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English
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Published:
2026-05-26
Updated:
2026-06-12
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9,902
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11/?
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Back to the Drawing Board

Summary:

After saving Rocky from his ship's leak, Grace and Rocky realizes that they don't have enough fuel to go to Erid. The solution? Sending the beetles to Erid to save Rocky's planet along with a message asking them to retrieve Rocky from Earth as Rocky and Grace decided to return to Earth to saves Grace's planet. The problem? Grace knows how cruel humankind can be to those who are different and there's still some old wounds he doesn't want to revisits (not that they ever healed).

On their way home, right as they were about to return to the Sol system, a strange foreign contaminant enters the ship and in a hurry to verify it, he slips down the ladder leading to the lab and hit his head. To add on top of this, malnutrition and scurvy ravaged his body and made him more frail than ever and despite Rocky's best attempts, Grace seems like he won't make it. As a last resort, Rocky tries to give him his blood (though he knows it would most likely kill him but he rather do something than watch as the life drains away from his best friend). In a turn of event Grace becomes... an Eridian?

How is this going to work? Especially so close to Grace's home...

Notes:

I thought of this before looking at the distance from Tau Ceti to Erid... Turns out... there's less time to go to Erid than to Earth... I ain't a scientist but let's pretend this is the case until I figure something out to fix this slight plot hole! Also, idk how relativity works.

Chapter 1: The Recording

Chapter Text

"It's been... hmm... about 3 years and... 4 months now. Food is at an all time low. Tried eating the Taumeaba but... my stomach doesn't like it. Rocky keeps fretting over me at each new symptoms I show. Turns out giving your friend all of humankind's knowledge can be problematic when they can see all the ways our body can fail. I honestly don't know if I'll make it to Earth but if I don't... please take care of Rocky. Don't hurt him. He's... he's my friend and if anyone of you has the smallest inkling of shame over what you did to me, you'll treat him well. He helped saved our planet so... please. Anyway, in about 16 light-years, his species should be picking him up so again... DON'T SCREW HIM UP! IF YOU DO... I'll find a way to go back in time and prevent our planet from being saved. So, watch out! This is Dr. Ryland Grace out."

A sigh escaped him as soon as he ended the video. He took the opportunity of recording what could be his final message to Earth while Rocky slept. He knew if he did while he was awake, Rocky would butt in and told him that he's wrong. As much as he wished it, he had barely any energy left in him. Just recording made him want to curl up in the corner and sleep but he had some more work to do before he could.