Chapter Text
PROLOGUE
Ocean waves
filtered air
warmth.
Grace didn't want to get out of bed, 20 years on Erid was brutal on the human body.
Armando chimed from the living room. "Dr. Gace, you have company"
Adrian.
Adrian wasn't like rocky, they didn't understand knocking or asking to enter. While Adrian was wonderful, they reminded Grace of Stratt with their blunt speech and insistence to do things at directly as possible, and they'd been getting more insistent the more Grace aged.
Adrian had been working on some strange science project regarding Grace's health and refused to elaborate on it. All Grace knew was that for the last few month Adrian would enter his house, demand a blood sample, and leave without a word, but today they were different, in their Xenonite EVA Suit they entered his bedroom before he could even put on a shirt.
"Adrian! I'm not dressed!" Grace shrieked.
"No time, come with, now, now ,now!" Adrian said scuttling across the floor to get behind him and began pushing. Rocky was small by Eridian standards so imagine a large, Larimar rock the size of a moose, with 5 thick legs, shoving you out of you own home. that's what it felt like for Grace as he was unceremoniously escorted outside and towards the lab. He regularly got checked by the scientists to keep track of his health as he aged so it wasn't an unfamiliar area, but this time was VASTLY different. Eridians were running everywhere on the other side of the clear Xenonite wall.
It was almost worrying until he realized it was rocky barking (humming?) orders at everyone. That made him laugh because the sight of little rocky bossing around Eridians twice his size was entirely too funny to witness.
They were building...something.
Grace:
"Rocky! hey bud, what's going on! Adrian wouldn't let me get dressed before bringing me here, what's so important!?" I said before sitting on the examination table. Adrian had been kind enough to support most of my weight for the walk here but I wanted to rest, I still wasn't entirely awake. I hadn't even eaten anything yet! More science Edirians put on EVA suits entering and moving things about on his side of the room.
"Grace! Adrian did big science! Fixed problem!"
Problem? I didn't know there was one. literally WHAT is he talking about.
"What problem?" I asked frowning as various precision electrodes and needles were put all over my body.
"Grace age problem, Human life short, Grace say not enough, Adrian find way to fix, make life long, long, long like ours!" Rocky explained while stomping one of his legs repeatedly.
I shook my head, so THAT's why Adrian had been so dodgy about the blood samples. They didn't want to talk about my age! That was so silly though, I'd told them how it was normal. how I'd likely pass in my sleep without any pain or fear. It had been rocky who hated that idea. It'd wasn't great I'd admit. Dying alone in the biodome they'd made for me, never seeing or hearing another human. But, I'd made peace with that, I saved Earth by sending back the beetles, Sol had returned to normal, everything was fine, his job for humanity was done and his place was here now.
"Rocky, buddy, I already explained why that wasn't an issue. I'm okay with living the rest of my life here teaching the pebbles!" I tried to reason with him, I really was trying, but remembering how Rocky had been so silent for days after learning about my age I cant help it, I caved. what else could I do? I rubbed the blue colored dot next to the scar of Rocky's claw mark, the ammonia burns were nothing compared to that one, it hurt whenever Rocky was sad, as if my empathy needed to physically guilt trip me into doing whatever my beloved friend...mate.. wanted.
"Alright Rocky buddy, tell me more and I'll CONSIDER it, I trust you and Adrian but asking me to try some experimental...age lengthening medicine is... a big ask!"
Adrian dove into a big explanation about how they'd been trying different ways to donate some of their cells into his blood samples in order to help his body be strong and live longer aT the very least.
"Have figured out how to make it work, and blood didn't boil in our atmosphere, in theory serum would made Erid air safe for Grace!" Adrian chimed tilting their carapace up in pride while Rocky bounced beside them. Rocky regularly got the zoomies whenever Adrian did something impressive.
"And if it doesn't? what if it hurts me? my bones aren't made of the same material you guys are made of, I'd still be crushed in the gravity!" I countered.
There was silence before Adrian moved too a different blood sample slide and held it up, waving it around. "yes, Erid gravity strong, human body is weak, naturally made multiple serums for Grace to help all parts of Grace biology! many samples, many tests, many serums!" They said as if I was dramatic and unreasonable.
"So let me get this straight. you want to put MULTIPLE experimental serums into my system?! then you want me to get into you atmosphere based on only a few months of testing on my BLOOD ?! you haven't tried any skin tissue or bone fragments! heck even my organs could be at risk Adrian I don't think I can do it I'm sorry!" I refused, pulling the electrodes of my chest.
