Chapter 18: Digging

It was a slow passionate kiss. That is what he noticed the most. His wife always said goodbye in the morning, but this morning was different. This morning it was like she was afraid he wouldn't come back. 

"I hate it when you have to go inside the mines like you do today. Keep your helmet on and pay attention. I want you to come back to us."

Mike knew she was worried. All he had in him was a joke, "Oh I should tell you I'm going into the mines everyday if I'm going to get kisses like that. I almost don't want to leave today." 

She slapped him gently on the arm. "I can always call your boss and check the roster." 

He smiled at her one last time and stepped out of their living pod and into the hallway. The tunnel felt a little extra damp this morning, but it was the same temperature and smell he'd grown accustomed to, the ozone and burning smell. Everything was controlled by machines, and they were below the surface, safe from the radiation and UV rays he would be exposed to later. 

He walked along the tunnels and to the staircase which led to the upper dome. A beautiful scene came before him as it did every time he entered. Less ozone smell, more plants, soil, what he imagined Earth maybe smelled like. He had never been to earth being the third generation to live on Mars, so he didn't know rain, or snow or even air that wasn't produced in a machine. He lived his life as part of a colony born to keep humanity going no matter what. 

"Hello Carl!" Mike saw Carl the overseer and boss of all the construction. He rarely came this way and was probably stopping by to find out about supplies to build the next dome. 

"Hi Mike! How are the mines going? Find anything interesting in there? I'm always expecting you guys to uncover some ancient civilization." 

Mike laughed. "Isn't everybody?" Carl laughed too. 

He walked on over to the sky walk, his favorite part of his commute, and entered the moving walkways, heading in the direction of the subway system. It was fairly new, just introduced two years previously, to take miners and people working out in the "fields" to special domes where they could access the surface better. All the air locks in common areas were to be removed as they were no longer needed, and people were fearing their children would try and use them. They were outdated compared to the new airlocks. There were whispers of this having occurred in the past, they all were very securely locked now, but as the colony was growing it wasn't something anyone thought about.  Going outside was a dream of the past, distant memories of people who had lived on Earth.

In Mars today, going outside was terrifying. Something this generation was given nursery rhymes about as warnings. The outside was a hellish landscape and only people very highly trained go out more than once or twice in their lifetime. Mike was one of these people. 

"Am I taking anyone out with me today?" he anxiously asked his supervisor. Mike was a trainer, and he took many people out on their one required outside trip. Sometimes he ran the "glamping" expeditions for the government as well. All outside activities were regulated by the government and wealthy people liked the idea of having multiple trips to the outside. 

"Yes, you will take Sheila with you. Today you get to take the Tank to the mines. It's the new one I had you study up on the last two weeks. It's fully pressurized so it should be a comfortable ride until you get there." 

The idea warmed him. He loved the new machines. It was always exciting to be the first ones to try something out, after the bots of course. All the testing of the machines was done with robots and recordings to make sure the inside stays safe for the entire trip. 

Mike started suiting up in the locker area, putting on his UV protectant clothing and suit. Multiple layers, snaps and zippers making sure it's all secure so no regolith could enter. 

He walked out to the staging area and saw her. Shelia. She was the one he was going with today. 22. Blonde. Gorgeous. His wife would kill him if she saw this. It wasn't even his fault. He didn't pick her. 

"Hey, you must be Mike!" she smiled with her perfectly polished teeth. This was hard to find on the planet, the diet wasn't great and fluoride was not readily available. He guessed she either came from rich parents or was unnaturally gifted in the good looks department. 

"Yes, I am and I think this is our tank. It's new and I haven't been completely trained on it yet and I think we are the first people to take it out. So, this should be interesting. How many times have you been out?" 

She looked at him quizzically, "They didn't tell you about me?"

"No." He was starting to wonder about this stranger. He had an instant moment of feeling dumb. She was the Earth person who came here 3 years earlier. She was a major influencer on earth, she was given special permission and sent here to video and explore. 

"Oh. You are THAT Sheila. I remember now. You've been out loads of times! Do you know anything about this new tank?"

She smiled. She loved being known by people.  

"Yes. They briefed me on it. I can't wait to go to the mines. I haven't been there yet. Are we dropping off equipment?"

 She was very informed. That was good. Mike often times had to take people out who had no idea what he did or why it was important. 

