks, sounding mystified.
“Get the fuck out of my lab.”
From:[email protected]
Understood. Replacement arrangements made.
Good work.