Chapter Text
I've been on Erid over a decade now. Earth years of course. It's crazy how adaptive humans can be. How quickly the abnormal becomes normal. When I woke up on the Hail Mary...I was lost. Displaced. I had been pulled out of my home and thrown into the void.
By the time we reached Erid and I was well enough to be moved into my Biodome on the surface...I felt like it was happening again. Ripped away from the familiar and thrust into the unknown.
The fact I wanted it...and it would kill me to stay, didn't make the transition any easier.
...but here we are! Ten years and some change later and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else! To be completely honest...my life before the Mary feels distant. Memories fraying around the edges. It was like it had been someone else.
I know my brain hasn't exactly had the most cushy life. With the coma, amnestic medicine, head trauma, extended malnutrition, and uh...well the exposure event...I'm bound to not have the best memory retention.
But I'm getting ahead of myself...
Trying to explain to a species with perfect recall was...difficult. To say the least. Knowing that we basically ran on the saying of "Use it or Lose it" wasn't always easy. Rocky had already heard the whole thing of course but...I had to also let my new caretakers in on the mess that is human anatomy...which was fun.
Rocky had shaken his carapace in his usual show of exasperation, ~Human bodies messy! Not efficient! Eridian-~
"Eridian bodies more efficient, yeah yeah yeah." I finished with a weak chuckle.
Unfortunately, the Eridian leading my care team, who I had named Pearl, wasn't familiar with the inside joke.
(they didn't actually look anything like a pearl but I wasn't up to explaining Steven Universe just yet...though right now I don't know why I never brought it up. Rocky would probably have loved it. Actually...he might like it too much...I'm getting flashbacks from when that was all the craze with my students on Earth...)
Pearl raised a claw, ~Actually, Human bodies VERY efficient! Almost, too efficient! Body need much material to support, amaze amaze amaze, but when not enough...break down, reuse! Human brain very resource heavy! Not good! But! Use all of body to keep running! Human brain malleable. Shrink self, turn parts off. Prioritize body function! Need less to survive! Eridian brains not malleable! Cannot make less. Eridian not live as long as Savior-Grace in comparable situation!~
We both had just stared at Pearl. There was an awkward silence and then I couldn't help but break out into laughter.
Rocky stomped his two primary legs in indignation, ~Betrayal, betrayal, betrayal. Rocky own species turn against Rocky.~
Pearl wasn't getting the joke, looking back and forth between us, their primary hands fidgeting in a way I recognized as being confused and uncertain. It reminded me of the first time I tried to hug Rocky.
I coughed as my laughter caught in my throat and I was left feeling faint from the lack of air, "It's ok. It's a joke."
That seemed to perk them up, ~Ah! Humor! Humans monotone. Confusing.~
"Yeah...sorry about that."
And life moved on.
Where was I?
Oh right...
It's crazy how quickly humans adapt to change. I remember that's what I was thinking when it all happened, and my new safe home...turned into a nightmare I never could have seen coming. Which...all things considered, I really should have.
Some microbiologist I am...
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-Some Time Prior-
If there was one thing I hated about Eridians...it was that you really only had to teach them anything once. If they're paying attention that is. Most of my Pebbles came and went too quickly for my liking. Here just long enough to get attached...and then gone for good.
They could always ask to visit with me of course but most didn't...or couldn't. Not everyone got the same clearance as Rocky, Adrian, or my Care Team. Most of my students wouldn't even be close to adulthood before I died of old age.
...if I even made it that far.
Today was test day.
Not quite the same here as it was on Earth. We really only had to do it once with each class of students. If they were paying attention they'd pass and move on. If they didn't...well...they'd stay. Sometimes they'd just be too excited by the prospect of being taught by an alien they couldn't absorb the actual lessons. It's ok. I had all the patience in the world for curious minds.
Sometimes, though...they'd do it on purpose. Fail the test so they could spend more time with ~Savior-Grace~. The first time it happened I got a little teary, I'll admit. Shocking...I know, but...something about learning your students loved you that much they didn't want to leave school...?
Earth could never.
