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Rocky is an Eridian from planet Erid, and a major protagonist throughout the novel Project Hail Mary. He is an engineer aboard the ship Blip-A. Like all Eridians, Rocky has a photographic memory and communicates using musical tones and chords, described as sounding similar to whale songs.
Appearance[]
Roughly the size of a Labrador, Rocky's exterior possesses a rough, rock-like texture. His skin color varies from blackish-brown to brown. He has five limb like appendages, and is described as "similar in appearance to a spider." On each limb, Rocky has three triangular shaped fingers, none appearing to function as a thumb. The top of his carapace has a pentagonal outcropping of the same rock-like material as the rest of his body. This outcropping is described as having five slits, which is what Rocky uses to breathe (although his breathing is a method of heat, not gas exchange). His carapace is 18 inches wide, and roughly 9 inches thick. He is usually described as wearing a greenish-brown shirt that goes up to his elbows, and that has a hole on the top and bottom. Because Rocky does not have any eyes, he uses sonar/echolocation to see.
Personality[]
Rocky is an experienced engineer and loyal friend. He was able to survive by himself on the Blip-A for many years without any apparent damage to his psychological state, serving as a testament to his mental resilience. After he observed the Hail Mary's engine exhaust with his ship's Petrovascope, he maneuvered in space to the Hail Mary, and eventually met Ryland Grace. He used Xenonite to fabricate hollow cylinders about 2 inches in diameter, throwing them to the Hail Mary utilizing a robot on the hull of his ship. Rocky created a map of the local stars inside the cylinder, one with a Petrova Arc. A small filament was used to connect Tau Ceti to 40 Eridani, indicating to Ryland Grace that he was from the 40 Eridani star system. Before sending the cylinder back, Ryland Grace connects Tau Ceti to Sol.
Plot[]
During the events of Project Hail Mary,