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  1. Public Bookmark *

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    The Eridian thrills a high sound that doesn’t get picked up by the translator which means that it has no clear meaning. Like when a human gasps or sucks in a deep breath. It actually sounds a little like that. When they notice that I’m staring straight at them they scramble back into their hiding spot and hold very still. 

    A child, I realize with a start.

    That’s a child! 

    “Hey,” I call and the kid squeaks again. I was about to get to my feet but abort the movement and crawl closer on my hands and knees until I'm inches away from the xenonite wall. I wait and it takes me much too long to realize that they don’t have to peek around the corner to see if I’m still there.

    “Hey there,” I try again, my voice low and calm. It’s my teacher voice, the one I use for shy and scared students. 

    Used. 

    The fact that I haven’t had to use it for years and it still comes to me automatically almost knocks the air out of my lungs but this is not about me, it’s about making sure the little pebble doesn’t die of fright from the scary alien. “Hi, I’m Grace. It’s alright, you don’t have to be scared.”

    ***
    How Grace finally gets back into a classroom, where he belongs

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    20 May 2026

  2. Public Bookmark *

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    Eva Stratt has never been a woman who hesitates.

    She’s made countless decisions after decisions throughout her life, often regardless of the consequences that may result. She’s not an idiot. She’s well aware that there will be consequences, and she’s equally sure that the consequences will be of little concern. The end justifies the means — her actions will be judged, but at least they will have happened.

    But here, alone in a Russian conference room, for once in her life Eva Stratt does not know what to do.

    OR; The beetles make it home.

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    19 May 2026

  3. Public Bookmark *

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    Petulantly, Rocky says, “Grace sound stupid. Like child.”

    “I’m just talking how you talk, buddy.”

    “Yes. This is because I talk like child, to speak to stupid human.”

    “Well, you don’t have to do that,” I say without thinking.

    “♪♫♩as this♪ when, underst♪♪♫d ♪me, question?” Rocky says.

    “What?”

    “Can♪♪♫will understa♫d it ♫think talks♫♪ as this♪ Eridian you♩♫, question?”

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    19 May 2026

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    The Eridians have finally gotten the water feature in Ryland's personal zoo enclosure just right (even if Rocky would like him to stop calling his dome that).

    Rocky refuses to believe that humans naturally float. There is no way Ryland's entire species regularly goes into deep water for fun.

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    18 May 2026

  5. Public Bookmark 86

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    “You're really fitting the bill if that’s what you wanted. What, you gonna probe me after this? For ‘science’?”

    “Unknown word: pervert,” Rocky breathed out, and Grace felt his stomach twist at the sound of it from the vocabulator. Rocky was stiff across from him, unmoving in observation, and Grace's glasses started to fog up. He looked like he was itching to move forward, his words more warbly than before. “…but can ‘probe’, if that would improve inspection.”

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    18 May 2026