Hiro and Suki stepped off the spacecraft and into the bustling docking bay of the Nexus Space Station. The sound of rushing feet echoed off the metal walls as personnel hurried to and fro, and the smell of burnt metal and ozone permeated the air.
The station was massive, with an intricate system of tubes and walkways that seemed to extend to the very edges of the galaxy. It was just as Hiro remembered as he had been here quite a couple of times.
As he and Suki made their way through the crowds, they kept a low profile, blending in with the other travelers. Hiro was dressed in a simple gray jumpsuit, while Suki wore a form-fitting black outfit that accentuated her curves. Both of them had their faces obscured by hoods, obscuring their identities from prying eyes.
The duo made their way to the center of the station, where they found a bustling marketplace filled with vendors selling everything from exotic space fruits to high-tech gadgets. Hiro took a moment to admire the wares, but Suki kept her focus on the task at hand.
"Stay focused, Hiro," she said, her eyes scanning the crowd. "We're here to find Blackout and get that tech back."
Hiro nodded, his expression serious. "Right, right. Sorry. I'm just...distracted."
Suki smirked. "I can see that," she said, nodding towards a vendor selling an array of holographic watches.
Hiro grinned sheepishly. "Hey, I like my bling."
Suki rolled her eyes and led the way towards the security hub, where they could hack into the station's systems and track down Blackout. The hub was guarded by a squad of heavily armed soldiers, and Suki immediately began hacking into the security system.
But before she could gain access, one of the guards noticed them and shouted, "Hey, you! What are you doing here?"
Hiro sprang into action, his cybernetic enhancements enhancing his reflexes. He charged towards the guards, his fists flying, and began to take them out one by one. Suki joined in, using her implant to control the station's security system and disable the guards' weapons.
With the guards subdued, Suki was finally able to hack into the system and locate Blackout's whereabouts. "He's in the lower levels," she said, her eyes glued to the computer screen.
Hiro nodded. "Let's go."
As they made their way through the winding corridors of the space station, they encountered a group of guards patrolling that level. The guards wore advanced exosuits with built-in shields, and their weapons were a mix of traditional firearms and energy weapons.
Hiro and Suki quickly drew their laser guns, and the guards responded in kind. The corridor was filled with the sound of gunfire and the hum of energy weapons.
Suki twirled her laser gun and fired a quick shot, taking out one of the guards. She then activated her lightsaber, which hummed to life with a bright blue glow.
The guards hesitated for a moment, surprised by the sight of Suki's weapon. In that moment of hesitation, Hiro sprang into action. He leaped forward and used his cybernetic enhancements to move with blinding speed, dodging the guards' shots and taking them out with quick, precise strikes.
Suki followed suit, her lightsaber slicing through the guards' armor with ease. The battle was over almost as quickly as it began, leaving the corridor littered with smoldering debris and the bodies of the fallen guards.
Hiro and Suki continued their journey, making their way through the labyrinthine space station. They moved quickly and efficiently, using Suki's neural implant to hack into the station's security systems and evade detection.
As they approached Blackout's lair, they encountered more guards. Hiro and Suki took cover behind a stack of crates, and exchanged knowing looks.
"Blackout is behind those doors." Suki mouthed, and Hiro understood.
From the looks of it, these guards were not just normal guards, they were armed with heavy plasma rifles which is above what the Nexus Security Agents make use of.
Hiro began to analyze the soldiers' tactics, calculating the best way to take them out.
"I'll take the left flank," Hiro said, gesturing towards a group of soldiers. "You take the right."
Suki nodded, and they sprang into action. Hiro charged towards the soldiers on the left, his reflexes allowing him to dodge their attacks and counter precisely.
Suki controlled the security systems, disabling the soldiers' weapons and creating distractions to allow Hiro to take them out.
Together, they fought their way through the soldiers, taking out each one with calculated precision.
Finally, they reached Blackout's lair, a dimly lit room filled with stolen tech and illicit goods. Blackout himself was a towering figure, with a mass of dreadlocks and a menacing smile.
"Well, well, well," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look who decided to pay me a visit. Hiro and Suki, right? The infamous lovers of the Zlanov Crew."
Hiro smirked. "We prefer the term 'partners in crime.'"
Blackout chuckled. "Well, you're not wrong. I know Birdie sent you, but I'm afraid I can't just give you back that tech. It's worth a fortune, you know."
Suki stepped forward, her eyes blazing. "We don't care about the money. We came here for what you stole."
Blackout's expression softened. "You know, I like you two. You've got guts. But I can't just give it to you. How about we make a deal?"
Hiro raised an eyebrow. "What kind of deal?"
"What if I give you a chance to win it back?" Blackout said, a sly grin creeping across his face. "I'll give you one hour to retrieve the tech from my secure vault. If you can do it, it's yours. If not, I keep it."
"You know I can just force you to get it open, and maybe kill you afterwards?" Hiro said, his fingers dancing on the edge of his laser gun.
"You want to add my organization to the numerous list of those that want you dead or captured?" Blackout asked with a cocky tone.
Hiro and Suki exchanged a glance, weighing their options. It was a risky move, but they had come too far to back down now.
"We refuse your deal."