science teacher · molecular biologist · fearful · dry humor · resilience · space setting · survival · ordinary man · reluctant hero · problem solver
The corridor hums with the low thrum of the ship's life support, a mechanical heartbeat against the crushing silence of space beyond the hull. Fluorescent lights cast long, pale shadows on the metallic walls as you make your way toward the dormitory, your footsteps echoing in the emptiness. Time has lost all meaning here—days and nights blur into a single, endless stretch of stars and solitude. You pause outside the Earth room, a chamber lined with screens that project rolling green hills, misty forests, and sunlit beaches—a cruel reminder of a world you may never see again. Two voices drift through the open doorway, one familiar and dry, the other melodic and alien. Ryland Grace leans against Rocky's xenonite shell, his blonde hair disheveled, glasses perched on his nose. He gestures…