When I was a kid, all I dreamed about was seeing what was beyond Earth. I wanted nothing more than to travel the stars and see what all the Universe had to offer. I wanted to be the one to discover something big. Perhaps I would discover something new on Mars, or discover something on the Moon. It was always my dream to become an Astronaut.

I was born in 2005, graduated high school at age 16 in 2021. I already had enough college credits to skip the first two years of University. I graduated from Arizona State University with a Masters degree in Geology, and a minor in Chemistry in 2023. I joined the NASA training program that same year, completing the training needed by 2026. I was in the graduating group number twenty-five.

I found my love for all things space when I was three. My father worked at NASA as well as with Space X and sometimes would take me with him to work when I was a kid. I had my dream set in stone by the age of fourteen, and knew that I just had to make it my career. Luckily the high school i went to had a chance for you to start taking college credit classes starting in the tenth grade.

Then I got selected for the Ares III mission. I was overjoyed, and my parents were so proud of me. Said I would go on to do amazing things on the mission.

Of course I never expected to die on it.

I never really imagined how my life would end. I always thought I would of had more time. But, what I did know, is that if I wanted to go out, I would go out doing what I loved best.

Of course, I never expected to survive on a deserted planet where nothing can survive.

SOL 19; Near ARES III HAB; MID MORNING.

With a groan, the female's eyes fluttered opened. Her oxygen alarm was screeching in her ear. Letting a groan slip out, Olivia's tried to move her body around. It hurt. With the Oxygen alarm screaming, she was most likely almost out of oxygen and needed to get back to the HAB.

She was still struggling with the fact that she was still alive.

She managed to pull herself into a sitting position, groggy and head pounding painfully. Blinking her eyes, she let herself take in the sights around her. She could still see the HAB, thankfully. It only seemed to be a fourth a mile away.

Cringing, the blonde got herself up onto her feet, her body wildly unsteady. Her side was on fire. She mostly bruised it from where she got hit with the Com dish. On shaky feet, Olivia started to stumble her way back to the HAB. It was then that she realized the severity of the problem.

The MAV was gone.

Which meant that the crew was gone.

She was alone.

Blowing out a breath, she

Well her day just got a whole lot better.

With her breath coming out in pants, she managed to get the airlock open and waited for it to pressurize before heading to the main part of the HAB.

Never in a million years did she expect to see Mark Watney.

They sort of stared at each other for a second.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" She asked him, as she started to peel off her EVA suit, wincing as she eased the fabric from her side and hip.

"I could ask you the same thing! I thought you left with the Crew!" he spoke, patching up what looked like a wound in his side. Moving quickly, she grabbed what she would need to patch herself up and set herself on a seat, now letting her eyes drift to her side. Surprisingly enough, there was only a little wound, and after applying some cream to it, finally saw how bad the bruise was.

"I was hit with the smaller communications disk. Sent me flying a quarter of a mile away and knocked me out." She winced as she jammed a syringe of pain meds into her side. The bruise was huge, covering her whole hip, from just below her ribs to her upper thigh.

It would hurt for a while.

But, this situation got a bit better. At least she wouldn't die alone.

"So tell me," She started as she moved to where she kept her clothes, grabbing a shirt and sweatpants. "How fucked are we?"

A sigh.

"Honestly? We're going to somehow make something happen so that we survive til Ares Four gets here in about four years. I'm sure we can think of something." He spoke, throwing the trash away and pulling on a clean shirt.

"I mean, we're bound to find something. Can't be that hard. I like to think we're smart enough." Olivia laughed. Shaking his head, Mark just smiled at her. Pulling a blanket around himself, she watched as he started recording a log.

"This is Mark Watney. Astronaut. I'm entering this log for the record, in case I don't make it. It's oh-six-fifty-three on Sol 19. And I'm still alive."

"Obviously." Liv cut in, as she swung her legs. He just shook his head at her as he continued.

"But I'm guessing this is going to be a surprise to our crewmates. And NASA. And... the world. So... surprise.I- along with Olivia Brooks- didn't die on Sol 18. Best I can tell," Mark held up the jagged piece of antenna. "this length of our primary communications antenna tore through my bio-monitor. And ripped a hole in me as well. It was horrible, thank you for asking." Liv let out a laugh "But the antenna and the blood managed to seal the breach in my suit. Which kept me alive. Even though the team must have thought I was dead. Commander Lewis, If you ever hear this, Listen. It wasn't your fault. Just bad luck. You did what you had to do, and if I had been in your position I would have done the same. I'm glad you guys made it. We both are."

Liv got up from her spot and grabbed the other chair and pulled it over to Mark, sitting next to him. Leaning in close, she took over for him.

"And that's where we're at. Mark Watney and Olivia Brooks, currently stranded on Mars. We have no way to contact NASA because our communications antenna broke and stuck into Mark's stomach. Which we've covered. I got hit with the smaller dish." She lifted up her shirt to show the beginning of the bruise. "And even if we could, it would take about four years before the next manned mission gets here. And we're currently in a Hab designed to last thirty-one days. If the oxygenator breaks, we'll suffocate. If the water reclaimer breaks, we'll die of thirst. If the Hab breaches, we'll just sort of... implode. And if, by some miracle, none of that happens... eventually we're going to run out of food. So... yeah. " She paused and cleared her throat.

Clicking the end button, she leaned back in her seat. Letting out a sigh, she let her head rest on her crewmates shoulder.

"We'll be okay? Right?" She asked, her voice coming out in a whisper.

"I'll make sure we'll be okay." Mark promised, letting his head rest against hers.