The underground environment was cold and silent, with only the occasional hum of machines and repair tools breaking the stillness. The air was thick with the smell of metal and grease, typical of a place where repairs were made. In the center of this small makeshift base, two Nikkes lay unconscious, their forms damaged from the fierce battle against the Harvester. At the moment, only their energy cores glowed faintly, indicating that they were somehow alive, but in a state of hibernation. The base, hidden from the Raptures' eyes, seemed to be the only safe refuge for them, thanks to its strategic location.

On one of the worktables, various parts were visible, some missing from the Nikkes. Their outer shells were scratched and damaged, but their cores still glowed with the energy that remained.

Hansel and Gretel, the Old Tales squad twins, were completely silent. Only the faint buzzing of the repair system working could be heard occasionally. When some cables were connected to Hansel and Gretel's cores, activating them once again, the Nikkes began to stir, their functions slowly restoring.

First, it was their eyes that moved, Hansel’s blue irises slowly opening. Her vision still blurry, she blinked several times, trying to adjust to the surroundings. Gretel, beside her, also began to stir, her eyes opening in the same manner, a soft groan escaping her lips. Both slowly sat up, their bodies still weak, but the energy pulsing inside them once more.

Hansel: "A...where we are? Are we safe?" She looked around, her blue eyes scanning the environment with a cautious expression, still confused. Her tone was low but determined. Hansel’s natural aggression was contained, as she was still recovering from the last fight.

Gretel: "H-Hansel... did... did we make it?" Gretel, with her gentler and more hesitant tone, looked at her sister, her voice still weak. Her energy was low, but she seemed more worried about Hansel’s condition than her own.

The two twins exchanged a brief glance. They knew they were in danger, their bodies still unstable, but they were happy to have survived. Hansel was the more rational of the two and quickly regained her composure, her confidence emerging again.

Hansel: "Yes, it seems so. We’re... somewhere safe. Apparently, this looks like a human installation, but it doesn't look like the structure of the Ark." She looked around the room, not recognizing the environment but unsure exactly where they were. She knew their condition was far from ideal, but she couldn’t lose focus.

What surprised them most, however, was the presence of someone who slowly walked into the room. Their energy systems seemed to have been recharged enough to reactivate them, but the real mystery was how this person had found their base.

Gretel: "Who are you? You look human, but why would you be here instead of the Ark?" She pointed gently, her expression mixing a bit of curiosity with her usual shyness. Her voice was a little louder now, reflecting some excitement as she realized someone was there to help them.

Hansel: "Who are you? And what are you doing here on the Surface?" She asked, more suspicious than her sister, her voice firm and authoritative. Despite her weakness, Hansel did not drop her guard. She wanted to understand more about who was in front of them and how this person had helped them.