Chapter 7: Moving On.
AN: OK, let shooting commence. I'm really sorry for the (God it's been about a month!) er- little delay. Heh heh.... Anyway I'm sorry Folken fans but you really are not gonna like me after this chapter, flame if you must *sniff* I can take it.
All right, you people have waited long enough on with the fic....
Location: Mars' surface-
30 minutes had past since the male population of the Mars 1 crew had landed on Mars. They had yet to find out where they were or where HAB was.
Dryden continued to pace and swear mentally. His patience was wearing a little to thin for his liking. ''Where the hell is HAB?'' He asked himself out loud, looking down at the small control panel he held in his hands, the screen showed their supposed location.
''If you hadn't dumped our navigator we'd know.'' Van answered, but quickly continued to avoid argument, ''I can't get a visual on AMME, but I maybe able to get this radio working, at least then we'd be able to talk to Hitomi.''
Dilandau inhaled deeply, they were all still making the assumption that Hitmoi was still alive. Though he could understand why. His train of thought was cut of by Dryden's inquiry.
''How long?'' He asked as Van started moving away from the pod wreckage and towards him.
''I don't know,'' He replied honestly, ''These repairs are gonna take a while.''
Allen chose this point, from his place next to Folken to add his piece of bad news. ''The science package is DOA also, sorry guys.''
Dilandau rose and pushed himself past Dryden, ''Shit there goes the mission.''
''The missions not over yet Dilandau.'' Dryden snapped.
''Oh really?'' Dilandau replied sarcastically as he turned back to face him. ''Did you miss something? We lost the science package. We can know longer accomplish what we came here to do.''
Dryden almost growled at the younger man, ''Quit whining.'' He refused to believe that the mission was over and that it was his fault.
Dilandau sniggered. ''You did park us on the rocks Sir.''
Dryden rose his voice, silently accepting the argument. ''And you knew there were risks.''
''And right now gentlemen,'' Folken cut them both off, despite the pain, ''Locating HAB is what matters.''
Dryden shot one last look at Dilandau before moving towards the older man, ''I think we're somewhere down range,'' He started to explain, looking back down at the thin panel in his hands. ''Based on our last uncorrupted nav. readings I'd say we are somewhere within this 60 by 120 km ellipse.''
Allen stood next to Dryden, ''All the mission data is in here,'' He motioned to the panel. ''We just gotta close in on the down range variables, it's about the math.''
''This is it,'' Van sighed dramatically, ''That moment they told us about in high school when algebra, would save our lives.''
Allen sniggered, ''Shut up.''
''Sorry.''
~~~~~
While the others went about discovering their location, Folken discreetly pulled a small scanning device from one of the many pockets on his suit. Opening the scanner up between his hands he ran it over his chest. When the scan was complete he saw what he expected to see, a ruptured spleen and massive eternal bleeding.
~~~~~
At the same time Van had moved away a little from the others, looking around at the desolate place that was to be mankind's new home he became a little excited in spite of himself, of course his calm exterior kicked in, even as he breathed ''Oh man.'' in a childish tone of voice.
Shaking his head he looked around again. Then pulling out his own panel from a upper pocket he opened it up and spoke. ''system memory- bring up a panoramic from HAB's point of view.'' When the image came up he continued, ''Reverse.'' The picture flipped round. This time Van's voice was directed at the others through the inernal com. lines. ''Hay, guys come look at this.''
The others started to walk towards him. ''What is it Van?'' Dryden asked.
''I don't think it's about the math, I think it's about the picture.'' He replied.
''What picture?''
''This one.'' Van motioned to the panel that he had now placed down on the ground and kneeled behind.
''We're not in that picture.'' Dryden pointed out as he came to a stop next to him. ''If we were we'd know were HAB was.''
''I know but,'' Van stopped and picked up a rock, which he then placed in front of the picture in the centre, ''if this rock is HAB,'' He continued, ''and it's in a line about 30 degrees. It sees those to peeks,'' Van pointed to the two 'hills' not to far away from them, ''but reversed 'cause it's on the other side and the about 180 degrees it sees that peek behind us,'' He motioned again. ''Which makes the line to HAB about there.'' He finished pointing to Dryden's right.
Allen smiled, ''He's right.'' He confirmed. ''Nice work space janitor.''
