Dead on Mars

Tomcat turned around to continue directing the work that needed to be done. A prediction with an area exceeding 28 million square kilometers was meaningless.

Tang Yue stared at the map on the screen.

Over the past couple of days, Tang Yue’s heart was hanging in midair. The Sword of Damocles, in the form of Comet Tomcat-Tang-Mai I, was hanging over his head, making him feel like a convict awaiting judgment. The court could absolve him or pass the death sentence, leaving him uneasy.

Now, the judgment was passed.

However, it involved throwing a die. He would be spared if it was even, and death if odd.

On the Martian map, the Isidis Planitia was a tiny plain with a radius of 700 kilometers and was close to the equator. The Martian northern and southern hemispheres were very different. The northern hemisphere was mostly covered with smooth, low-lying plains, while the southern hemisphere was pockmarked with all kinds of highlands and covered with countless craters. As for the Isidis Planitia, it was a plain in the northern hemisphere that protruded out towards the south.

West of the Isidis Planitia was the famous Syrtis Major Planum. It appeared pink in terms of elevation because this elevation was over a thousand meters. But in fact, this was actually a huge, dark region on an actual map. The color it presented was because of the exposed basalt.

West of Syrtis Major Planum was Terra Sabaea. This was one of the largest highlands on the Martian surface. Its east-west distance spanned 4,700 kilometers and it was covered with meteorite craters.

Heading further west from Terra Sabaea was the equally wide Arabia Terra.

Based on the predictions of the Kunlun Station’s computer, the impact of Comet Tomcat-Tang-Mai I could be there… It was a massive ellipse with a semimajor axis exceeding 3,000 kilometers. It spanned the entire Terra Sabaea, westwards towards the Arabia Terra, and eastwards towards the Isidis Planitia.

“Life to the left, death to the right.”

Tang Yue pressed his palms together.

“God of Fate, you mustn’t screw up! You must throw a six for me!”

“Has the impact spot of the comet been predicted?” Mai Dong’s voice sounded.

“It has been predicted, but the computer gave a huge prediction area of 28 million square kilometers.” Tomcat shrugged. “It’s meaningless.”

“28 million square kilometers.”

“Yes. It’s bigger than the combined area of Russia and China.” Tomcat continued pacing around in the Hab. “That comet can slam into any spot in that area.”

“Mr. Cat, what if… I mean what if…” Mai Dong hesitated for a few seconds. “What if Kunlun Station is destroyed by the comet?”

Tomcat was taken aback.

“The decision lies in your hands, Miss Mai Dong. Now, we are the only three left in this world. No one can force you to do anything. I respect and will abide by any decision made by you and Tang Yue. If the comet really strikes us, you will not survive, even if you come down.

“You can abandon the landing plan. I will forever provide you a Plan B to choose from.”

“Plan B?” Mai Dong asked. “What other choices are there?”

“Leave the orbit of Mars,” Tomcat said. “Orion II still has enough propellant to send you away from near-orbit, and enter the orbit of the Sun, allowing you to leave this fatal comet.”

“Mr. Cat, you want me to flee alone?”

“It’s not considered fleeing.” Tomcat enunciated each word with a deadpan expression. “Faced with an unavoidable disaster, I have an obligation and responsibility to ensure your survival within my means. Miss Mai Dong, you also have an obligation and responsibility to ensure your survival.”

“I object to it.”

Mai Dong didn’t dare imagine how lonely and despairing her life would be if she abandoned Tang Yue and Tomcat on Mars as she ventured into the Universe forever.

Compared to such a dark and lonely life, death seemed more acceptable.

“I will not abandon you to flee alone. I’m not leaving. Mr. Cat, it’s just us dying together. I’m not afraid of dying.”

“I know you aren’t, Miss Mai Dong.” Tomcat laughed. “In such a perilous situation, living is something that requires courage.”

Mai Dong silently floated in the windowless service module. The cabin walls were covered with soft white inner lining. She had dimmed the lights significantly as she held a book titled “Mars United Space Station System Maintenance Manual.” This was one of the few physical books in the space station.

If she really left near-orbit, Orion II would become a satellite that revolved around the Sun. It would fly aimlessly for billions of years as Mai Dong would become a human with no origins and place to return to. Then, she would slowly die without anyone knowing.

The girl shivered.

This was the worst outcome—Kunlun Station being destroyed by the comet while Orion vanished into deep space.

“Mr. Cat.” Mai Dong’s tone suddenly turned stern. “You mentioned that you would respect and abide by all my choices.”

Tomcat was taken aback. “Yes, as Kunlun Station’s assistant, my job and responsibility are to help the astronauts carry out their work, and ensure their safety in necessary situations.”

“Then I’ll be requesting that under no circumstances do you change the Orion II spacecraft’s flight control program without my knowledge, making it leave near-orbit around Mars.” Mai Dong enunciated each and every word in a bid to prevent any loopholes in logic. This was the first time she was using such an official tone and attitude to speak to Tomcat. “Also you are not to bypass my authority, without my knowledge, to directly control the spacecraft to leave near-orbit around Mars.”

After Mai Dong said that, she carefully considered if there were any loopholes in what she had said.

“In addition, Tang Yue has no right to request you to violate my aforementioned requests. Nor are you allowed to control Orion II to leave near-orbit around Mars on your own accord…”

“Alright, alright, alright. I get it. Miss Mai Dong, you don’t have to keep emphasizing it.” Tomcat was quite taken aback. “I respect your views. If you don’t wish to leave, no one will force you to leave. You just need to be responsible for yourself. I will not bypass you in the control of Orion.”

Mai Dong heaved a sigh of relief.

She was very worried that Tomcat and Tang Yue would control Orion II to ensure her safety. She was afraid that she would one day awaken to no longer be able to see Mars.

“Silly lass.” Tomcat sighed secretly as it looked at Mai Dong’s face. The latter was biting down on her lip with a steadfast look in her eyes. “Miss Mai Dong, do you not trust me?”

“Of course I do.”

Tomcat laughed. “If so, is there a need to say it so formally?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Cat.”

“The comet might not hit us. The chances of Kunlun Station surviving are still quite high. We’ve been unlucky all this time, so we should be lucky this time, right? As long as Lady Luck doesn’t have facioplegia, she will smile at us at some point in time!” Tang Yue said loudly from the table. “As long as the die keeps being cast, there will be one day when a six will appear!”

“Heard that?”

“Got it.” Mai Dong nodded. “Mr. Cat, let’s quickly modify Orion and complete all of this as quickly as possible.”

“OK. OK. However, this matter cannot be rushed… We have to do it step by step.” Tomcat nodded and erected the Orion model on the table. “Using Orion II for the descent is a highly risky endeavor. Any mistake will cause an accident. Tang Yue and I wish you to come down safely… Do you need to take a break? It will be EVA work next.”