#petrova problem

[ignitioncheck]

"Dr. Grace. You said you wanted to talk? What happened?" ( @petrova-problem )

Ryland Grace doesn't know where to begin. He does want to talk to Stratt. Still, he doesn't know what to say first. You're welcome? Thanks for sending me to space to die? Oh, by the way I didn't. Thank you for believing in me? I hate you for being right about this?

To tell the truth, it had been a hard decision. Sure, upon his return to Earth, he had been hailed as a hero. He had saved the world, after all. Him and Rocky. But he misses Rocky, and the rest of his friends on Erid. He had fit in there, much more than he ever had on Earth. Sure, he has friends. Sure, he has his students. He'd gone back to teaching. But...there are some scars that don't ever fully heal, Grace guesses.

In the end, Grace realizes what he wants to say to Stratt. "I'm not the same man you sent to die. And I don't know whether I should thank you or slap you. Or both." A pause, a soft yet dark chuckle. "I made the best friend I've ever had in my life. Rocky, from the tapes. And now I will probably never see him again. And none of that would have ever happened if you hadn't sent me on the Hail Mary. But now that I'm back on Earth, I don't know what to do. And none of that would've happened either. So I guess I'm conflicted." He looks directly at Stratt, taking everything in. "I am here, but only thanks to Rocky and the rest of the Eridians' kindness. And I don't know. Did I make a mistake coming back to Earth?" Another pause, a sigh. "Sure, people like me now. But....I've changed. Maybe too much. And I doubt I'll fit in any more than I ever did. And....none of that would've happened if it wasn't for you sending me on the Hail Mary."

He wouldn't have met Rocky. And would Rocky have bonded with someone else in his absence? He had always wondered. Would they have worked together to save Earth & Erid? Or would another human have dismissed Rocky, despite his intelligence? These and many other questions haunt him.

"So, basically. I don't know what I should do here." But he can't entirely be upset with Stratt. He can see the logic behind her decisions. And they had worked out for the best. Earth (and Erid) had been saved. Everything is alright now. So why does Grace feel so empty?

[ignitioncheck]

"Surprised? Nothing's changed." - ( @petrova-problem )

"I am not just surprised, I am shocked. " Ryland Grace shakes his head in disbelief. "I won't do it. I won't go there to die. I....I'm just a teacher." And yes, he wants to save the Earth for his kids. And their children, and theirs. But he doesn't want to die in space. Especially if it's not even his choice to make.

"I won't do it." He points at Stratt, saying "You can't make me." Before heading towards the door.

[ignitioncheck]

"Dr. Grace." She passes over a folder to him. "How about this? What do you think?"

( @petrova-problem )

@petrova-problem

Ryland Grace reads the document that Stratt passes to him. He reads it carefully. Taking in all of the information before deciding. Still, as he's reading, he is frowning. And his expression is one of concern.

After he's finished reading, he speaks. "I don't know. I mean, if you want my opinion, this sounds risky. But....so is everything." He shrugs. He knows they don't have much time. And that saving the Earth is very important. It's why he got involved with the Task Force in the first place. To save the Earth for future generations. For his students, and their children, and their children. So if Stratt thinks this is necessary, he won't necessarily argue, even if he would prefer something less risky.