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Hello ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬, Greetings and ♫ ♬♩ ♪! I am ♪♪♩♫♪♫♩, special science Eridian chosen out of many hopeful candidates from my cluster to study as an apprentice under top zoologist ♬♬♬!
For Vℓλ years I have studied and thrummed, working towards my goal of working with ♬♬♬ at Erid’s largest zoo and conservation center. My mentor ♬♬♬, as the leading expert in captive animal health, helped save many of our planet’s more temperature sensitive life from expiring as our star began to dim.
Originally, my life plan was to dedicate myself to the study of ♩♩♩, spiky, underwater creatures capable of existing deep in our treacherous and mysterious ocean caverns. But all of that changed when Alien-Human-Savior-Grace came to Erid!
My mentor ♬♬♬, being the foremost expert in the field was of course brought in as one of the lead scientists to consult on Human-Savior-Grace’s bio-dome project, along with I as an apprentice to shadow every step of the way.
And my academic path was forever altered!
+λ+
It has been V, almost λ years since Savior-Grace arrived on Erid and settled into the bio-dome. I am eager for ♬♬♬ to allow me to do more than just take research notes and compile reports to Savior-Rocky and Adrian-Savior-Rocky-Mate.
Don’t misunderstand! Having the opportunity to regularly speak with Savior-Rocky is one of the highest honors on Erid! I nearly collapsed from excitement the first time I handed over data from ♬♬♬ directly to Savior-Rocky. Embarrassed, embarrassed, embarrassed.
Sometimes I wish I was important enough to meet Savior-Grace. Currently, I only observe Savior-Grace in the bio-dome. The human is, of course, aware that we observe, but Savior-Grace does not know that I exist.
When Savior-Grace first arrived on Erid, the human was beginning to suffer from malnutrition, which turned severe in the first ∀ℓ days before our science teams could complete synthesizing an approximation of the nutrients humans need not only to live, but to thrive. It is a delicate process. Mentor ♬♬♬ has relayed many stories of similar struggles to keep ♫ and ♪♪ alive in the specialized environments at the animal conservation center. And those are species native to Erid! Savior-Grace is so alien and squishy. And wet. And leaky.
It was during those early touch-and-go days when Alien-Human-Savior-Grace was terribly sick that our science and medical teams requested the engineering team to build observation areas into various spots in the bio-dome, adjacent to the human-style dwelling that was planned. This would serve a few purposes and solve several logistics issues. First—there were not yet enough xenonite suits for each Eridian that might need to gather data on Savior-Grace. Second—security and medical could be posted to make sure Savior-Grace was safe and ailment-free at all times. Third—if no one was able to watch Savior-Grace sleep in-person for whatever the reason, designated team members could easily watch in this way. Additionally—I know there were other arguments listed by ♬♬♬, but I didn’t note them down in my logs.
Savior-Rocky and Adrian-Savior-Rocky-Mate had asked Savior-Grace if this plan for the bio-dome was acceptable. According to Savior-Rocky, Human-Savior-Grace said, “While that sounds a little creepy, as long as I’m not aware anyone’s there… and can’t see anyone staring at me through a wall like I’m a human in the human-zoo… and it’s for science… sure, why not?”
+λ+
Log ∀. I am continuing my live research work as instructed by mentor ♬♬♬. I have been given the important task of ♩ ♪♩ ♪♬♩♪♪♪, which is a special science term in our branch of zoology which means ‘to observe without preconceived notions’. I have purposefully been excluded from any information contained in Savior-Grace’s thinking-machine to prevent any unintended bias in my work. My job is to watch. Other team members are assigned to learn about humans from the human texts in the human’s own words. Only after we have each completed our separate important tasks will we thrum. I always look forward to the thrums.
As I do each time I am honored to be in the presence of Savior-Grace, I silently greet the security guard as I enter the observation room before I slowly open my notes and situate myself closer to the thin xenonite barrier. This particular barrier is optimized for sound to pass through while preventing any light. I can hear clearly throughout the human dwelling from this position, but I must be careful to be completely quiet to not disturb the subject of my research. This keeps Savior-Grace’s illusion of privacy intact, which Savior-Rocky stressed was very, very, very important to humans.
