Red Horizon (The Martian Fanfiction)

Chapter 20

SOL 71

The days had begun to blur into a steady rhythm on Mars, the passage of time marked only by the growth of their tiny farm and Olivia's slow recovery. The once-constant throb in her leg had dulled to a manageable ache, and with each passing day, she tested her limits a little more—taking tentative steps, moving without the aid of crutches, finding her strength again. Mark had been right by her side through it all, encouraging her with his characteristic optimism, even as they worked on the larger problem that loomed on the horizon: their eventual escape.

They sat together in the Hab, the soft glow of the artificial lights casting a faint warmth across the room. Mark had been pacing back and forth for the past few minutes, his mind clearly racing with thoughts, and Olivia could sense the shift in his mood. Something was different today. They were no longer just surviving; they were beginning to plan for something bigger. She could feel it.

Mark finally stopped pacing, turning toward her with a look of determination in his eyes. "It's time to start thinking long term," he said, his voice steady but laced with the weight of the realization. "Now that you're nearly healed, Liv."

Olivia straightened in her seat, her eyes narrowing as she met his gaze. She had been feeling the same thing—a sense that their time of just scraping by was coming to an end. The food supply was growing, her mobility was improving, and the clock was ticking down toward the next NASA mission.

Mark took a deep breath, pulling up the schematics on his tablet. "The next NASA mission is Ares 4. It's supposed to land at Schiaparelli Crater... 3,200 kilometers away."

Olivia's breath caught for a moment. That distance sounded impossible, and yet she could already see the gears turning in Mark's head. He always had a plan, even when the odds were stacked against them.

"In four years," Mark continued, "when the next Ares crew arrives, we'll have to be there. Which means we have to get to the crater."

Olivia nodded, her brow furrowing as she processed the gravity of what he was saying. "That's a hell of a journey."

"Yeah," Mark agreed, sitting down across from her and resting his elbows on the table. "And here's the rub. We've got one working Rover that's designed to go a max distance of 35 kilometers before the battery has to be recharged at the Hab."

Olivia frowned, realizing the problem almost immediately. "And that's Problem A."

"Exactly," Mark said, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Problem B is that this journey's gonna take us roughly 50 days to complete."

She stared at him for a moment, letting the full weight of the situation sink in. "Fifty days. Inside a Rover the size of a small van... with marginal life support."

Mark met her gaze, his expression serious but not without that glint of determination that never seemed to leave him. "Yeah. So, in the face of overwhelming odds, we're left with only one option."

Olivia raised an eyebrow, already sensing where he was headed. "Let me guess..."

"We're gonna have to science the shit out of this," Mark finished with a grin, his voice filled with a mix of humor and resolve.

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head at his predictability. "Good news is that's what we do best." Her voice was light, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness in her words. They both knew what was at stake, but if anyone could figure it out, it was them.

Mark leaned back in his chair, the weight of the plan settling between them. There was so much to figure out—modifying the Rover, ensuring they had enough food and water, creating a sustainable power supply—but for the first time in a long while, it felt like they had a real shot at making it off this planet. They weren't just surviving anymore; they were planning for the future.