''We've only got seven and a half hours of air left.'' Dilandau reported, looking at the indicator on his right arm.
''We better get going then.'' Dryden said.
~~~~~
Folken heard the others conversation on the com. lines and smiled slightly. Picking up a rock he placed in down closer to him and drew a circle around it with his finger. He sighed, remembering the end of a conversation he'd had with Van over a month ago.
~~~~~~~~~~Flash Back~~~~~~~~~~
''What about religion? Would we give up on God too? Who knows, I may pick up a rock on Mars and underneath it will say 'Made by God'. The universe is full of surprises.''
Van smiled, ''That would be a big one.''
~~~~~~~~~~End Of Flash Back~~~~~~~~~~
Dryden stopped walking and bent down to the older man. ''You ready to go Sir?'' He asked.
''Unfortunatly gentlemen, I won't be going with you.''
Van stepped forward. ''What?''
''My spleen's been ruptured, there serious internal bleeding. I wouldn't get very far.'' He replied looking up at the younger man.
''We've got medical gear at HAB,'' Dilandau spoke up, also coming forward. ''We can lock out the spine impulses and you can talk us through the surgery.''
Folken shock his head slightly. ''Carrying me will slow you all down.'' He explained. ''Just enough to deplete everyone's oxygen.'' He directed his gaze in Van's direction. ''This is no time for misguided heroics.''
''We're not gonna let you die here.'' Van replied.
''What we came here to do is more important.'' Folken said, his eyes locking with the man that had become like a younger brother to him. ''The four of you must carry on with the mission.'' He broke his gaze and looked at his other team members. ''It wont be easy, but I know you can do it.'' He finished and no one replied. ''Now get going.''
Dryden looked at the older man and knew he was right. He exchanged a look of respect and stood. ''You heard the man.'' He said, walking in the direction Van had pointed out earlier. Allen soon followed.
Dilandau bent down and Folken put a hand on his shoulder in reassurance. Then Dilandau stood and turned away, following the others.
''Hay.'' Folken said, looking up at Van. ''I got to see Mars.''
Van smiled slightly in return before turning and walking off. He did get very far before turning back. Folken smiled and told Van to go silently, this time Van turned and walked again. Leaving Folken alone.
AN: OK, let shooting commence. I'm really sorry for the (God it's been about a month!) er- little delay. Heh heh.... Anyway I'm sorry Folken fans but you really are not gonna like me after this chapter, flame if you must *sniff* I can take it.
All right, you people have waited long enough on with the fic....
Location: Mars' surface-
30 minutes had past since the male population of the Mars 1 crew had landed on Mars. They had yet to find out where they were or where HAB was.
Dryden continued to pace and swear mentally. His patience was wearing a little to thin for his liking. ''Where the hell is HAB?'' He asked himself out loud, looking down at the small control panel he held in his hands, the screen showed their supposed location.
''If you hadn't dumped our navigator we'd know.'' Van answered, but quickly continued to avoid argument, ''I can't get a visual on AMME, but I maybe able to get this radio working, at least then we'd be able to talk to Hitomi.''
Dilandau inhaled deeply, they were all still making the assumption that Hitmoi was still alive. Though he could understand why. His train of thought was cut of by Dryden's inquiry.
''How long?'' He asked as Van started moving away from the pod wreckage and towards him.
''I don't know,'' He replied honestly, ''These repairs are gonna take a while.''
Allen chose this point, from his place next to Folken to add his piece of bad news. ''The science package is DOA also, sorry guys.''
Dilandau rose and pushed himself past Dryden, ''Shit there goes the mission.''
''The missions not over yet Dilandau.'' Dryden snapped.
''Oh really?'' Dilandau replied sarcastically as he turned back to face him. ''Did you miss something? We lost the science package. We can know longer accomplish what we came here to do.''
Dryden almost growled at the younger man, ''Quit whining.'' He refused to believe that the mission was over and that it was his fault.
Dilandau sniggered. ''You did park us on the rocks Sir.''
Dryden rose his voice, silently accepting the argument. ''And you knew there were risks.''
''And right now gentlemen,'' Folken cut them both off, despite the pain, ''Locating HAB is what matters.''
Dryden shot one last look at Dilandau before moving towards the older man, ''I think we're somewhere down range,'' He started to explain, looking back down at the thin panel in his hands. ''Based on our last uncorrupted nav. readings I'd say we are somewhere within this 60 by 120 km ellipse.''