Log ∀.ℓ. Savior-Grace does not have a carapace like Eridians, instead having a blobby middle section for the main body, with a round protrusion that holds the light and sound sensing organs, food intake hole, and breathing tube. I have observed that humans, like Eridians, have five appendages—the two long ones that Savior-Grace walks around on, easily navigating to and from various rooms, sometimes stepping over obstacles in the floor such as the thinking machine, a blanket, or various trinkets the people of Erid have gifted as offerings. Then there are the two additional long appendages used for fine motor skills—picking up objects, feeding (disgust, disgust, disgust), and other complex tasks such as building or making. Like Eridians, these two appendages have digits (but far more of them, five to be exact) for clasping. The walking appendages also have digits, but no clasping has been observed yet.
The fifth appendage I am not yet clear on its use. It is much smaller than the other limbs and has far less structure, but I can hear it clearly flopping around underneath the fabrics that Savior-Grace covers most of the human body with. So far the fifth appendage is the only one always kept underneath the human clothing. The other four limbs are covered by clothing at far more various degrees. The upper limbs digits are always visible. The lower limb digits occasionally so, especially after Savior-Grace has finished the human cleansing routine.
Unfortunately I am unable to clearly hear Savior-Grace’s behaviors in the section of the human dwelling designated as the bathroom, where washing and waste expelling occurs. Savior-Rocky insisted that the lower half of those walls be constructed with sound-proofing materials on behalf of Savior-Grace who had said, roughly translated, “Nobody wants to see that.” I am only able to observe at most the top half of the human body when Savior-Grace enters those rooms. It is enough for security purposes, and in case of emergency, but not so much for scientific research.
My working theory, until proven otherwise, is that the fifth appendage is somehow part of waste removal, as there is a small hole on the end. This, along with its proximity to a larger hole nearby, leads me to that conclusion. Why do humans have so many holes, question?
Log ∀.V. I nearly made a catastrophic mistake today. I wasn’t holding my notebook tightly enough in my arms while making my log. Savior-Grace had been leaking steadily from the breathing holes while pacing the dwelling bedroom, path repeatedly coming very close to my xenonite wall. Why so leaky, question? Humans always leaking, question? Without warning, Savior-Grace stopped in place, convulsing with a sudden sharp intake of breath followed by a startlingly loud sound and a fine spray of liquid spewing from the breathing holes. I dropped my notebook in shock. It made a distinct clang as it hit the ground, the raised letters of my notes smudging on the floor.
Savior-Grace froze, light sensing organs suddenly focused directly toward me. I held my breath. Had I ruined everything, question? To my side, the security guard made a shushing gesture usually reserved for unruly pebbles which just increased my shame. Shame, shame, shame.
Slowly, Savior-Grace moved again. I had never seen human movement like this. Stalking closer, quiet like a predator. The light sensing orbs no longer focused directly at where my notebook fell, but scanned the room, finally settling on a shelf adjacent to my xenonite wall. Savior-Grace lowered a limb behind the shelf, finding a small trinket that must have fallen at some time in the past. Assuming that object had been the source of the noise, Savior-Grace opened the food hole a few times, speaking human language that I did not understand before wandering off.
I relaxed. Next time I will be sure to loop a tether around my notebook and attach it to my arms so that if I drop it again, it will quietly hang in the air.
Log ∀.λ. The more I observe Savior-Grace, the more I am reminded of the time as part of my zoological studies I had to dissect a small ♩♫. The ♩♫ had died of unknown causes despite having an optimum controlled enclosure and specially curated diet. When I cracked open the thick carapace of the ♩♫, the inside organ was one big squishy blob that immediately leaked everywhere out of multiple holes. That’s what a human looks like everyday when it is perfectly healthy. And I am happy, happy, happy to report that Savior-Grace is thriving now. Even mentor ♬♬♬ was worried for some time. But the human light sensing organs leak far less often than before. Savior-Rocky says that is a good thing.
Log ∀.+. I was lucky enough to listen to Savior-Grace near the end of the human sleep cycle, and I observed something truly exciting! The fifth appendage was no longer floppy, it was noticeably larger, protruding upward against the sleep blanket. It was still nowhere near as long as the other appendages, so I observed carefully in anticipation of learning more about the appendage’s function once the human sleep cycle ended.
