The Martian: Voyage Home

Chapter 2

[A/N: Last upload for the week -probably]

LOG ENTRY: MISSION DAY 688

Beck is screwed. Well, that was my first thought. Before I found out that Commander Lewis is okay with Johanssen and Beck sharing a room and is apparently not going to throw Beck off the mission?? Apparently she said that: "If it were a normal mission I would be."-mad that is. Still, good on Beck! No more time to enter logs today, because, Commander Lewis has called a crew meeting in the rec. Thank goodness it only has 0.2 g, because, I tell you, it's been really hard adjusting to parts of the ship with higher levels of gravity, Mars, I tell you! Still trying to mess with me! One more thing, today I had to use the mass measurement device (a machine that uses displacement to measure mass and therefore kind of weight). Dr Beck, if you're wondering, was the one who made me use it. Apparently putting it off for a day was bad enough... I swear though, I am rivalling Johanssen for the title of 'crew member that weighs the least.' A highly coveted position that Johanssen holds with an iron fist. At least I was not alone in having to be measured though, the whole crew did. We all have to, weekly in fact. Ah the joys of being back on Hermes. Also, I am getting motion (space) sick. Happens to the best of us.

...

"Status reports guys, quickly, I know we're all tired," Lewis said. "Johanssen?"

"It's the reactor again," said Johanssen. "The tarnishing is increasing, we may not have enough output to make it back."

"Is there anything you can do with the materials onboard?" Lewis asked.

"Really not much, I will take a look around and see if I can find items for a lab, but that's our only chance at the moment." Johanssen replied. "I'm givin' her all I've got captain!" she added in a Scottish accent, sharing a small smile with Beck. Nerds, thought Watney, smiling with the rest of them.

"Use whatever materials you need." Lewis said. "Also, Beck, is there any way you can get the life support filters to stop clogging?"

"They're worse than ever, dealing with an extra person now," Beck said looking over at Watney's feigned shock. "I've been discussing this with some of the folks at NASA all morning, and so far we haven't come up with anything. I have improved the chemical bath I was using earlier, but the difference is so small that it is barely noticeable."

"Okay, let me know if you or anyone at NASA comes up with anything," Lewis said. "Watney, I noticed that the radiation protective shielding is losing efficiency." she continued.

Watney grimaced, "I've got 'em up to 60%," he said, "It's not ideal of course, but we have three whole days to get them back to at least 70% before we start to die..."

"Real subtle, man," Martinez said trying to lighten the mood.

"Is there anything else?" Lewis asked.

"I've had to make some minor course adjustments, nothing out of the ordinary," Martinez said.

"And we are out of sausages." Vogel stated blankly to the amusement of his fellow crew members. "And telemetry is fine," He added. "We're all set to be back just in time for Christmas."