If Astarion was in a pod that wasn't damaged, (much like Shadowheart) then presumably, he might have seen us - he could have been trapped in any of the pods we pass that are still intact. I get the impression that's the implication with him.
It would still be nice if we would have seeing him sleeping in one of them ...
He could pretend of course, that would be fitting his character in my opinion ... so he would have seen us, we would have seen him, he would have presume we were teamed with mind flayers ... and most importantly Larian dont have to deal with another freeable companion.
