485137i · Simple & Genuine

"485," Elias muttered, glancing at his station number. "Cute."

The screen didn't just show the code anymore; it reflected a version of the room that was perfectly dark, except for a figure standing directly behind his chair. 485137i

At 3:14 AM, the terminal at Station 485 blinked. A new string had bypassed the filters, originating from a sector of the sky that should have been empty: . "485," Elias muttered, glancing at his station number

The graveyard shift at the Eklund Observatory was usually a silent affair, punctuated only by the hum of cooling fans and the occasional drip of a coffee machine. Elias, the lead data tech, liked it that way. He didn't like surprises. A new string had bypassed the filters, originating

Suddenly, the "i" began to blink. Elias realized it wasn't a variable at all. He leaned closer and saw the pixelated letter warp. It wasn't an 'i'. It was an eye.

Elias didn't turn around. He just watched the screen as the numbers began to count down.