INT. HAB - NIGHT
Mark and Darcie stood in the center of the Hab. It was a mess. Equipment was overturned and debris was everywhere.
The worst damage was the crops that Mark and Darcie had worked so hard to plant and care for were ruined.
Mark and Darcie stared at the disaster of frozen soil and uprooted plants. All their work, their lifeline was destroyed. They stared at the mess for a long time.
Then they began to clean it up.
As Darcie cleaned, she thought of her family, and tears began falling down her cheeks.
INT. ROVER - NIGHT
Mark and Darcie sat at the keypad and took a moment to compose their words. He began to type.
Vincent said, "The crops are dead..."
INT. NASA - CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT
Vincent, Teddy, Annie and a team of others studied the analysis reports.
Vincent continued. "Complete loss of pressure boiled off most of the water. Any bacteria that survived, died in the sub-zero temperatures when exposed to Mars' atmosphere."
"How long do they have?" Annie asked.
"They can still eat the potatoes they have, they just can't grow any more. We estimate they'll give them about 200 sols."
"And rations get then to what? Sol 409?" Teddy questioned and Vincent nodded. "So with potatoes they can stretch to 609."
"By Sol 868 they'll be long dead," Annie said.
"We're gonna have to launch as soon as
possible. Which changes our travel time."
"We're working on it," Mitch replied. "Prelim estimates call for a four-hundred fourteen day trip."
Teddy did some mental math. "It's Sol 135 now. We need thirteen days to mount the boosters and perform inspections. Which gives Bruce and his team... Forty-seven days to make this probe."
"How long does it normally take?" Annie wondered.
"Six months," Vincent answered. "Minimum."
"I'm gonna let you call Bruce and give him the news."
INT. JPL BULLPEN - NIGHT
Bruce and his team sat around a speakerphone. They'd just hung up with Vincent. Everyone looked suitably shellshocked.
"Okay," Bruce said before pausing. "Okay."
Everyone was at a loss for words.
Bruce continued after a moment. "I'm, uh... I'm gonna need a change of clothes. We're all gonna need a change of clothes."
EXT. HERMES - SPACE
The Hermes continued on its course back to Earth.
Sol 136
"Mark, Darcie..." Martinez began.
INT. HERMES REC ROOM - SPACE
Martinez typed at his terminal as he said, "Apparently, NASA's letting us talk to you two now, and I drew the short straw. Sorry we left you two behind on Mars, but we don't like you. We like Darcie, and we both know Beck loves her. He talks about her and Wes endlessly."
INT. ROVER - NIGHT
Mark and Darcie read their email.
Martinez voiced, "Also, it's a lot roomier on the Hermes without you two. We have to take turns doing both your tasks, but it's only botany and psychology. How's Mars?"
YOU ARE READING
Space Odyssey
Science FictionDarcie is chosen for and sent on a mission, alongside others, for, what feels to her, as a once in a lifetime opportunity. While she and her husband don't want to leave their young son behind, they know he's in good hands. But when the mission goe...
