Work Text:
“Log start. Hello, Erid. Rocky decide to make “logs” to explain journey. For Eridians, for Adrian. Logs human thing, Grace thing. Rocky explain later. News first.
Lowered body and lower pitch speaking
♩♪♩, ♪♪♩, ♩♫♪,♪♫♩, ♫♪♬, ♫♬♩,♩♪♫,♪♬♩,♬♩♪,♪♩♫, ♫♪♬, ♫♪♩,♪♫♩,♬♩♫, ♯♩♫♪,♪♩♬, ♫♩♪, ♩♫♬, ♭♪♩♫, ♬♩♫,♩♬♪,♪♫♬ have died. Rocky…return alone. Learn they die from “radiation”, something not on Erid. Radiation dangerous space light rays able to pass through carapace and damage internals. Poison body slowly. One by one crew get sick, no longer wake despite vigilant watch. Awful. Ship offer no protection, not built to, but…astrophage do. That why Rocky live, Rocky stay sleep work next to fuel.
Rocky performed as many obsequies for crew as able. Will perform remaining with families leaders mates once home. If wanted. Would understand if not. Rocky…wish learn everything sooner. Know not at fault, but…wish could have fixed. Done more.
Greatest apology to those impacted by loss most. Rocky remained in space long as had for them. All crew work sacrifice die for mission honorably. Hope all hear lament apology praise wherever are. All saviors who deserve recognition. Will ensure none ever forgotten.
Long pause before progressively higher pitched speaking
But good news. Mission death sacrifice not in vain. Astrophage star death stoppable! Predator of astrophage discovered on planet near Tau Ceti. Predator microorganism named taumoeba. Taumoeba successfully bred to live on Erid. Now Rocky bring home so Eridians can farm further. Our star no die. Erid and Eridians saved! Amaze, amaze, amaze!
For Adrian. Planet where astrophage taumoeba originate named after you. In human and Eridian. Rocky miss you, Rocky love you. See soon, wish sooner. Log end.”
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“Log start. Rocky explain humans Grace now. Human is species that originate from different star system. Language, customs, senses, and body very different from own. Primary sense sight rather than hearing. Look disgust when eat. Have habit of naming things, even inanimate. Example, home planet “Earth”, star “Sun”, ship “Hail Mary”.
Human atmosphere toxic to Eridians. Lower atmospheric pressure, free oxygen, and colder temperature deadly. Nearly die from self-body heat when enter without protection. Do not repeat, statement. Rocky okay now but was in dormancy recovery state for long duration.
Eridian environment toxic to humans. Stronger gravity, higher temperature, and free ammonia deadly to human. Xenonite barrier and translator allow for cohabitation on Hail Mary. Use human ship as it have more science technology and protection from radiation.
Human mission similar to own. Star dying from astrophage, came to Tau Ceti to see why star here no die too. Travel 11 years from home planet in dormancy state.
We worked together, saved both worlds universe together. Could not have done alone. Mission different as human expected to die never go home. Horrible! Rocky fixed. Least could do.
Human met named Ryland Grace. He alone after crew die too. He scientist, school teacher. Messy. Clumsy. Strange. But Kind. Smart. Brave. Bravest human ever met. Is joke and not. Grace risk self to save taumoeba and astrophage sample. Dumb. Rocky risk self to save later. Dumb too.
We say goodbye after mission complete. Both return home. Planets star system too far for visit. …Will miss.
For Adrian. Wish you meet Grace, Rocky believe you get along. Think enjoy Grace humor. Log end.”
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“Log start. Problem. Something wrong with fuel lines. Must be leak. Will fix. Log end.”
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“Log start. Cannot locate leak, don’t know why. Rocky search fuel line, entire ship. Nothing different. Strange. More xenonite added as countermeasure. Log end.”
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“Log start. Countermeasure containment fail. Major fuel loss. Leak grow despite xenonite increase. Rocky search harder. Must find will find source. No log until do. Log end.”
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“Log start. …Fuel gone…power gone. Ship drift. ...Cannot fix.
….Feel like failure. What engineer not find such large leak? Not protect crew before self? Bad, horrible engineer that what. Selfish too. If only ask everyone to sleep in Rocky area nobody die. Stupid. Maybe this outcome Rocky deserve…..
Sudden foot slam
But not Erid! Erid fate depend on mission success…Rocky success. Apology for self-wallow. Rocky ensure ship taumoeba reach Erid. Somehow, someway. Even if Rocky worst engineer in universe will do. Giving up not Eridian Rocky way.
For Adrian. Wish you crew Grace here. Not want to be alone. Would do anything to see you one more time. Will remain strong complete mission for you. You always in thoughts most. Log end.”
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“Log start. Final log. Rocky accept fate. “Made peace” as human say. Rocky…no go home.
