Captain_Dogfish



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  1. Public Bookmark *

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    The capsule touches down on Erid about a decade and a half after I do.

    There's a message inside translated into fourteen different languages. Y'know, just in case I've taught myself - and then the Eridians - Afrikaans.

    Hey, it reads. Can we have our ball back, please?

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    3,884
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    1/1
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    10 Jun 2026

  2. Public Bookmark *

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    In linguistics, a false friend is a word in a different language that sounds similar to a word in your own, but differs significantly in meaning. No word in any Eridian language could possibly be mistaken for English. But Erid absolutely has false friends.

    In his right mind, Grace would easily identify the mistaken assumptions inhibiting his integration on Erid. They are:

    1: A molecular biologist and a sapient rock can cobble together translation software that reflects the etymological nuance of an entire alien language.
    2: Eridians are enough like humans to have an area 51 and look forward to using it.

    Unfortunately, Grace hasn’t been in his right mind in years.

    Or: a ‘Return to Erid’ story where Grace struggles to touch down alone.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    19,101
    Chapters:
    6/6
    Comments:
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    543
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    08 Jun 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?”

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    18,360
    Chapters:
    3/3
    Comments:
    876
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    08 Jun 2026

  4. Public Bookmark *

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    Ryland Grace wakes up in space... and he's not alone.

    All three members of the Hail Mary wake up en route to the Tau Ceti system. One of them doesn't know who he is. All the answers they need are here for them to find, deep in interstellar space. They just don't know it yet.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    98,665
    Chapters:
    26/?
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    3
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    1,694
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    3,254
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    946
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    04 Jun 2026

  5. Public Bookmark *

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    Mindy Park is rapidly realising that the first intelligent extraterrestrial to make contact with the human race thinks they’re fucking stupid. She’s pretty sure that Dr Grace isn’t accurately translating half the things Rocky is saying, but most of what he is telling her is that Rocky has a better way of doing what NASA wants them to do, and honestly, it seems like Rocky is mostly right. She probably doesn’t want to know what the other half of what Grace’s new alien friend is saying, if the things that are making it through what she’s calling the “middle school teacher filter” are “why would you do something the dumb way when you could do it the right way”.

    or,

    Mindy has a headache, Grace has trauma, Mark is confused and Rocky is wondering how humans made it in to space when they're all so, so dumb.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    56,924
    Chapters:
    8/8
    Comments:
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    04 Jun 2026