Red Horizon (The Martian Fanfiction)

Chapter 40

Sol 461

Mark stood in front of the Rover, making the final checks before they embarked on the long journey to Schiaparelli. The stillness of the Martian morning was almost oppressive, the thin atmosphere barely registering a whisper of wind. For a moment, he paused, his eyes scanning the red horizon. There was a strange sense of finality as he glanced back at the Hab—now a hollow shell of what had once been their lifeline. Today, they were leaving it behind for good.

Inside the Rover, Olivia was doing her best to organize their supplies. Even though the Rover was cramped, everything had to fit perfectly: their rations, the critical life-support systems, tools, and personal supplies. She was painfully aware of the reality they faced—the journey to Schiaparelli would take weeks, possibly months, and they had to account for every sol.

She shifted in her seat, adjusting her leg as she pulled the last of their food stores into place. The constant pain was manageable, but it was a reminder of how weak she had become. The long journey was going to take a toll on her body, and she knew it. They had both lost too much weight, the months of near-starvation etched into every hollow and sharp line of their faces.

Mark climbed into the Rover, sealing the hatch behind him, the soft hiss of pressurization filling the small cabin. He glanced at Olivia, his expression a mix of determination and concern.

"How's it feeling?" he asked, his eyes flicking to her leg.

"Still attached," Olivia replied with a faint smile, though her voice was strained. She shifted her position again, the crutch lying nearby. "It'll be fine. We need to focus on getting everything running."

Mark nodded, understanding. He strapped into his seat and began his final checks on the oxygenator and water reclaimer, tapping the readouts with practiced precision. "Oxygen levels are stable. Water system's good." He looked at her, his expression serious. "Once we're out there, we won't have any second chances. If something breaks, it'll be on us to fix it."

Olivia nodded, steeling herself for the task ahead. "We've gotten this far. We can handle it."

Mark's mouth twitched into a half-smile. "Yeah, we've handled worse."

Once everything was double-checked, Mark pulled out the small navigation device they had rigged together. "This is where things get tricky," he muttered, scanning the terrain data. "No comms with NASA, and we're flying blind with this storm out there. I'll need to track the solar panel efficiency as we go to figure out if the dust storm is near."

Olivia glanced over at him. "You're thinking we'll have to change course?"

"Maybe," Mark replied, frowning as he set the device on the dashboard. "We'll have to measure the drop in power from the solar panels, see where the storm's heading. It's going to be a slow process, but it's better than driving straight into it."

They exchanged a glance, the weight of the journey pressing down on them both. The dust storm wasn't something they could control, and Olivia could see the worry etched into the lines of Mark's face. But if anyone could figure out a way to outmaneuver the storm, it was him.

"Okay," she said quietly. "Let's take it one step at a time."

Mark started the Rover, the vehicle humming softly to life. The air felt charged with anticipation, a sense of inevitability hanging between them as the Rover's systems kicked into gear. Olivia settled back into her seat, her body already aching from the tension. It was time.

"We're officially leaving the Hab," Mark said, his voice a mixture of relief and determination. He gave her one last look before turning his attention forward. "Here we go."