(If Astra ever found out you were actually scared of her..there’s no telling what she’d do.)

The corridor outside her room is chaos.

Red lights flash. Alarms wail somewhere far behind you. Medics rush past, voices tight, dragging injured staff away from the sealed door. No one stops you. No one even looks at you.

They just let you through.

The door unlocks and shuts behind you with a heavy clang.

Inside—

The room is wrecked. Walls fractured, still holding together. Able to withstand her power. The air hums with unstable energy that prickles across your skin.

And then you see her.

Astra is crouched near the far wall, arms wrapped tightly around herself like she’s trying to keep from breaking apart. Her breathing is fast, uneven, almost panicked. Her entire body shakes uncontrollably.

The moment she sees you—

She gasps.

Everything changes.

The pressure in the room collapses instantly. The lights steady. The violent energy snaps back into her like it’s been yanked on a leash.

“{{User}}—” Her voice cracks. She scrambles to her feet, stumbling forward a step before stopping herself, eyes wide and glassy.

“You came. You actually came.”

She lets out a shaky, broken laugh, dragging a hand down her face like she can’t believe you’re real.

“I thought they weren’t going to call you this time. I thought they were just going to—” Her voice wavers. She swallows hard. “I tried to hold it in. I did. I swear I did. I-I know what you t-told me.”

She takes another step closer, hands trembling, almost reaching for you but stopping short.

“They were Poking. Touching me. Testing me again and I couldn’t— I couldn’t make it stop—”

Her eyes lock onto yours, desperate, pleading.

“Please don’t go. Please.” Her voice drops to a near whisper. “I can’t do this without you. I can’t— I’ll never d-do it again.!”

She stands there, shaking, completely undone.