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Ryland had done it. He had arrived in time to save Rocky.
And now they were on their way to Erid.
Grace was typing on his computer, finishing up the last details and updates. These updates meant that Grace could type whatever he wanted into the computer, and it would automatically translate and transmit it into Eridian. It still had some translation issues with complex sentences and double meanings, but it was ready for basic human-eridian conversation.
And then the transmission sounded.
Grace jumped up and quickly approached the transmitter. Rocky was sleeping behind him and didn't wake up at the sudden sound. Grace thought it was strange for a split second until he remembered how the Eridians worked and that this was why Rocky was with him.
Grace looked at the transmission and, even though he correctly guessed its origin, was still astonished by it.
Signal from Erid.
Ryland knew that at that moment it was practically impossible to wake Rocky. In fact, upon approaching Erid, they had agreed that Rocky would rest so that they could make contact with the planet once awake, being on an alien ship with an alien and all that.
But perhaps Rocky hadn't correctly calculated the distance at which they would finally be able to communicate, or perhaps Erid's scientific advancements had been enormous, because there it was, without a doubt.
The Erid signal they were waiting for.
Ryland took a deep breath and connected the transmission to his computer to communicate.
The transmission opened. There were about ten Eridians crowded around the screen, trying to figure out what Grace was.
Grace, in a somewhat awkward way, moved his arms in a way that he knew, thanks to Rocky, was calming for the Eridians.
They seemed to calm down a little, but they were still glued to the screen.
Grace decided that the best thing to do was to communicate, so he started typing.
"Hello, Eridians. I'm Grace, from a very distant planet. I don't come with harmful intentions, quite the opposite. I'm on the ship Hail Mary, heading to your planet to fight the astrophage plague."
A murmur of confused and joyful sounds echoed across the screen. Good.
"I'm with Rocky," Grace said, shifting slightly so they could see his friend. "The sole survivor of your ship. I'm afraid the others died from a phenomenon known on Earth as 'radiation.'" The word wasn't translated, and the Eridians shuddered at the strange noise. "I'm so sorry."
There was a commotion in the room. The news that twenty-three of their kind had perished had filled everyone with sadness and anger.
Grace understood.
And then, he saw them.
Among the Eridian commotion was a taller one, turquoise, the same color as the planet from which the taumoebas had been taken.
Grace's hands moved without his consent.
"Adrian, question."
Everyone froze except for the tall alien. He approached the screen hesitantly, and Grace was astonished by their height, which he estimated to be about two meters.
"Rocky, question"
Grace understood.
"He's okay. They are coming home."
The Eridian was visibly moved.
"Thank you, extraterrestrial Grace."