there was probably a send off party for the hail mary crew. yao and ilyukhina shaking the hands of foreign dignitaries, smiling for pictures like they weren’t about to die, graciously receiving awards and accolades that would be on display in their nation’s capital in their honor. yao, as serious and stoic as always. ilyukhina, a little more subdued and professional but no less charismatic.
the question of the night is, “where is miss stratt? where is the american scientist, dr. grace?”
dimitri does a good job of deflecting the question, turning the conversation back on the heroes, on the mission, on the science, on the massive scope of the project and what it means for humanity.
all the while, stratt sits just outside of the cell grace has been in for the last three days. he’s asleep, thanks in part to a cocktail of medication that is the precursor to his preparation for launch. one of his guards had come to let her know, just as she instructed. for at least the next few hours, she still has authority. she might as well use it to her advantage.
she sits outside his cell and she prays to a god she hasn’t really spoken to since her days in choir, since going to church with her mother and staring at the pretty stained glass instead of paying attention to the priest.
she prays for forgiveness. she prays for the crew’s safety and success.
and she just hopes that god is listening.