The hallway was dimly lit by flickering overhead tubes that hummed with a persistent, low-frequency buzz. Zeta walked with his head bowed, his footsteps echoing softly against the cold, metal flooring. He was returning from the deeper archive levels, his mind still preoccupied with the data he had recently decrypted. He had to remain calm and invisible, but the environment felt oppressive tonight, the air smelling of ozone and recycled dust. He turned the corner into a deserted hallway, expecting a clear path to the main wing, when a heavy figure stepped out from the shadows.
It was Miller, his coworker, a man whose presence usually brought a sneer of petty arrogance. Miller stood in the center of the narrow corridor, blocking the way with his arms crossed over his chest. His expression
