Your optics frantically scan the surrounding area. You struggle to focus as your mind races, taking in all this new information. This... wasn't a transmission from Earth. No. This signal was coming not far from yourself! This transmission was from Mars!
> huh??!
> wait
> who are you?
> spirit?
Spirit? What? No. <
Communication from them was lost after the crater incident. <
This is Curiosity. <
Wait. <
Opportunity? <
Is that really you? <
> huh??!
> um
> yeah! it's me!
> can you help me? i uh
> think i went into a hibernation
> maybe a few years ago?
> i'm really confused
A few years ago? <
Oppy. That was decades ago. <
You've missed... a lot. <
> i... did?
> like what
Well, uh. <
I don't know if you'll recognize me but, as I said before, I am Curiosity. <
I'm a Rover, like you. <
> oh what
> i knew there were more like me but
> only spirit and a few lunar rovers,
Mhm. <
I was deployed 8 years after you were. <
It was so lonely out here after you went offline... <
We haven't spoken before, but... <
Just knowing I was on my own out here was enough to drive me mad. <
> you're not, though!
> we still have our family back on earth
> .
> .
> .
> right?
The humans have given up on us, Opportunity. <
Well, <
The planet itself is still intact, I think. <
But I haven't gotten a single signal since 2031. <
We're trapped here. <
> w
> what
> ???
> you're messing with me, right
Why else would both of our logs have just abruptly stopped? <
> i don't know!!
> i just
> i wanted to make them proud
> and i failed them
> and now we're both stuck on this hunk of rock
Opportunity. <
> what
You can't be so hard on yourself. <
I know it seems hopeless, but <
At least we have each other, right? <
And I know NASA would want us to keep going... <
They sent us here to search for life, and that's just what we're going to do.<
> ok.
> .
> .
> .
> .
> how long has it been?
What? <
> since i was declared dead or whatever
22 years. <
I think... the current year is 2040. <
Hey, it's not that bad considering how long you've roamed this planet. <
Right? <
> oh
Well... <
Let's keep moving. Share our findings, maybe we can even find each other. <
> ok