The Obsolete’s jump back to the Zenith research facility was thankfully less…spirited than the one to Krypton. Captain Zero, still nursing a slightly askew toupee, breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, that was… eventful” he said, rubbing his temples.

  "Eventful is one word for it” Vee Korr muttered, checking the Kryptonite samples secured in a reinforced container. "Miraculously successful is another."

  "Let's not jinx it” Griz Mallory chimed in, tightening a bolt on the Obsolete's battered landing gear. "We still gotta disable that planet-zapping doohickey."

  Flint Maddox, ever the optimist (or perhaps just oblivious to the inherent dangers), whistled a jaunty tune. "Think they'll have a vending machine for space-soda inside? My caffeine levels are dangerously low."

  Luna Silva rolled her eyes, but a small smile played on her lips. "Focus, Flint. We have a plan. We get the Kryptonite to the device, disable it, and get out before Zenith Security decides to pay us a visit."

  As they approached the facility, a coded transmission crackled through their comms. It was Mira Sol. The surprise was palpable. Everyone exchanged confused glances. Mira, a former Zenith scientist who had helped them locate the Kryptonite’s source, was supposed to be…well, gone.

  "Captain Zero” Mira's voice, digitally disguised, hissed over the comms. "It's Mira. I need to talk to you. What you found on Krypton...it’s only half the story. There’s corruption within Zenith. High-ranking officials are profiting from the space-time manipulator. They’re using the planet destructions to cover up illegal mining operations."

  A collective gasp filled the cockpit. This changed everything.

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  “Mira… are you sure about this?" Captain Zero asked, his voice tight with skepticism. “This is serious. One wrong move and we're all space dust.”

  "I'm sure” Mira replied. "And I can help you. I have access to internal systems. I can help you disable the device from the inside, bypassing their security protocols. But I need your trust.”

  A moral dilemma instantly hit the crew. Trusting a former Zenith scientist, even one claiming to be helping, felt like a huge risk. They knew first-hand how easily things could go wrong in their line of work.

  “What’s the catch?” Vee Korr asked, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Because there’s always a catch.”

  "The catch is…I need to ensure my own safety” Mira admitted. "I'll need safe passage off the planet. Once the device is disabled, I need you to get me out.”

  "And what if this is a trap?" Luna added, her fingers already flying over her console, checking for any signs of intrusion or manipulation.

  "The risk is worth it,” Drake Valor, usually quiet, spoke up. "If what she's saying is true, disabling the device from the inside is our best chance. She knows their system better than we do."

  Griz, ever the pragmatist, shrugged. "What choice do we have? We either trust her, or watch more planets get wiped out. Seems like a pretty easy decision, even if she's a bit sketchy."

  Captain Zero, weighing the risks, felt a knot of uncertainty in his stomach. His intuition screamed danger, yet ignoring Mira could cost countless lives. "Alright” he finally said. "We'll take the chance, but we're keeping a close eye on you, Mira. One wrong move, and you'll be wishing you stayed put."

  Mira agreed and guided them through a series of hidden access points and security loopholes. Zee, utilizing his omni-tool and hacking skills alongside Luna, managed to successfully override Zenith's systems. The access was granted, but it felt far from smooth. Mira's directions were vague at times, leaving them scrambling to overcome unforeseen obstacles. The trust, even though reluctantly granted, felt fragile at best. Each successful bypass only fueled their suspicions further.

  As they neared the main control room, a chilling thought crossed Captain Zero's mind: what if Mira was leading them into a trap? What if this entire operation was a carefully orchestrated double-cross? The thought hung heavy in the air, a seed of doubt planted firmly in the heart of their mission. The Kryptonite lay dormant in its containment unit, ready to be deployed, but the atmosphere felt anything but secure.

  The final approach to the device's core presented itself as another challenge – a series of complex laser grids that would require precise timing and perfect coordination to navigate without triggering the facility’s self-destruct sequence. And somewhere in the shadows, lurked the uncertainty about Mira's true intentions. The crew knew that their next move could determine not only the fate of the planets, but their own survival. The mission had entered a critical stage, a high-stakes game of trust and betrayal playing out in the heart of a facility built to destroy worlds.

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