Long Pause
Ship on course for Erid. Taumoeba still present. Rocky continue repair maintenance long as alive. Will use last energy to do. Math confirm ship reach Erid before star death. All can do now is hope pray for that outcome. Long shot… but still shot.
For Adrian. Greatest apology in universe. Will not keep promise. If hear this, Rocky entrust you to complete mission. Rocky know Adrian can---”
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Banging noise startles me. “Hey! Rocky!” “Log end,” I say to no one but Earth thinking machine. Mind race as I float towards noise source. “Grace?” Wonder if hear things. Ship not functional for long duration. Months? Not sure, lost track of time long ago. Body also weakened injured from dwindling life support. I hope it Grace despite understanding impossibility. Grace finish own mission travel opposite direction from Erid. Cannot be Grace.
Second banging noise, this time longer more rhythmic. …Can it? No space debris make sound like that. Noise also originate at bridge used to connect ships. Still, check expectations as float over. “ROCKY!”
I propel myself quickest as can. Hear more banging, more yelling my name, more concerned cries. The vibrations reinvigorate my weakened body my broken spirit. It pulses in time with my racing thoughts. Situation feel unreal, if hearing not strongest sense would doubt reality. I reach tunnel end and… am met with miracle.
There, against all statistical odds probability math sense…is Grace.
“…Grace,…here. Grace…came.”
I know translator not present, don’t care. I know Grace understand. No chord word sound would ever be needed.
“I’m here buddy.”
Slowly our digits, human Eridian meet over xenonite. Then main body and head. We press close and… embrace. Despite barrier lack of word differences we are one. In sync. As if neither ever left.
I understand value of hug now. If xenonite not present, I would pull Grace into my core and never let go. Radiation, cold, consequence be damned. I never anticipate see again, never thought live to. Feel safe, safest in long time. Everything okay now. Grace here. Together we unstoppable.
I disappointed when hug end. Reason logical, Grace must dock ship but still. I get why Grace refuse to let go earlier. Hug not so bad after all. Will keep that secret, however. High probability Grace smother me if know.
Once Hail Mary docked, I climb into my xenonite spacesuit and roll to it. Have ton of questions. Same thing must gone wrong for Grace. But Hail Mary okay. Did Grace fix? Answer must be affirmative. Hail Mary functional and Grace here. Impossible otherwise. Mind filled with questions; I enter ship I never thought have honor to set foot in again. Grace will have answer. Always does.
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“Amaze, amaze, amaze.”
Who knew taumoeba could gain ability to move through xenonite? Never consider that possibility. Taumoeba sneaky microbe. However, at sudden thought my interest at Grace’s explanation wanes.
“Wait, Rocky has question.”
“Go ahead bud. I’m all ears.”
Phrase confuse me. Did Grace not say human only have two ‘ear’ to hear? I shake carapace. I cannot let myself be distracted by human saying. More pressing issue. “Why Grace here?”
Grace make noise I recognize as chuckle, “I came to save you silly.”
“But mission?”
New fear paralyze me. Grace in opposite direction of where Earth is. Did something other than taumoeba go wrong? Is Earth in trouble? I observe my friend. No, Grace too calm. Heart rate normal. Brief expression shift, however.
“Don’t worry about that Rock. John, George, Paul, and Ringo got that covered.”
Now I puzzled, during our time together I only saw Grace on Hail Mary. Know Grace not lie about crew death. Is there extra crew now? I move around, concentrate my hearing, “Grace,…not alone?”
This not logical. I would have heard if others present. We also too far from Earth and not enough time pass for trip but this best explanation I think of. Did humans somehow perfect space travel? If so, when how?
“Nope, it’s still just me. Were you expecting someone else? I’m offended.”
Nothing make sense. What human word? Mystery. Everything mystery.
“I’m just messing with you. I wanted to be mysterious for once. I named the probes I used to send our research back to Earth. After the best band in the universe of course.”
“So, Earth safe, question?”
“Yes, Earth safe. Statement.”
Relief, but now much greater concern.
“But Grace not. There not enough fuel for Grace to go home.”
“I know.”
“Then why Grace do!? You die on Erid no question! Erid environment not compatible with—”
“Because there’s no way I ever coulda lived with myself if I left you to die!”
Silence. Did not expect Grace to yell, become so passionate. Am touched by words despite stupidity of them.
Grace coughs, “Besides, you’re the greatest engineer I’ve ever met. If there’s anyone who can figure this out, it’s us.”
"Grace…mean that?”
“Hey, now’s not the time to be acting all humble. The universe never coulda been saved without you.”
“…”
“So, what do you say? You up to the task, partner?”
Grace’s confidence in my abilities makes me stand taller, “Rocky born ready.”
My favorite human laughs before throwing a fist up, “Now that’s what I’m talking about!”
Slowly, I raise a limb, “Fist my bump?”
Grace groan dramatically, “We both know that’s wrong,” but taps his fist against my spacesuit with a grin, “Let’s do this."