An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
(These early chapters are quite short, but hopefully it’s setting a reasonable balance between setting up the Situation, and not just spending half a novel wallowing in academic angst inside a big space can.)
Chapter: 3. Situational gravity.
Fandom: Project Hail Mary / Iron Lung. (Gen BloodyMary)
Warnings: Gore / violence / body horror (in later chapters)
Relationships: Grace & Rocky & Simon. Everyone is going in the friendship wiggler, whether they like it or not. It’s just gonna be a bumpy ride.
Summary: It’s almost time to fire up the engines. Just a few pre-flight checks to do, and a mild existential crisis to finish up. Y'know; the usual.
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“Grace already do big, important science. Most important! Field trip not for being — being research assistant.”
Grace laughed as he crouched down, bringing himself more level with Rocky, and shook his head ruefully.
“Hey, sometimes that’s just the postdoc experience, bud.” He tapped his fist against the clear panel, quietly marvelling at how long it had been since they’d needed to interact like this. “I don’t mind. It’s nice to feel useful.”
“Grace not need to be useful.” Rocky stomped a few times, ignoring the proffered hand. “Grace is — is Grace. Can do what like!”
“I know, Rock,” Grace sighed and tapped again, more gently. “But I… I’d like to feel useful.”
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