SOL 72; HAB BEDROOM

She could hear the airlock opening. Mark seemed to be back from getting the RGT. He had left that morning, at around noon and it was only just turning two in the afternoon. As soon as he could see her, he gave her two thumbs up.

Success.

She watched from her spot on her bunk as he took his EVA suit off, and placed it back on the hook.

"I take it everything went well?" She couldn't help but question.

"Went as good as it could. Made a couple logs that you can watch when you get the chance. How's the shield coming along for it?" He asked as he grabbed a water bottle, emptying almost the entire thing in one drink.

"It's going." She shrugged. "Should have it done tonight and we can get it fitted onto the RTG some point tomorrow morning or afternoon. That is, if I don't get it done any sooner." Liv smiled, pulling her laptop closer to her, a yawn escaping her.

"Didn't sleep well, did you?" He asked as he took the spot next to her.

A nod.

"I tried falling asleep around midnight but I just couldn't sleep. Tossed and turned for a couple hours before getting up and starting a bit more of the math to help us get to Pathfinder. " She reached for her notebook and pulled it over to her. "So if we can get around seventy kilometers a day with both batteries. We can charge them with the extra solar panels. So with going seventy kilometers a day, and Pathfinder being around 2373 kilometers, it should take us about three weeks to get there, and three weeks to get back. One of us will have to stay here with the farm to make sure everything goes okay."

"So one of us will be gone for about forty two days. That's not terrible, could be worse." He grinned, tapping his fingers onto the bench. "Which one of us do you think should go?"

"I was thinking you, since if something goes wrong with the rover, you would be able to fix it. And I can start on the experiments that were supposed to be done."

"Sounds like a plan. We should be able to start reping and re-sow the potato plants before I head out!"

SOL 79; HAB KITCHEN

Pulling up another plant, she placed it into the container before moving onto the next one. She could see Mark going through another box, separating the potatoes. The bigger ones would be their food source, the smaller ones would be replanted. Finishing up that row, she carried the box over to where the other ones were, a smile on her face.

"How's it going so far?" She asked as she grabbed the water from the table, taking a few sips from it.

"So far so good. Should be able to replant these by tonight!"

"And with the radiation shield, you should be able to head to Pathfinder in the next couple days." She laughed out, "And I promise I won't kill the potatoes."

"Holding you to that Brookes." He shook his finger, teasingly at her.

"No promises."

SOL 82; HAB BEDROOM

Mark had left a couple days ago on Sol 80, and he had just left the area of where they could still communicate. At least they could text chat, which was nice. After finishing up the experiments that her Commander was supposed to do, she set about placing everything back to where it was supposed to go.

How was she going to last six weeks with only herself to keep her company.

Olivia was just thankful that she had Mark with her on Mars.

She would have never lasted on her own.

SOL 90; HAB KITCHEN

More potato watching.

More experiments.

She had finished Beck's readings and whatever was included in what he was going to do.

Johanssen didn't have much, so she was able to finish it within a day or so. Vogel's chemistry shit would have to wait for Watney to get back. That left only her own work to do. Observing the various rocks and dirt samples she had taken from different spots on the surface.

SOL 100; HAB AIRLOCK

Another EVA to clean the surface panels.

More geology work.

Another check in with Mark. Who had told her he was already halfway back with Pathfinder.

SOL 102

The airlocked hissed open. Olivia looked up from her spot on her bunk, and watched as Mark walked in. In his arms was a smaller rover.

"We got it."