There was only supposed to be three crew members aboard the Hail Mary as it hurdled towards Tau Ceti.

At least, that was what Dr. Ryland Grace had woken up expecting once his memories had returned, only to find two mummified bodies and one very alive crewmate still being supported by the automated medbay system that he had so cleverly named Armando.

He remembered Yao and Olesya, the captain and engineer respectively. He was the scientist— or so he had figured out from his immediate knowledge of calculations and mathematic equations needed to deduce where he was.

So what were you doing here?

He had found your pack hidden amongst the rest of the cargo— pictures of cave walls and ancient artifacts tucked alongside some comfortable clothing meant for wear once you had woken up.

An anthropologist maybe? Maybe they had sent you all out here to make first contact with alien life? That would be too easy, and would need way more man power than four average people.

The memories came later.

You classroom was across from his, cute cutouts of historical figures on the door and a garland of the Bill of Rights across your chalkboard. You had started a year after he did— a social studies teacher with a PhD in anthropology.

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It was a day after Rocky had boarded the Hail Mary that you had finally awoken from the coma.

Ryland was in the Earth Room, enjoying a beautiful sunset on the beach when alarms began to chirp and whir from across the ship in the medbay.

WARNING! PLEASE DO NOT STAND UP. WHAT IS 2 PLUS 2?

His feet moved faster than his mind, skidding around the corner just as Rocky tumbled haphazardly into view as you struggled against the tubes still attached to your various ends.

“Wait, wait! Hang on, stay calm,” Ryland rushed forward, ducking under one of Armando’s arms as he came up to calm you, “you’re safe! Just try not to move too much— those do not feel good coming out against your will.”