Chapter Text
Adrian had never given up hope when their Beloved had gone into the Great Silence. Even when some of the other clusters started setting up monuments, they refused to let the Space Elevator fall into disarray and made sure that the building with all the scanning equipment to listen for Rocky's ship was put into their and the other cluster members who still hoped claws.
Did this mean that Adrian stormed into several important political leaders' offices and borderline threatened them, on top of arranging sleep-ins around the elevator to prevent its decommissioning? Yes, and Adrian knows Rocky would be proud of them for doing so. They, like Adrian, had a fondness for causing problems for the government.
After all, it wasn't until a decade after they had left that their tax fraud and habit of planting endangered plants where unwanted government buildings were supposed to go was discovered.
The government took a little too long to realize it's mistake, putting an eridian like Adrian in charge of such important botanical survival projects. Gave them too much leverage to be silenced, and now they are using that leverage to be seated firmly next to the radio operator, besides a friend of a friend who is a pebble protector.
You see, when the alien first spoke, according to one of Adrian's friends, (it should be noted, Adrian has friends everywhere) everyone heard garbled noises, shortly followed by the simple tones of a pebble. So people jumping to the conclusion that this Grace is a pebble isn't a hard leap. But Adrian knows Rocky. Rocky speaks much differently with pebbles.
The government doesn't need to know that yet. Or ever. Especially since the radio was left on while some alarm went off, and the sounds of a cracked caprice came through. Followed by Grace making strange noises and frantically whistling for Rocky to wake up.
Grace being able to pilot the ship is another point in the favor of 'him' (apparently humans have something called 'genders') being an adult, but Adrian has asked the pebble protector to come to whatever conclusions and explinations are nessesary to protect Grace and have them put in Adrian's custody. Amber readily agreed, especially with Grace starving.
Adrian already has started getting their team to work on building a home for Grace with all the things Rocky sent over before they fell into a healing sleep, which included some files on Grace's language. Adrian saw no reason to share that beyond Amber and the doctor Adrian had picked out, House.
"Grace, I am here with Amber, a pebble protector, and Adrian, Rocky's mate. Are you comfortable-" the operator is quickly interrupted by Grace's excited chatter.
"Oh Adrian perfect they will be able to help Rocky yes yes yes know Beloved Adrian Rocky tell Grace much about Beloved Adrian say Beloved Adrian is smart smart smart man Rocky is such a wife-guy," Grace says, speaking both English and Eridian.
Adrian feels warm inside, and a fair bit of relief. Grace already having a positive view of them will help their plan go much smoother. "Hello Grace. I am excited to meet you. I am so sorry you have been alone these past couple of days. But once you talk with Amber, we will see about you staying with me."
There is a pause. Then "And 🎶 question? Rocky said 🎶 Grace together on Erid, no send 🎶 away." Adrian can hear Grace's breath speeding up. "Rocky promise! Surely he wouldn't lie about that, right? Oh no, what am I going to tell Simon?"
Thankfully, Amber steps in while Adrian blue-screens. "Yes, of course Simon will stay with you. Do you know why Rocky didn't mention Simon in the files he sent over?"
"Files old, long, Simon new new new, not from me home," Grace manages to get out, calming down. "Simon home bad, hurt Simon, make Simon die."
Adrian and the operator both let out sharp puff from their vents, while Amber lets out a calming trill. "We certainly won't send him back then. Are you older or younger than Simon?"
Clever Adrian thinks. No actual ages, but still lets us know if Simon and Grace need the same kind of handling.
"Simon little smaller, no understand good Eridian, need thing to do hearing. Talk Eridian little," Grace explains, and Adrian marvels at his ability to communicate concepts with such limited vocabulary.
"I understand. Adrian, a doctor, myself, and a couple scientists will be up soon to take a look at Rocky and start working on helping you and Simon in about 3 human hours. Is that okay?" Amber asks.
"Yes, Grace tell Simon, Grace Simon put Rocky things in Rocky air," Grace readily agrees.
"It's okay, you don't have to do that. Would you be okay with Adrian and I staying with you and Simon until a place on Erid is ready for you?" Adrian clicks nervously to themselves.
"…Adrian no watch Rocky question? Rocky hurt, Rocky help first, Grace Simon okay no need watch," Grace seems anxious, and Adrian can tell this raises some flags for Amber.
"Grace, you and Simon are important too, Rocky will be watched by one of their parents. We would be happy to help you." Amber assures Grace.
after a pause, Adrian pipes up. "Grace, you are very important to Rocky, and therefore important to me. Knowing my Beloved, they would want me to watch you."
Grace responds with a quiet. "Okay. Adrian watch Grace Simon."
While intellectually Adrian knows that these two are not pebbles, they can't help how their hearts squeeze with the need to comfort Grace like they are one.
While Adrian bullied various government officials and told certain people who would get the word out about the alien pebbles, Amber stayed behind to talk to Grace. At some point, Simon had joined, and used Grace as a translator to talk to Amber.
This of course led to the conversation that Amber, Adrian, and House were having in the Space Elevator.
"So I won't have to make up any kind of trama, these two have plenty of it already. Simon grew up in a cult, was forced to do something he has imence shame about, which led him to being held somewhere and used on a suicide mission. Which is how he lost one of his limbs. Grace has extremely low self esteem, and thinks he's a coward for refusing to go on a suicide mission, which a human who he considered his friend forced him on. Both have complexes about being useful and are extremely co-dependent with each other, and likely Rocky." Amber let out a huff. "Do not let them perceive themselves to be a burden, or leave them alone with scientists."
House hummed thoughtfully. "Besides the missing limb, what other injuries should I expect?"
Amber sways back and forth. "Besides what we have in the files Rocky sent Adrian, I don't know. But be careful using needles on Grace, or restraining either of them. They will react poorly."
Adrain settled on the ground. "Those poor beings. I'm sure being completely reliant on strangers' help is making them incredibly anxious."
Amber clicked out an agreement. "For this to work, I need you to play the part of a concerned, overprotective forster parent. Do not let them out of your hearing, try to keep them together, and bond with them as much as possible. They will likely latch on to you with Rocky gone, especially if you position yourself as a protector."
Adrain takes a deep breath. "I can do that." They stand up, turning towards the door. "Alright, let's fool the government."