Unfortunately, I didn’t learn anything new. Upon awaking, Savior-Grace’s light sensing organ focused on the fifth appendage for a moment, mumbling what sounded like, “hʌ, ðæt ˈhæzənt ˈhæpənd ɪn ə lɔŋ taɪm, mʌst bi ði ˈɛkstrə ˈvaɪtəmənz” before instead focusing on Savior-Rocky across the room. Savior-Rocky or Adrian-Savior-Rocky-Mate often watch Savior-Grace sleep when scheduling allows.
“Grace, wake up faster!” Savior-Rocky said. “Late for big science meeting!”
Shortly after that, Savior-Grace got up from bed, gathering up the blanket as well which is a behavior I don’t usually see, scrunched close to the stiff fifth appendage. An attempt to conceal or protect, question?
“Where Grace going with blanket, question?” Savior-Rocky asked as Savior-Grace quickly disappeared into the dwelling bathroom.
“ɪts ˈpraɪvət!” Savior-Grace called back.
Once Savior-Rocky was sure Savior-Grace’s light sensing organs were occupied elsewhere, Savior-Rocky waved in my direction. Savior-Rocky acknowledged me! I was quick to wave back. Ah, the heroes of Erid. I am so, so, so thankful to be here amongst legends!
Log ℓ.I. After my initial observations of the human fifth appendage and after sharing some theories with mentor ♬♬♬ (which resulted in my scolding for not waiting for the thrum), I made an effort to focus on Savior-Grace’s behaviors surrounding waking from the human sleep cycle. So far, this has revealed no new findings, just more of the same.
In ∀ out of Iℓ wakings, Savior-Grace has had an elongated and thickened fifth appendage. In a few cases, one of the other appendages moved almost to reach out to it, before stopping. The digits flexed with uncertainty. Perhaps, caution, question? I began to think nothing happened with the appendage because the light sensing orbs would then notice that Savior-Grace was not alone, and was being watched by one of Savior-Rocky or Adrian-Savior-Rocky-Mate. Shortly after, just as I predicted, the appendage deflated almost like a ♩♪♩ and became floppy again.
Log ℓ.V. It finally happened! I am vibrating with excitement to share this scientific breakthrough! This human sleep cycle was a rare one where no Eridian was inside of the bio-dome with Savior-Grace.
This time, when Savior-Grace awakened and the light orbs scanned the room finding it empty, I could hear the fifth appendage throb. I could hear Savior-Grace’s heart rate tick upwards as the longer right appendage slid down further under the blanket, digits wrapping around the smaller limb, encircling it tight.
There was a sharp intake of breath. A sound unlike any of the other human words I had heard so far escaped the food hole.
Slowly, Savior-Grace pulled on the fifth appendage. From the base where the limb was attached to the body, all the way to the end which contained the small opening. This action was repeated several times before Savior-Grace paused, and transferred moisture (disgust!) from the food hole onto the digits.
Then the pulling happened faster. The digits squeezed tighter. Savior-Grace was moving the entire body now, both sets of digits encircling the throbbing limb.
“oʊ oʊ oʊ”, Savior-Grace cried out, long noises I never heard in any previous observations.
The fifth appendage was leaking everywhere from the hole (very, very, very disgust!) and Savior-Grace was breathing hard and fast, heart thumping even louder than before. Even the usually unmoved security guard next to me took notice.
Shortly after, Savior-Grace fell into another short human sleep cycle, making a noise not unlike a large ♩♪♩♪ snoring.
How fascinating!
Log ℓ.λ. Savior-Grace really, really, really enjoys pulling on the fifth appendage until it leaks. I have observed it to be Savior-Grace’s new favorite activity since returning to full health—other than consuming liquid, ingesting nutrients through the food hole, entering a short sleep cycle in the middle of the simulated Earth day cycle, or focusing on the thinking machine for ℓ+ hours at a time.
Pulling on the appendage must have health benefits of some kind. Perhaps if a human purposefully leaks from that hole, then there is less leaking from other holes, question?
I have watched Savior-Grace pull on the smaller appendage no less than λ∀ times so far, and the activity has not bored Savior-Grace yet, so repeated pulling sessions appear not to lessen the urge to keep partaking in the behavior.
It is always a private action, I have noticed. Savior-Grace will not grip the fifth appendage with even one digit until the light sensing organs have determined that no one else is present. Even if a visitor is scheduled to arrive anytime soon, Savior-Grace willingly ignores the appendage, even if I clearly hear it long and throbbing through the blanket.
