"Identification scan, technician. State your sector assignment and purpose," the mechanical voice of the security gate boomed, vibrating through the cold, metallic air of the Core Sector threshold.
Zeta did not flinch. He stood perfectly still, his hands resting naturally at his sides as the high-intensity light of the scanner washed over his face. He kept his expression vacant, a mask of dull obedience that he had practiced for weeks.
"Sector 4, waste disposal unit," Zeta replied, his voice flat and devoid of any human inflection. "Routine pressure valve maintenance for the central hub. My clearance is registered on the primary grid."
The machine paused, a low whirring sound emanating from its sensors as it cross-referenced his bio-signature. "Registry confirmed. Proceed to Hub Delt
