Mortal Shell 2: Proxima’s “A Bad Deal” Fifth Shell Memory Explained

“A Bad Deal” is the fifth and final Shell Memory for Proxima, the Broodseeker in Mortal Shell 2. It closes out her story with a quiet death scene between Proxima and Merrick, and unlocking it completes her memory list at 5/5.

Quick answer: Open Proxima’s Shell Memories menu, select “A Bad Deal,” and pay 500 Gloom to play it. The Gloom is fully refunded, and finishing the scene marks her memories as 05/05.

What happens in “A Bad Deal”

The memory opens with a ghostly, faded scene. Merrick is carrying a dying Proxima and urging her to hold on, telling her they are almost there. It plays out entirely as a conversation, with no combat or player action involved beyond starting it.

Merrick carries a wounded Proxima through a ghostly scene, telling her to stay with him — The memory begins with Merrick carrying a dying Proxima and telling her to stay with him. Image credit: Cold Symmetry

Proxima asks Merrick what his kin do with their dead. She then explains the custom of her own people. Where she comes from, a fallen warrior’s grafted armor is reclaimed and their memories are extracted, so they can be passed on to future kin.

Proxima's dialogue subtitle asks Merrick what his kind do with their dead — Proxima asks Merrick about human burial customs during the cinematic exchange. Image credit: Cold Symmetry

Merrick refuses to accept she is dying, insisting she cannot die because she still owes him. Proxima apologizes and tells him he made a bad deal, which gives the memory its title. She still wants to know what becomes of human dead before she goes.

Merrick describes a human burial in plain terms. People gather around a large hole in the ground, stare at the corpse, and share stories that are mostly idle talk until there is nothing left to say. Then the body goes into the hole and it is filled back up. He calls the ritual poetry, then trails off. When he realizes Proxima has stopped responding, he calls out her name as the scene fades, confirming she has passed.

How to unlock and view the memory

Shell Memories are viewed from Proxima’s character menu once you own the Shell. Each entry sits in her memory list and can be played back at any time.

Open Proxima the Broodseeker’s Shell menu and go to the Shell Memories tab. You will see all five entries listed, including “A Bad Deal.”

Select “A Bad Deal” and confirm the prompt to enter the memory. It costs 500 Gloom to view.

Watch the scene through to the end. When control returns to the character menu, the memory is marked as viewed and Proxima’s list shows 05/05.

Proxima's Shell Memories menu showing 05/05 memories unlocked with a prompt to enter — Proxima’s Shell Memories menu, showing all five memories unlocked at 05/05. Image credit: Cold Symmetry

Gloom cost and refund

Viewing a Shell Memory costs Gloom, but the amount is returned to you. “A Bad Deal” charges 500 Gloom and pays back the same 500, so watching it is a straight refund rather than a permanent cost. The same applies across her entire memory set.

Memory	Gloom cost	Gloom refunded
A Bad Deal	500	500
A Life For A Life	500	500
The Endeavor	500	500
The Exchange	500	500
The Weapon	500	500
All five	2,500	2,500

Because every memory refunds its own cost, you can view all five for a net total of zero Gloom spent.

Completing Proxima’s memory list

Proxima has five Shell Memories in total. “A Bad Deal” is the last piece, so viewing it fills in the final slot and completes the set.

The Exchange
The Weapon
A Life For A Life
The Endeavor
A Bad Deal

You will know the list is finished when the memory counter reads 05/05 on Proxima’s menu. With all five viewed and their Gloom returned, her story is fully unlocked at no lasting cost.