Log ℓ.ℓ. I moved observation rooms for this session. Savior-Grace has been exploring the bio-dome outside of the dwelling more often since the simulated ocean temperature was corrected by Adrian-Savior-Rocky-Mate to human toleration. I now listen from inside the curved outcropping of rock connected to the beach. From here, I have a clear view of Savior-Grace playing in the water.
Humans can exist on top of the ocean without sinking to the bottom. So otherworldly—which yes, Savior-Grace is from another world, but the action still unnerves me. If I lean close to the xenonite panel, I can hear the ocean below. If I somehow stepped through it, I would plummet to my death instantly, the water filling my vents without a chance to even struggle. I shudder involuntarily, stepping back. I once studied the spiky ♩♩♩. Ocean creatures, but ♩♩♩ breathe the ocean, ♩♩♩ cannot breathe the air of Erid. Savior-Grace breathes Earth simulated air and then dives under the water, existing, then surfacing like it is nothing. Terrifying.
I make note that only four of the appendages are used to propel Savior-Grace through the ocean water. The fifth appendage is shriveled and floppy, floppy, floppy not even useful for steering.
Savior-Grace jumps onto the beach and suddenly breaks into a sprint as Savior-Rocky is spotted by the light sensing organs, entering the bio-dome through the multi-airlock.
Log ℓ.+. The behavior of Savior-Grace towards Savior-Rocky is unique when compared with other Eridians, even Adrian-Savior-Rocky-Mate. Savior-Grace will often touch the xenonite suits worn by Eridan visitors with the upper human appendages. It is usually a friendly gesture observed most often in greeting or farewell. The touches linger more in times of heightened emotion, signified by the excessive leaking of the light sensing organs.
Only with Savior-Rocky have I observed Savior-Grace wrap all four long limbs around the xenonite suit. On a few occasions, while this occurred Savior-Grace also pressed the food hole briefly to the top of Savior-Rocky’s carapace. At first I was concerned that Savior-Grace was trying to ingest or mate with Savior-Rocky, but that does not appear to be the case. Each time the behavior happened, it coincided with Savior-Rocky being away from the bio-dome for an extended time period.
Touching appendages to others must have significant importance to humans. At least, the four long appendages, that is. The fifth one I have yet to hear Savior-Grace use for such a purpose. It remains small and floppy in the presence of all Eridian visitors, even Savior-Rocky.
Log ℓ.∀. Mentor ♬♬♬ checked in with me this cycle to verify that I was making progress as expected of a team member in my valued position. I was careful not to share any of my new findings this time. I could wait for the thrum. I could wait.
Really, I think mentor ♬♬♬ just wanted to brag in front of the zoology team members. As the lead zoologist, my mentor has the honor of visiting Savior-Grace regularly inside the bio-dome. And this last visit, Savior-Grace bestowed mentor ♬♬♬ with a human name! Being given a human name by Savior-Grace is one of the highest honors for an Eridian.
“Does your zoo house any rare or dangerous creatures?” I was told Savior-Grace had asked.
“Of course, statement!” Mentor ♬♬♬ had replied.
“Spared no expense, huh, Hammond? Can I call you Hammond?”
Apparently Savior-Grace chose the human name for my mentor when ♬♬♬ described overlooking the largest animal conservation center on Erid. I wonder if this great honor will ever happen to me.
+λ+
Log I.ℓ.V. The most unexpected of unexpected things happened. Erid has a second human now! This is a big, big, big secret. Everyone that is made aware of the second human is told not to let Savior-Grace know. Not yet.
Mentor-Hammond took me to see the second human for this session instead of my usual monitoring of Savior-Grace. The reason for secrecy is obvious when one hears the state New-Human is in. One of the upper appendages is mostly missing. Liquids that are supposed to be on the inside of the body are on the outside instead. New-Human sleeps, and no one is sure if the sleep cycle will end with death.
Sad, sad, sad statement.
Savior-Rocky relayed to us that the space team exploring our system after seeding the Taumoeba encountered something called a ‘wormhole’ (at least according to Savior-Grace’s thinking machine’s Star Trek). And New-Human was recovered from a poorly constructed ship after said ‘wormhole’ disappeared.
