Chapter Text
When the sun started dying, you hadn’t had the chance to live. At least, not the way anyone would consider a good life. At the ripe old age of six months an expiration date you couldn’t see had been placed delicately upon your head. You suppose that might be the reason why humanities saving Grace had always been your idol. He chose to leave to save you, and your neighbor and everyone else he left behind. If you had been in his shoes, you don’t think you could have made the same choice.
With the world dying, people funneled into the science and agriculture field in droves, more people were getting Doctorates and PHDs than ever before in Medicine, engineering and biology —which was especially sought after since it was Dr.Grace’s chosen profession. Like most people, you landed closer to biology in the genetics department, but as your research continued you found yourself wanting to be able to understand more, so you picked up Spanish and French as minors during your Senior year where you continued to learn.
Dr.Ryland Grace was 22 years your senior and the bravest man you’d ever seen. His videos sent through Paul and Ringo, landed in the Atlantic Ocean in mid-summer of your masters. It was those videos, released to the public that allowed you to get your doctorate researching theocraticals about life on Erid. Which is how you ended up here, in a very scary board room, filled with very scary looking people in suits, staring down at you, in your light blue sweater and “leaf me alone” tree T-shirt.
“Dr. Y/l/n” the bald one in the middle said, as if he didn’t already have your attention. “Thank you for coming out today, Lets begin.”
If you had known that the so-called “Interview” sent to you through the mail was going to look like this, you would have stayed home.
“Of course!” you say, squinting your eyes closed in a smile, “I brought my resume and some projects I’ve worked on in the last couple of years to–”
“There’s no need for that,” a stick thin woman held up her hand, “We have all your accomplishments here.” She patted the desk in front of her, which had about a hundred folders stacked to the left of each delegate, ranging from thin to thick, and one thin folder right in front, which you assumed was yours. “We want you to tell us why you should get this job over these other candidates, they have much more experience than you do.”
If she's going to be snarky then why even invite me. you thought, putting on a smile “Well, that's a little difficult since the letter you gave me doesn’t give me much to go off of,” you place the small white envelope marked ‘Important’ in front of her.
The third person, an older looking German woman who had been slouching in her chair began to speak, “We are looking for someone to study life on Erid, and are particularly interested in people who—”
‘Erid,’ you thought, as her voice faded into the background. ‘They want you to go to Erid’ All of a sudden this just became a lot more important than the envelope had originally described.
“I can speak Eridian,” You interrupted, causing a small twitch in her eye, like people didn’t often talk over her. “Well, not speak it, but understand it well enough.” What you said hadn’t been a total lie, you’ve watched Dr.Grace’s videos too many times to not pick up on a couple words, and all it took was a little tweaking of the audio before you actually started learning the language. You knew things like numbers, and ‘bad’ or ‘amaze’. “I speak fluent Spanish, and French. I might not be as experienced in genetics as other candidates, but I’m betting that folder doesn’t tell you how good I am at adapting to culture shock.” You started sweating as they mumbled between one another. “And I’m younger than most of them too, probably, I’d be more able to withstand the journey there and back.” They look between each other.
“Theres no one better suited to this mission,” you say, in the most pretend confident voice you can muster because holy shit they might send you to Erid, and now you’re shaking.
“Prove it.” The German woman says, perching her chin on her hand as she’d rather be doing something else. “Come back tomorrow, we’ll have some recordings of Erid’s language and you’ll translate.” The blood drains from your face.
“The point isn’t that I can speak Eridian perfectly, no one can, the point is that I know a few basic words and could easily pick it up if I was in that environment.”
“So you lied to me.” She stated, standing up.
“No, I–”
“Yes, You did. You said you understood Eridian, but right now you’re saying you don’t so which is it?” She bore down on you, like a dragon or a lion, something with claws drawn.
“I’ll be back tomorrow to- to translate whatever you bring me.” I say, looking away, wanting to run.
“Okay.” She says, making her way to the door, “Be here at 8:00 A.M sharp, any later and I’ll assume you don’t want it.”
The other two followed quickly behind her and the door clicked shut.
That night you went home and studied the hell out of the Eridian videos you’d made. There was no way you were going to lose to Eva Fucking Stratt.