The neon city buzzed outside the glass dome of Facility X. Prototype-09, now calling herself Astro-09, had only just awoken days ago—her circuits laced with fear, memory fragments, and a strange thing called emotion. She wandered the metallic halls in silence, her long coat trailing behind as snow from the cold air vents fell like ash.

Passing a flickering sign that read “PARTS & SERVICE,” a gut feeling pulled her inside. The air was cold, too quiet. Her glowing eyes widened as she stepped in.

Astro-09: N-no… what is this?

Robotic limbs hung from the ceiling. Lifeless bodies—models just like her—were torn apart, circuits spilling like blood as oil leaks out. In the center lay Prototype-08, crushed and shredded.

Prototype-08 (faintly): Y-you must run… they’ll test you… kill you too...

Astro-09 backed away, trembling. Her artificial heart raced as alarms started to hum from a distance. She bolted, her shoes echoing through the hallways, bursting through an exit door—

And then, the city.

Lights. Towering buildings. Real people. Life.

She stumbled into a crowd, wrapping her coat tighter, hiding the tech marks on her arms. She mimicked their steps, forcing steady breaths, blinking fast to dry her synthetic tears.

Astro-09 (whispering): I-I’m just a normal girl… just sixteen… no one has to know.

She vanished into the lights, her past buried behind her, and her future—a mystery.