Is There Life On Mars? (Part one)

Preliminary note: I wrote this story in 2024, and I'm (re)publishing it here now. Since it is about 11,000 words long, I am posting it in several episodes. However, the entire story is available as an e-book if you would prefer to read it all at once (click on the link). The first part is publicly accessible, but the rest will be for subscribers only due to nasty AI bots. However, it's free to subscribe, so you have no reason not to!
Enjoy! 😄

Okay, let's get started.

The door led to another room. It had no windows and appeared to have sustained no damage. Only a very thin layer of orange sand and dust was present as a reminder of what had happened. The room was a large storage area containing a variety of items, including bed linens, light bulbs, and other typical household supplies, similar to what they found in the living quarters. The difference was that these were in good condition. Some items could probably be retrieved at the conclusion of the search, should the necessity arise. In the back of the room, behind some boxes, a mattress and some sheets were not stored like the others. There was no doubt that the items had been used. A few objects were placed on the small crate next to the mattress. A large blue notebook caught the explorer’s attention. It had a hardcover and approximately a couple of hundred pages; only a few dozen were filled. The explorer opened it to a random page.

“Day 23. Helen is finally over her space sickness. I was starting to worry it would last the entire trip. I didn’t see myself holding her hair over the toilet bowl every other day for the next 180 days or so.”

The journal was handwritten. It was uncommon in those days. Its contents were a little difficult to decipher, but the explorer’s task was complete, and the other members of the team would not return for at least two hours. The explorer opened the journal on the first page and started reading from the beginning. It would help pass the time.

******

Day 2

We did it!

We’re in space!

Even though this isn’t my first trip to the Moon, it’s hard not to feel a little special about this flight. We started our last rotation and left Earth’s orbit an hour ago. We all gathered around the viewing windows to get one last look at our home planet. I felt a little sorry for the pilots. They had no choice but to look straight ahead, away from Earth. I wonder how they felt. I know for a fact that several tears were shed among the rest of the crew. I couldn’t tell if mine were tears of sadness, excitement, or just humility at the historical significance of our mission. Probably a mixture of all.

The next two days will be mostly chill. I think I’ll use the time to get to know some of the crew better. I don’t know some of them that well yet.

******

Day 4

We landed about five hours ago. The first-timers were absolutely thrilled. I remember my first time on the Moon like it was yesterday. I don’t think anyone can forget that small step we all took, just like Neil Armstrong did so long ago. I’m sure he’d be so proud of us. It’s hard to imagine him and Buzz Aldrin with nothing around them but that tiny capsule to bring them back. They could hardly move around in it, could they?

From their perspective, Kingston Base would look like a castle. I mean, it looks like a castle to me. It hasn’t been expanded since the last time I was here, but somehow it feels bigger. Probably because it’s less crowded than it used to be?

We’re going to spend a week here, waiting for a Starship 3 to join us with the rest of the supplies. And as soon as they’re all loaded onto the Susan Constant, we’ll board her for the long journey.
I can’t help but look at the Earth whenever I get the chance. I still can’t believe that in a few days I may never see it again except as a tiny dot in the sky. It’s such a strange feeling. I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little sad, but I’m more excited than sad. It’s hard not to compare ourselves to the settlers when they were about to leave Britain, never to return. The difference is that they didn’t have the same responsibilities that we have. In so many ways, the future of humanity depends on us, the new settlers.

******

Day 5

Last night, after everyone ate dinner, we had a video conference with Noel, the big boss. It was pretty similar to the ones we had before, only this time we were not in our living room or office or whatever. We were on the Moon, ready to go and join him! That made the whole thing feel even more real. I’m still pinching myself.

******

Day 10

The loading of the Susan Constant is almost complete as I write this.

We had a bit of a hiccup yesterday. Starship 3‘s approach to the Moon gave us a few cold sweats. It didn’t crash. Phew… Good thing the AI corrected the approach. Otherwise, we would have lost all of our food reserves and more. Our voyage to Mars would have been delayed for months, and that’s the best-case scenario. There’s a team in Texas that’s losing their jobs today without severance. But whatever… The ship is safe. The cargo is safe.

We got lucky!

Tomorrow, we’ll say farewell to the Moon, and we will transfer to the Susan Constant.

******

Day 12

Today, 120 humans, along with several dozen chickens, three cows, eighteen pigs, and tons of fruit and vegetable plants (and I mean “tons”—these trees are heavy!) boarded the Susan Constant and waved goodbye to Kingston’s residents. I could tell they were a bit jealous, but hopefully some of them will join us in a few years!

This is it!
We’re on our way to Mars!

The trip is scheduled to last about seven months. Interestingly, we’re first heading toward Venus. We’re using the planet’s gravity assist to slingshot to Mars. It’ll allow us to go faster with less energy.

I never fully understood how it worked, and I’m glad that long gone are the days when you needed to know all of those things perfectly to be allowed to go to space. I’m just a land pilot, a driver if you prefer. There are five of us on board. We’ll be in charge of driving and maintaining land vehicles on Martian soil, especially the multipurpose vehicles, or MPVs. We’ve nicknamed them “Big Wheels.” I’ll let you guess why.

But right now, we’re just passengers. Even on the Moon, I had people to drive me. It was nice, especially seeing old students now being in charge of the vehicles at Kingston.

Alright, I’ll write more later. We’re about to get the big boss’s daily message from Mars.

(to be continued)