Red Horizon (The Martian Fanfiction)

Chapter 34

Sol 186

Mark sat at the console, staring at the latest message from NASA, his jaw clenched so tightly he thought his teeth might crack. The words on the screen blurred slightly as he tried to process what had just happened. The supply mission—their last lifeline—had failed. The probe had never made it. The food, the supplies, everything they'd been waiting for was gone.

He felt the weight of it settle on his chest, heavier than anything Mars had thrown at them so far. It wasn't just about survival anymore; it was about the very real possibility that they might not make it. Not without those supplies.

Mark's fingers hovered over the keyboard, his mind racing. They had been cutting it close already, stretching their rations to the breaking point, but now... Now there was no backup plan. No safety net. Just them, on a hostile planet, with time running out.

He glanced over at Olivia, still resting in the makeshift bed. She had been doing better lately—her leg healing slowly, her strength returning—but now, with this news, the future felt more uncertain than ever.

His chest tightened, and he forced himself to take a slow breath before typing out a message to Commander Lewis.

Mark Watney:
"Commander Lewis... I may need you to do something for me."

He paused, his hands trembling slightly as he stared at the blinking cursor on the screen. This wasn't the kind of message he ever thought he'd be writing. The weight of it made his stomach turn, but he pushed through, knowing that he couldn't leave anything unsaid.

Mark Watney:
"If I die, I need you to check in on my parents. They'll wanna hear all about our time here on Mars. I know that sucks. And it'll be hard talking to a couple... about their dead son. It's a lot to ask. Which is why I'm asking you."

The words felt heavy, each one a punch to the gut. Mark swallowed hard, his throat tightening as he tried to keep his emotions in check. He wasn't giving up—not yet—but he had to face the reality of what they were dealing with. He had to prepare for the worst.

Mark Watney:
"I'm not giving up. We just need to prepare for every outcome. Please tell them... Tell them I love what I do... and I'm really good at it. And that I'm dying... for something big... and beautiful... and greater than me."

His fingers hovered over the keys for a moment longer before he typed the final lines, the ones that felt the most personal, the most painful.

Mark Watney:
"Tell them I said I can live with that. And tell them... thank you for being my mom and dad."

Mark hit send, the message vanishing from the screen as it shot off to Commander Lewis. He leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly as he stared at the blank screen. The silence in the Hab was suffocating, the weight of the failed supply mission pressing down on him like a physical force.

A new message pinged on the screen, and Mark's heart skipped a beat. It was from Vincent.

Vincent Kapoor (NASA):
"Mark, I'm so sorry. We lost the probe. The mission failed."

Mark closed his eyes for a moment, his fingers hovering over the keyboard as he fought the surge of frustration and helplessness that threatened to overwhelm him.

Mark Watney:
"Yeah, I got that, Vincent. What's the plan now?"

There was a long pause before Vincent's reply came through.

Vincent Kapoor (NASA):
"We're working on options, but we need more time. I know that's not what you want to hear, but we haven't given up. We're not leaving you and Olivia behind."