Continuation from this post
Cort wakes up first, he got put into the coma first to keep any chance of him fighting back to a minimum. He's also the quickest to realize what happened too, due to his Sierra training and missions.
Colt and Ryland wake up pretty much at the same time, with Ryland waking about three minutes before Colt. (I think Ryland's the younger twin, so some irony or something to him waking first)
Ryland is obviously freaking out, he's got no memories, doesn't even know his name. But there's two people here, they both look so similar to him and they're both so familiar that it hurts his head.
Colt is the one who calms him down. Cort tries, but Ryland and Colt were closer on earth than Cort was to them.
They spend a few hours, maybe even days since they're kinda stuck up there, talking about the problem, Ryland's memories, the mission, and what's probably least important, Cort's whole "dead not dead" thing. They never discussed it on Earth, but now they've got time.
Ryland doesn't really know how to feel about it, he doesn't remember Cort leaving him, hell he barely remembers that they're brothers. Due to repressing childhood memories and the amnesia drug.
Colt and Cort argue about it when Ryland's asleep Though it's less arguing and more Colt making Cort explain the Sierra program and why he didn't me tell them he was alive. (He understands, it hurts, but he understands)
Then Tau Ceti. And Rocky. (I haven't actually seen PHM, but I'm reading the book so most knowledge comes from there)
Colt is the pilot. Since he was the risk specialist, he was the one testing a lot of equipment, including, I imagine, a version of the Hail Mary, he's familiar with the Captain's seat is what I'm saying. Cort is the co-pilot, though he's mostly just watching the monitors while Colt moves away from Rocky's ship.
When Rocky sends over the first canister, there's a brief argument about who goes to get it (Colt: I'm a stunt man, I can get it, Cort: A stunt man does not mean you're good for space travel! I'm older, I'll go get it. Ryland: I mean.. I could get it? Colt and Cort: No.)
Cort gets the canister while Colt watches as backup. Ryland does his whole idiot genius thing to figure out the canister.
Ryland refuses to be left on the ship when Rocky connects the two tunnels. First contact with aliens, of course heâs gonna go meet them! So all three end up in the tunnel to meet Rocky. Colt wasnât going to be left on the ship either. Incase the alien tried to eat them or something.
Rocky is delighted to meet the brothers, going from being alone to having three people to watch him sleep, and theyâre also here to solve the dying stars problem. Eridian equivalent of a dream come true!
Ryland and Colt are quick to get along with Rocky, Cort is a little more wary but even he slowly warms up to Rocky because itâs obvious theyâre all in the same boat.
Rocky entering the ship is just as funny as it is in canon. With the bonus of three Goslings chasing after him. Cort is cautious about their new roommate. Rocky has decided all three need to be taken care of because âLeaky space blobs donât know how to take care of themselvesâ
Yes Iâm including the alien mandated bedtime. Ryland especially has problems with this, he has science stuff he needs to do and now his brothers are teaming with his new best alien friend to force him to sleep.
The brothers take turns watching Rocky sleep.
During one "night" Cort and Rocky bond over keeping watch. Because Cort has always kept watch over the twins even when they didn't know he was alive, and obviously keeping watch is important for Eridians. Both were signs of love and protection.
Rocky comments on the brotherâs similar looks. It isnât until theyâre able to see a movie that Rocky believes them when they say that not all humans look like them. (Heâs seen three of them! Thatâs like seeing three identical Eridians, there are assumptions that will be made!)
Rocky and Colt get along fantastically, teasing Ryland and Cort.
Ryland does eventually remember Cort leaving him and Colt, and he too has his discussion about why. Like Colt, he understands but is still hurt. The conversation ends with Ryland hugging Cort and sobbing. (Rocky worries about Ryland leaking, but heâs also getting used to Ryland crying. Just some light teasing.)
Colt does the fishing, Cort is piloting. This was a five minute argument. Ryland and Rocky watched like it was a tennis match before Rocky commented on the stupidity of arguing who is going fishing.
Like in canon, thereâs the brief moment where everyone thinks theyâre going home and then the toumeaba eat through the xeonite.
I think theyâd still turn back to save Rocky. None of them want to leave Rocky to die, even if it means never seeing Earth again. Colt sends a message to Jody in one of the Beetles. With express instructions that only Jody is allowed to see it.
It kinda ends like the canon does. Ryland teaches, Colt helps with the physics even if he canât do all the stunts he used to, and the pebbles love Cort. Theres one time the pebbles are taken on a field trip into the bio dome, Cort has at least three pebbles clinging to him at all times. Much to the amusement of the twins. Cort had no idea what to do with them, so he ends up carrying them around and lifting them to see the different views. (Obviously the smaller pebbles, that arenât quite grown fully)