Chapter Text
78...
I think 78 is a good age to reach... after all the stuff I've been thought. Think back to when I was on Earth I had been worked to the bone by Stratt, then manhandled and drugged into a coma... and the cherry on top... I forced into space with no memories and expected to work and then... Die.
But I tell myself that's in the past now.
I now live in a beautiful, hand made house in my own personal dome. I'm surrounded by a people (The Eridians) who accept me and love me.
I still work but unlike before I love teaching the little pebbles about Earth and science and I love doing big science with Adrian, Rocky and the other Eridians too.
And finally, at the end of the day Rocky, Adrian and I all hang out on my own private beach! It's perfect... Perfect...
But all stories come to an end.
Soon, I will have to walk a different path...
...
I'm... *sob* ...I'm not ready...
......................................................................................
♩♪♫♬♭
♪♫ Come, come, come Grace soo slow today! ♪♫
I walk slowly behind Rocky, my cane sinking into the sand, my glasses hanging off my ears by my chin as I try to keep up. I know Adrian and the other scientists had something to tell me but GOD Rocky was being extra bossy today.
"Slow down will ya!" My knees wobble but there's a smile on my face. "I'm an old man ya know, I can't move like I used to."
♪♫ Grace not old, Grace is still pebble ♪♫
Thinking back to that conversation makes me smile even wider, the moment Rocky and Adrian realised I was as young as a pebble back when I was in my 40s shocked them... And suddenly I was their leaky, space pebble.
♪♫ Come on Grace, ♪♫ Rocky stomped his claw into the sand.
♪♫ Can't keep Mate Adrian waiting STATEMENT. ♪♫
"Ok, ok geez." I laugh as a try a move a little quicker towards our spot.
After a few more minutes we can see Adrian sitting in the sand, I can hear them singing as they spot us as well.
♪♫ Apologies, Apologies, Apologies we late ♪♫
Rocky rushed off towards Adrian's carapace and hugged them tightly!
♩♪♬ Mate Rocky, Little Grace, no apologies I have not been waiting long. ♩♪♬
The way Adrian always called me little was frustrating at first but I slowly come to like it over the years...
♩♪♬ Little Grace come, ♩♪♬ Adrian sang.
♩♪♬ Have something to show you, you want see what Eridian scientists have discovered question. ♩♪♬
We sat down on the soft sand as the biodome's artificial sun began to set into the ocean.
Warm golden light washed over us as Adrian moved themselves to sit behind me so I could rest against them, rocky sat himself between my legs and started humming. Even with their xenonite EVA suits on I could feel their warmth all around me...
It's perfect...
Adrian gently took my cane from my hands with one claw and placed it on the sand then with a whistle placed a large xenonite box in me hands, the clear glass-like metal glistened in the setting sunlight... Inside it looked like a massive ball of tangled up wires?
"Gosh this is heavy! What is it?" I ask Adrian, the case was so heavy I had to lower it to my lap.
♩♪♬ Eridian scientists find this outside of Grace's biodome ♩♪♬ Adrian tapped the xenonite case and... It moved!
♩♪♬ Ancient plant life long forgotten by other Eridians, very few are found growing in the wild. ♩♪♬
My eyes grow wide and I placed my glasses back carefully on my nose. At first glance it just looked like a technicians worse nightmare, wire after wire weaved together like a net... but looking closer at the mass... It moved ever so slightly.
"Amazing, metallic plant life... But, why show it to me?" I questioned tapping Adrian's claw with a finger the same way they tapped a claw when asking a question and in response I felt a whistling giggle from their carapace felt two of Adrian's claws hold me tight around the wrist.
♩♪♬ Well Little Grace, scientists discovered why plant was trying to grow near biodome. ♩♪♬
Suddenly Rocky grabbed the box and opened the case! I moved back against Adrian carapace their claws holding me still. But nothing happened.
More surprising the metal plant didn't died when exposed to his atmosphere.
♪♫ Plant likes oxygen statement! ♪♫ Rocky sings.
I'm shocked!
"HOW can something from Erid exist in an oxygen rich environment? Also HOW can this plant even grow? There is no natural sunlight because of Erid's thick atmosphere?" I start to ramble as the existence of this plant should not be possible!
♪♫ That's what Grace will find out statement ♪♫ Rocky stomped his claw again in the sand.
"ME?" I look down at the plant.
♩♪♬ Only if you want to statement, also scientists check before this that is no poison on or in plant that could harm Little Grace ♩♪♬ Adrian stomps their claw into the sand.
♩♪♬ Mate Rocky, do not force Grace to do big science. ♩♪♬
♪♫ Rocky not force. ♪♫ Rocky clicks and wiggles his carapace.
♪♫ Rocky just wants to know if legends are true. ♪♫
"Legend, what legend?" I ask as I look away from the plant and towards Rocky.
