Log entry Sol 505

I'm already sick of seventies television again. I didn't take the data stick with me on the trip to find the probe. I stuck with Johanssen's Beatles collection, avoiding Lewis's disco too. I started watching crappy seventies TV again when I got back. Yeah, I need new stuff to watch and I have to wait for months. At least I know it's coming. I don't know what they're sending. We never had that conversation, or did we? Why can't I remember? Does it matter? I know I'm getting new shows, even if it's new crappy seventies tv shows, it will still be new shows. I can stop rewatching the ones I have. I can try watching Vogel's German stuff again. Still, I'd prefer to have shows I enjoy and understand. I love M*A*S*H, but I can only watch it so many times before it gets old.

Hopefully, they ask my parents for ideas and don't let Martinez anywhere near the data stick. That jackass would send more seventies crap just to mess with me. Beck I could trust, maybe. Johanssen would probably send me at least one or two good shows, but she'd probably sneak in something awful too. Lewis… Oh God, I hope they didn't let her pick. I don't need more of her choices either, even if some of them are ok.

You know what I wish I had? This may sound crazy, or maybe not. I wish I had Cosmos. The entire series. My dad has a DVD set of the original with Carl Sagan. I must have watched it dozens of times as a kid. I even rewatched the Neil DeGrasse Tyson seasons at least a dozen times each too. There was just something comforting about watching Carl over and over again. I'd take it just to have it as background noise now. Someone needs to make new seasons again or at least re-air his episodes with updates. The set my Dad owned had the "ten years later" updates but now we need fifty-year updates. There have been some huge changes and advances in science since it first aired.

Yeah, I love science fiction, but I also love science facts and there were some great science fact shows. Dad and I watched Nova Science Now together in reruns, and American Scientific Frontiers. I think that one was his favorite, with Alan Alda as the host. When I discovered the various science channels on YouTube, meaning I'd finally gotten past watching video game playthroughs or unboxing videos. I don't know, don't ask me. I was a typical dumb kid watching all the stupid stuff on YouTube. I think it was my friend Tommy that introduced me to Backyard Science. It was the 'Suicide Plant' video. Then I just dove into the rabbit hole and I don't think I ever truly came up. What Because Science did to Kyle Hill was idiotic on their part. They paid for it though when his new channel took off and theirs tanked. Yeah, I'm still into YouTube science videos and watched them whenever I got a chance. Well, until we left Earth orbit and I wasn't able to stream anymore. Damn! Now I wish I'd mentioned that. There are tons of channels they could download videos for and send to me.

I doubt anyone would think to send me any of those. I guess I'll just have to look forward to getting home so I can watch them again. I might skip the space travel-based episodes, or not. Once I'm home it shouldn't bother me.

Maybe someone was smart enough to put the last Cubs season games on the data stick, and the Blackhawks and Bulls too. I'm not going to see a live game for years. On the upside, when I get back to Earth and NASA says it's safe for me to travel, I'll probably be given tickets to every game I want to attend. Maybe they'll let me throw out the first pitch at a game. Wonder if I have a ball or something like it around here so I can start practicing. It would be something to do even if it won't work the same as on Earth with the lower gravity. Then again I'll be able to use that as an excuse when my pitch sucks. Ok, going to go find something I can throw. The movement will be good for me. If I set up a tub across the room I can also practice my three-point shot. I'm worse at basketball than baseball. Hmm, wonder if I can make a golf club. Alan Shepard was the first person to play golf on the moon but I could be the first on Mars. May as well add another first to my list.

Log Entry Sol 506

No balls anywhere to be found. I made a sort-of basketball from Martinez's boxer shorts and some string. I guess I could do the same thing to make a baseball or golf ball if I cut some clothes up. That might be the best use of my old stuff that's getting too worn out to wear. I could wrap them in tape to make a ball but I really don't want to waste the magic tape.

In other news, I went outside to check the solar farm. It was fine. Then I left a message. I wish I knew who was reading them or had some other way of leaving them besides rocks. My back is killing me again. Time for a bath.

