When V had packed up her things and calmed her mind, and found Mercer again, the robots had already prepared Lark's rocket for launch.
V still kept silent with a pout, seemingly still holding a grudge against Mercer's earlier decision to let her leave first.
[V: Not done yet?]
[Mercer: Almost, the system reset, and all parameters have to be adjusted manually... Fortunately, there's Venus.]
[V: Oh.]
She held it in for a moment, but eventually picked up an oxygen tank.
[V: Need a refill?]
Mercer smiled, reached out to take it, using the Octopus Arm to carry the oxygen tank, pulled out the pressurized intake tube from the back of the oxygen backpack, secured it, and began refilling.
Watching the oxygen levels return to full, Mercer just looked through the glass window at the busy robots and the enormous manned rocket in the distance.
[Mercer: I'm serious, V, it's okay if you leave now. I've prepared for consciousness transfer, even my own clone... If necessary, I'll directly transfer my consciousness back to Night City.]
[V: You think I'm not prepared? Ha, you really think your little tricks can fool me? I've had Venus set me up too.]
[Mercer: Set up what!?]
He turned his head in surprise to look at V.
V spoke with an air of inevitability.
[V: A clone body, of course!]
[Mercer: Venus!?]
[Venus: She's tricking you.]
[Mercer: V!]
[V: Damn, how can Venus have no emotional intelligence?]
[Venus: Being scolded by you is better than being thought of as an irresponsible overseer by my master, right?]
[V: Tsk... Well, anyway, with your skill, getting me a body shouldn't be that hard, right? You even have the confidence to bring Silver Hand, who's been dead for decades, back to life, not to mention me?]
[Mercer: Haven't you thought about the fact that if you change bodies, your abilities might be lost? You know the defects of fast cloning—it's impossible to guarantee the same physical attributes!]
[V: So what? You won't want me if I can't fight anymore?]
She flashed the red light on her helmet visor threateningly.
[V: Just so you know, if I become a weakling, not a single bit of my salary and benefits can be cut! You hear me?]
[Mercer: ...I'd be willing to take care of you for a lifetime. ]
[V: Screw you! Why make it sound so ambiguous!]
[Mercer: I'm serious, V. Even if I fall on hard times and have to work for a company, I'd be happy to take care of you.]
[V: What about Rebecca and the others? Aren't you feeling guilty saying this?!]
[Mercer: I never said I'd take care of just you... Damn, won't I earn enough to support a few girls? Don't worry, you'll be well-fed and live the good life!]
[V: You're so shameless! Does your Sister V need you to keep me?!]
[Mercer: A consensual relationship isn't shameless; I'm just a responsible man, after all. But seriously, V, if it ever comes to that, I'd definitely be happy to take care of you for a lifetime, and no one can bully you.]
[V: ...Damn, stop, no more chatting!]
She turned her head away, crossing her arms in front, not speaking anymore.
Mercer suddenly had an urge, wanting to see her expression under the helmet—wondering if there might be a hint of a blush?
The two of them waited silently for a long time until Venus announced that the rocket was ready for launch.
[Mercer: Get ready to launch, Lark, have fun in Europe.]
[Lark: Thank you! Mercer!]
[Mercer: I'll have Venus send you the specifics... In any case, safe travels.]
[Lark: Thanks! If there's a chance, I'll definitely repay this favor!]
[Lark: ...By the way, V, I feel Mercer is quite a nice guy. Why don't you two just get together already?]
[Lark: I see you two are just one step away... bound to end up together sooner or later.]
[V: Damn! Mind your own business! Don't talk nonsense! What makes you think we're just a step away? There's a lot missing, okay! I'm not even...]
[Lark: I was listening just now, you two didn't turn off squad voice chat while talking...]
[V: ?]
...
[You have been kicked out of the squad voice chat by V.]
Lark held back her laughter, but in the end, just listened to the rumble of the engine, waved silently at the two still on the Moon from behind the screen.
Thank you...
And, I hope everything goes well for you.
See you again under the bright Earth!
As the Moon became gradually smaller with the rocket launch, Lark slowly closed her eyes.
Finally, slept a deep, restful sleep she hadn't had in a long time.
...
And just as Lark happily returned to Earth,
Mercer, along with V, sat in a fully enclosed all-terrain lunar rover, driving with no hesitation as they left the base, heading towards the barren, endless lunar wilderness.
The next destination of their journey was planned even before the lunar landing—the Moon's Arasaka Base.