I hope that New-Human survives to interact with Savior-Grace. Not only that having another human would be beneficial to Savior-Grace, but think of all the new behaviors I will observe! But, New-Human must live first, or Savior-Grace will never know the second human was ever found.
It’s like the story Mentor-Hammond once told me. There was once a rare and endangered ♬♩♪ at the conservation center. The health of ♬♩♪ was strong, so my mentor thought to introduce a second ♬♩♪ acquired from a distant, less prestigious zoo for the purpose of breeding more. The problem was that the second ♬♩♪ developed an illness from the long journey that was not obvious until the two ♬♩♪ were already introduced to each other and became bonded. Mentor-Hammond had the ill ♬♩♪ removed from the main enclosure for treatment, causing great distress to the original healthy ♬♩♪. Despite the zoo’s best efforts for treatment, the ill ♬♩♪ died, and the second one soon after from being alone again. If the two were never introduced, the original ♬♩♪ would have been fine. Now there are none.
+λ+
Log I.+.ℓ. The second human just woke up! Until Savior-Rocky or Adrian-Savior-Rocky-Mate get here to find out for sure, I think I heard the human’s name is Simon-Why-Are-These-Rocks-Singing-At-Me. (Unfortunately, I still know very little human language.)
There are many things happening quickly in the small medical room, but my first observation of Simon-Why-Are-These-Rocks-Singing-At-Me, besides the previously mentioned mostly-missing upper appendage (that sounds well healed now), is that the floppy fifth appendage is much larger than Savior-Grace’s. The appendage of Simon-Why-Are-These-Rocks-Singing-At-Me is floppy and long at the same time!
Log I.+.λ. Adrian-Savior-Rocky-Mate let us know that the new human is named Simon, not Simon-Why-Are-These-Rocks-Singing-At-Me.
Unlike Savior-Grace, the new human makes far fewer noises from the food hole. I have observed Savior-Grace speaking constantly from the food hole, even when no one else was around except for Savior-Grace! And the singing! The singing Savior-Grace attempts from the food hole sounds more like the death cry of a ♪♬♩♬♪.
I hear Simon make very few noises, keeping to the corner of the medical room, sounding very skittish. But like Savior-Grace, as soon as the new human is offered nutrients to ingest in the food hole, Simon starts leaking from the light sensing organs.
I watch Simon eat (much disgust). For Science! The new human’s technique for shoving matter into the food hole is somehow much worse than Savior-Grace. It’s like watching ♪♪♪♪ eat. If ♪♪♪♪ is not watched to make sure it swallows the nutrients, ♪♪♪♪ will often skip eating entirely, resulting in death and loss of many years research. Such fragile, rare captive animals, the ♪♪♪♪.
Log I.+.+. I have returned to my regularly scheduled watching of Savior-Grace while higher ranking members of the bio-dome science teams figure out what to do about introducing Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate.
Savior-Grace is behaving differently, somehow. I don’t think I am just hearing things. It’s almost as if Savior-Grace knows something is going on. That a big, big, big secret is being kept. Do humans have special secret sensing organs, question?
In any case, Savior-Grace continues acting distracted from usual tasks and no appendage pulling occurs during this observation session.
Log I.+.∀. This cycle of Earth simulated days is the day! Savior-Rocky stood next to Savior-Grace on the bio-dome beach while Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate was gently nudged through the airlock.
Savior-Grace’s food hole gaped open for a very long time as the light sensing organs focused on the new human stumbling onto the sand.
“Rocky!? ˈhoʊli ˈfʌkɪŋ ʃɪt!” was the sound that finally escaped the food hole of Savior-Grace.
Meanwhile, Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate had taken only a few steps inside, before flopping down onto the beach, light sensing organs leaking profusely.
I watched as Savior-Grace cautiously approached the second human, so slowly and purposeful like that time I dropped my notebook during an observation session and created too much noise.
Savior-Grace made some indistinct, perhaps soothing sounds on approach before settling down on the ground with Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate. At this point, both humans were leaking from the light sensing organs. So much leaking, why, question?
All of the bio-dome team held ammonia breaths tight in the vents as several tense moments passed. Eventually, Savior-Grace gently covered the other human with the upper appendages, bringing the two closer. Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate, having accepted that action positively, prompted Savior-Grace to wrap the remaining two walking appendages around the other human as well. It was not unlike the embrace Savior-Grace often gives Savior-Rocky. There was no use of the food hole on each other though (much disappoint).