"Come on, guys....you can't keep doing this." I said to the group of four Pebbles still in the classroom. Their failed tests pulled up on my screens, "Not you, Tinsel, you're fine." I said to one of the smaller Pebbles who was trembling visibly next to the other three. One of the few this time who had chosen female pronouns when they started the class. She was thin and sleek in comparison to many Eridians I had seen, her carapace had metallic silver streaks which I had been informed were actually scars. Thin gaps in her carapace that could easily split and expose her to all the terrible organic threats and microbes Erid sported.
The poor baby had been nabbed by a predator shortly after hatching and it had left her carapace cracked and permanently compromised. The fact she had survived at all was a miracle. She was small because her molts were difficult and her growth stunted. The smoother look to her a side effect of the acidic softening agent used to soften her carapace for molting.
Even though...such long term use...meant there was a real risk she wouldn't make it to adulthood. And yet, she was still here.
To an Eridian she looked like a burn victim. When I told her what her name meant and showed her what it was and what it was used for. She got a bit teary herself...or...well...the Eridian equivalent anyway. No one had ever called her pretty before.
She wanted to be a doctor. To help others like her.
Well, she had said she hoped to be on my care team one day when she was older as well...but I had to break the unfortunate news to her that by the time she was old enough to care for me I would be long dead. Compared to their 800 year lifespan...humans were like...rodents on Earth are to us. A miniscule amount of time.
This was always the worst part of teaching the pebbles versus teaching the adults. Explaining the human life cycle and life span was never easy. Heck, even the adults didn't always take it well.
Unfortunately, Tinsel had also been absent...a lot. Unable to leave her nest when a crack split open because of the risk of illness. I wasn't surprised she had failed the test. In her home she had her own little xenonite bubble with a sterile environment that would protect her, but she knew eventually she might never be able to go out without one.
Just like me.
The other three had no such excuses. They had been here twice already. Failed...three times now.
~Why Tinsel fine, Question? Tinsel also fail.~ The larger, older, of the two asked. I'd named them Carnelian because of the bright orange red color of their carapace...and it just had fit them so well. The attitude came through in their lowered tones. It was unusual really. They'd been a bit erratic this term. Unsteady on their feet even at times.
I'd brought up concern about their health but no one seemed overly worried.
~Normal. It pass soon.~ They kept saying which came off to me as the Eridian way of saying "It's just a phase.". Maybe Eridians went through the same emotional and physical turmoil as Humans did during puberty? What else was I supposed to think with that kind of reply?
"This isn't about her. Come on. I know you're smarter than this!"
~Apology, apology, apology Savior-Grace...~ The other two said practically at the same time, hiding behind their foremost legs as they detected that I was less than amused.
I sighed and leaned against my desk in front of the barrier.
"It's ok, guys, I'm not mad...just disappointed."
~Nooooo! That worse!~ One of the smaller two warbled, legs splaying dramatically.
"You're all so smart! I know you know this stuff and I know Erid will benefit from your knowledge...but you have to go out and use it. You can't just stay here."
~But...love Savior-Grace! Will miss!~ The other smaller one declared, doing a little up and down bob.
"I know and I'll miss you too...but my class only has so much space. Only so many of you can be here any given year. You're robbing your peers of getting the same experience."
~Not robbing! Do not know!~ Carnelian stood up taller and stomped a foot in emphasis. I frowned at them. I hadn't really known Eridians to lie much. Omit the truth maybe but lies didn't seem to come naturally to them.
I really was starting to wonder if there might actually be something wrong with them. Something I wasn't getting.
Did Eridians have learning disabilities? If they'd been human I would have said Carnelian had ADHD. Did Eridians have an equivalent? Or was this normal for adolescent Eridians?
"Carnelian..." I pushed away from the table to approach the barrier.
~No! Grace say teach until know! Carnelian say not know! Teacher Grace say must leave even when still not know! Grace liar! Bad teacher! Not teach Carnelian!~ They said and hit the barrier with two of their legs.
It was surprising enough that I backed up a step. The other three Pebbles seemed equally frightened and moved away from them.
Once my initial surprise faded I moved closer again, hands held up, "It's alright, we can discuss this with your parent-"
Carnelian's entire body seemed to be shuddering with their emotions, a low growling vibration further evidence of their anger at the situation. This time when they hit the barrier they did so with the force of their entire carapace.
