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I do love this movie, but there is a lot from the script I wish was left in (and some I'm glad was left out). However, given the topics the movie (and by proxy the script) covers, I think it was better to leave things more so implied than spoken about... it's also much easier to digest and won't make you want to turn the screen off as much.

The subtlety of the film is one of my favorite aspects of it, but I do wish Julian's spirituality was spoken about more- rather than implied or shown through vague shots and coloring. Sometimes there can be a bit of tell to the show. There just has to be balance... even just calling Chang a guardian angel of Julian's would have been beautiful to me.

In every universe, Ryland Grace is a coward - but in this iteration, he's also a scheming, duplicitous weasel. He's crafty about it, always staying above suspicion, and he's left many a broken heart and mind in his wake.

Normally, Grace wouldn't have noticed you - he doesn't do relationships, and he doesn't think he's the best judge of beauty.

What's not in doubt is your intelligence- Grace has heard of your work in cell signaling. When you're tagged in to join him in studying astrophage, you're as keyed in on its implications as he is.

However, you seal your fate when the two of you discover that astrophage does contain water as part of its cellular structure.

You know about Grace's paper - anyone who's worth anything as a biologist these days does. You're also someone who laughs at unfortunate times - it's been your curse since childhood.

When it becomes clear that the hypothesis has been disproven again - you can't help it, you start giggling. It turns into a full-blown roar of laughter, enough that even Stratt radios in from the other side of the glass. "Dr. Smith, status report - are you all right?"

You catch your breath, taking deep inhales into your lungs. "Yes, yes, I'm sorry - just...wow, Grace, it's like the Universe just told you to go fuck yourself!"

Now, you do have Grace's full attention, and he is livid. However, he knows he can't afford to lose his temper, so he schools his expression and tone. "Yeah, I guess it did, huh?" He does his best "aw shucks" shrug, and the two of you get back to work.

In his mind, he continues to stew - your laughter reminding him of every other scientist who insulted his work, who banned him from conferences, who made him feel like the staggering waste of carbon. He's not sure how yet, but one way or another - he intends to destroy you.

--

The two of you continue to work side by side in the coming months, you blissfully unaware of how the man you're coming to admire loathes you.

Grace nurtures his resentment like it's the child he'll never have - almost luxuriating in how angry you make him. Every day that he gets to know you further, under the guise of friendship (and perhaps more), his seemingly innocuous questions about your life hide his real intent - to figure out your weak points.

The opening comes the night everyone gathers for karaoke. Neither you or Grace ended up drinking, but with the lateness of the hour, you find yourself leaning on his shoulder as you return to your adjoining quarters.

Grace thinks he's seen your eyes softening around him lately- and he's not entirely surprised when you lean in and kiss his cheek when you get to your door. Very well, if that's how you feel - he's more than capable of playing the lover.

With a tenderness he's learned to fake over the years, he scoops your faces to his in a perfect kiss. "Oh thank God," he hears you whisper against his lips, and he almost wants to laugh in triumph.

It's all too easy to follow you into your room, shove you down on your bed, strip your clothes off you, and fuck you like he owns you.

He's rougher with you than you're usually comfortable with, but he can tell as the two of you curl up together afterwards that he's got you all for himself. In fact, you might just be in love with him.

---

Grace isn't surprised that he and you are named 3rd and 4th in line as science officers for Hail Mary, but he doesn't count that as part of his design against you until the explosion that kills Shapiro and Dubois.

The two of you being a couple now is no secret, and you cling to Grace's arm during the meeting to decide what to do next. It's like Stratt says - this is a tragedy, but the launch window can't be missed, so what's to be done about the science officer situation?

"You know I hate separating you," Stratt says, and Grace can tell she's being sincere. "But we MUST have an astrophage expert on the mission, and we don't have room for both of you."

Your fingers tighten on the material of Grace's rain jacket. "How much time do we have to decide?" you ask.

"I need an answer in three hours," Stratt says. "If you can't decide between yourselves, I'll make the final call."

"We understand," Grace tells her. "Please excuse us."

Instead of talking, Grace takes you back to his room and fucks you for the last time, so hard that you fall asleep from the exertion. Once he's sure that you're out, he goes by himself to Stratt's office, telling her that you agreed to go on the mission.

----

You blink awake, and when you feel the bed empty next to you, you frown. You'd thought that Grace was going to stay with you until the meeting - where is he?

There's a knock on your door, and when you open it after getting dressed again, you see Stratt standing in the hallway with Grace and a man you don't recognize standing behind her.

Your confusion turns to nausea and horror when the other man unrolls the packet he's carrying with him to reveal a syringe and a vial of medicine.

You start to stutter in shock, and Grace says to Stratt, his voice oozing false sympathy, "I did warn you about her possibly panicking when we got here - but I promise, Dr. Smith is up to the task."

Your voice returns to you and you scream, "Get away! All of you, get away from me!!"

Stratt approaches you, placing a hand on your shoulder. "Dr. Smith, please don't make this harder than it has to be. You will be remembered as a hero."

"Don't touch me! Ryland, please, tell her, I didn't agree to this!" You knock Stratt's hand away, looking everywhere for an exit. The other man looks away for a split second, and you bolt past him into the hallway.

The people you pass are a blur as you run out of the main building and sprint across the open yard. You hear the vague crackling of radios, and you can sense the members of the security team closing in behind you. If you could just make it up and over the fence...

Several strong hands grab you and pin you face-first on the ground - you're sure that you'll get a bruise on your cheekbone with how hard you land. You scream and kick and curse, but it's no use.

Out of the corner of your eye, you see Grace approaching. His words a minute ago are confusing you, but you can't help calling out to him, "Ryland, please! Please, don't let them do this! Don't-"

Before you can finish your sentence, Grace straddles your back and injects something into your neck. Your scream of pain soon slows into a whimper, and Grace places a mocking kiss behind your ear. To anyone watching, he seems to be comforting you as the drug takes effect.