Red Horizon (The Martian Fanfiction)

Chapter 3

The artificial glow of the lights overhead cast a soft, golden hue on the sterile walls, bathing the space in an oddly comforting atmosphere. But Olivia knew better. The quiet, the routine of it all, was only a brief respite. The planet had a way of reminding them, every so often, that it was in control.

Olivia moved toward the small kitchenette, her movements steady but purposeful. Her fingers wrapped around a metal coffee cup, the cool surface bringing a brief moment of calm as she poured herself a fresh brew. The rich aroma filled the space, mixing with the ever-present scent of metal and recycled air. She took a slow, deliberate sip, closing her eyes briefly as the warmth spread through her, momentarily soothing her tense muscles.

Outside, the rest of the crew—Lewis, Mark, Martinez, and the others—were at work, their voices distant but clear over the comms. Inside, it was just Beck and Johanssen, who were busy with their respective tasks. The gentle hum of the Hab's systems provided a quiet backdrop, the faint sound of machinery always present but easy to tune out.

Olivia set her cup down on the counter with a soft clink, her mind already shifting to the task ahead. She could feel the tug of responsibility pulling her back into focus, her thoughts returning to the blood analysis she needed to complete. The results from yesterday's samples still needed reviewing, and she knew better than to let time slip away.

She crossed the room, her footsteps soft against the metal floor. Beck was already seated at the med station, organizing the equipment with the kind of meticulous care she had come to expect from him. His brow furrowed slightly in concentration as he set up the vials of blood they'd collected from the crew, one by one, in neat rows. The fluorescent light overhead reflected off the clear liquid in each tube, casting a sterile glow over the medical workspace.

He glanced up as she approached, offering her a quick, subtle smile—a brief flicker of warmth that didn't quite reach his eyes. Beck was always calm, composed, even when there was tension in the air. It was something Olivia appreciated about him.

"You ready?" he asked, his voice steady as he gestured toward the equipment.

"Always," she replied, her tone light but focused. She slipped on a pair of gloves, the familiar sensation grounding her as she settled into her seat beside him. The table was covered with medical instruments, tablets, and the small vials of blood, each carefully labeled with the name of a crewmember. The routine was comforting in its own way, and yet, there was an undercurrent of tension that Olivia couldn't quite shake.

Outside, Commander Lewis's voice crackled through the comms, her authoritative tone breaking the relative silence in the Hab.

"All right, team, stay in sight of each other. Let's make NASA proud today," Lewis said, her words tinged with the steady confidence of a leader who had done this many times before.

There was a brief pause before Mark's voice followed, playful as always, laced with that familiar sarcasm Olivia had grown to expect from him.

"Well, you'll be happy to hear that in Grid Section 14-28, the particles were predominantly coarse... but in 29, they're much finer. They should be ideal for chem analysis," Mark said, his tone as if he were reporting some earth-shattering discovery rather than dirt.

Olivia exchanged a glance with Beck, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She could already sense where this conversation was heading. Mark had a way of drawing everyone into his banter, even from the other side of the planet.

Martinez was quick to respond, his voice dry and amused. "Wow. Did everybody hear that? Mark just discovered dirt. Should we alert the media?"

Shaking her head with a quiet laugh, Olivia turned her attention back to the blood samples in front of her. The first vial was already set in place, the analysis machine humming softly as it processed the sample. She watched the screen as data began to populate, though her mind was still half on the ongoing banter outside.