Log entry Sol 507

Laid around all day and did nothing so I rationed again by eating just my vegetables. UGH, but I can't justify a meal when I'm not expending any energy or burning any calories. Nothing else to report. Tomorrow I suppose I should leave another message. Maybe one for my parents this time. Wonder how long it will take for someone to send it to them.

"Mindy?" Melissa said when the younger woman opened the door to the Rescue Mark office. "Can I help you?"

"Mrs. Watney said they would be back today. Have you heard from them?"

"I haven't yet, did you need to talk to her?"

"No, I… I mean… well yes…" she shook her head at her awkwardness. "I have an image I wanted to show her."

"I believe she and Tim are planning on stopping by tomorrow, but they might still be in this afternoon. I can send them to SatCon when they get here."

"Sure, that'd be great," Mindy turned to leave then turned back, "Thank you, Commander."

Melissa chuckled softly, "Mindy, I believe I told you that you don't have to call me Commander. Melissa is fine."

"Yes, Com- yes, Melissa. Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. Mindy, I want you to know we all consider you an essential member of the team."

Mindy's cheeks flamed and she looked at the ground. "Thank you but-"

"No buts, you're doing a job none of the rest of us could do."

"You all could do it, it's not hard. It's not. You all could recognize the equipment from the images as easily as I could. Anyone can learn Morse code and translate the messages."

"Beyond that, living on Mars time while the rest of the world goes on, as usual. No, I'm not sure we could. Maybe Beck or Johanssen since they don't have families, but we need them elsewhere. Please know that if you ever need anything, all you have to do is ask. We're here to help you just like we help each other."

"Good to know, thank you," Mindy said and rushed out the door.

Melissa smiled as the younger woman left, then picked up her phone and dialed.

"Melissa, hello dear."

"Hello, Grace. I just had a visitor looking for you."

"Oh?"

"Mindy dropped by, she said she has an image to show you, but I think she might have more than that to say," Melissa informed the older woman.

"Well then, we'll just have to come by this evening. She's there for a while, correct?"

"Yes, she should be. I think Mars's daylight started about an hour and a half ago. So, she'll be here for another 7 to 8 hours."

"We've signed the papers and we're headed to an early dinner now," Grace said. "Would you please be sure we have visitor passes at the front desk?"

"Certainly, Grace. Is the moving truck still coming tomorrow?"

"Yes, it should arrive at 9 tomorrow morning."

"Are you sure you want to spend the night in a hotel?" Melissa asked. "You know you are more than welcome to stay with Robert and me. Our guest room is ready and waiting."

"It's kind of you to offer dear, but we're ok at the hotel. We already checked in. We'll probably stop by the house this evening just to walk through."

"The house and the garage apartment I assume."

"Certainly, we may need to do some painting in both. I'd like to wait on the apartment and let Mindy pick the colors."

"Excellent idea, we can get started with a primer this weekend if you'd like. Just pick the rooms you want us all to start in. Beth and Alex are flying back from JPL tonight, so all of us and our respective spouses will be there to assist you and Timothy. Helena has said that Victor will help with whatever we need and Eliza will watch David Martinez so both Rick and Marissa can help as well. She and the children flew in to spend time with Alex and to help out with the move."

"Oh my," Grace sighed happily, "we should be unpacked in no time then. I'll have to stop at a grocery store in the morning and get snacks and drinks for everyone."

"Don't worry about that," Melissa said, "we're all bringing something with us."

"A potluck lunch, well, we'll just have to order dinner for everyone or take everyone out."

"That's not necessary."

"Oh I know dear, but we're going to do it anyway. I'd like to have the house ready for visitors in a few weeks. Timothy and I would like to have a party for everyone helping out with rescuing Mark, to show our appreciation."

"You don't have to do that, but if you're going to, you should make that a potluck as well."

"Heavens no, Melissa, we wouldn't dream of it."

Lewis smiled and shook her head. Of course, they wouldn't.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow dear, we've arrived at the restaurant."

"See you tomorrow."