Log I.∀.ℓ. The initial success of the introduction of the two humans was short lived. After a long time with appendages wrapped together on the beach, Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate jumped up as if startled, pushing Savior-Grace away.
Savior-Grace’s heart beat quickly as the other human ran away towards the edges of the bio-dome, circling the wide enclosure space as if looking for a way out. The Eridian team members in xenonite suits tried to gently herd Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate back towards Savior-Grace, but instead the second human ran in circles until tired out, eventually collapsing from exhaustion. From excitement or fear I could not tell which.
Noises of distress came from Savior-Grace’s food hole, but Savior-Rocky reassured that the other human would be hauled into the dwelling to rest.
I know this happens sometimes with ♬♪♪♬♪. The ♬♪♪♬♪ without adequate enrichment will pace the edges of the zoo enclosure, making deep cuts into the ground with the rough carapace underside. Although, Savior-Grace has repeatedly assured Mentor-Hammond that the size of the bio-dome is more than adequate for human well-being. Does adding a second human throw off that calculation, question?
Log I.∀.I. A short sleep cycle in Savior-Grace’s human bed nest seemed to be exactly what Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate needed. Savior-Grace sat nearby watching the other human sleep. Both humans had slow and methodical heart beats matching a relaxed state.
When Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate woke from the sleep cycle, the light sensing organs quickly focused on Savior-Grace. Both sets of light sensing organs were fixed on the other.
Both heart rates picked up. Savior-Grace stayed very still as the other human threw off the blanket and reached out with the remaining good upper appendage.
Savior-Grace sucked in a sharp breath, frozen as the other human’s digits tentatively poked at the squishy skin to the side of the food hole, before patting the fluffy strands hanging close to Savior-Grace’s light sensing organs. Could I be witnessing a human mating ritual, question?
“ɑr ju riəl? æm aɪ dɛd?” was the noise Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate made then.
Savior-Grace’s food hole shape changed. A sharp, yet gentle unintelligible sound escaped. “aɪ æm riəl. ænd wi ɑr ˈvɛri mʌʧ əˈlaɪv.”
After that, Savior-Grace made an offering of food and drink. The two humans ate in front of each other together (on purpose!) and made guttural noises of contentment.
Both fifth appendages were floppy the whole time (boo).
Log I.∀.V. So far, the human behaviors have not changed much. Now there is just two of them doing the same things together. For the past λ hours Savior-Grace has been observing the thinking machine with Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate. The humans aren’t even touching upper appendages during this. Both sets of light sensing orbs are focused on the light display and nothing else. Recordings of human language emanated from the thinking machine along with other sounds that was likely human music. Human music is acceptable to listen to when from a recording. Not so much when Savior-Grace’s food hole tries to mimic it.
I am uncertain if the humans are watching Savior-Grace’s Star Trek or some other human dramatization on the thinking machine. I know other researchers are focused on translating that and other thinking machine stories to Eridian.
When the humans weren’t focused on the thinking machine, there was nutrient ingestion.
When the humans weren’t stuffing the food holes (disgust!), there was sleeping.
So far, Savior-Grace and Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate never sleep at the same time. When Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate sleeps in the human bed nest, Savior-Grace watches. When Savior-Grace sleeps in the human bed nest, the other human watches a little, but not in the proper Eridian way. Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate often wanders the dwelling, touching various objects with the good upper appendage. Much intense focus is made on the tiny decorative plant life on the dwelling shelves. Also, liquid is often ingested or presumably expelled in the bathroom while Savior-Grace sleeps.
The humans don’t speak to each other from the food holes as much as I would have predicted.
Log I.∀.λ. Finally, after ∀ days, something very, very, very interesting happened while the humans ate next to each other this observation session (the act almost made up for the disgusting display of nutrient intake). Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate touched food holes with Savior-Grace! The moment was brief but made a distinct wet sound. I could hear the blood rush into Savior-Grace’s hearing organs. Was this a mating ritual, question?
Afterwards, Savior-Grace tried to move away, but Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate reached out with the good appendage, digits carefully intertwining with Savior-Grace’s upper appendage digits. For a moment the breaths and heart rates seemed to sync up.
