Chapter Text
Simon and Grace were 3 years into their trip back to Earth, and Grace had finally made peace with leaving Rocky.
Simon hadn’t known him as long as Ryland had, but he had grown to like the Eridian in the couple of weeks they had been confined in the ship.
But more than anything, he wanted to see Earth. Really see it. More than just on screens or descriptions in books.
He could hardly believe it when he was told that Earth was alive. It had been for centuries, actually. That confused him.
For years he had been taught that everything else disappeared, that the planets and stars were gone and all that was left was space stations and moons, but many people had theorized; what if we were the ones that disappeared? What if everyone else is still alive and wondering what happened to us just as we wonder what happened to them?
What if Simon had made it out? Escaped into the part of the universe that he had thought was gone?
There was no reason to go back. No one left in Eden or the COI deserved to live on Earth, not even Simon.
As much as he had insisted that truth, Ryland refused to leave him behind. He was so different from the people Simon was used to. He was optimistic, innocent, and painfully trusting.
Even after Simon had attacked him after pulling him out of the SM-13, he helped him. He showed him a level of generosity that Simon hadn’t seen since his mother…
He didn’t understand how he was alive after how much the “expedition” had changed him. He lost an arm. His right eye was red, God knows why. He had sharp fucking teeth in the side of his face. Those freaked him out the most.
He was also mentally affected by it; he'd doubted that sitting in a submarine for days in an ocean of blood wasn’t a mental catalyst.
Despite his horrific conditions, Grace and Rocky had welcomed him with open arms.
He thought it was foolish.
Now he was so, so fucking grateful.
He was getting a second chance at life.
On Earth, of all places. The thought was surreal.
Simon stretched out on the mattress, seeing the lights in the sleeping pod wake with him.
Ryland said that by this morning, they would be able to see Earth from the Hail Mary.
They were so close, after 3 years of travel, they were running dangerously low on resources. Simon’s presence had depleted the stock that Grace expected to have by now, but he insisted it would be fine, that he was welcome to take whatever he needed. Of course, Simon didn’t follow through on the offer, as Grace struggled to even get him to eat for the first few weeks.
Just a few more hours.
Grace was sitting at his computer with a steaming cup of coffee in hand. Simon couldn’t imagine how long he had been up, considering the three other empty mugs on the counter.
“That can not be a healthy amount of caffeine." Simon said from the doorway.
Grace jumped at the sound, splashing coffee on his lap in the process.
“Ow- crap!” he shouted, looking down at the mess before reaching for a towel and setting his mug on the counter.
“Shit, sorry…” Simon mumbled, unsure how to help.
“No it’s- it’s okay.” he said, snickering a bit, which only confused Simon further.
“What-uh… what are you reading?” Simon asked.
Grace looked back up at him when he tossed the stained towel back on the counter, not bothering to wash it.
“‘The Martian’ I’d heard about it before, but I guessed it would be worth the read. Guy’s in the same situation we are.”
“What do you mean?”
He pushed his glasses up, brushing the affected spot of coffee on his sweatpants.
“He was abandoned on Mars during a mission, and has to learn how to adapt there.”
“What is Mars?” Simon asked, pushing himself from the doorframe he had been leaning on as he walked fully into the room.
“Umm… it’s a planet, in the same solar system as Earth, but also.. pretty far away from it.”
It felt like Grace had to teach him things like this constantly. It made him feel dumb, and the worst part is, he couldn’t tell the difference between things that weren’t present in his life and things that he had missed from when he had stopped getting education after Eden took notice of his potential in combat over intellect.
“How is that similar?” Simon asked.
Grace tilted his head, “I guess it might just be the abandoned part. And space.”
“I wasn’t really in space.” he mumbled.
“Well, being on a moon is the same as space in Earth terms.”
Simon looked over to the circular window. Earth was out of view, but that didn’t make the stars any less beautiful. He couldn’t believe he spent half of his life without them.
“I still can’t believe it. I’m going to fucking Earth, Grace.” Simon spoke in a near whisper.
Ryland walked up to him, “I’m just gonna remind you, that I’ve been in space for a little over 15 years, so I have no idea how much has changed. I doubt it’s a lot, but I just need you to know that.”
“As long as I get to see it.” Simon mumbled with a somber smile.
“We both will.”
“You’ll stay with me when we get there, right? You promise?”
Grace set his hand on Simon’s shoulder, “Absolutely, man. I wouldn’t leave you to figure everything out yourself. I’ll make sure you’re safe.” His eyes were soft and comforting. Simon knew that Grace would never lie about something like that.
“Just 5 more hours.”
~*~*~*~*~
[Translation: I ain’t writing allat.]
They landed.
It was a fucking mess, but they actually pulled it off.
Simon stood from where he had fallen on the floor, feeling the instability from the waves the ship had landed on.
It was eerily similar to the feeling of being in the SM-13. Although he had been underneath most of the time, the feeling still brought back horrible memories.
He could hear Ryland’s voice from the hall, speaking with whoever they had gotten help from.
“We’ll be there to get you in about ten minutes. Be ready.” said a feminine voice, the sound of crashing waves mixed with a motor in the background.
“Okay, thank you so much, this is huge for both of us.”
“It’s what we do, Dr. Grace…”
Simon tuned out the rest, hearing the line go silent not long after.
He looked down at the pendant wrapped around his wrist, the same way it was a few months ago. The seed was untouched in the embrace of glass that had a faint pink tint from the blood he could never wash off completely.
He held the pendant tightly in his hand, looking out at the bright blue sky and darker ocean, a natural body of water instead of blood.
Simon felt his nose begin to burn as tears flooded his eyes.
When Grace walked through the door, Simon swiped at his eyes, sniffling.
“Don’t start getting emotional now, we need to look professional.” Grace said with a smile, his glasses hanging off one ear. Simon swore those things had a mind of their own.
The faint sound of water lapping against Mary echoed through the room, and Simon had to remind himself that it was an Earth ocean. He’s in the Hail Mary, not the SM-13. And soon, he would be back on solid ground. He would be free with Grace, on Earth, and that’s all that mattered.