Mindy was yawning at her desk at eight o'clock that evening when the Watneys walked into SatCon. She quickly sat up straight and pulled her chair up to her desk. By the time they reached her, she was pulling up images on the screen.

"Mindy, how are you this evening?" Grace asked.

"I'm good. How was your move?"

"That's tomorrow, and you should come by. I'm Tim by the way, Tim Watney. We didn't get to meet last time."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Watney. I wouldn't want to intrude on you as you move in. It's such a stressful time," Mindy replied.

"Call him Tim dear, and I'm Grace, but you know that already. We'd love to have you stop by," she said, grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from the desk, and began writing. "Here's the address. You could come in the morning before you come in here for your shift."

"I'm actually off work tomorrow," Mindy said then silently cursed herself for sharing that information.

"Then you should sleep in and come when you wake up."

"Beware." Tim winked. "She'll put you to work."

"I can help if you need it," Mindy volunteered, shocked at herself.

"We'll see," Grace responded. "Now, Melissa said you had an image to show us."

"Huh, oh yeah, sorry. Here," she pointed to the screen. "I don't know if you can read Morse Code but Mark left this message this morning, well Mars morning, you know what I mean. Anyway, he left this for you. Can you read it?" Oh my God, Mindy shut up. You're babbling.

"Is that Morse code?" Tim asked, pointing to the line of rocks on the image.

"Yes," Mindy replied.

"I used to know it years ago, when I was in Boy Scouts but not any longer," he told her.

"I can tell you what it says," she offered.

"Wait," Grace said. "I know you already know what it says, but I think I'd like to work it out since it's for us."

Mindy smiled and picked up a Morse code chart from her desk. "I wondered if you might. Here you go. I'm going to go get a cup of coffee. Would either of you like a cup? We have decaf if you prefer it. I normally would at this time of day, but I'm staying up later so I can use the caffeine." Mindy, you're babbling again. Stop it.

"I'll take a cup," Tim said, then grimacing from the elbow Grace poked him with added, "decaf please."

"Would it be possible to get a bottle of water?" Grace asked.

"Certainly Mrs. Watney."

"Grace, dear."

"Yes ma'am, I mean Grace."

Grace chuckled softly as Mindy walked away.

"Are you going to ask her tonight?" Timothy asked his wife, "or wait and see if she comes by tomorrow?"

"If she brings it up tonight I'll ask. Otherwise, I'll wait and if she doesn't come over tomorrow I'll just have to drop in for another visit. Now, let's translate this message."

A few minutes later Mindy approached and set the drinks down on the desk in front of the Watneys.

"Thank you, dear," Gace said with a slight sniffle, her eyes watery.

"I see you worked out the message," Mindy commented and opened a drawer. Pulling out a tissue from a box hidden there, she passed it to the older woman.

"Thank you again. Yes, we did. That's quite a long message. Have you sent out the image to everyone already?"

"No actually, I wanted to wait until you'd seen it first. We have twenty-four hours to release pictures to the press, which means I could wait for about twenty-three after it returned to get it to Annie without her taking my head off."

"Holding the image wouldn't put your job at risk, would it?" Timothy asked.

"Oh no," Mindy said quickly. "Annie would understand once I explained. She'd probably make a big story out of it. The message alone is a sweet story if she'd added that we held it so you could see it first. Maybe I should go ahead and tell her. It will play well with the press, and we can always use the good press. Good press makes Annie happy."

"And a happy Annie is a good thing," Grace laughed.

"Well, thank you for letting us see it first. We should go, it's been a long day and we have an even longer one tomorrow," Tim said.

"You're both welcome. I hope tomorrow goes smoothly for you."

Grace pointed to the paper on the desk. "You have our new address. Come and see us. Thank you again."

The Watneys began to leave before they had gone five steps. Grace turned back to Mindy. "What are the odds Mark is in an RTG bath right now?"

Mindy laughed, "Considering the length of that message, I'd say one hundred percent."

Grace laughed as well and said, "See you tomorrow," before scurrying out the door.