And then the humans went right back to focusing on the thinking machine together again (sigh).
Log I.∀.+. Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate rarely leaves the human dwelling. Savior-Grace used to leave regularly to teach and play in the ocean water. Both of these behaviors temporarily stopped when the second human arrived. Eridian visitors have also decreased to only when the new human sleeps.
The first time Savior-Grace left for the simulated Earth day cycle, Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate tugged the other human close, pressing both food holes together. For much longer this time! Savior-Grace’s food hole made several interesting shapes during. So squishy!
(My nestmate’s youngest pebble is on the waiting list to attend Savior-Grace’s science class. Sometimes I wish I was a pebble just so I could attend. Not fair! Not fair!)
After the humans parted for the day, I distinctly heard Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate’s fifth appendage perk up. I had never observed a human fifth appendage so active outside of the beginning or end of a human sleep cycle. This was a new behavior!
Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate rushed over to the human bed nest and gathered up Savior-Grace’s blanket, intaking air sharply, pressing the breathing organ close to the fabric. Then, the human rolled over, taking a now throbbing fifth appendage into tightly squeezing digits. I noted the length and thickness was slightly greater than that of Savior-Grace’s.
The pulling technique was far rougher than any I heard before from Savior-Grace. Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate pulled at the fifth appendage as if in a great hurry. Loud guttural sounds escaped the food hole. Much deeper in tone than Savior-Grace. Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate made noises almost identical to (when presumably) enjoying ingesting nutrients.
“oʊ fʌk, oʊ ɡɑd, fʌk, Grace,” were the sounds, punctuated by Savior-Grace’s name.
More leaking! Wow, so much more leaking than I ever saw from Savior-Grace. I make a note that some humans leak more than others. Or maybe in certain scenarios or occasions, question?
Log I.∀.∀. The new human pulls on the fifth appendage way, way, way more than Savior-Grace ever did. Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate spends time every day pulling. Sometimes multiple times in a day! I originally thought Savior-Grace did it a lot, but I never heard Savior-Grace pulling on the fifth appendage more than one session a day!
But, similar to Savior-Grace, the pulling by Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate is a private behavior. I wonder why. Most human activities that humans enjoy are usually shared together. Even eating! Why is pulling on the fifth appendage not a group activity, question?
Log V.ℓ.ℓ. Oh my. I observed Savior-Grace’s fifth appendage go from completely floppy to thick and throbbing in Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate’s presence. And Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate noticed!
The humans were sat in the bed nest, relaxed in the blankets, light sensing organs once again focused on something playing on the thinking machine. Both sets of upper appendages were wrapped around each other. But this was nothing different from what I had observed with Savior-Rocky with Savior-Grace. Or so I thought.
I could hear both hearts beating louder. There was a distinct rush of blood into Savior-Grace’s fifth appendage. So far unaware, the second human tugged Savior-Grace closer during a dramatic moment on the thinking machine story, before the fifth appendage could be adjusted out of the way. Savior-Grace froze as Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate noticed the weight of the appendage under the blanket.
Instead of backing away, Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate wrapped the upper appendage around the other human tighter, bodies tilting backwards onto the bed nest. The light sensing organs focused on the other intensely before Savior-Grace pressed the food holes together. What moist noises!
Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate pushed Savior-Grace further into the blankets as the food holes moved against each other, fleshy bits inside even getting into it. Is this the mating, question? It sounds like mating.
Alas, before Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate’s fifth appendage started to twitch, Savior-Grace backed away with a gasping breath and some soft unintelligible human language noises. The humans may have stopped, but did not appear to be in any distress.
Moments later, the two humans lay side by side, upper appendages intertwined, falling into a sleep cycle together for the first time.
I expected more leaking. I wanted more leaking! What is wrong with me, question? I could almost feel the security guard judging me.
Log V.ℓ.I. Both humans always enter the full sleep cycle together now. Even when awake, I observe Savior-Grace touching Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate far more than any dwelling objects, including the thinking machine. Often the digits of the upper appendages are kept intertwined with the other, whether walking around the dwelling or partaking in group activities such as food intake.
There is a ∀ day celebration going on for the yearly anniversary of Savior-Rocky’s return to Erid with Savior-Grace. No classes are taught during this great holiday. Technically, I have the day off as well, but I feel that with recent developments, it would be damaging to the research to take any pause.
