"I saw Rebecca being crushed to pulp from the sky by Adam's Hammer.
I saw Qiwei die alone in a desolate, empty alley.
I saw Mann suffer a cyber psychosis and die at the hands of the Anti-Terrorism Mobile Squad.
I also saw Pira get shot in the head by a cyber psycho.
I saw Sasha leap to her death from the Biotechnology Building, Dolio dying in front of Mann.
I saw Jack die beside you, still yearning to be a big figure until his last breath, saw Old Wei become silent and reserved many years later, saw Lark fly alone to the Moon..."
V suddenly felt a chill down her spine; she looked at Mercer, her skin prickling: "What about me?"
"You become a legend, V." Mercer smiled at her, his eyes somewhat complex: "No matter the ending, whether it's life or death... you're a legend, V."
"... Ha, that's not too bad?" V said uncertainly, then turned to Mercer and asked, "And you? What is your future like?"
"I don't know." Mercer shrugged, then laughed under V's gaze: "I'm already living in the most beautiful future outside of that story."
V looked at the smile on his face, and for some reason, couldn't help but turn away—his smile was just too dazzling...
"So this is the reason you plan on going to the Moon alone? If it weren't for me insisting... you would plan to change that so-called future by yourself?"
V spoke up, unable to hold back: "Is it worth it? I mean... if I predicted all this, I'd probably just focus on living well for myself, yet you're risking it all without thinking of yourself...
I feel like, even if it's the end of the world, as long as you want to live, you'll do just fine, so why are you risking your life like this?"
"V, do you know what was the happiest moment for me since I came into this world?"
Mercer didn't wait for V to answer and continued: "It was in Spark Team's initial underground base... Each of our rooms were tiny, we squeezed into small rooms in the basement for workouts every day...
But I felt happy—everyone together, each fighting for a better tomorrow, like a family...
So, I'm risking everything for myself because, to me, without our home, this world is worthless, and I wouldn't find any meaning in my existence."
Mercer thought about the day he parted ways with Spider Murphy and said wistfully: "Before that, I even felt my life was like a game...
I didn't care when my story would stop; I just moved forward, pressing the gas pedal, even death as long as I could become a great legend seemed alright to me.
But in a certain moment... I realized I didn't want to die, nor did I want to see all of you die, perhaps since then, this world for me was no longer an interesting game or adventure.
Rather than becoming a legend, experiencing interesting things... I prefer being with everyone for a long time."
His gaze held some longing, as if glimpsing something beautiful, while V simply watched his profile silently, then sighed after a while.
"Why are you sighing?" Mercer asked.
V just looked at him: "You're not good."
"What's not good?" Mercer countered.
V hesitated, then said softly after a while: "In your future... or rather, now, what am I? A brother in arms on life and death missions?"
"... You don't actually think I would consider a pretty, gentle girl who's willing to accompany me to death as just a brother, do you?"
Mercer's sudden confession made her fingers freeze in an instant.
Her heart raced uncontrollably, her breath became uneven, a rush of warmth made V's head feel hot and somewhat dizzy.
She pretended to be calm, her face showing no change: "Then what do you consider me?"
"..." Mercer didn't speak, he merely changed his posture, reclining sideways on the seat.
Both lay sideways facing each other, with only the car's control console between them.
"... I'm asking you!" She unconsciously raised her voice.
Mercer locked eyes with her: "Do you really want me to say?"
"... Damn, don't say it! You're disgusting, don't look at me like that!" She turned her head sharply, only to find a hand silently reaching over, gently holding her metal-covered hand.
Through the nano-metal, it seemed as if she could still feel the warmth of his palm, and V thought, she might really have a brain disorder.
"Then what's your view of me?" This time Mercer reversed the question; he held her hand tightly, not letting go even if she tried hard to pull away.
V turned in exasperation to glare at him: "A great guy, but terrible, that's what."
"Come on, we might both die here... let's talk about something real." Mercer's smiling face seemed quite wicked.
V gritted her teeth, glaring at him, then after a while, deflated like a punctured ball: "Pretty much similar to what you think, alright? But I really can't..."
She seemed frustrated and a little sad: "Like Rebecca... I'm not that magnanimous!"
"Why pull others into our matters." Mercer said confidently: "Each person in their place, isn't it just fine?"
"Fine my ass!" V seemed genuinely irritated, glaring at him: "You're such a bother! Seriously! I don't know why I'm so brain damaged..."