Chapter Text
Etta sat at their post, listening to the stars. They were a member of the astronomy cluster, and thus were often watching the stars for anomalies. Etta tried not to be frustrated at how little there was to do while watching the stars—it was an important duty that proved that the astronomy cluster trusted Etta not to miss anything important. But it was so boring.
Or rather, it had been boring. Recently Etta had noticed a new star. It started at a tiny dot that they could barely hear; it was easily ignored as interference. It was less easily ignored as it grew brighter every time they saw it.
Etta was excited. They could be looking at a new star being born!
They excitedly watched the star grow for several days, wanting to be more sure of what they’re seeing before they shared what they were hearing with the astronomy cluster. Just to make sure they didn’t cause a commotion over a simple camera issue. Now they were sure. This was no camera issue.
Collecting themself, Etta called to Dust—one of the oldest members of the astronomy cluster. They were trying to find patterns in the dimming stars. Trying to find something, anything, that they missed the previous times they studied the data.
“What Etta find. question?” Dust asked, walking over to Etta.
“New light appear in space. Etta watch for several days, light grows brighter every day. Not camera issue. Likely new star.” Etta explained.
“New star, question?” Dust squeaked.
“Yes yes yes, Dust see. This light new.” Etta said, pointing at the light they had focused on for several days.
Dust settled down as close to the light-readout as they could and began taking notes on everything. Under their breath, Dust muttered about how little the orientation of the other stars had changed since the last time Dust watched them.
Pausing in their frenzied note-taking Dust asked, “Etta sleep cycle soon, question?”
Etta shuffled in place. It was almost time for them to leave the star-observatory and rest. Their mate would watch them sleep.
But this was exciting. Etta didn’t want to leave.
Noticing Etta’s hesitation, Dust said, “Etta can stay if want. Dust will watch.”
“Thank thank thank! Etta send message to mate then come back.” Etta squealed in excitement before scurrying off. They sent a message over the lines (telegraph) that they would stay late because they found something exciting, and that another member of the cluster already agreed to watch them. As soon as they sent their message, they rushed back to the observatory where Dust was pulling out a model of the stars.
The model was built by second-engineer Rocky to help plan the trip to Tau-Ceti, but it was also very useful for the astronomy cluster to help understand where objects in the great silence that is space are in relation to each other. It was beautiful craftsmanship, and more importantly, incredibly precise. It was easy to see why someone as beautiful as Adrian was interested in Rocky as a mate.
Etta had never met Rocky, they had left their previous focus on sea life to join the astronomy cluster after the mission to save Erid’s star left. However, they had met Adrian several times.
The first time was only a few days after they joined the astronomy cluster. Matte was still teaching them how everything worked when Adrian walked into the observatory. As soon as Adrian was close enough to properly hear Etta stopped paying attention to Matte’s lecture. How could they pay attention to that when such a resonant Eridian was right there.
Matte must have noticed Etta’s attention straying because they chittered in laughter.
“Are they member of astronomy cluster, question?” Etta quietly asked, hoping the beautiful Eridian wouldn’t hear them. They already had a mate, but they were looking for a third to join them. This particular Eridian no doubt had many others vying to court them, but Etta could dream.
“Etta have no chance, statement.” Matte said, humor clear in their voice. “That is Adrian, mate of second-engineer Rocky of mission to save Erid. Adrian make clear that they are only mate to Rocky. Adrian big big big scientist, come to observatory to ask about mate’s ship. Ship still visible on cameras, but will be too far to see soon.”
Etta didn’t speak to Adrian that time, but they did on several of their subsequent visits. Their initial crush on Adrian also died down during those visits as they began talking to them themselves. Adrian was massive with the mot beautiful harmonic voice, yes, but they were also very devoted to their one and only mate. It was still odd for someone to only want one mate, but Etta thought it was cute.
It was less cute as the years since the ship’s launch grew into the hundreds and there was still no news of the ship; Adrian still regularly visited the observatory asking for any sign of their mate. Even if the mission was unsuccessful, they should have returned to Erid by now with their new knowledge of the soundless void of space and the other star system. The fact that there was nothing led to only one conclusion—the crew was dead. If they didn’t die on the journey, they would have starved to death by now.
“Etta sleep, Dust watch.” Dust said, pulling Etta out of their memories. Etta lied down next to Dust. Now that they were still they could feel just how tired they were.
“Etta sleep, Dust watch.” Etta agreed, their voice uneven as sleep began pulling them into its nothing.
When Etta woke up the observatory was full of Eridians. Almost every member of the astronomy cluster was cramming themselves around the camera.
“Dust find something, question?” Etta asked, pushing themselves back on their feet.
“Yes yes yes.” Dust said, their voice going an octave higher in excitement. “Etta not find star, Etta find ship.”
Etta perked up. “Ship, question?”
“Yes! Is fueled by star-eater, just like ship we make. That why ship appear on camera!”
“Is our ship, question?” Etta asked. Adrian would be so happy that their mate was returning.
“No, ship different.” Dust said.
“Small.” “Round.” Other members of the cluster added.
“Alien.” Etta said.
“Yes, alien!” Dust confirmed.
There were aliens out there intelligent enough to make a ship powered by star-killers. Wait, “Aliens come to Erid, question?”
“Calculations say yes.” Matte said.
“Why, question?”
The room exploded with Eridians saying their theories about the mysterious alien ship ranging from it being a coincidence that they were coming to Erid to the alien finding the (now eternally silent) Eridian ship and deciding to bring the solution to the star-eater problem to Erid.
Dust stomped their foot and the obseratory quieted instantly. Dust was a respected member of the cluster, and everyone wanted to hear what they had to say about the alien ship.
“Alien come to Erid, Erid not know reason. Erid must find out reason alien comes to Erid. Dust ask why.” Dust said.
“How, question?” Crack, the newest member of the astronomy cluster asked. They were young, and were learning astronomy as their first specialization. Due to how new the astronomy cluster was, most members originally had a different specialty before deciding they wanted to study astronomy.
“Dust use radio built to speak to Eridian ship.” Dust said, pointing to the radio next to the camera.
Just then, the radio crackled to life and the single tone of pebble just learning how to speak came out of it. “Hello Erid! I am Grace! Grace bring best friend Rocky and warm-eater eaters to Erid!” Grace hesitated before continuing in a sadder tone, “Best friend Rocky is sick. Rocky sleep Grace watch.”
The crowd erupted into chaos.