The failsafe device shimmered faintly on the pedestal, its golden light reflecting in Astra's wide eyes. Their hand hovered above it, trembling as they weighed Korin's words. The choice before them was impossible: sever their Core's connection to the Chronosphere and risk their life, or leave the failsafe untouched and let the Titan—and whoever had activated it—continue their plan to reset the timeline.
The walls of the workshop trembled as the Titan's mechanical roar reverberated through the space. Korin was at the doorway, gripping his wrench like a weapon, his sharp gaze darting between Astra and the approaching threat.
"Astra," he said, his voice cutting through the tension. "We don't have time for second guesses. You've got to decide."
Astra clenched their jaw, the ticking in their chest thundering in their ears. "If I use this, and my Core shuts down… what happens to me?"
Korin hesitated. "I don't know. The Core is… it's not just keeping you alive. It's part of who you are. But if you don't use it, the Chronosphere will activate. The reset will happen, and—" He stopped short, letting the implications hang heavy in the air.
Astra's gaze flicked to the glowing device, then to Korin, and finally to the doorway where the Titan's shadow loomed larger by the second. "I don't even know why this thing is in me. Why should I sacrifice myself for something I don't understand?"
"Because sometimes," Korin said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them, "we don't get the luxury of understanding before we act. We just have to do what's right."
---
The Titan roared again, its massive frame slamming against the walls of the workshop. The tremors knocked books and tools to the ground, and Astra stumbled, their hand brushing against the pedestal. The device pulsed under their fingertips, a rhythmic beat that matched the ticking in their chest.
Before they could decide, the Titan burst through the far wall. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Astra, and the air filled with the screech of grinding metal as it raised one bladed arm.
"Move!" Korin shouted, lunging forward and hurling a small explosive at the Titan. The device detonated with a sharp crack, sending a shockwave through the room. The Titan staggered, its movements jerky but unrelenting.
Astra scrambled back, their heart—or Core—pounding as if it were about to burst. The failsafe device pulsed again, brighter this time, as if it were calling to them.
But before Astra could reach for it, the Titan swiped its bladed arm through the air, slicing cleanly through the pedestal. Sparks erupted as the failsafe clattered to the floor, its golden light flickering and fading.
"No!" Astra cried, diving for the device. They snatched it up just as the Titan's blade came down, narrowly missing their head.
Korin rushed forward, his wrench swinging hard against one of the Titan's legs. The machine stumbled, its gears screeching in protest, but it was far from disabled. "We can't fight it here," Korin shouted. "We need to fall back!"
"But the failsafe—" Astra began, their voice frantic.
"Bring it with you!" Korin barked, grabbing Astra by the arm and dragging them toward a side passage. "We'll figure out how to use it later. Right now, staying here is suicide."
---
They plunged into the narrow corridor, the walls closing in around them as the sound of the Titan's pursuit echoed behind them. Astra clutched the broken failsafe against their chest, its faint glow barely illuminating their path.
"This place is a labyrinth," Astra muttered, their breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Good," Korin replied grimly. "If we're lucky, it'll slow the Titan down."
They rounded a corner, emerging into a smaller chamber filled with rusted machinery and stacks of forgotten blueprints. Korin slammed a metal door behind them, bracing it with a heavy beam before turning to Astra.
"Let me see that," he said, holding out his hand.
Astra hesitated before handing over the failsafe. Korin examined it carefully, his brow furrowing as he ran his fingers along the cracked casing. "It's damaged, but not beyond repair. If we can stabilize the Aetherium core inside, we might still be able to sever your connection to the Chronosphere."
"And if we don't?" Astra asked, their voice quiet.
"Then the Chronosphere activates, and the reset happens," Korin said bluntly. "Either way, we're running out of options."
---
The sound of grinding metal filled the air, and the door behind them groaned as the Titan began pounding against it. Each impact sent vibrations through the floor, and Astra's chest tightened with every deafening blow.
"We can't stay here," Astra said, their voice rising with panic. "It'll tear through that door in seconds."
Korin nodded, tucking the failsafe into his belt. "There's another way out. Come on."
They pushed deeper into the chamber, weaving through the cluttered space as the Titan's assault grew louder. Astra's mind raced, the weight of the failsafe's implications pressing down on them. If their Core truly was the key to the Chronosphere, then their existence was more intertwined with the Clockmaker's plans than they'd ever imagined.
But why? Why them? Why now?
Their thoughts were interrupted by a deafening crash as the Titan broke through the door. Its glowing eyes scanned the room, locking onto Astra with unerring precision. Korin cursed under his breath, pulling Astra behind a large stack of crates.
"Keep moving," he whispered urgently. "Don't stop."
They crept through the shadows, the Titan's massive frame looming just a few feet away. Astra's heart—or Core—thudded in their chest, the sound almost deafening in the silence. The machine let out a low, guttural growl, its bladed arms slicing through the air as it searched for its prey.
As they neared the exit, Astra's foot caught on a loose pipe, sending it clattering to the floor. The Titan's head snapped toward the sound, and with a roar, it charged.
"Run!" Korin shouted, shoving Astra toward the exit.
Astra bolted, their legs moving on pure instinct. The Titan's footsteps thundered behind them, growing closer with every second. Just as they reached the doorway, Korin hurled another explosive at the machine, the blast sending a shockwave through the chamber.
The Titan faltered, its movements jerky and erratic, but it didn't stop. Astra stumbled through the exit, their chest heaving as the cold night air hit their face. Korin was right behind them, slamming the door shut and bracing it with a heavy beam.
"That won't hold it for long," Korin said, his voice tight. "We need to keep moving."
Astra nodded, clutching the failsafe tightly as they followed Korin into the darkness. The ticking in their chest was quieter now, but its presence was a constant reminder of the choice they'd soon have to make.
Somewhere deep inside, Astra knew this was only the beginning.
---