openmisc | Kent/Feldspar

“No idea,” they say, hopping up the small ledge. They lean down and hold out their hand to the alien, brushing the tips of their gloved fingers against theirs. “We haven’t figured it out yet. Out any of it yet, honestly. The civilization is old and we’re not even sure they’re native to our solar system.”

Kent reaches over and takes the hand offered. It doesn't quite fit, because of the bulkiness of the gloves, but at least he has some sort of stability now.

"Are you native to your solar system?" he wonders.

Feldspar can see that the alien’s having trouble adapting - and it’s not like their suit has a built-in jet pack, at least from what they can see anyway, so they keep hold of their hand as they walk forward.

“From what we can tell,” Feldspar answers. “Are you?”

"Most likely, yes. As much as anyone can be."

He has his theories, of course, but nothing to be substantiated. "This is all - real weird. You know that, right?"

“Probably the weirdest thing I’ve encountered so far,” agrees Feldspar. It’s really weird! But space travel seems weird too, and full of unexpected things. “Without a doubt! Hang on to my arm a sec, I’m going to jump down a little and ease the fall with my jets.”

"Oh yeah. Jets. They didn't give me that kind of space suit. They didn't think I'd be doing any space walking." He holds tight to Feldspar's arm, holding himself close.

The alien's a bit taller than them and the hold isn't probably going to be enough, so as Feldspar takes a step forward they wrap an arm around the alien's waist and then gives the jets a few pumps to soften their landing.

"What did they think you'd be doing? You said they didn't know exactly what your machine would do."

He tightens his arms around him a little.

"My...coworker went through first. To us, it looked like she simply passed right through the machine. But for her, it seemed like she entered a wormhole and was sent to another place where she met someone - close to her. But it seemed the alien was only mimicking that person to make the experience smoother."

Feldspar makes sure that Kent's feet are back on the ground before they let go of them. "Well I'm definitely not like anyone you've ever met before, so I'm clearly not one of those aliens. Which we've already established, but it makes even more sense to me now."

And they're clearly not doing anything to make any of this go smoother.

"It's good they had the foresight to give you a helmet and oxygen supply."

"Yeah, me too, actually. Or I'd still be in that ball."

He reaches out with a foot, aiming to try and find his footing again. "Where are we going?"

"To my ship. I'm going to take you back with me to Timber Hearth. It's the only stable planet in the solar system - plus that's where all my stuff is."

Feldspar pauses. "It's nice though. You'll like it. Tall pine trees, winding rivers and streams, scenic waterfalls. And us Hearthians are curious and kind. We won't crowd you, I promise."

"Well, I'll do my best to appreciate it," Kent says with a sheepish sort of laugh. "I'm - trying really hard not to be overwhelmed by this. By you and - and aliens."

“You can be overwhelmed,” they tell Kent, almost gently. They can’t imagine what this is like for them. “Just…wait until we’re on more stable ground, okay? It’s dangerous out here.”

'Oh sure, sure," he says, patting the alien's arm with a gloved hand. "I'll keep my panic attack stuffed way down deep, don't worry."

But he does laugh. "I think I've just gotten to the point where I'm sure I'm just crazy."

“Maybe, but at least you’ve got a charming figment of your imagination to keep you company.”

They grin a little and hold onto Kent the Alien’s waist again, giving the jetpack a little more juice to get up another small cliff face where their ship awaits. “Here, this way. My ship’s ladder’s just up ahead. It’s small, but it’ll fit us both. Then I’ll tell you all about the solar system and our planets, and you can tell me about your solar system and home planet.”

"I do," he laughs because why the fuck shouldn't he flirt with the alien?

"If they knew what I'd find, they wouldn't have sent the blind guy for it, though. They were just hoping I couldn't hallucinate like they said Ellie did."

“Wait, you’re blind?!”

Feldspar pauses in their step, staring at the alien with an open mouth.

“That makes a lot more sense now. You can’t see anything around you! Yeesh. No wonder you feel like you’re hallucinating, I could be lying to you.”

"Oh, you must have thought I was drunk? Or just unable to walk." He laughs.

"Granted, it wasn't really the uh...the best choice, but I was closest to the mission. I knew."

“Or discombobulated from the flight and general thrill of space travel! I mean, you crashed real hard, you could have had a head wound.”

At the foot of their ship Feldspar waits for the alien, far more aware now of their movements. Of course they’re blind! Of course they think this is all a hallucination! Feldspar has no idea how to convince them that any of this is real - they’d think this was a fever dream if they were in the same position.

“I could walk you back to your ship and maybe you’ll be retrieved? Or you could still come with me.”

"God no," he laughs. "You're stuck with me, I'm afraid. I'm not giving up this chance."

He doesn't express that he most definitely won't be retrieved.

He's probably dead to them.

That seems fair to Feldspar; if they were in Kent’s shoes they probably wouldn’t turn away the opportunity to meet an alien species either. Plus they recognize that Kent’s extra vulnerable, not just with their whole situation but their complete lack of supplies.

“Alright, then up the ladder you go. First rung’s right in front of you.”

Kent reaches out for it and starts to pull himself up. "You know," he tells them, climbing up and counting automatically in his head. "I really hope that your planet has the right atmosphere for me..."

Oh. They hadn't thought about that.

"Me too," Feldspar mutters, following after them. "From what I can tell our suits look pretty similar...you breathe oxygen, right? Two more rungs, by the way, then you'll be in the cockpit."

"Oxygen, yeah, but there's a lot of other stuff in our atmosphere." He pulls himself up inside of the ship and leans back, trying to find a wall to press his back into.

"You know. Mostly nitrogen. Oxygen. Some argon and uh a bit of carbon dioxide, but oxygen is really what we need."

"Oh." All of that sounds familiar, but they'd have to check with Hornfels - luckily though they know they're waiting diligently by the radio with Slate. "Okay, yeah, I think I can check."

Feldspar follows Kent inside and makes sure they're mostly secure. It isn't as though they've got seat belts on this thing - Gossan wants them, but Slate's arguing about the weight still. "Nitrogen, oxygen. Maybe argon..."

They mumble to themselves as they secure the ladder and then the hatch in the floor of the cockpit. "Okay, so uh, this thing doesn't have restraints or anything, so you're gonna need to find something to hold onto when we take off and land. Lemme just call ground control first..."

They flop into their pilot's seat and bring up the radio, waiting for Hornfels to answer the call for assistance. They almost immediately pick up, a little bit breathless, as though Feldspar calling ground control this soon is a bad sign. Which granted, it probably is. They know their own track record.

"Feldspar, what's the matter? You only just landed! Tell me everything's alr-"

"Hey, 'fels," Feldspar interrupts, knowing their friend well enough to stop that worrying before it gets going. "Yeah, yeah, all went well. Ship held up okay, and the planet's crust is sturdier than it looks. Hey, got a question for you - our atmosphere - oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide? That all make sense to you?"

There's a long pause on the other end. "...yes?" Another pause. "Why?"

"Just checking."

"There's not a problem with your oxygen tank, is there? Stars, Feldspar, please tell me there's not a problem with your oxygen tank."

"Tank's fine, 'fels! I'm just curious, okay? I'm coming back."

"So soon? Okay, now something's got to be wrong. You have to tell us, if we have to send up Gossan we will-"

"Hornfels, I'm fine, alright! I just...made a discovery. Look, clear the launch pad and I'll be down soon."

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