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It has been some time now that the astronomers spotted what at first was believed to be the Blip-A. The entirety of Erid was alive and buzzing with excitement and anticipation, especially the families of those that braved the dangerous journey off the planet. When it has been revealed that it was not the Blip-A, rather an alien ship, the excitement of everyone else doubled to incredible levels, while the ones still waiting for their loved ones did their best to comfort and reassure each other.
It was many rollovers after that before they were able to make contact with the ship, the linguist teams having sent out quite a few different sounds and frequencies in hopes at least one will be understood. What they did not expect is a response in their own communication ranges, even less so it being from one of the Blip-A crew members. The excitement and shock of it was quickly shot down when the content of the message was heard, and a heavy atmosphere settled over the gathered teams.
No survivors except for one. Could not bring bodies back for proper rituals. Alien who came to save me is also dying. Rocky.
A short message, but one that held so much it could crumble mountains, as the families are informed of the news, and preparations are made for not only Rocky, but also this alien "Finesse", which they are informed in a later message actually translates more to that of mercy or forgiveness. What a fitting name for a creature so selfless that it is willing to die to get Rocky home again.
Adrian is restless, working nonstop to oversee the projects, getting a temporary medical setup for the alien built, as well as synthesizing all the vitamins and minerals from the molecular structural information Rocky has sent. That was actually the easiest part of everything, making a dome area and creating compounds and substances could've been made by some pebbles as a science project. What was agonizing was the waiting. Once all the preparations have been made, checked, double, triple and even fourfold times with not only the ground teams but also Rocky, there was nothing to do but wait. Adrian did their best not to pester the communications team, but they knew that they were practically done with their worry at this point. Not that Adrian can blame them, having someone sleep in your office, loom over your carapace as you write out their (admittedly very sappy and somewhat intimate) message, and then having to listen to them pace around until a reply came through will be grating to anyone. And yet they never snapped at Adrian, never shooed them away or warbled their annoyance in their presence. And Adrian will make sure to repay them for their patience once this has all settled down. They just need to make sure Rocky is back here, safe again.
The rollovers could not go by fast enough, and at more than one point Adrian wanted to shoot themselves up into a small ship and connect with the alien ship, if only to see Rocky faster. But finally, finally the day came. The ship slowly, but not very carefully, moved in close to the docking area specifically built for it, the movements somewhat erratic, but knowing that the alien was not a trained pilot as their had died, it was remarkably good for never having done this before. As soon as the ship docked, secured by mechanical arms and a tunnel clipping onto the docking port, there is an uproar of cheers. It's almost deafening, and yet it does not hold the amount of joy Adrian feels as they listen with great anticipation, waiting for any movement to happen. After a moment that felt like an eternity, the port opened, and a rudimentary walking plank is pushed out by the alien.
Having everyone go so silent after the almost deafening cheers left Adrian dizzy, but they force their legs to stay, pressed up against the clear xenonite, listening to all that is happening. The alien is... Very strange, to put it lightly. Their outside is soft and squishy, with multiple parts of it leaking, covered with some form of material. Shaky, uneven noises come from two large bladders, witch Rocky had informed them were called "lungs." A weak but steady rhythm pulses from between the lungs, fast as it tries to cycle the alarmingly little amount of fluid in the small ducks and tunnels running throughout it's body. The heart and veins, pumping blood, Rocky informed them. This alien was so... well, alien. What can Adrian say? They are a scientist and doctor, not a writer.
It makes noise, sudden and loud, it's chest constricting momentarily with each sound, as it step back. After quieting down and getting it's breathing back to it was, it steps out of the way of the airlock, allowing a ball of some kind to roll down, with something inside it tumbling along with the momentum and— oh. That's Rocky. That is Rocky, in person. He is weak, shakily moving in the ball, getting it to move toward the airlock leading to the Eridian side of the dome, and Adrian moves faster than they ever have in their life. The airlock cannot cycle fast enough, in their very selfish opinion, and the second Rocky was out on the other side and out of his ball, Adrian is beside him, claws pulling Rocky so close, carapaces pressed tightly together. Rocky can barely stand, letting out weak, warbling sounds, sounding more like a pebble than the hero he is. His carapace is alarmingly thin, allowing Adrian to hear inside him with little to no effort, but they calmly keep their terror at the horrible state Rocky is in under control for now, simply comforting their partner as they cry.
They are not given long enough, though, even eternity holding Rocky there would not have been enough, before Rocky is ushered to a medical bay built next to the one for the alien, with the xenonite barrier between the two very different beds, lights humming softly above them, specifically installed for the alien to "see." Adrian helps the many doctors do a very thorough examination and diagnosis on Rocky, and they would've stayed longer if Rocky hadn't weakly grabbed ahold of one of their legs, singing in a very weak tone.
