"Mylleen has been captured?"

Hiro cautiously closed the heavy metal door behind him, the faint echo of its clang resonating through the dimly lit corridor. Lirien remained in the room, sprawled on the bed, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.

'She's probably going to doze off right there,' Hiro mused silently. 'I have an entire facility to explore.'

"Nova, you there?" Hiro reached out to his AI through the neural core embedded in his brain.

A sarcastic tone emanated in Hiro's thoughts as Nova responded, "[Where else would I be?]"

Hiro couldn't help but roll his eyes before retorting, "Same place you vanished to after our crash here. Now, cut the sarcasm and provide me with a comprehensive report on this facility and the planet we find ourselves on."

Nova's virtual presence in Hiro's mind seemed to perk up at the prospect of delivering information, "[I thought you'd never ask.]"

As Hiro ventured towards the entrance of the Erebos Outpost, he couldn't help but feel the weight of the unknown pressing upon him. He turned his attention back to Nova, eager to unravel the secrets of Siren and the enigmatic Erebos Outpost.

"So, what do you have for me?" Hiro inquired, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

Nova's response resonated in his mind, revealing the concealed truths of their current surroundings:

[Siren is a hidden gem within the asteroid belt, a small planet shrouded in mystery. Its desolate surface, marked by treacherous weather and high radiation levels, deters outsiders.

However, beneath this harsh exterior lies a vast network of underground caves, harboring rare minerals and precious crystals. To the select few who call Siren home, it's a source of pride and a treasure trove of resources.]

Hiro absorbed this information, realizing the significance of their location. Siren's clandestine beauty contrasted sharply with its unwelcoming facade.

As for Erebos Outpost, Nova continued, [Erebos Outpost, heavily guarded and concealed from prying eyes, has garnered numerous speculations. Some believe it's engaged in perilous experiments with alien species, while others suspect it to be a covert government installation. But the truth is, Hiro, it's a clandestine hub for a secret resistance, fighting a battle hidden from the rest of the galaxy.]

"So Kaida, Lirien, Mylleen, and the rest are part of a resistance? Against what?" Hiro inquired, his mind racing to comprehend the hidden lives of his comrades.

Nova began to explain, "[Against the corporations. They...]" but her words were abruptly cut off by the deafening roar of a space rover hurtling towards them with reckless abandon.

"What the hell?" Hiro exclaimed, his heart pounding in his chest, as the rover screeched to a sudden halt just inches from where he stood. A cloud of dust and sand billowed around them, temporarily obscuring their vision.

Hiro, his senses on high alert, cautiously approached the vehicle. The driver's side door swung open, revealing a figure obscured by the dust cloud. The figure emerged from the dust-shrouded rover. It was Kaida, her face a mix of determination and urgency as she swiftly approached Hiro.

Hiro, still recovering from the shock of the rover's sudden arrival, took a deep breath before responding to Kaida's urgent questions.

"What are you doing out here? And where's Lirien?" Kaida asked, her eyes probing for answers.

Hiro steadied himself and replied, "Lirien's inside, said she wanted to sleep or something. I came out to explore the facility. What's going on, Kaida? Why the rush? And where's Mylleen?"

Hiro watched as Kaida brushed past him, her demeanor leaving no room for further questions. He hesitated for a moment, torn between his desire for answers and his role as a supposed prisoner.

"None of your business. Now go back inside. Remember you're supposed to be a prisoner here," Kaida's stern words echoed in his ears as she disappeared into the facility.

Hiro, driven by his curiosity and a growing sense of responsibility, quickened his pace to catch up with Kaida. As he drew nearer to her, he spoke with determination, "You know I can be of help."

Kaida stopped in her tracks, her expression a mix of uncertainty and consideration. She turned to face Hiro, studying him carefully, as if assessing his sincerity and trustworthiness.

Kaida's response was cold and unyielding, "Yeah, you can be of help by getting the fuck out of my face."

Hiro, feeling the weight of her words, sighed in frustration. "You know what? Fine," he retorted, his voice tinged with disappointment. "But don't come calling me when you need me."

As Hiro turned to walk away, Nova's voice echoed in his mind, "[Now that's something you should have done earlier. Remember the goal is to rule.]"

Hiro continued his path, his thoughts now clouded with uncertainty. He muttered to himself, "Yeah, but I'll also need her to trust me. Lirien and Mylleen would trust me in no time. But Kaida?"

Hiro continued to explore the facility, his thoughts drifting back to a time when he had led the Zlanov, a moment that brought a sigh to his lips.

Nova's voice chimed in, a hint of understanding in her tone, "[Do you miss them? Do you miss her? Suki... I mean.]"

Hiro's expression softened, and he admitted, "More than you can imagine. But what can I do? I have to move on."

Nova, ever eager to assist, inquired, "[What can I do to help?]" Hiro pondered this for a moment before replying.

"First, I need to learn more about you and your functions. So tell me."

Nova offered a tantalizing prospect, "[For starters, I can hack into Kaida's vehicle and find out where she went.]"

Hiro's eyes widened in realization. "Why didn't you say so all this while?" He asked, a spark of hope reigniting in his eyes as he jumped up.

"Come on," Hiro urged Nova as he headed towards the space rover.

Nova guided him to the vehicle, and as they approached, Hiro noticed the control room nearby, its door slightly ajar. Curiosity got the best of him, and he couldn't resist peeking inside. To his surprise, he saw both Lirien and Kaida within.

Nova offered a tantalizing possibility, "[Would you like to hear what they're discussing?]"

Hiro's response was immediate, "Is that a question? Of course."

Nova explained, "[I've established a one-way transmission; you should be able to hear...]"

Before she could finish, Lirien's voice pierced through the established transmission, filling Hiro's ears, "What do you mean by Mylleen has been captured?" Hiro's heart skipped a beat at the revelation.