**Notes on Past Events** Associated posts will be linked below. Audio visual notes to follow and to be linked.

Earth timeline date: July 26th 2023. This was the day we found out about Astrid. We all knew she was down there undercover but, with a lot of these missions, it’s hard to keep track of exactly what is going on especially when time travel is involved. So we were under the impression that she was undercover and everything was fine.

Then the hearing was announced on X, and I knew this wasn’t good. On one hand, I had to worry about what was actually going on with the hearing and on the other hand I had to worry about the humans of Earth actually believing in aliens… I mean, the only reason I am allowed to post freely is under the assumption that people would think it’s ridiculous that a “Girl from Mars” would actually be a real girl from Mars.

In a panic, I thought maybe I could just comment on a few of the posts. Like “Nothing to see here” or “keep on scrolling”. I got caught up in the moment and used some other choice words, phrases that weren’t exactly the most respectful… Um at all. And then I saw some accounts posting their spaceships and I had recently just got a pink paint coating on mine and I had a couple pictures to share so I posted those. I couldn’t contain it. I posted those puppies all over the place. I did that a lot. Probably a little too much. Definitely too much. I was stuck in a whirlwind of back and forth. Words, notifications, everything was flying at me in direct reflection of what I put out there. Some for good, some for bad, some for could have been better. I tried to delete some of the comments but I think the damage was done. I think I brought some unintended attention to myself and to all of us on Mars some for good, some for pretty bad.

It wasn’t long until I heard my name reverberate from the intercom speakers of my lab. It was Boss. He has an anonymous account of his own, for monitoring, and I think he saw what I was up to. How I was handling the situation, and he was not happy about it to say the least… At all. But I mean… fair.

For the rest of the day we had to have a meeting about the importance of… lets just say discretion. Even if everyone believed that I was just some random account, I really couldn’t give out too much information especially with things like hearings that are directly linked to the governments in power. We talked about the risks, implications and how it’s really not just about me, my account and research, but really the safety of all the people here on Mars. We can’t risk drawing any kind of attention from organizations on Earth. They have already compromised a lot of missions in the past that have hindered our growth, and safety. Believe it or not, some groups don’t actually have the best intentions for the people on Mars. With nothing else considered, it’s just not who we are. Not who we strive to be. It wasn’t a way to represent the people of Mars, even if It was from an intentionally random anonymous account.

Getting caught up in the tornado of drama, I don’t know how, but I wasn’t even thinking about Astrid. I guess I just assumed that she was fine, because she always is. She has always been way tougher than me.

And then we found out… We heard them say “Non Human’ remains…” And we knew. That was her. It was like being hit by a train. We all thought she was doing fine down there and that this hearing was irrelevant, you know… as usual. But it wasn’t as usual, it was devastating. It hurt more than I could have ever imagined it would have. I don’t think I ever grappled with the concept that she wouldn’t be in this universe at the same time that I was. Astrid was the kind of alien that everyone looked up to. She was strong, talented, honorable, a badass, funny as heck and overall just someone who inspired you to be better at being you. A truly unique soul. The universe gained a good one that day and I could only hope to see her soul again through mysteries.

We have a tradition on Mars and that is, no matter how awful we may feel about losing one of our teammates, we celebrate their ascension into the stars because that’s the honorable send off that they deserve. When you think about it, would you rather have a bunch of your friends and teammates sulking at the fact that you passed or would you rather them celebrate your life and all the awesome memories that they had with you. We aim to remember and honor, in a positive light, those who pass on Mars. Even if honor was a stark contrasting concept for me to hold at that moment.

The lights in the lab dimmed and I heard doors from across the hallways closing as voices got louder and broke through the silence of the room.

“Hey, we’re all going to go to Dusties. Throw back a few you know.. In honor of Astrid” a few of them said. With a group of some others from other departments with him.

“Yeah sure, sounds great.” I said back. Knowing I needed to get out of the lab, my house and probably even my own head for a little bit. It did sound fun. It would be good to get out. It would be good to sort through the kaleidoscope of thoughts and emotions that swam through my mind.

When I got there, everyone was there. Fermentations were flying back and forth. Glasses clanked. Repoured. Over and over. Until none of us could see straight.

I couldn’t see straight. Waves of nausea and delusion fell over me as I tried to decipher which way it was to the bathroom, when I could barely tell which way was up.

I’m not sure if I ever made it to the bathroom, or anything else that happened that night for that matter. I just woke up in my bed, with a note stuck to my mirror, reminding me of the meeting I had that morning. I was completely void of memory. Left with nothing but a pit in my stomach of thoughts… of the reality, of what could have happened.