"I'm not," Mindy started, then stopped and stared at the closed door. "Well now, what am I going to do? I have no intention of going to the Watneys tomorrow. I'm spending the day in bed, getting a full eight hours or more for once in my life, and then getting my shopping done."

She slid the paper with their address on it into the first drawer of the work station.

Log entry Sol 508

One advantage to Mars is I can spend the day in the RTG bath and it never gets cold. Ok, it does get cold, but the RTG is always working. It's not like I have a hot water heater running out of hot water. Bonus there's no one to tell me not to spend my day in the RTG bath. All the while I can watch crappy tv on the computer, play chess versus the computer, or read Agatha Christie again. Let's be honest, I didn't spend much time on chess.

I know I could use the pain pills. Beck sent me an amount I can take safely, or so he was estimating. I know one pill is probably alright, but I just don't want to take the risk.

In other news… nothing, absolutely nothing. I wish there was something. There's just not. I hope someone got my message to my parents. I wonder what they're up to these days? They were both getting close to retirement. Maybe they've done it and they're relaxing. I hope they are anyway. Maybe get away from Chicago for a while, go visit some other places and relax. Next time I get up the energy to leave a long message I can tell them that. It won't be any time soon though. My back would seriously quit on me and then I'd be screwed. Maybe I should keep brainstorming another way to write messages that doesn't require a lot of bending over and lifting things. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know squat and lift with your knees, not your back, that's easier said than done in an EVA suit. I try, but it's just not easy. I'll keep thinking.

At two o'clock Saturday afternoon, Mindy rushed into SatCon to her station.

"What are you doing here?" Steven asked. "It's your day off."

"I know, but I left something here."

"What is so important that you couldn't wait until you came back on Monday?"

"This," she said, holding up the paper she'd pulled from her drawer. "See you later."

Twenty minutes later she turned onto the street listed in the address and spotted the moving truck. Finding a place to park was much harder as cars were lining both sides of the street. She settled for parking in front of a house three down from theirs. Taking a deep breath she grabbed the cake she had stopped at the store to buy. She got out of the car and headed down the street.

"Mindy," Melissa called as the younger woman stepped around the moving truck. "Good to see you. Grace and Timothy are inside. Don't let anyone take that from you before you see them. Martinez is claiming that we're starving him, but he's full of it. He ate three sandwiches at lunch and about a half dozen cookies."

"Wait, is everyone here?" Mindy stopped dead.

"Just about, I think Chris and Beth ran out to get more chips and soda, but everyone else is here somewhere unpacking or painting. Speaking of," Lewis grabbed the arm of the man walking around her into the truck. "This is my husband Robert. Robert, this is Mindy the SatCon engineer I told you about."

Robert wiped his hand on his pants leg then held it out to Mindy who took it and shook it. "Hello, Mindy. Nice to meet you. Welcome to the chaos that is Ares III life."

Melissa elbowed her husband in the side. "Ignore him, it's organized chaos. Go on inside. I believe Grace is in the kitchen and I know she's looking forward to seeing you."

"Oh, uh, okay. I just go in the front?" Brilliant Mindy, just brilliant.

"Yeah, if you can't hear her yelling instructions for someone, just call out to her. She'll meet you or yell out to you which way to go, or someone else will direct you."

Mindy just nodded and walked to the front door where she hesitated a second raising her hand to knock. Then she shook her head, and instead opened the door.

"Mindy, welcome to the party," Rick said, grabbing her by the hand and pulling her inside. "Oo cake, you're my new favorite person, and it's chocolate. I think I may not share." He took it from her and held it up grinning.

"Yes he will," Marissa assured the other woman as she took the cake from her husband. "I'm Marissa, Rick's better half. Follow me and ignore the uncivilized one here."

In a move nearly identical to the one Mindy had seen outside, Marisa elbowed Rick in the gut. Unlike Robert who'd barely reacted, Rick huffed and moaned, then grinned while Marissa shook her head and laughed.

"Grace, Mindy's here," Marissa pronounced as they entered the kitchen.

