Chapter Text
“I, V, λ. I, V, λ.
Good, this thing works. My name is Fleming, Head Scientist of the Northern Cluster Scientific Center. I’m not going to bother with all of my epithets, because my position as one of the heads of the Supernova Task Force suffices to differentiate me between all those who share, have shared or will share my name. There is likewise no need to introduce the Scientific Center, with its objectives and what it does, to the overall population—however, given the subject of these recordings, I will proceed to do so for the sake of whoever else may come accross this.
I come from a planet officially named 40 Eridani A B, but that’s been popularly shortened to Erid for briefness. I understand that my pronunciation of those words has not been the best, and it was perhaps not even understandable by those who use those terminologies. One must excuse me for attempting to mimic sounds that are unnatural to my physiology.
In my own language, my planet only has one name: the word we use means Rock, Ground or, more blandly, Land. The subject of these recordings has informed me that this planet remains but speculation amongst its peers, and that there has been no concrete evidence of its existence until it ran into an Eridian lifeform thanks to Project Hail Mary. I belong to the same species and genus that has made first contact to it, and by extension the entirety of its species.
Should these recordings run into another human, it is imperative to note that the subject has agreed with everything that was done and will be done to it throughout these recordings—”
“Yeah, Mr. White! Yeah, Science!”
“—and is in fact in the same room in which I will be recording both the process of experimentation and the conclusion of each experiment. The objective of each and every experiment is to learn more of its physiology so that our scientists may take better care of it while it stays with us. In return for its willingness to subject itself to these conditions, I have agreed to do the same should it have any questions about how my own species works,” it paused. “Are you lucid, Savior Grace? That wasn’t my name you just said.”
“Yeah, I was just messing around. Humans will understand it. At least I hope so! They can’t let good television die just because of an ice age!”
Brief silence. “Should Earth ever run into these recordings, let it be noted that this is indeed the personality of your savior.”
“Hey!”