"Indeed! We will be dropping off some pieces for drills and inspecting some of the bots. We will also be dropping off some supplies for the people stationed out there and we will be bringing back some iron to make parts for new structures here in the colony." 

She tapped a golden triangle on her suit, and it lit up. 

"This will be recording us the entire time, are you ok with it? It will live stream on my channel and all the way to earth. Of course they get a 20-minute delay."  She gave a little laugh. 

Mike nodded. "I consent to be filmed. Let's go ahead and get in the tank."

The climbed in the tank. It was spacious and lit up upon entering. They took seats in the front and a giant screen appeared. The tank rolled in through and airlock. Inside the tank it was quiet. Outside the tank was very loud and the doors were opening and closing, and AI was looking for signs of life before the final doors opened on the wide Martian landscape. 

"The mountain is where we are going today. It's Arias base where they mine the most iron on the planet. 25 people live there currently. They alternate living there and living in the domes. One year out there, 6 months in the domes. They are very well compensated for doing this. It's a very hard life, but it supports the growth of new domes and structures. We couldn't keep building on just what earth sends, plus it takes months to ship anything from earth."

They began to ramble over the Martian landscape. Having grown up on Earth Sheila was amazed by it every time she went out. Mike felt like he knew every rock and crevasse they passed and wasn't really amazed by it. Having grown up in domes and seeing this his entire life it didn't really phase him. 

The forgetting was the first thing they could see as they were leaving the air lock. These are the bodies thrown out during the beginning of the Mars colonies. Sheila gave a little shriek. Mike forgot it was there. 

"I'm sorry I forgot to warn you. Is that your first time seeing one?" 

"No, I saw one from Dome one. I can't believe they used to do that." 

"Well, they all have stories behind them. I think that one killed his wife and baby. It's just a reminder to control yourself. That's why they are called Forgetting's. Never forget what they did. Forget the person, but not the action. " 

They made it all the way to mine, crushing red rocks all the way. Dust moving all around them as they silently drove. Once they reached the mine they had to enter another airlock. Once again, to anyone not in the tank these noises were very loud. Once the door shut behind them, they had to wait until they were cleared, then move into the hanger. 

They were met by the manager of the mine. He was a tall, thin young man named Jared. He was completely enamored by lovely Sheila. 

"Oh wow. A celebrity here. This is amazing. I wish we had more time with you; I'd love to hear about how your adventure is going!" 

Sheila smiled. Loving the attention. "It's actually fabulous. I love Mars. I miss some Earth food, but everything her is new still, so it's fun." 

"Did you get to see the Forgetting's on the way here, or did Mike take you the other way?" 

Sheila looked sad, "I saw them. I didn't know there was another way, thanks Mike." she gave him a pouty look. 

"There isn't. Jared is just trying to make me look bad." They all laughed. 

"Let's have the guys grab the supplies and reload you. You want lunch? Or coffee? I have some dehydrated ice cream if you want a treat."  Jared was really laying it on thick. Dehydrated ice cream and coffee were really hard to come by and the fact he would share was special. 

"It's up to you Sheila, I actually have to write some emails for my boss, and I have to take the walk into the mines for my report on the machines. Do you want to hang around with Jared for the hour while I do that?" 

"I would like to shadow what he does here at the mines, for my blog of course." Mike knew exactly what was going on... 'sure, sure, for your blog' he though thought and chuckled to himself. 

"Ok, I will meet you back at the hanger in an hour. Jared don't lose her." They laughed. 

Mike put on the rest of his suit and his helmet and went through the airlock. 

An hour later they all met back up. Jared and Sheila exchanged contact information and said goodbye. Mike and Jared shook hands. Mike and Sheila climbed into the tank. This time it was secured with a trailer of mined iron. 

Airlocks opened and closed loudly.

"Did you learn anything today."  Mike asked in earnest. 

"Yeah, everyone is looking for Aliens, but I think it's probably just you guys living here." She laughed at her own joke. 

Then she asked what Jared's story is, was he married, does he have children, how does it work with the six months off and one year on and other questions. Mike did not have all the answers, but he did his best. It was clear they both liked each other. Relationships on Mars were different though, more controlled then on Earth.

Any kind of a relationship would have to be approved and would need to head to marriage quickly. It would be difficult for them to start one, but not impossible. Mars was full of possibilities.