Zandoriel found herself alone in her modest quarters aboard the transport, mulling over the mysterious message that had set her on this unplanned voyage. The voice on the other end of the comm had been garbled, the face shrouded in darkness. But the urgency in their words had been clear as day.

"Something's happened," they'd said. "You need to come, now."

A chill ran down Zandoriel's spine at those words. What could've happened to demand such immediate action? She'd left her class on Planetary Economics, a subject that couldn't hold her interest. Stationed on Phobos II for the Sequoia Moiety's outreach program, the message had guided her to her room to grab a ticket to an unknown destination.

As the transport descended through the asteroid's atmosphere, Zandoriel couldn't shake the apprehension that clung to her. What dangers would she face here? What secrets lay waiting to be discovered?

At the landing pad, she was met by a tall, athletic young man with black hair tied up in intricate braids. He wore a slim, form-fitting black bodysuit with red accents, a marvel of engineering that caught her eye. The colors stood out against the dark backdrop, and Zandoriel admired the advanced materials that provided both comfort and outstanding protection from a range of environmental hazards.

The suit's embedded sensors monitored the wearer's physical performance, delivering real-time feedback. Zandoriel imagined the benefits such a feature would offer anyone aiming to reach their peak potential. The figure of the man, who could've been a world-class athlete, held her gaze. As he introduced himself as Nicholai, she snapped out of her thoughts.

"Lady Zandoriel," Nicholai said, taking her hand warmly. "It's amazing to see you again after all these years."

Zandoriel raised an eyebrow, her cheeks flushing. "I'm sorry, but I think you've got the wrong person."

Nicholai's grin wavered for a moment, then returned. "Apologies, my lady. You may not remember, but I do. I was six, and that party was dull until you – twelve, I think – decided to entertain me. I never forgot."

Zandoriel stared in surprise. "Little Nicky! You were so tiny back then!"

He laughed, a deep, rich sound, pleasing to her ears. "Yeah, well, not so tiny anymore, huh?"

As they navigated the busy bunker, Zandoriel couldn't help but notice the whispers that seemed to follow them, the station's AI issuing hushed orders to humans and bots alike. It felt like the air was teeming with secrets, just waiting to be revealed.

They reached a small storage room deep in the bunker, where a short, sturdy figure in Aniyvwiya-themed armor awaited them. This was Georgia Gist, the one who had summoned Zandoriel.

"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today," Georgia offered the Sequoia Moiety's customary greeting.

Zandoriel repeated the phrase in return. "So, why did you call me here?"

"Something's happened," Georgia said. "Nicholai, one of our intel trainees," Nicholai nodded in confirmation, "has been watching certain people on Phobos II and discovered something."

A soft knock interrupted them. "Come in," Georgia called.

The man who entered was an odd mix, his skin shimmering like an LED display and his eyes glinting like tiny stars. He introduced himself as Kana'ti and Jayde.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I'm sorry to hear about your brother," Kana'ti said, his voice tinged with an unusual accent that Zandoriel couldn't quite place.

Zandoriel's heart skipped a beat. How did they know? She realized that this was the human-AI hybrid she had seen in the news feeds; an industrial accident had almost taken both human and AI lives, but through a groundbreaking technique, they had been fused together.

"How did you know about my brother?" Zandoriel asked, her eyes fixed on Kana'ti.

"We have our ways," Jayde replied enigmatically, the voice changing in tone and style to make. "But that's not why we're here. We've found something, something that could change the course of the galaxy."

A knot formed in Zandoriel's stomach. What could be so important that it warranted such a dramatic response? As she looked around at the faces of her new allies, she knew that whatever lay ahead, they would face it together. The secrets hidden within the asteroid would be uncovered, and Zandoriel would play her part in the unfolding events, driven by the urgency of the message that had brought her here.

"Wait," Zandoriel said. "Wait. I have questions. What is this place? How does it have an atmosphere? Where are we?"

The three others glanced at each other. "All of the Moieties have these asteroids," said Nicholai, "they're used for vacations, for intrigue, for ... many things. Secret things. As far as how they have atmosphere and gravity?" He shrugged.

Jayde chimed in. "It's not that complicated. These asteroids are outfitted with advanced tech: artificial gravity generators, atmospheric regulators, and energy shields to maintain habitable conditions. They've been developed over the years by the brightest minds in the Moieties. The locations of these asteroids are closely guarded secrets, known only to a select few within each Moiety."

Zandoriel considered this information, her curiosity piqued. It seemed she had stumbled into a hidden world, one that operated in the shadows of New Earth.

“Nicholai tells me that I have you to thank for bringing me here.”

Georgia chuckled. “Oh, yes. That was me. I hope you forgive me from pulling you away from your studies... I know you do so enjoy economics.” She plopped down into a seat. “Show me the drive, please.”

Zandoriel gawked at the little armored woman, concerned.

“What do you mean?” she demanded.

Kana'ti Jayde looked confused. “We aren't sure what is going on. What drive?”

“Zandoriel was given a drive many years ago, and told to keep it on her person at all times,” Georgia informed them. “I assure you nothing will be done to you, but the person who entrusted that drive to you is now dead. Your brother. He was very distressed to have involved you at all, but he did, and so here we are.”

“How could you know all that?”

“I speak the messaging electric,” Georgia said with a grin. She shrugged when no one laughed at her attempt at ancient humor. “I am paid to find things out, to keep some secrets, to spread others. You do have the drive on you, right?”

Zandoriel took the clip that held her hair up in an elegant style, causing her locks to fall in such a way as to catch Nicholai's eye. She twisted the clip in half until it popped open, and pulled out the case holding the teardrop-shaped drive, the size of a grain of rice. She tossed the case on the table. ”

Georgia picked up the case and hefted it in her hand.

"Impressive," she mused. "No one would ever suspect that something so small could hold such potential."

"But what's on the drive?" Zandoriel demanded, her patience wearing thin.

Georgia locked eyes with her, her gaze steady and serious. "Information that could expose a dangerous conspiracy within the Moieties, and perhaps even beyond. Your brother must've known that this knowledge was too volatile to keep hidden forever. His untimely death is a testament to the lengths some will go to keep this secret."

A heavy silence settled over the room as the gravity of the situation sank in. Zandoriel felt a swell of anger and sadness, a potent mix that fueled her determination to see this through.

"We need to access the drive and analyze its contents," Kana'ti said. "We'll need to take it to a secure location."

"Agreed," Georgia nodded. "We'll need to move quickly, but carefully. There are undoubtedly those who will stop at nothing to prevent us from uncovering the truth." She looked at Zandoriel. "What are we going to do about you?"