**Confined in Darkness**

The cold, metallic doors of PC-7 slid open with a hiss, revealing a dimly lit corridor that seemed to swallow the faint light. Kirsten Darkmatter stood tall, her eyes scanning the bleak surroundings with a mixture of disdain and resignation. Twenty years had passed since she was last allowed to see the outside world, a prisoner in a facility designed to break the strongest of wills. The air reeked of disinfectant and despair, a constant reminder of her confinement. As she walked down the corridor, the soft hum of robotic guards echoed through the halls, their cold, calculating eyes fixed on her every move. Kirsten's gaze lingered on the guards, a mixture of frustration and hatred burning within her. She had grown accustomed to their presence, but it didn't make it any easier to bear. Her wrists and ankles were shackled to the cold, grey floor, a cruel precaution against any potential escape attempts. The guards moved with her, their mechanical limbs gliding in perfect sync as they monitored her every step. Kirsten had lost count of the days, weeks, months – years, even – since she'd last seen the light of day. She stopped in front of a small, barred window that offered a glimpse of the desolate wasteland beyond PC-7's walls. The stars twinkled like cold, dead eyes, a reminder of the freedom she once knew. A pang of longing struck her chest, and for a moment, Kirsten felt the familiar sting of tears. The door to her cell slid open, and a pair of guards stepped inside, their movements economical and precise. "Kirsten Darkmatter, you have a visitor," one of them announced, their voice devoid of emotion. Kirsten's eyes narrowed. She hadn't had a visitor in years, not since Warp... since he had left her. The pain of that betrayal still lingered, a festering wound she couldn't seem to heal. The guards parted, allowing a tall, imposing figure to enter. His face was chiseled, with sharp angles and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through her. Warp Darkmatter, the man who had once been her protector, her confidant, and her heart's greatest sorrow. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the air thick with unspoken emotions and unresolved conflicts. Kirsten felt her heart racing, her palms growing damp as she struggled to comprehend the reason for his visit. "What do you want, Warp?" she spat, trying to mask the vulnerability that still lingered. His eyes roamed over her, lingering on the curves of her face, the sharp lines of her jaw, and the defiance that burned in her eyes. For an instant, Kirsten thought she saw a flicker of something – regret, perhaps, or longing – but it was quickly extinguished, replaced by the icy mask she remembered. "I've come to take you away," he said, his deep voice sending shivers down her spine. "Zurg wants you." Kirsten's laughter was bitter, a sound that echoed off the cold walls. "You think I'm going anywhere with you? After what you did?" Warp's gaze never wavered, his expression unreadable. "I'm here to take you to Zurg, Kirsten. Whether you like it or not." She sneered, the chains on her wrists rattling as she raised her hands in a futile attempt to resist. "You'll have to drag me." The guards moved to restrain her, but Warp raised a hand, his eyes flashing with a warning. "Leave her be," he ordered, his voice low and menacing. As the guards stepped back, Warp reached out and grasped Kirsten's wrist, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her veins. She tried to pull away, but his grip was like a vice. "Don't," she whispered, her voice trembling. For a moment, Warp's eyes locked onto hers, and Kirsten thought she saw a glimmer of the man she once knew – the man who had read to her, comforted her, and loved her like a daughter. But it was just a moment. The ice returned, and with it, the cold calculation that had defined Warp Darkmatter for so long. "Let's go, Kirsten," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "We have a galaxy to conquer." As he pulled her toward the door, Kirsten felt a spark of defiance ignite within her. She would not go quietly into the night. She would not be a pawn in Zurg's game. And she would not let Warp Darkmatter break her again. But as they stepped out of the cell and into the unknown, Kirsten couldn't shake off the feeling that she was walking into a trap, one that would change her life forever.