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It was a foggy morning, like most days now. As the cold creeps up on them easily as Stratt sip the coffee Grace brings her as she looks at the Hail Mary's rocket.
Even after everything he's still awkward, Stratt always had to tilt her head to properly follow his sight to admire his bright blue eyes. The same color that the sky had before it went dimmer because of the Astrophage.
But she loves that about him. Timid Dr. Grace, so unsure of his brilliance. Asking her what she would do in the next twenty years, as if he's not aware that it's Valentine's day. He's never been subtle but not quite upfront. Stratt smiled at them, wide enough that her eyes squinted. Thinking for a split second the next twenty years, they were somewhere secluded waiting in the comfort of their home for the Beatles to come home. In her mind she found the same blue eyes, but not on Grace, but in their child's eyes.
She hasn't told him yet. Maybe after the launch. It would be a gift and a miracle for them, they have discussed and actively tried to have one since last year but her age and their tedious job didn't exactly support the idea.
It was a sweet dream, something finally she could have. Something she wanted-
-then a blast.
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Yao's frustrated vent fills the room. Ilyukhina remains calm unlike the other, hard exterior that Stratt has chosen as her fine quality to be top candidates for their astronaut. Then Dr. Lokken converse with Hatch, as Grace in the background trying to not grief in this time of crisis.
Stratt looks down, remaining composed but inside she knows. She had to make a choice. Their time is limited. Three days before the launch and all hope was gone in one blast. Just a milligram of mistakes, all hope for earth survival gone into smokes.
Stratt took a phone call and rushed to her office. Another complaint and investigation report and she swears it's the worst case that's possibly happened. Three days and two hours since the blast, Eva Stratt can't find any solution for this. As she sits quite trying to find people and weighing the choices of people under Lokken.
But then the door unlocked, Grace came in. His beany taken off as he approaches her.
Standing at her side, like she always did. He's her anchor in this cold world. The only pillar she had when she's been the pillar of everything.
Then he tried to talk, but then closed it again. He always did that, it's endearing, but at this crucial time it made Stratt frustrated.
“Speak, Ryland. We don't have much time,”she barks at him but not entirely loud. But she exhaled loudly then, growing more frustrated.
“-I've told the others, I would go.”
The pen that Stratt has been holding fell.
“-with Yao and Ilyukhina.”
Suddenly there's a ringing in her ears like when the blast happened this morning. It's like underwater and his voice grows deeper and unclear as Grace keeps rambling about something that she can't hear properly. It was suffocating like she's underwater being pulled down by fear and unknown feelings. She's the goddamn director, she had no time to fear!
She stands and raises her hand to him, to stop his rambling. “Stop, stop, Stop!” She had to scream to stop him finally. Something she rarely done, even to anyone far less intelligent than Ryland.
She then looked at him with those blue eyes. Clouded like the sky outside.
“Why?”She had many reasons to tie him to earth. Their upcoming child, their twenty years of waiting together, and the domestic life she desperately has been craving since the launch day counter reach a singular digit.
They will have a life, finally, together. Out of this ship. Possibly cold still, but they will be together. Something she had been holding herself for not wanting because of the situation and the state of the world.
Eva took the collar of his shirt, holding him like she's begging him.
But then he explains softly. About him being the lead scientist and the only person that understands the Astrophage than any other person that's alive today. Also the only person left with the coma gene and healthy enough to do so.
Grace took her hands from his collar, holding them both in one hand. As the other free hand wiped the tears on Stratt’s cheeks that had been flowing unknowingly to her.
“-I have to go, Eva. It's our only chance.”
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.
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Eva Stratt wakes up in the infirmary after she passes out.
Then she ran to find Ryland Grace, but she's late. He's already asleep. Fully sedated to ensure his well-being, since he's not a train astronaut to endure the take off.
Eva Stratt cried again, in the quiet room. Alone holding Ryland Grace one last time.
Then she packs his belongings. Each item marked by her tears.
She then slipped a tiny sonogram in the bottom, written on the back of it a simple message.
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.
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Your daughter, Luna.