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Art by mostlyvoid_partiallyturtles! (link to socials coming shortly!)
“Teacher Grace, why didn't you go back to Earth even though you could have?”
The question leaves Grace with a pit in his stomach.
“Y'know what,that’s a good question Quartz. I'll have to think on that. Would you mind letting me answer that for class discussion tomorrow?”
Class adjournes without any more life shattering questions, and Grace spends the remainder of his day on the beach, the semi-warm water brushing against his feet. It's been…almost seventeen years? He'd reckon, since he came to Erid. Sixteen years in, Rocky had shared the news with him that the Sun in his home system had returned to full luminosity. His heart soared with the news that the Beatles had returned, and for the first time since he'd woken up with a nagging feeling on the Hail Mary, a weight sloughed off of his shoulders. Earth was saved. Of course, not without sacrifices, he'd imagine. Rocky and he had spent the better half of a few months in Tau Ceti, brainstorming and breeding Taumeoba. There had to be some losses. His stomach churns, thinking of the people he had to leave behind. He thinks of Ilyukhina, and Yao, of their families, probably finding out that they died en route. No.
Stratt wouldn't do that, he thinks. She'd probably tell them they died valiant deaths saving the world.
He'd hope at least.
He leans forward and rests his arms on his knees. Adjusting his glasses. The sun replica is gentle, and there's a subtle breeze. He'd have to remember to thank Adrian and their crew, it took a bit to get the temperature right, but once they'd gotten it, it almost felt like home.
And something clicks in his head.
It did feel like home.
He smiles to himself.
Erid and his little biodome felt like home. Throughout the years, he'd gone through the various ups and downs of getting used to a new planet. Mostly downs at first, if he was being honest. Being stuck on the Hail Mary in orbit as he slowly starved, eating Taumeoba, full stop. He shudders at the thought of eating it again. The gravity wreaked havoc on his bones and muscles. He looks to his cane, set aside in the sand, and smiles. One of the parents of his first students, a charming Eridian with two legs made of the prettiest xenonite, noticed his gait and made it for him. He looks up to the sky, a foggy brilliant sky, and smiles thinking of Adrian and Rocky. They'd stayed with him as friends throughout the whole ordeal, putting their lives on hold even longer just to make sure Grace was taken care of. He thinks of Erid, of all of the Eridians, who welcomed him with loving arms, making sure he was happy, safe and comforted.
He thinks of Rocky, who gave him the chance to go back to Earth. He thinks of the Eridian who he spent months with in space, who gave him the choice to go back. The choice that was taken from him.
He doesn’t hold a grudge anymore. But it felt good to have a choice this time.
He’s had enough space travel on his old bones now, anyways.
Rocky comes into view from the hidden entrance to the biodome. He waves and scuttles, clearly excited to see Grace.
He looks ahead to the waves, and Rocky plops himself down into the course sand. He chirps a greeting.
“Hey buddy.”
“Grace thinking too hard again, question?”
He smiles. “Not anymore. Are you just coming by for company?”
“Yes, coming to see my friend.”
“Thanks buddy. Nice to see you again too.”
And they sit for a few hours, as the sun dims.
Class commences the next day, the little Eridians filling up the mini-ampitheater, and finally calm down as Grace starts to talk.
“Teacher Grace?”
“Yes Quartz?”
“Have you thought about the question I asked yesterday?”
“I have!” He says excitedly. “I’d like to say some grand answer, like oh the spaceship is too expensive, or we lost a part somewhere in transit. But I think like many things, the simplest answer is the real answer.” He smiles. “It’s because I’m happy here. I’m home.”