Chapter Text
It instantly turned into darkness. His want to live, want to not let *it* win, need to be something bigger than himself over took as the blood touched the seed in his hand. His whole being became encompassed by a warm protective feeling as his mind soothes. No thoughts, no pain, no fear - just a soft soothing feeling like he was in heaven …. But did he … a convict … the butcher … even deserve heaven?
The blood planet got new life in that moment as a giant tree grew up into space. It was large and majestic. It had wrapped in its roots the very monster the was hunting humanities last chance of survival. The tree overlooked as a space ship lowered an other claw down and retrieves the flashing black box. The hope for humanity was being retrieved … only allowed by the selfless act of a desperate man. This was a trial that he had passed and with it he will get his paradise… his second chance … a happy ending.
“Grace stupid statement”
“I may be a stupid but I’m not a coward “
One the travel back to Erid the two interstellar friends needed games to pass the time and so they have gone down the list of usual Earth and Erid games and now was the turn of truth or dare. The two of them were passing through a space debris field as the moment and Rocky’s dare to grace was simple - grab an object from outside. The hard shelled companion thought that was how you win the game by daring Grace do something so outrageous that Grace would say no and so he would win. Rocky didn’t account for Grace actually taking the dare. Grace had his space suit on looking at the door. He knew no one thought when they made all the safety and technical aspects of the ship that it would be used for a children’s game but here he was opening the door to try to grab a piece of space debris. Rocky was going on and on about on the other side of the door about how stupid Grace was obviously though finding amusement he was actually doing it. Luckily for Grace as soon as he opened the door there were a multitude of diffrent size objects as they leaned out and grabbed a small rock with precision. Little did Grace know at that moment was that rock wasn’t the only thing being brought aboard a certain branch had founds its way in the vacuum chamber without Grace’s knowledge.
The travel to Erid grew harder and harder especially on Grace as he had to start eating Taumoeba to just make the trip. By the time the two finally got Erid with a warm excited welcome Grace was suffering from a multitude of ailments such as Scurvy and malnutrition. He had become reliant on Rocky and Armando during that time for food and basic motions. They had to stay in Eric’s orbit for a year though while Adrian as well as other Eridians built a suitable habitat for Grace. Rocky despite missing his mate stayed with Grace the whole time not wanting to have him alone. The Eridians sent care packages up though to help in Graces recovery which wasn’t perfect but allowed him to at least be mobile and ready for the descent onto the planet.
Grace had lived on Erid’s surface in the bio dome for a year now and he had gotten into a comfortable pattern of getting up on the week days to go teach classes to the pebbles that chose earth studies as their extra curricular, then going home to grade assignments and making lesson plans, then to take a stroll on the beach sleep becoming a long forgotten friend. His sleep schedule wasn’t the best though it wasn’t always the best on Earth either. His mind just kept always racing and when he did sleep… he remembered what he didn’t want to. After so long though walks in the beach became too rudimentary to keep his demons at bay so he decided to hunt a new hobby. Then he remembered a stash of seeds they found during the year of orbiting Erid while trying to get locked cabinets opened. He had brought it down with him for safe keeping and the Eridian scientist took them to study them. He had only recently got them back and it was a combination of potato, strawberry, and carrot clippings and then a few flower and … a tree clipping that had a large seed hanging off the branch. He decided to start a little garden and he enjoyed it for the most part enjoying have a new part of routine. It surprised him how fast the crops took with his naive care, the only plant that didn’t grow was the tree seed that stayed in the ground where it was untouched in moving despite Grace’s constant care - then came an accident.
Grace was gardening like normal his garden becoming impressive enough to where Adrian had scheduled a day - outside of their normal hangout meetings with Rocky leading the way - to come collect samples. Grace was stuck in thought of how his little distraction project could put someone in such awe they they would want to study it. Grace though wasn’t paying attention cutting off a dead leaf and cut his hand cursing under his breath all the child friendly curses that were second nature to him at this point standing up walking away to bandage it a drop of blood falling on the ground where the tree seed was. Little did he know that one tiny drop would start a huge flood of events.
“… what … the … fudge nuggets ?!”
“What’s a fudge nugget question ?”
