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After the space mission had departed towards Tau Ceti to find a solution for the Astrophage problem, Adrian decided to switch professions and start studying astronomy. They wanted to be there in the astronomy center to hear about their Beloved Mate Rocky's arrival first hand. By the time they finished their education, the space crew still wasn't back. Many more years than they anticipated had passed, but Adrian waited steadfast, never giving up hope. And then one day, the radio crackled to life.
"This is Space Engineer Rocky speaking. Do you copy, question?"
ROCKY! Their beloved Rocky was finally back!
While Adrian was shocked frozen, the radio operator, Alio, answered the call.
"Space Engineer Rocky! This is Astronomer Alio speaking. You're finally back! Good good good! We will immediately send word to the families of the crew, statement."
"No! Don't send word yet."
Adrian felt confused and hurt at the abrupt refusal. Why wouldn't Rocky want to speak to them?
"Space Engineer Rocky. Why not send word? What is problem, question?" asked Alio, alarmed.
"The crew..." Rocky's voice trailed off sorrowfully before they started over, stronger this time. "The crew did not return home. They all got sick in space and died. Rocky could not fix..."
Adrian and the other astronomists let out mournful trills. Out of the twenty-three Eridians sent to space, only Rocky had survived. How horrible! And yet Adrian selfishly couldn't help but feel relieved that at least it was their precious mate who ended up returning.
"Understood," said Alio sadly. "Will contact families later. How did Space Engineer Rocky survive, question?"
"Light particles in space made crew sick, statement. Rocky was protected first by the Astrophage and then by Cherished Friend Grace."
Cherished Friend Grace? They didn't know that name.
"Who is Grace, question?" asked Alio, confused.
"Cherished Friend Grace is alien from faraway solar system. Was also sent to Tau Ceti to find solution for the Astrophage problem. We met long after crew members died. Their crew also died. Grace Rocky found solution to save stars together."
"YOU FOUND SOLUTION, QUESTION??"
"Yes," confirmed Rocky.
Loud and happy cheering broke out in the astronomy center. The death of almost the whole space crew wasn't in vain! Their planet was saved! Rocky patiently waited it out before continuing.
"After finding the solution, Friend Grace and Rocky separated, both of us bringing the predators of Astrophage home to save our stars. Catastrophe happened. The predators escaped and ate all my fuel. I was stranded in space. Smart smart smart Friend Grace managed to stop the predators from eating their fuel. They sent the predators to their home planet by probes, then returned to save Rocky. Brought Rocky home to Erid with their own spacecraft."
Adrian felt overwhelming gratitude towards this mysterious 'Grace'. The alien saved their precious mate's life! Adrian was in their debt forever.
"Erid would not be saved without Cherished Friend Grace, statement," asserted Rocky. "But they have no more fuel and no more food. They can't return home. Rocky promised that Erid would take Grace in. Make them habitat with alien atmosphere to live in, and food that they're able to eat. And Erid will honor my promise, or else I won't hand over predators, statement," declared Rocky calmly.
As the astronomers were stunned into silence by the outrageous proclamation, a loud crash came from the radio, then someone started yelling in a strange, chopped, unknown language.
"Oh Grace, you woke up. Good morning," said Rocky calmly. "Not joking."
The alien yelled some more, then a mechanical-sounding tune came through. "Oh my omnipotent sky deity! This is Grace speaking! I'm so so so sorry! Rocky is lying, we would never hold the world saving solution hostage!"
"I would, statement."
Grace yelled a word in their own language. "ROCKY!" shrieked the mechanical voice at the same time. "Stop it! What are you doing, question?! You're ruining my first impression! I'm an alien seeking refuge on a different planet! I wanted to appear friendly!!!"
"You are succeeding. You appear way more friendly, than Space Engineer Rocky," said Alio dryly.
"Get flipped, statement," retorted Rocky rudely.
"The predator is-" the mechanical voice suddenly stopped with a discordant crescendo, then there was more yelling.
"No voice machine for Grace until I sort this out," declared Rocky strictly. "Rocky will not let precious precious precious Friend Grace die, statement."
Adrian finally stepped up to the radio. "Beloved mate is still just as bossy bossy bossy as always, statement."
"ADRIAN?!" cried out Rocky desperately. "Is really you?! I missed missed missed beloved Adrian!!!"
"Yes, it is me," cooed Adrian. "I missed missed missed Rocky too. Fear not, my love. Erid will honor your promise. We will take good care of Savior Grace, statement."
"Thank thank thank," warbled Rocky in happy, besotted tunes.
Grace angrily said something in their own language, then there was some clattering before the mechanical voice spoke again. "Thank you Erid, thank you Adrian! Bad bad bad lying Rocky! The predator is already released, statement! Already eating the Astrophage!"
"Yes, I lied. Rocky had to make sure that Erid will take care of Cherished Friend Grace," said Rocky without remorse, over the relieved trills of the astronomists.
That statement reminded Adrian of something.
"If Savior Grace needs different atmosphere, how is Beloved Mate Rocky alive in their spacecraft, question?!" they asked, alarmed.
"Oh, I built tunnel system with Eridian atmosphere into it," replied Rocky nonchalantly, as if it was no big deal at all.
Right. What else did they expect? That was just like the same old Rocky.
"Of course you did, statement," deadpanned Adrian.