A VERY disapproving stomp made me jump as Adrian let out an absolutely pissed sounding line of chords that admittedly I glanced at a computer for the translation to. I still wasn't perfectly fluent in the different emotional pitches. "Mate stupid, mate rude, mate selfish, bad bad bad bad mate bad" is what the computer said...great so anything else that might've been thrown in there hadn't been picked up by the computer.
"Adrian, don't be like that, you know I'm just being cautious!" I tried to defend only for more angry hissing and stomping to reply. Rocky was awkwardly stepping to the side as Adrian went into a angry tangent that I could only grab a word of two of without looking a the computer.
"human mate doubt, no trust, human mate think I didn't test, think I didn't consider outcomes! stupid, arrogant, rude, rude, rude!"
I sighed. "Fine- FINE, Adrian fine, we can try...one serum! The one to help me live longer okay? deal? Do that one, that'll make rocky excited hm? I'm sure that one was Rocky's idea so how about that one first and see where we go from there"
I offered rubbing my face, I could feel my blood pressure rising already, anxiety spiking. My mates are really trying nerves this time but there wasn't anything I wouldn't do to make Rocky happy after everything we've been through.
That seemed to be enough as Adrian re-entered their EVA suit and re-entered my side of the room. They personally reattached the electrodes to my body, letting out humming notes that was the Eridian equivalent to grumbling and couldn't help but smile.
"Adrian, I trust your work, but remember my arm. I just don't want something to go wrong and you both lose me so soon"
I said, grabbing two sides of the suit where I imagine their "face" would be.
"I'm sorry I made you mad, I didn't mean to insult your work and I'm very grateful for the effort you put into this." I added softer. It wasn't a lie either. I hadn't asked either of them to do anything regarding this and yet they had gone though all the effort trying to find a way to make it possible.
Adrian clicked and purred, no real words but it was enough to know I'd softened them up slightly and from the Eridian side of the Xenonite panes I heard Rocky's squeaky chirping laugh letting me know he found it amusing how easily I'd swayed our mates mood.
They laid me down and with familiar gentleness pressed the syringe into my skin, it didn't hurt, not even a little. What followed was the scary part. I was instructed to remain on the examination table and wait to see what would happen. Adrian had an "antidote" on standby that would kill any offending cells that were attempting to make the changes the serum was meant to make. For hours, get this...nothing happened!
I laid on that hard uncomfortable table for hours without even a hint of anything being different until I stood to go to the bathroom they'd built for me. Of COURSE that's when the serum had to kick in, while I'm doin' my business!
I managed to finish and stumble out of the bathroom, I was hot. Really hot, uncomfortably hot even!
Adrian rushed to my side and helped me back onto the table as the room began to blur. Rocky rushed in with the antidote.
"Grace dying question?! Use antidote now Question!!" Rocky chirped anxiously.
"no, wait wait wait, see if grace just sleeping, see if body shut down for change like us when sick!" Adrian insisted while comfortingly rubbing the top of Rocky's EVA suit.
BACK ON EARTH.
-
Peter ran into the NASA command room with two coffees and papers pressed under his armpit, it was soon, the probe camera and radio activation for the Hail Mary ship was soon and Stratt hadn't slept at all, she was entirely too nervous, even if she wouldn't admit it. He'd stupidly offered to go get the coffees himself instead of having someone else go get them. He hurriedly barged into the room, set the coffee down next to a very stressed Stratt and rushed beside his boss Tony Stark. "I cant believe the probe actually found the ship, and its still orbiting Erid?!" He asked excitedly
"Yes kid it's still orbiting Erid, you've read the scans yourself, quit asking" Mister Stark said while typing away on a computer, he was focused and something had him in a bad mood.
"I know, I know, its just so exciting to think I'll get to see the space ship that went further than anything ever made by man and the planet the team helped save!"
Silence, not event the tech team dared say anything.
"I see Stratt didn't tell you..." Tony grumbled, shooting the German woman a glare that could kill.
"Tell me what?" Peter asked looking back and forth at them hoping to get an answer.
"Kid, you were told your old middle school teacher quit-"
"Mister Stark this is hardly the time-"
"Shut it Stratt or so help me I'll have you taken back to jail!" Stark snapped when she interrupted him.
"You were told he quit but that was a lie, a very elaborate lie and the government didn't say anything yet because the planet isn't completely back to normal yet." Tony explained speaking fast and practically shaking with rage.
"This Bitch never told the public that the original scientists DIED and that she forced an unwilling MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER into space! Eva Stratt sent your old teacher, Dr. Ryland Grace, Into space and sent him to die!" He ranted.
Peter felt like the world was spinning, Mister Grace had been the teacher to make him love science in the first place... The school had said he just left, quit without word. no one knew it was really because he'd been send to die in space.