Now, xenonite was sturdy stuff. It had to be with all the pressure of Erid's atmosphere pressing against it...but...this was not the first time an overly emotional Pebble or some equipment had made heavy contact with it in the years since it had been built. After so long some unseen wear and tear was bound to exist.
I barely had time for the sound of a crack and faint hissing to register before the immense pressure difference turned the tiny crack in the welding into a fist sized hole in the clear barrier.
The force of it slammed me into my desk and onto my ass.
My ears were ringing but I could hear the loud blaring klaxon breach alarms and the clear shrieking trills of the Pebbles on the other side of the Xenonite. The sound of an Eridian being exposed to my atmosphere was a sound I hadn't heard since Planet Adrian but it was one I would never forget as long as I lived.
It was a sound I hoped to only hear now in my worst nightmares.
My ears were popping from the sudden pressure shift and the smell of ammonia was overwhelming. I couldn't catch my breath. The air burned! Every inhale sent acid down my throat and into my lungs. I coughed but every breath made it worse. It was agony and my heart was pounding in my head with every frantic gasp. My body desperately trying to pull in the rapidly decreasing oxygen. I opened my eyes but they were immediately watering to the point I could barely see.
I dragged myself up by the desk and wiped my eyes as I looked back at the barrier. The air was wavering and the waves of heat hit me next. It was like opening an oven and getting a face full of hot air...but with my entire body. I was standing in a steadily heating oven! Every instinct told me to run!
I didn't care! I needed to make sure my Pebbles were ok!
I could make out Carnelian and the other two as they dragged themselves out of the door and away from the breach...but Tinsel was still in the room. She had her legs dug into the sandy ground halfway to the exit but she was being pulled backwards slowly towards the hole. She wasn't strong enough to get herself to safety like the others. She was chirping in panic and pain! Calling for help as loudly as she could.
"Tinsel!" I managed to choke out. I had to do something! She wouldn't survive an oxygen burn!
~...Gra...Grace...!~ Her voice was so shaky I barely understood it. She was terrified!
I had to do something! I HAD TO DO SOMETHING! I HAD TO!
It didn't matter that I couldn't breath. It didn't matter that my eyes felt like they might explode...or melt. I felt the pressure and ringing build in my ears until there was a painful popping sensation and the sounds around me became muted but that was just less distraction. As my adrenaline spiked I couldn't even feel the burning blistering of my skin or the building pressure headache in my sinuses.
I fumbled for something on my desk and my hands gripped something flat and metal. I wasn't really sure what it was only that it was the right size. I forced myself towards the hole. Pushed into the scalding pressurized wind. I screamed as I forced my hand through the hole and released the object I held.
I let the wind push me back and the piece of metal snapped flat against the hole, held in place by the high pressure. It wasn't perfect. I could still hear the faint hissing of atmosphere leaking around the edges but it was enough. I saw Tinsel stumble and then scramble her way out of the door of the classroom.
Now that the crisis had been averted the reality of what I'd just done crashed into me.
I fell backward onto the sand, twisting to try and crawl away.
I couldn't breath! I couldn't see! I couldn't hear!
There was still the muted sound of the Eridian alarms sounding through the biodome but I couldn't focus on that.
There was more oxygen closer to the ground but every attempt at a breath was agony, the damage already done, like breathing in shards of glass that scraped my throat and tore at my lungs. I coughed and saw red spray across the ground. I clawed at the sand with one hand whose flesh was a mix of red and white, flesh peeled back from my finger tips and bleeding blisters across my arms.
There wasn't any pain there.
That was bad.
I could feel the frantic trills of alarm and the sound of Eridian feet across the sand as they ran towards me more than I could actually hear it. I thought at least one of them might be Rocky but when I opened my eyes I couldn't see through the blood filled tears clouding my vision anymore, the delicate capillaries bursting in the rapidly increasing pressure.
~GRACE!~ Rocky screamed, loud enough to register passed my ruptured eardrums. I opened my mouth to try and respond but all I could managed was a choked gurgle as blood rushed up my throat, exploding from my lips violently as I writhed on the ground in agony.
Oh god! I was going to die! I was dying! I was-
Then, mercifully, the pain faded as I fell away from my body and into peaceful darkness.