Starship Legacy: A Novel by Not Elon Musk

"On my way," Luke replied, giving Ben a nod before heading to the lab. The rover could wait a few minutes – Sarah's tone suggested something significant.

He found her hunched over a holographic display, fingers dancing through layers of geological data. The usual organized chaos of her workspace had given way to focused intensity, with multiple screens showing mineral compositions and chemical breakdowns.

"Look at this." She highlighted a section of data, expanding it so the numbers filled the air between them. "The soil samples from near the lava tube? They're showing significantly higher concentrations of water-bearing minerals than anything we've found on the surface. And the phosphate levels..." She pulled up another chart. "They're off the charts compared to our current growing medium."

Luke studied the readings, understanding dawning. "You're saying the soil down there is actually better for growing?"

"Not just better." Sarah's eyes were bright with excitement. "It's perfect. The volcanic activity that formed the tube must have concentrated certain minerals. Plus, being protected from surface radiation means the soil chemistry hasn't been altered like it has up here." She paused, running a hand through her hair. "Luke, we wouldn't even need to process it much. We could almost plant directly in it."

The implications hit him like a physical force. Their current growing operation required intensive soil treatment, a constant battle to create something that would support Earth plants. The energy and resource cost was one of their biggest limitations.

"Have you double-checked the readings?"

"Triple-checked," Sarah confirmed. "Asked Mark to verify the analysis too. It's real." She pulled up another display, this one showing comparative growth projections. "With soil like this, we could expand food production by at least 400% in the first year alone. Maybe more."

Luke felt a familiar surge of excitement, tempered by years of Martian caution. "Alright, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We still need to verify the tube's stability, set up proper infrastructure—"

"I know, I know." Sarah waved off his concerns, though her smile remained. "But Luke... this could change everything. Real farming on Mars, not just careful hydroponics and treated soil plots. We could actually feed a real colony."

Before he could respond, Ben's voice crackled over the comm. "Hey Cap, diagnostics are complete. Rover's ready for her first underground expedition whenever you are."

Luke looked at Sarah's soil readings, then at the eager expression on her face. "Want to come watch the first run?"

"Try and stop me," she replied, already saving her data. "I've got the sampling protocols all queued up and ready."

As they headed back to the workshop, Luke found himself thinking about that poster of Musk again. The billionaire had dreamed of a self-sustaining city on Mars. Maybe, just maybe, they'd found the key to making that dream a reality – buried right beneath their feet all along.