“Save Grace. Please.”
Adrian pauses for a moment, before raising a claw, gently taking ahold of the one clinging to their leg, giving it a soft squeeze.
“I will. They will be safe.”
“You rest now, do not worry.”
They keep their words soft, but firm, reassuring their lover, who lets out a quiet, pleased trill. They hold claws for another beat, before Adrian hesitantly lets go, fearing that if they let go, Rocky will float off into space. But he doesn't, he stays right there, following the doctor's orders as best he can. After another moment, Adrian moves away, focusing on getting the alien safe and situated, putting on an intricate xenonite suit before cycling through the airlock with two others to assist, the three of them carefully making their way over to the entrance of the ship.
The alien has moved, no longer in the airlock, and the astrophage in the walls of the ship makes it harder to listen for where it could be. The three share quick clicks and anxious shuffling, before Adrian approaches the ladder, slowly and hesitantly stepping up into it and into the ship. It just barely holds their weight, and the two assistants quickly has some of the standby engineers make something better, leaving Adrian to slowly make their way through the strange ship alone. It's nerve-wracking, and they stop every few steps to listen intently to their surroundings. In any other situation, they would've been fascinated, inspecting everything in great detail to try and learn what it is, but right now, they are not only terrified of what could be around every corner, but also terrified to find the alien dead. Just when they start to think that might actually be what happened, they find it, laying on a bed similar to the one they had built outside for it. Something is looming over it, moving as it puts new material over the leaking wounds, and Adrian would've been terrified of this moving thing if Rocky had not informed them of the very advanced tech these aliens have, and that this thing is what they call a "autonomous-moving-doctor-device".
The alien looks over, letting out a quick breath, before it says something. Adrian shifts their weight slightly, not sure what it had said, but before they can try and inform the alien of this, it seems to understand, letting out quick notes by blowing out air, and softly tapping one of it's limbs twice, very rudimentary and on the level of a pebble, but Adrian understood.
“Rocky okay, question?”
Adrian is stunned for a moment, remembering that Rocky had informed them that the alien has learned their language but cannot really sing it, but to hear it firsthand is something else entirely. They take a moment, before responding, matching it's speech level by keeping it as simple and as few words as possible.
“Yes, Rocky okay now.”
“Is being taken care of.”
It lets out a long breath, body relaxing as it's face, or what Adrian assumes is it's face, shifts, and it whistles again.
“Good. Happy happy happy.”
Once again Adrian is struck with just how strange and wonderful this situation is, and they stand there for a moment, listening to this alien live and breathe in front of them. Only when they hear the distant movement of a new, safer boarding ladder being placed do they snap out of their little trance, straightening up a bit.
“Must take Saviour Grace to medical facility now.”
“Is just outside, will assist Saviour Grace out.”
They hold out a claw, and the alien hesitates for a moment, before reaching out one of it's limbs, some strange claw with five appendages rather than only three, gingerly taking ahold of the offered claw. Carefully Adrian leads them closer, making it lean most it's weight against them, which is surprisingly little as the two start their slow journey out. It takes a bit, but soon they are in the airlock of the ship, and the alien pauses at the sight of the new ladder rather than the plank that was there. Adrian listens to it shift about and let out soft hums as it inspects the ladder, and Adrian realizes it cannot comfortably use it with only to limbs having claws, and the other two in a strange, almost triangle shape.
“Can carry Saviour Grace down.”
“Is okay with that, question?”
They give it a chance to process the question, and watches with fascination as it mimics their jazz hands. There is so much to learn about Grace, and they have so many questions, but they push that aside for now, instead, carefully scoops up the very light alien into two arms, using the other three to easily climb down the ladder, carrying Grace all the way to the bed, where they gently lay it down, pulling the made blanket over it to keep it warm. With it comfortable, they get to giving it everything it needs with the help of their assistants. It seems so strange, simply giving the alien various compounds and substances, but if what Rocky had said is true, the alien's body will start the repair process on it's own.
They step back, and is then aware that the alien has reached out a limb, hand pressed up against the xenonite, where Rocky has done the same. Rocky trill softly, song so soft it is nearly drowned out by the many others giving instruction around them.
“Grace sleep now, statement.”
The alien hums, trying to move closer to the barrier, and Adrian gently pushes it back into the bed before it can fall out, before moving the bed closer to the barrier, which it seems to appreciate as it settles in as close as it can, one hand still pressed up against the clear material. It says something, and Rocky trills one more time, before allowing himself to drift to sleep, and the alien does the same.
Adrian watches.