Mercury - Part 5

Part 5 – Where We Stand

01 Bio-Tech Report

27/01/2025

After receiving our third approval from you, Mr. Erikson, we promptly informed the subjects that the Mercury project was being terminated. For some of our subjects, we may require some psychiatric intervention in order to continue the experiments. Others, we don't think will have any difficulty recovering from their playmate's absence. Currently, we are reporting behavioural states of the subjects in order to watch for any kind of warning flags.

-Neptune has shown defiance (EXPERIMENT 205) in the face of the idea of Mercury's euthanasia. We theorize that Neptune has taken on the other subjects as being subordinates, and is therefore working to protect the subordinates from harm. Looking from this point of view, Neptune is acting precisely how it's designed to. While we are giving Neptune punishment every day for defiance (complete submersion in water, taking advantage of Neptune's hydrophobia), it is important to note that the Neptune project is still completely on track.

-Uranus dotes on Mercury, trying to comfort it through the final tests. While it is out of character for Uranus to act hostile towards the researchers, there have been a few incidents so far. Once again, this defiance is natural, given that Uranus is so protective of its playmates.

-Saturn doesn't seem fully cognizant of what's going on, only that Mercury is very sad lately. Saturn has commented on this on a few occasions, wanting to help its friend, but seems unaware of Mercury's actual situation.

-Jupiter is unemotional about it, but understands very well what's happening. It has withdrawn from any interactions with Mercury, believing any investment in that relationship would be, at this point, worthless.

-Mars understands Mercury's fate, but doesn't appear to be at all bothered. It has even commented that if Mercury knew how to 'shut up and follow commands' then this wouldn't have to happen. It appears to support the euthanasia, never having liked Mercury anyways.

-Venus doesn't seem aware of what's going on, and doesn't even seem to notice that Mercury is sad.

-Mercury insists that Mars will save it. Given Mars' take on the whole situation, this isn't especially alarming, just more of Mercury's irrational insistence that Mars 'loves' it. It seems that in the final days, Mercury has also attached itself to Neptune, as they have been spending a lot of time together during music time.

***

I finished packing my bags as Samara watched on disapprovingly. You would have thought I killed and ate someone's mother by the way I was being looked at! But no, I was just a late packer. I don't know why Sam cared anyways, since we were using my ship as transportation. I was the one in charge of the schedule, I reminded myself, though I couldn't help but poke fun at the other recom's heavy packing. "I hope I can get a proper takeoff, with all that weighing us down. Did you just pack up your whole home?"

"Yes," replied Samara idly, smiling just a bit, "just stuck it all in there. Lucky it didn't look like the sty you call a home. Otherwise I'd have no place to put all the mess."

"What can I say? Messes are excellent storage units." I closed up my bags and stood up. "Before we go, Samara-"

"Tamara. You mispronounced it. Tamara Olsenfheimer," said Sam, cutting me off sternly. I wasn't supposed to know Samara's real name, but I assumed we both knew that I knew it. It's kind of rude, though, to call someone by a name they're trying to hide. I mentally chastised myself and tried again.

"Right. Sorry. Tamara. Before we go, Tamara, I just wanted to ask something."

Sam blinked a few times at me and raised a brow, "Yeah?"

"About earlier, when you asked if I was worried about this job. Why did you ask that?" It had been on my mind, since it's an unusual kind of question to ask another mercenary. Most mercenaries are worried about every job, and just won't admit it.

"Well, don't you ever worry that you'll die on some contract and you'll never be able to do something you're really meant to do?" Sam's arms crossed together and the other recom looked at me with a questioning look for a few moments.

"Meant to do? Like... fated? Predestined? I make a rule of not discussing religion with my co-workers. It can really put a strain on the relationship," I said, "As for not accomplishing everything I want to, I dunno. I think I've accomplished everything I want to do already."

"If your goal is living alone in a shoddy apartment, too scared of attracting attention to yourself to even get nice things with all that money you've surely got kicking around, sure," noted Sam, "then you're a huge success."

I furrowed my brow at what the other recom and said, "Listen, I'm the best there is in any one of the systems right now. I've survived in this business for over ten years, which is a hell of a lot better than most. I'm respected and renowned. When people want something done right, they come to me first. Not you. Not anyone else. They come to me. That's what I call success." I adjusted my jacket and picked up my bags and silently headed toward the exit. Out of the starting gate, this working relationship felt like it was going to get a bit strained. I wasn't a huge fan of anyone criticizing me out of the blue like that. Who is?

"I just mean... what about when nobody calls you anymore?" said Sam, following after me.

I turned around and thought about the question, pausing in the doorway. I reminded myself that if this individual is a Mercury clone, this kind of conversation might become uncomfortably common, and this was something I knew I was getting myself into. "I plan on being long dead by then. Come on."