♪♫ We can sing legend to Grace, is Eridian pebble sleep story. ♪♫
I nodded to them and they both begin to sing together telling a story though song. A story of a small Eridian pebble finding the plant, the pebble had no parent and no cluster-mates... pebble all alone with no one to watch them sleep... but pebble still cared and loved the plant with all its five hearts but after some time pebble grew sick.
Suddenly plant transform, grow into massive plant and held pebble close. It give all the love and care back to pebble and pebble becomes well again. After that pebble found new family and said that the Song of Erid saved them. Pebble live long and happy life protected by planet itself.
I only just realised I had closed my eyes... The story was lovely.
♪♫ Old Eridians tried to make legend come ture but because of story plant almost becomes extinct bad bad bad. ♪♫
♩♪♬ But plant like Little Grace's environment, maybe save plant from extinction question. ♩♪♬
Both of them turn their carapaces towards me and I smile, "I don't know about the story being true but I would like to help."
Both Eridians whistle with glee as they both cuddle closer together and into me. They hold me close... Like I'm truly part of their family...
It is perfect...
...
Part of my mind never wants these moments to end.
Part of my mind knows that wish can't come true.
......................................................................................
Night has fallen in the dome, after a long day of teaching the pebbles and the excitement and discussions of a new project my mind begins to drift.
Adrian must of noticed as without another word they stand up holding me in their claws.
♩♪♬ Heart slowing down, entering sleep cycle question? ♩♪♬
All I can do is hum, their carapace is so warm and thanks to my older body it's harder to fight back fatigue from a full day like this.
♩♪♬ Rocky can you- ♩♪♬ but before they could finish Rocky had already picked up my cane and the plant.
♪♫ Already done my mate! ♪♫ Rocky wiggles and clicks as they walk towards my home and opens the door for us.
♩♪♬ Perfect, my mate! ♩♪♬ Adrian sings at Rocky as wiggle a little together.
We enter my home and slowly head to my bedroom, I remembered that tonight Rocky is due his sleep cycle so I know they can not stay. It would be unsafe for them to have their sleep cycle in the xenonite EVA suit.
Adrian lays me in bed and moves some pillows and blankets around so its more like a nest. Rocky carefully took my glasses off my face and placed everything on the bedside table.
♩♪♬ Will watch sleep until Grace in deep sleep then call friend Eridian to watch till Grace wake up. ♩♪♬
"Thank... You..." Is all I'm able to say before a fell asleep...
.......................................................................................
...
...
sto...
...
Stop it...
...
Get off me...
Carl...
...
STOP IT...
NO STRATT
...
PLEASE
...
...
YOU CAN'T...
STOP!!!!
YOUR MURDERING ME...
...!
AhhhhhHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
I wake with a scream!
I feel cold all over.
My body won't stop shaking...
...
I'm in bed... On Erid... Calm down...
Sigh
That nightmare again.
I slowly sit up in my bed and glance around the room... No one is here, I'm on my own. I let out a long sigh as the fear of the nightmare is replaced by loneliness. I guess that other Eridian Adrian mentioned had other things to do... At least I won't feel embarrassed.
I try to focus on my breathing...
"I don't think my old heart can take anymore of these nightmares brain..." I say to myself in the darkness of my empty room.
I look up after what could only be 5 minutes but felt like hours of my trying to calm my aching heart...
The nightmare... Well, I guess memory was still fresh in my mind.
The last gift mankind had gifted me... Pain, sadness and good old trauma. I can't help but let out a little laugh...
Soon my loneliness is replaced by guilt, I never had the courage to tell Rocky or Adrian that side of the story.
They should know the truth... That Ryland Grace was no hero, no saviour... He was never brave.
...
Just a lonely, selfish, cowardly old man.
...
I tried to stop the tears... They didn't listen...
My ugly sobbing echo though out my house.
...
I lay back down as my tears continued to wet my cheeks, that is when I see it. The plant they had discussed before was sitting on his bedside table, neatly potted and planted in a beautiful carved xenonite pot.
I sit up and sniff as I look at the plant...
"Your not going to get any sunlight sitting there." I say to the plant... As crazy as that sounds...
Slowly I pick up the heavy plant of messy weird wires and place it on the windowsill by my bed.
It's nice to think about... Saving another species... Letting them live... Before he dies...
"I haven't got a lot of time left little guy... I think... I need to tell them everything... Tomorrow, before it's too late." I whispered to the silver vines.
I lent against the windowsill and slowly touched the vines, they were surprisingly warm to the touch and moved ever so slightly against my fingers.
A sudden rush of fatigue overwhelmed my mind.
"Don't worry little guy... I'll help you." I say softly as sleep take me again into a dreamless sleep.