"And she brought cake," Rick added from behind the two women. "I call dibs."

"Rick, Rick, Rick," Grace wagged a finger at him, "just for that I think you get the last piece and the smallest one at that."

"Momma Watney?" he pouted.

"Don't fall for that quivering lower lip," Marissa warned.

"Oh, I won't. Mark still tries the same thing, or at least he did and I assume he will again. You'd think they'd learn it doesn't work. Now, Rick, get back to painting if you want to eat again any time soon. Marissa would you-"

"Hide the cake and then get started on the dining room walls so you can show Mindy around. Certainly." Marissa beamed.

"Thank you, dear," Grace turned to Mindy. "Well, here you are. I was wondering if you'd decided to sleep the day away. Come with me."

"You're busy. I can just go," Mindy offered.

"Oh heavens no dear, we can use all the help we can get and I have just the place for your help," Grace replied. "This way."

The older woman led her out the back door and across to the garage, then up the side stairs.

"Here we are." Grace opened the door at the top of the stairs and stepped inside.

"The apartment," Mindy said as she followed the older woman into the main room. "I should have guessed."

"I thought it would be good for you to see it. Maybe you can give us color suggestions. The boys put a coat of fresh primer on the walls before lunch so all we need to know is which color paint to buy," Grace told her.

"You should paint it in colors Mark would like," Mindy replied.

"Oh no," Grace said. "We can repaint it when he gets home. Chris said he thinks it would be good physical therapy. Mark will still be reacclimating to Earth's gravity when he returns. He'll need tasks to help him rebuild his strength. He might not even be able to move in right away. He might need to use a bedroom on the main floor of the house. Stairs could be too much for him."

"Then you should go with neutral colors," Mindy suggested.

"Mindy dear, are you telling me you're going to continue living an hour away from the space center for another three or four years on that crazy rotating Mars schedule?"

"No, I was going to… I meant to…" she stammered, then stopped and took a deep breath. "I wanted to talk to you about it first."

"What did you want to talk about?"

"I appreciate the offer to move here, but I can't in good conscience do it if I'm not paying rent. I'd like to pay what I pay now to you instead."

"And what do you currently pay in rent?"

"Fourteen hundred a month, it actually would be higher if I were living in this area in an apartment," Mindy told her. "Apartments here go for closer to seventeen hundred a month."

"How about you just pay us a thousand a month?" Grace suggested. "We'll be traveling to visit family several times a year. We'd like it if you could keep an eye on the house and pick up our mail. Besides, this isn't as nice as a standard apartment. The bathroom only has a shower. The kitchenette is just that, a kitchenette. We have a spare microwave and toaster oven we planned on putting in, and I think we might still have Mark's air fryer, but there's no dishwasher. You'd be welcome to cook in the house though or join us for meals if you're home at the right time. The bedroom is fairly small and the closet is even smaller. Well, I should just let you take a look."

"I don't need to, it's okay. I'm sure everything is fine."

"Then you're okay with a thousand dollars a month? We can have a lease drawn up by the end of the week."

"I guess that's ok if you're sure. I'll have to give notice at my apartment," Mindy said. "They'll want thirty days."

"Well, you don't have to wait that long to move in. As soon as you can get a truck we can get started. Oh, except we should paint first. If you'll just tell me which colors you want, I'll send the boys to the hardware store."

Mindy shook her head. "You don't have to paint it any special colors for me. I'm honestly fine with neutral beige walls."

Grace tilted her head to the side and considered the younger woman. "Mindy, have you ever had a room decorated just the way you like it? Ever had the option of painting it just the way you want it?"

"I chose the decorations in my dorm room, at least some of them."

"But what about your apartment now? I'd bet you can't paint it and how much is it decorated? From what I understand you had just started the job a few months before you figured out Mark is alive."

"I have a few things," Mindy protested.

"You're working so hard, such odd hours, your home should be an oasis. You should love to spend time there. So just pick your colors."

"You may as well not argue with her," Tim said from the doorway. "She won't stop until you tell her. It's easier this way, and she's right, you deserve it."

