The morning brought renewed focus as Maya arrived at the lab before dawn. Sleep had been elusive, her mind continuously processing the rhythmic pattern they'd discovered. She'd dreamed of pulsing indigo waves, mathematical and mesmerizing.
Her fingers moved efficiently across the keyboard, pulling up waveform analyses from both attack sites. Alone in the stillness of early morning, Maya felt most comfortable. No interpreters, no colleagues attempting awkward conversations, just her and the visual symphony of data.
The door opened behind her. She felt the vibration through the specially designed floor before seeing James's reflection on her monitor. Echo padded ahead of him, the guide dog now familiar enough with the lab to navigate confidently.
"You're early," she signed, then remembere
