She studies him closely.

—Then what are you going to do?

Mickey7 stays silent. He doesn’t have an answer.

Because the only real option is to die.

The colony is a closed system. An efficient organism where everything is counted and measured. There’s no room for two Mickeys.

Mickey8 understands that.

—There’s no other way, —he says quietly, eyes fixed on the metallic floor of the storage unit.

Mickey7 doesn’t respond.

—If they catch you, they’ll kill us both, —Mickey8 insists—. But if you just disappear… they can move on. I can move on.

Mickey7 looks at him. It’s like looking into a warped mirror. Same face, same voice, same thoughts. And yet, one of them has to go.

—I don’t want to die, —Mickey7 admits.

Mickey8 nods, understanding.

—I wouldn’t want to either.

They sit in silence.

Because they both know what comes next.

But fate moves faster.

Marshall discovers the truth before Mickey7 can do anything.