“Not the time buddy,”
Grace was looking as a now tree sapling that was half of his own height in shock. He had tried forever to get this dang thing to grow and now … it actually is a sapling. He felt pride but also … confusion. Trees don’t grow this fast. There was no sign before of it growing and it normally took a year for a sapling to get close to what was in front of him (at least according to Mary’s data in botany that Grace has been studying for his side hobby). He didn’t understand what could have happened … not one bit. Rocky of course wasn’t helping.
“Grace to worried about plant” “Grace stare at plant to much should hang with Rocky” “Tiny tree not impressive compared to what Rocky makes,”
…. This Little Rock bastard was jealous of a tree …. It kinda warmed Rylands heart to be honest.
“Don’t worry buddy you’re not being replaced by a tree I promise I just … this is abnormal … maybe it’s the type of seed or maybe it’s Erid’s gravity somehow effecting it or -“ and this started the mindless rambles and theories that Rocky was force to endure. The only thing stopping it was him finishing up with his gardening for that moment as he sighed.
“You need to get back to Adrian Rocky they won’t be happy your not back yet,”
“Adrian’s not the boss of me no one boss of Rocky “
That made Ryland cross his arms with a stern look.
“Remember the last time you said that? I believe it let to you sleeping on … well you had to room with me for a night,”
Rocky shivered at that and nodded “Fine but only because Adrian is best mate such a good mate Grace wishes to have a mate as mate as Adrian, they be the only Mate better at Mating that Rocky”
“Go on then hah I’ll see you the other day”
And with that he watches as Rocky scuttles away feeling a slight yearning for a connection like his two closest friends had … but he valued his life more than leaving to go back to earth for the chance of finding a companion of his own. He is happy with the platonic soulmate that he found in Rocky. He wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that. Who knows maybe he’ll find a nice Eridian that would be willing to deal with his ramblings that’s single … would that even work. Ryland shook his face hard to get the thought out of his head knowing how stupid of an idea it was. He wouldn’t mind being with an Eridian but it wouldn’t be fair for him to be with one… it would feel like forever long distance.
A week later and Grace was shocked to see the full growth of the tree. It seemed to be maturity so fast … it made no sense. He couldn’t think to much of it at this moment knowing today was the day Adrian was visiting to practically judge his botany skills. He cleaned everything up and made it walkable for them as they waiting for them to arrive and of course they did right on time. They had Right behind as the two chirped away - Grace understanding every word by this point. Rocky ran right up Grace as the two hugged Grace standing back up holding his cane in his hand.
“You just saw me a few days ago”
“Few days to long come we go play that game while Adrian study’s plants “
Grace rose a brow to that
“I thought I was staying while you took the samples I can tell you about all the plants,”
Adrian hummed softly smiling “you two go have fun I’m just taking some samples for now to study,”
Grace sighed but nodded listening to the much larger Eridian. Adrian was around twice Grace’s height, their slinger body towered with power and respect but also a certain gentleness Grace always appreciated. When Grace first met Adrian in person he was shocked about the size difference but also with how gentle they were in comparison to their bullet of a mate. He would be lying if he said he didn’t get flustered by them every so often… he could understand why Rocky practically worshiped every inch of them though Grace would never dream of admitting that. Grace and Rocky went to go to the house to play an earth game he promised to teach Rocky though he was nervous it would end their friendship … it was Monopoly.
Adrian began to take their samples peacefully walking through admiring the shapes and the systems of the plants Grace had worked so diligently to grow. It was admirable. Though mid way through the ground started to shake the tree that was at a great height at this point started to crack. Grace and Rocky felt the rumbling causing them both to stumble over them selfs to find the source of course heading straight to Adrian to make sure they were safe. Once there though Grace stood there in shock staring at the tree. It had split down the middle creating an opening to the middle of the tree where there was now a person sitting there hugging … his ? Yea his legs, head down long hair covering him. He had long pointed ears that stretched out of his head and that long hair he had had long vines that were mixed in with the hair. One of the arms were missing seeing to be … bandaged with vines? Grace couldn’t tell much more at this precise angle.
“Hmm Rocky understands intrigue of plant now,”