Allen stood next to Dryden, ''All the mission data is in here,'' He motioned to the panel. ''We just gotta close in on the down range variables, it's about the math.''
''This is it,'' Van sighed dramatically, ''That moment they told us about in high school when algebra, would save our lives.''
Allen sniggered, ''Shut up.''
''Sorry.''
~~~~~
While the others went about discovering their location, Folken discreetly pulled a small scanning device from one of the many pockets on his suit. Opening the scanner up between his hands he ran it over his chest. When the scan was complete he saw what he expected to see, a ruptured spleen and massive eternal bleeding.
~~~~~
At the same time Van had moved away a little from the others, looking around at the desolate place that was to be mankind's new home he became a little excited in spite of himself, of course his calm exterior kicked in, even as he breathed ''Oh man.'' in a childish tone of voice.
Shaking his head he looked around again. Then pulling out his own panel from a upper pocket he opened it up and spoke. ''system memory- bring up a panoramic from HAB's point of view.'' When the image came up he continued, ''Reverse.'' The picture flipped round. This time Van's voice was directed at the others through the inernal com. lines. ''Hay, guys come look at this.''
The others started to walk towards him. ''What is it Van?'' Dryden asked.
''I don't think it's about the math, I think it's about the picture.'' He replied.
''What picture?''
''This one.'' Van motioned to the panel that he had now placed down on the ground and kneeled behind.
''We're not in that picture.'' Dryden pointed out as he came to a stop next to him. ''If we were we'd know were HAB was.''
''I know but,'' Van stopped and picked up a rock, which he then placed in front of the picture in the centre, ''if this rock is HAB,'' He continued, ''and it's in a line about 30 degrees. It sees those to peeks,'' Van pointed to the two 'hills' not to far away from them, ''but reversed 'cause it's on the other side and the about 180 degrees it sees that peek behind us,'' He motioned again. ''Which makes the line to HAB about there.'' He finished pointing to Dryden's right.
Allen smiled, ''He's right.'' He confirmed. ''Nice work space janitor.''
''We've only got seven and a half hours of air left.'' Dilandau reported, looking at the indicator on his right arm.
''We better get going then.'' Dryden said.
~~~~~
Folken heard the others conversation on the com. lines and smiled slightly. Picking up a rock he placed in down closer to him and drew a circle around it with his finger. He sighed, remembering the end of a conversation he'd had with Van over a month ago.
~~~~~~~~~~Flash Back~~~~~~~~~~
''What about religion? Would we give up on God too? Who knows, I may pick up a rock on Mars and underneath it will say 'Made by God'. The universe is full of surprises.''
Van smiled, ''That would be a big one.''
~~~~~~~~~~End Of Flash Back~~~~~~~~~~
Dryden stopped walking and bent down to the older man. ''You ready to go Sir?'' He asked.
''Unfortunatly gentlemen, I won't be going with you.''
Van stepped forward. ''What?''
''My spleen's been ruptured, there serious internal bleeding. I wouldn't get very far.'' He replied looking up at the younger man.
''We've got medical gear at HAB,'' Dilandau spoke up, also coming forward. ''We can lock out the spine impulses and you can talk us through the surgery.''
Folken shock his head slightly. ''Carrying me will slow you all down.'' He explained. ''Just enough to deplete everyone's oxygen.'' He directed his gaze in Van's direction. ''This is no time for misguided heroics.''
''We're not gonna let you die here.'' Van replied.
''What we came here to do is more important.'' Folken said, his eyes locking with the man that had become like a younger brother to him. ''The four of you must carry on with the mission.'' He broke his gaze and looked at his other team members. ''It wont be easy, but I know you can do it.'' He finished and no one replied. ''Now get going.''
Dryden looked at the older man and knew he was right. He exchanged a look of respect and stood. ''You heard the man.'' He said, walking in the direction Van had pointed out earlier. Allen soon followed.
Dilandau bent down and Folken put a hand on his shoulder in reassurance. Then Dilandau stood and turned away, following the others.
''Hay.'' Folken said, looking up at Van. ''I got to see Mars.''
Van smiled slightly in return before turning and walking off. He did get very far before turning back. Folken smiled and told Van to go silently, this time Van turned and walked again. Leaving Folken alone.