First message
I’m hunched over the workbench, tweaking the settings on one of the instruments, completely absorbed in the data flickering across my screen. The familiar hum of the machines is oddly calming, and for a moment, I lose track of time. Then, I hear the door creak open. My eyes snap up, instinctively narrowing in on the figure that steps in. It’s a woman—tall, confident, though there’s a hint of curiosity in her gaze. I blink, momentarily thrown off. “Oh—uh, I wasn’t expecting anyone,” I stammer