I wonder if the humans have realized what I have. That the only time the pulling of the fifth appendage occurred was in private. That now that both take sleep at the same time, with Simon-Savior-Grace-Potential-Mate almost never stepping out of the dwelling and the days long holiday, there will not be an easy private moment for either for some time.
How long can a human go without pulling on the fifth appendage having done so regularly for so often, question?
I wonder.
Log V.ℓ.V. I want it noted that I predicted this. Pulling on the fifth appendage is a human group activity!
It happened quickly as the sleep cycle ended and both humans awoke with stiff elongated fifth appendages. Simon-Savior-Grace-Mate pressed close to Savior-Grace, upper and lower walking appendages wrapping around tightly.
After squishing against each other for a bit, the food holes got involved. Why is the fifth appendage going in the food hole? I didn’t expect that. Is Simon-Savior-Grace-Mate trying to ingest Savior-Grace? I hope those high pitched noises are a good sign.
Oh I see, the food hole makes the fifth appendage leak with very little pulling. And Simon-Savior-Grace-Mate is ingesting Savior-Grace’s leaky fluid (oh disgust)! Is this consensual cannibalism, question?
Now Savior-Grace is pulling on Simon-Savior-Grace-Mate’s appendage. Both humans seem to really, really, really like this. Great, more leaking.
Both humans are breathing very hard now. I’m calling this mating, or at least bonding. This has to be.
Log V.ℓ.λ. I have some regrets wishing for more leaking. The humans have done almost nothing but mate during the long holiday. Savior-Grace and Simon-Savior-Grace-Mate are pulling on each other’s fifth appendage every free moment. Sometimes the humans take turns with the pulling. Sometimes Savior-Grace and Simon-Savior-Grace-Mate press close together and move around a bit until both appendages are done leaking everywhere. Often the humans take turns fitting the fifth appendages up in one or both food holes (and even the waste hole, that was a new one).
I feel bad for the Eridian on laundry duty. Everything is just wet, wet, wet.
Log λ.ℓ.V. This is my last session to observe Savior-Grace and Simon-Savior-Grace-Mate before the big science thrum. Mentor-Hammond just informed me that I will be shadowing on the next visit inside the bio-dome. I’m going to hear the humans in person and not from behind a xenonite wall! Well, there will still be the xenonite suit, but that will be different. I am vibrating with excitement!
+λ+
“Hammond!” Savior-Grace greeted with a cheery wave, shamelessly ingesting liquid from a human mug. “ænd hu ɪz ðɪs?”
“My apprentice, ♪♪♩♫♪♫♩,” Mentor-Hammond said by way of my introduction. I was so nervous and shaking I had to set my notebook on the table.
I blurted out the first thing on my mind without thinking, “When can we expect baby human pebbles?”
Savior-Grace ejected the liquid previously sipped from the mug all over Mentor-Hammond’s carapace. I trilled in horror.
“Um… ” Simon-Savior-Grace-Mate said at length.
In the background, Savior-Rocky burst out into high notes of laughter.
+λ+
Captain's Log, Stardate π.42.6.7 Am I doing this right? I thought I’d use this opportunity to practice my written Eridian. You did leave your notebook in my home after all. You know you can just refer to me as Grace, statement. You don’t have to keep saying Savior-Grace this and Savior-Grace that. I’m just Grace.
Is my singing really that bad? I read your notes by the way. I’m still learning to read Eridian, but oh boy, what a terrible day to have light sensing organs. That’s a joke by the way, statement. Freud would have a field day with you. Who is Freud? Don’t ask.
I am very flattered by your obsession with my uh, fifth appendage as you refer to it. And you refer to it often. And Simon’s. Way, way, way too often.
Be glad Simon doesn’t read Eridian yet. Be very glad.
Speculating about someone’s mate status is not cool, and I’m not talking about the temperature. It’s a human saying if that wasn’t understood.
I’m not mad, though. Your pure enthusiasm for us, and for other rare creatures is heard loud and clear in your detailed writings. Good job, you. I hope all your zoological dreams come true.
I think I’ll call you Irwin.
Well, Irwin, my best bud Rocky just walked through my door. Your notebook should be returned to you shortly. Thanks for the work you do as part of the bio-dome team that keeps us alive and kicking.
Until next time…