"Y-you what...but...I don't understand, when...why...I..." Peter slumped into a nearby hair and held his head in his hands...the likely hood that they were about to discover the body of his old middle school teacher made his ears ring.
"We...we might see his body...is that what you're telling me mister stark" Peter asked, his voice cracking slightly.
"yeah kid, and Stratt didn't think it was important to tell us because she figured he wouldn't be recognizable!" Stark snapped, returning to the computer as the countdown for the camera activation began. Stratt didn't raise her head, she didn't look at anyone, and when she did she only looked at the large screen counting down and drank her coffee.
the countdown was slow, too slow, and the room was too quiet.
When the camera finally came on it showed...devastation. The ship was in pieces, an entire section of the ship was gone entirely. viewing the blueprint said it was the screen dome room made to help sooth the space team in their long trip from home. it wasn't a vital part of technology but it was still a massive hole in the ship that likely killed anyone inside or sucked anything inside, out. Stark nodded to Peter giving him the silent signal to begin steering the drone inside.
upon closer inspection the missing screen dome seemed strategically removed and not blasted away by an asteroid which was strange but if the Eridians Peter had heard people talking about were as smart as they said, then maybe they'd removed it out of curiosity. "Lets turn the radio on, see if we can get the signal and maybe if something intelligent has it down on the surface of Erid" Tony said.
Peter switched the radio on and they waited. "Come in, This is Earth to Erid can anyone her us?"
Static.
"This is Earth speaking, please come in"
More static.
They had taken a painstakingly long time and lots of effort to figure out an instant transmission radio for that distance and it saw seemingly for nothing as they weren't able to make a connection to the signal.
Just as Peter was about to shut the radio off there was a crackle in the static and a voice, not a melody, a real, human voice speaking fluent English!
"H-hello!!! Hello oh my god can you hear me?!" A voice called out.
Everyone in the room sat straight up and even Stratt set her coffee down.
"This is NASA command center, we can hear you, who is this?" Peter asked on his mic.
"Oh my gosh I don't know how you're doing this but it's so great to hear another human voice!" The voice cheered happily as a strange music sound echoed behind it.
"yes, yes, I agree, it's nice to hear you but what's you name sir?" Peter repeated, his heart pounding, there was no possible way anyone from the original crew survived long enough to have a child and raise it...was there?!
"My name is Dr. Ryland Grace! I'm the scientist sent on the Hail Mary mission!"
Gasps filled the room, Stratt covered her mouth and Stark sat down in stunned wordless awe, usually he had some smart comment but he was just. Struck.
"ask him how he's alive, its been years, he should be old and senile if not dead." Tony said walking towards Peter after everyone had processed what they just heard.
"U-uh, Mister Grace, hhhaa- how- how are you alive!? rounding up you should be around 60 or 70 biologically!" Peter stuttered.
Silence, for a moment they thought they lost connection.
"I'm...I am 62 years old...I think. time dilation is weird but that not the only thing that's kept me alive." Grace said through the radio
"Yes- yes Adrian I'm gonna tell them, give me a minute!" He said next after a series of music notes sounded off.
"Um... Adrian? who's Adrian?" Tony asked. Grace didn't answer immediately.
"Um... Rocky's mate, you know rocky- f-from the videos I sent back to you guys right?! yeah Adrian is their mate....an-ow okay okay, and mine... they're also my mate... they made me their third"
Tony seemed to be trying to figure out how that would work biologically and Stratt was busy rubbing her temples with how ridiculous this all sounded.
"You're...I'm sorry what, you're their mate, you're married...to rock creatures....?!" Peter choked out trying not to laugh. he couldn't believe this was real, his middle school teacher was alive...and married to rocks.
"Well yeah, some genetic tinkering and I'm able to live in their atmosphere its pretty nice here...it's dark but that not much of an issue and I can still live in the biodome they made me so it's pretty nice, and they're really kind so I'm kinda spoiled"
"he's their pet... oh my god my college fling is the pet to rock creatures, what is this" Stark mumbled, shaking his head and laughing a little .
"wait you... you went to college- wait fling! you had a fling with-" Peter turned the mic off. "you had sex with my middle school teacher?!" Peter's voice cracked and Tony grinned, walked over, and turned on the mic.
"sup, foxtrot, you still as cute as you were in college?"
"oh my god" muttered Stratt.
"TONY STARK IS THAT YOU!?"
AAAAAND that it, that's the chapter-
huge thanks to this tik tok for the idea, met the maker in the Project Hail Mary discord and that was wonderful! anyways here you go you rabid creatures, lemme know if you want more.