Chapter Text
Sol 6 was officially the worst day of your life. It had started great as can be, you were on Mars for Christ’s sake! How many other people could say that? 6 days since your arrival and while back on earth the repetitive collecting of soil would have been a bore; the fact that it was on a completely different planet made it fascinating for you.
You were busy collecting samples for your experiments and listening to the team bicker back and forth. Your body tingling when the familiar sound of Beck’s voice sounded through the comms. It was no secret that you had a crush on the doctor. Well actually it was a secret and that was the big problem because while Beck was unaware of your feelings he was developing his own for your teammate Beth.
Mark was your confidant, he had figured it all out halfway to Mars when he noticed how much you blushed when Beck came into the room. From that point on it was an endless source of teasing from Mark but it was all in jest so you didn’t mind all that much. Mark was like the older brother you never wanted but appreciated all the same. However, his teasing became an issue when Martinez picked up on it and joined in to. At least Beck hadn’t figured out yet.
When you got the call from NASA about the storm your stomach had dropped. The HAB wasn’t designed to last this long and the MAV would tip for sure. You’d only been there for 6 sols, how could you go back now? Mark suggested you wait it out and you nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, c’mon, we’ve been here for 6 sols. We just need to tie down the MAV before the storm hits and gets too bad,” you voiced.
Commander Lewis shook her head. “No, it’s too risky. Prepare for emergency evacuation.”
The team rushed into action, getting into their spacesuits and packing only the essentials- the storm was moving fast and who knew how long they would have. You would have to leave behind your box of personal items that contained your laptop and pictures of your family and the crew. You were a little bummed but it beat dying.
The team was leaving the airlock and making last checks on equipment before they opened the door to the Mars atmosphere. The MAV wasn’t planted too far away but in the eye of the storm it would be a difficult crossing. Your heart hammered in your chest but you focused on the shape of Beck in front of you. As long as you could see him everything would be fine, just don’t lose sight of him.
Lewis opened the airlock and everyone was forced to the ground by the strength of the wind. Through your comm, you could hear Martinez yell that the MAV was going to tip over. That spurred everyone into action; you made small progress. The force of the wind made it feel like you were walking through molasses and threatened to knock you over. Behind you, Mark called out to use something to secure the MAV but before anyone could respond the communications dish flew past and hit him straight on.
You looked back and he was gone.
“Mark!” You yelled out, frantically searching for your best friend but you couldn’t see far past the storm.
“Look for Watney, spread out!” Lewis ordered and you did so, stepping in the direction you assumed he would have been flung in. You couldn’t focus, you couldn’t, you wouldn’t leave your best friend behind. Tears fell down your face as the realisation that Mark was gone sunk in but you refused to admit it, still searching. Even if he was dead you had to find his body, you had to bring him home.
You could hear the team giving up. You wanted to tell them to shut up and keep looking but it wasn’t your call to make. It was only you and Lewis still outside the MAV.
“Commander, Y/L/N, you need to come inside. Now.” Beck spoke through the comms. Normally his voice would bring you comfort but now it didn’t help. The only person who truly knew about your feelings for Beck was gone. How could you live without Mark?
Lewis gave you the order to get inside and you knew there was no arguing with her on this.
“Okay.” You agreed, your voice cracking. Slowly and reluctantly you began to make your way to the MAV. By now you could barely see past the sand and debris in the air. You made your way over to where you hoped the MAV was, you could see it in your sight. The light of Lewis’ helmet was straight ahead, you were almost there when you got hit.
The other half of the communications dish was uplifted and hit you, sending you flying far away from the MAV. Tremendous pain exploded throughout your side and you were aware that the storm was carrying you further away and you weren’t even touching the ground. The pain became too much and your vision went black.
Back on the MAV, the team was alerted when your biomonitor failed, even belted into the seats Beck turned around as far as he could to Martinez at the front. “What happened?” he asked sharply.
Martinez looked lost as he tapped at the controls, “Y/L/N’s biomonitor just failed,” he told them confused and worried. “Commander?”
There was a pause before the response.
“Y/L/N got hit by debris. I’m going back out to look for them both.” She said, ready to step off the ladder.
“Y/L/N and Watney are dead, commander.” Beck said strained, he felt like his world was breaking. “We’ve lost two team members already, we can’t lose you too.”
Within a minute Lewis was seated and they were launching off the surface of Mars, the whole team was silent. No one dared speak as they looked over at the two empty seats. Beck faced away from Vogel to hide the tears that were streaming down his face.