“Not much gravity,” he repeats. “Erid gravity is 20.48.”

“That’s a lot of gravity,” I say. But that’s to be expected. He’d told me all about Erid before, including its mass and diameter. I knew their surface gravity had to be roughly double Earth’s. Nice to have my calculations verified, though.

And side note: wow. Rocky’s mass is 168 kilograms. That means on his homeworld he tips the scales at almost 800 pounds. And that’s his native environment, so I assume he can move around just fine.

Eight hundred pounds and can skitter around effortlessly. Mental note: Do not get in an arm-wrestling match with an Eridian.

“So,” I say, leaning back in the pilot’s seat. “What’s the plan? Fly into the Petrova line and get some Astrophage?”

“Yes! But first I make xenonite room for me.” He points down the hatchway toward the rest of the crew compartment. “Mostly in sleep room. But tunnels in lab and small area in control room. Is okay, question?”

Well, he can’t just stay in a ball forever. “Yes, that’s fine. Where is the xenonite?”

“Xenonite parts in bags in dormitory. Liquids. Mix. Become xenonite.”

Like epoxy. But really, really strong epoxy.

“Interesting! Someday I want to know all about xenonite.”

“I not understand science. I just use. Apology.”

“That’s okay. I can’t explain how to make a thinking machine. I just use it.”

“Good. You understand.”

“How long will your xenonite construction take?”

“Four days. Could be five days. Why you ask, question?”

“I want to work fast.”

“Why so fast, question? Slower is safer. Less mistakes.”

I shift in my chair. “Earth is in a bad state. It’s getting worse all the time. I have to hurry.”

“Not understand,” says Rocky. “Why Earth so bad so fast, question? Erid go bad slower. Have at least seventy-two years before big problems.”

Seventy-two years? Man, I wish Earth had that kind of time. But seventy-two years from now Earth will be a frozen wasteland and 99percent of the human population will be dead.

Why isn’t Erid as badly affected? I furrow my brow. I only have to think for a moment before I have my answer: It’s all about thermal energy storage.

“Erid is much hotter than Earth,” I say. “And Erid is much larger with a much thicker atmosphere. So Erid has a whole lot more heat stored in its air. Earth is getting cold fast. Very fast. In fourteen more years, most humans will be dead.”

His voice becomes monotone. It’s a very serious intonation. “Understand. Stress. Concern.”

“Yes.”

He clicks two claws together. “Then we work. We work now! Learn how to kill Astrophage. You return to Earth. You explain. Save Earth!”

I sigh. I’m going to have to explain this eventually. May as well be now. “I’m not going back. I’m going to die here.”

His carapace shudders. “Why, question?”