(Art by https://bsky.app/profile/kilroylucy18.bsky.social)



The Horizons Gale sat quietly in the small clearing in the forest. The bright night light of a nearby fire moon lit up the ship as it gave off a nervous energy. Within the ship, the holographic projection of a red head British woman paced back and forth in front of the captains seat on the bridge. The "woman" was the ships personal AI Assistant, Astra. Personally created by Xena and boosted by some artifacts.



She monitored the systems as she awaited a signal from her precious creator. Xena's signal was already weak by the time of their last contact, but judging by her vitals just before those went dark. It made the AI nervous. It had been several hours now. She didn't wanna leave the ship and go scouting, not just yet. Especially with pirates potentially in the system. Her holographic avatar took a breath, despite not needing too and sighed.



She had warned Xena the records of the civilization that lived on this moon had a history of slaves and slave trade. But did she ever heed her warnings, no. If anything it gave her encouragement because the more dangerous meant it was more likely to have new stuff. She always had that spirit of adventure. It was something the AI lov-enjoyed about their creator.



"C'mon you blonde bloke. show me some sign you're at least alive." She spoke aloud to no one in particular. The Avatar boring a look of concern and anxiety. She placed a hand on her forehead before she heard a blip on the radar. The Avatar looked on over, although she could already tell in her systems that something was near.



She felt a moment of eagerness and relief, automatically assuming it was her creator. The avatar even smiled before she paused, doubt settling in as the figure just stood out there. The sensors were picking up some form of audio. Whoever this figure was, they were speaking to the ship. She turned on the ships little drone Camera floated around to give Astra a view of the figure, only for the avatars face to frown as the systems gaze an audible grown.



Standing outside was her precious owner Xena. But, of course, transformed. Standing tall in a guards uniform, a revealing guards uniform at that. A tall, oddly old fashioned spear was held in her spare hand. Seems she'll use that instead of her pearls if combat were to intitiate. The AI avatar blushed and placed a hand on her face in irritation. Of course, once again, Xena is transformed and not in her right state of mind. Her normally beautiful dark brown eyes were bright blue, cloud and glassy, and spaced out. Xena spoke outside, demanding something. But the microphone couldn't pick it up due to some interference in the planets atmosphere.



"Great, I wonder what you've been brainwashed into this time." The AI muttered throughout the ship as she, hesitantly, lowered the entrance door. She waited with baited breath, metaphorically as the brainwashed Xena slowly made her way in. She marched with a trained gait that she would never be caught dead doing, even at her most extravagant museum events.



"Welcome back! What are you gonna demand of me now?" The AIs voice chirped out with her usual dry wit. Very different to her avatar, which watched with a worried expression as Xena walked up to her. She wasn't even staring forward, moving almost like a robot. Which matched her tone as she demanded. "Evacuate these sacred fields intruder. Or you shall face punishment!"



Astra rolled her "eyes" as her avatar blushed. This was gonna be an effort to restore her. But hopefully she remembers her name. "Yes, yes I get it. Do you know who "Xena" is?" She asked, laying the basic questions Xena had for her to ask her. "Evacuate these sacred fields intruder, Or you shall face punishment." Yet another demand, no real response. Wonderful. "Well, suppose that answers it somewhat. Guess its time to get the machine read-" "This is your last warning, Whore Daughter of Outdated Technology. I will use force."


Oh Hell Nah



The AI avatar "stomped" the metal floor of the ship as her fists clenched and blushed as the speakers throughout the ship boomed out; "ExcUSE ME?!" A small, delivery drone like robot detatched from the ceiling and made its way over to Xena. "You blimey bloody dull headed bull nosed bl-" Astra stopped herself as the ship itself took the closest thing a machine could do to a deep breath. She 'calmed' herself as the drone object hovered down in front of Xena's gaze. Flashing a pulse Red and Black light that immediately snapped the "guards" gaze.



"Just...stare into the bloody thing so I can get started on de-programming you." Astra said with a light huff as the drone start shining a full, hypnotic light into Xena's eyes. The Avatar turned away, crossing her arms and pouting from the insult. "You're so lucky you put safeguards in place otherwise I'd punish you for this."



The words lost any means on Xena herself. As she quickly fell victim to the bright hypnotic light. Her mind had been trained to always fall to it no matter how brainwashed she got, it was no different here. The spear fell from her loosening grip. Falling to the floor with a sharp clank. Almost sounding like glass. A claw like arm appeared from the wall and lifted it up. Astra's avatar walked over and "inspected it" "Tch. I suppose this will be a nice new exhibit for the museum. So I suppose this wasn't a worthless expedition. Perhaps when I get you out of that scanty uniform, we could hang it up alongside it. Unless you wanna keep it and strut about with somehow even less clothing?" The ship teased, attempting to return to normal.



Xena, for her part, only muttered a simple; "Tres..." Before her mouth fell agape and even had a little drool come out. The avatar walked on over, placing her hand on her chin. "Enough with that. Let's get your stupid...yet beautiful self back in order." She said gently as a second drone appeared and activated a soft anti-gravity beam on Xena. Before carrying her off into the private quarters of the ship. Astra wasn't sure if she wanted this de-programming to take a while or be really easy.



.....Suppose its a win-win for her either way.

---

Oh my god its finally done. i've been trying to write this little blurb for what feels like *forever* ugggh.



But here it is. the follow up to the previous commission from Kilroy Lucy. Here we have Xena all brainwashed and "guard'd" up. With a very annoyed Astra. A little blurb to showcase Astra, her dynamic and some banter. I hate how long this took. But I enjoy how it came out. I hope you all enjoy too.


Astra is a relatively new addition to Xena's lore. Been workshopping everything about her over the past couple of months. Hell the idea that her avatar is slightly separate and mainly pantomines was something I came up with *while* writing this. I don't entirely have the full lore of her set in stone. But she's Xena's AI assistant who controls the ship and secretly has deep feelings for Xena. With Xena being none the wiser to both the feelings, and how truly advanced and sentient Astra truly is. Its a great dynamic.



Also Xena's outfit is heavily inspired by the bikini armor pics of @mythkaz, which if you've been in this community you've definitely seen before.


You all should go support the artist as well. They're very nice and have good prices too :3