One-shots/Short Stories

Chris Beck

A/N: Okay like seriously guys, you need to read this Chris Beck book called 'The Girl On Mars' by @unbreakablestan because OH MY GOD! It's so good guys. Gave me motivation to write a one-shot kind of similar to her story. Just. . .read her book, guys. Really.

Best Friends
Ever since they were little babies, Chris Beck and Ashley Kingsley were the best of friends. They did everything together, they did the same curriculum, the same everything. So it wasn't a surprise that they were going to Mars together.
At first, NASA was reluctant in letting them go together since relationships were not permitted (even though they weren't dating), but since the two were the best of the best and worked better together, they allowed the two to go together.
Overall, there were seven astronauts aborting the Hermes; Commander Lewis, Vogel, Martinez, Johansen, Watney, Beck, and Ashley.
Everything was fine and dandy in the Hermes, until Sol 18 on Mars.

***

They were trying to abort the mission on Mars, but it was kind of difficult to do so when there's a storm trying to hold you back.
Ashley was behind Beck protectively, Mark behind her. They were close to their destination when suddenly an object flew in their direction. Lewis told them all to duck - but unfortunately Ashley and Mark didn't make it on time.
Ashley attempted to save Mark, only to be brought along with him. When Beck turned to grab her, he was only met with emptiness.
"ASHLEY!" Beck yelled, horror creeping into his veins. The others called out for them as well. "Ashley, where are you!"
"Beck, get to safety." Lewis told the crushed man sternly. "I'll stay back to look for them."
"What? No!" Beck protested. "I need to get her - she needs me! I need her!"
"Vogel, Martinez." Lewis called. The two men arrived and grabbed Beck much to his dismay. "I'm sorry, Beck."
"Let me go!" Beck protested. "Let me go! Ashley! Ashley, can you copy? Ashley! ASHLEY!"

***

The crew sat together at the kitchen, eating quietly. Beck wasn't there; he was in his room crying over the loss of his best friend - the friend that had stuck to him ever since they were little. And she was gone from his side.
"I can't believe it." Martinez murmured. "They're gone."
"The two people that brightened the room with their humour." Vogel sighed. "And Beck. . ."
"His best friend -"
"His crush -" Lewis and Johansen spoke at the same time. They looked at each other with wide eyes.
"Um. . ." Johansen mumbled.
"Beck loved her. More than a friend." Martinez explained quietly to their commander. "We could see it clearly in his eyes."
"Relationships -"
"That's why he didn't do anything towards Ashley about his feelings." Johansen explained. "He knew the rules, so he didn't pursue on his feelings."
"It was a miracle NASA allowed the two together on this mission." Vogel added.
"Because they work better together." Lewis pointed out. "Did she -"
"Ashley didn't know about his feelings." Johansen answered. "Just like he doesn't know hers. . .well, didn't." she corrected to past tense sadly. They were silent for a while. "What do we do?"
"We continue like we usually do." Lewis said eventually. "Make sure we do our duties well, and just try to go home."
"What about Beck?"
"He needs some time alone to grieve. He knew her longer. It's more painful for him - especially since he loved her."

***

"I can't believe we're stuck on Mars." Ashley sighed, listening to Mark heat up their foods. "The team and the whole world is going to think we're dead. Our parents, the team - oh, Beck. . ."
"Relax, Kingsley." Mark assured her, giving her her food. "We'll get out of here. I mean, we're finally getting communication with NASA!"
"True. . ." She looked unsure.
"Come on," he stood up, "let's type in that code so we can chat with them. Okay?"
"Okay."

***

What Mitch Henderson told the crew startled them all. Made them wake up from the grief of the loss of two members. Made them feel more alive than ever - especially Beck.

"Mark Watney and Ashley Kingsley are still alive."

"What?" Beck would have fallen to the ground if it weren't for Lewis and Vogel. "W-What?"
"Beck. . ." Lewis called to the dazed man. "Are you okay?"
"She's alive." he whispered, ignoring her and the others. "She's alive. . ."
"And Mark." Martinez added in joy.
"And I left them behind." Lewis mumbled sadly.
"We all did -"
"You were just following orders -"
"I want her back." Beck's words stopped their talking. Beck was standing by himself without help, staring down at the ground with a determined look. "I want her back." he repeated. He looked at them in the eyes. "I'm going to get her and Mark back on the Hermes, and I am going to tell her I love her. Screw the rules about relationships; I'm doing this. I lost her once, I'm not losing her again."

***

"Beck, someone wants to talk to you." Johansen popped her head in his room.
"Who?" Beck frowned, setting down the photo album of him and Ashley he was looking through. Johansen simply smiled at him cheekily.
"You'll see."
Arriving in the main room where the rest of the crew were, Beck ignored them and headed straight to the laptop that was waiting for him. When he got comfortable, he looked at the screen and felt the breath get knocked out of him when he realised who wanted to talk to him.

To Christopher Robin,
You better not wreck my MARVEL movie collection up there. And don't forget The Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter, and Twilight series - on second thoughts, you wouldn't even be near the last one. When I get there I better expect my stuff to be in good shape.

Oh yeah, not dead.
-Ashley

"Ashley. . ." Beck whispered, tears of joy escaping his eyes. "Oh my God. . .Ashley. . ." He quickly responded to her, feeling his heart race in his chest.

Ashley,
I swear on my life I will get you back on this ship no matter what. I am not losing you again. I missed you so much I can't wait to have you at my side again.

(I touched the MARVEL collection, sorry. I wanted to watch them)

Sincerely,
Christopher Robin

Chris,
I can't wait to see you again.

I missed you as well.

***

As soon as Ashley took off her helmet, she was pulled into a hard kiss by Beck. She could distinctly hear the crew whoop for them, her main focus on the man in front of her.
Chris Beck - her best friend since they were babies - was kissing her with passion and love. He was expressing his love for her in front of the crew despite the rules - he was being the Chris Beck she loved.
"I love you." he whispered when they pulled apart. "And you are never leaving my side."
"I love you too." she laughed weakly, tears escaping her eyes in relief and joy. "I'm just glad to be alive with you all and returning home."
"Let's go home." Beck announced. Ashley smiled at his announcement.
"Home it is."

The End

A/N: Sucky ending but yolo.