Mindy shook her head. "I just don't understand-"

"You don't have to," Tim replied. "Just tell us what colors you love or like or would paint your walls given the choice."

"What if I pick some ghastly garish color that would take a million coats of primer to cover?"

Grace chuckled. "You don't strike me as the type to pick obnoxious colors, but so what. If you want neon green with orange polka dots and hot pink stripes we'll do that. We have a paint sprayer-"

"Professional grade," Tim put in with a grin.

"And my husband has been having a bit too much fun with it, so we may have to take it over and do it ourselves," Grace winked at the younger woman.

"A paint sprayer?" Mindy mused. "That might be too much for me."

"But I bet you'd be willing to try it wouldn't you?"

"I might. I have always wanted a navy blue room with bright white trim," she said slowly, "and a lighter blue in the living room area?"

"Navy blue in the bedroom is probably a wonderful idea to keep it darker and help you sleep during the day," Grace replied. "Do you want to go to the store with me and pick the color or do you trust the boys to do it?"

"The boys?" Mindy raised an eyebrow. "Beck maybe, not Martinez. I don't know Vogel or Lewis's husband so I don't know."

"Well then," Grace said. "We'll go, just the two of us. You're parked down the street, right?"

Mindy nodded.

"Let's go then. Timothy dear, have the paint sprayer cleaned and up here ready to do the bedroom, please. Ask Chris and Beth to tape off the windows and doors and anything else that needs to be taped. Keep Rick away from here and away from the chocolate cake."

"Yes, dear."

Log entry Sol 510

Another sol, another… another what? Another day spent bored to tears. I suppose I could venture out and do more sampling but at this point, I don't think I could have missed anything within easy driving distance. I don't want to drive far enough away to spend another night in the rover. My back is finally feeling better from the time retrieving the rover and all the Morse code messages.

There has to be another way to communicate with Earth. I know the satellites are only overhead for about eight minutes each, but I wonder if I could send the same short message out each day with the satellite dish and they could piece it together if needed. Of course, unless NASA did the same and beamed the message back through the satellites I wouldn't know if it worked. They probably wouldn't want to waste the time or bytes anyway, they'd rather keep imaging. Though if the message I sent was something like "staying in today" maybe they'd still have time to send it back. OK, I'm going to see what I can do. At least it is something to do. I can search the files we have and attempt to locate the frequencies for the satellites. I don't know of any reason we'd have that information. I can still look for it though.

Log entry Sol 510 (2)

Well, I found satellite frequencies in the tech specs, but they make no sense to me. I can work a computer. I can do basic troubleshooting. Yep, I can turn one off and then back on again with the best of them to solve half the problems they have. I can not program. There's a reason Johanssen was with us. She's a genius at that stuff. The rest of us? Not so much, we didn't need to be though with her around. It just now struck me that we really didn't have a backup for her programming skills. How incredibly not like NASA. I guess they thought since we were in constant contact with them it wouldn't matter. Anyway, it all comes back to those frequencies do me no good.

"What time is it?" Melissa asked as they sat all around the Watneys' new living room.

"Almost midnight I think," Marisa responded.

"Eleven forty-seven, to be exact," Rick said from the floor.

"Oh, I have to get home," Mindy struggled to her feet.

"Do you have to work tomorrow?" Grace asked. "You can just stay here tonight."

"No, I should go home. I don't need to sleep just yet, but I can pack until it's time to sleep."

"Need any help," Beck asked. "Beth and I could probably come over."

"Speak for yourself, Christopher."

"Ok then, I can come help." Beck shrugged.

"No, but thank you. I can handle it," Mindy said.

Timothy stood, "I'll walk you to your car."

"You don't have to do that."

"Yes, he does," Grace said.

"If he didn't, I would," Robert Lewis added.

"This is such a nice neighborhood, though," Mindy argued.

"Yes, but bad things happen everywhere," Grace told her. "Just do this for me, please."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Oh Mindy," Rick called out weakly. "Welcome to the team."

"Thanks."