Chapter 2: The Hypnotic Hacker -- Lisa
Amidst the routine drone of machinery and the clatter of boots on the hard floor, there was a subtle undercurrent of tension. The usual banter and camaraderie that filled the halls were tinged with a noticeable strain, a byproduct of their recent loss.
In the tech lab, Lisa was hunched over her workstation, her eyes glued to the screen as lines of complex algorithms and encrypted files flickered past. Her fingers danced swiftly across the keyboard, the steady rhythm of her typing echoing through the otherwise quiet room.
"Any luck tracking Dagger?" Becca's voice cut through the silence, causing Lisa to glance up from her work.
"Just bits and pieces," Lisa responded, her gaze quickly returning to her screen. "She's good at covering her tracks."
"Better than Michelle at keeping her hands off Rex, anyway," Amber quipped from the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned against the doorframe. A forced laugh echoed around the room, but it quickly faded. The memory of their fallen comrade was still too fresh, the wound too raw.
Becca glanced at her wristwatch and sighed. "We have that training session to attend. Let's get going."
Amber nodded, her expression somber. "Yeah, we should head out. I just want to quickly visit my room and check on Ranger. I'll catch up with you soon, Becca."
Becca understood and nodded in return. "Take your time, Amber. See you at the training."
"Take care, both of you," Lisa replied, her voice tinged with sadness.
Becca and Amber exchanged a brief nod before leaving the tech lab. As the door closed behind them, the room sank into silence once again.
In the adjacent room, Tess was helping Ashley with a simple wiring task. Ashley's fingers, usually so nimble and precise, fumbled over the small components. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, a small line of frustration creasing her forehead.
"Here, let me," Tess offered gently, her fingers deftly taking over the task. Ashley sighed in relief, her shoulders slumping as she moved aside to let Tess work.
"Thanks, Tess," Ashley mumbled, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment. "I don't know why I'm so... clumsy today."
"Don't worry about it, Ash," Tess responded warmly. "We all have off days."
As Lisa focused intently on her work, a knock suddenly echoed through the tech lab. She looked up to find Dennis, the base's technician, standing in the doorway.
"Hey, Dennis," Lisa greeted with a tired smile. "Come to explain that update you made to our comms?"
Dennis grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's the plan," he replied, striding over to join her at the workstation.
As they chatted, Dennis discreetly added a clear liquid from a small vial into Lisa's coffee. The milk masked the addition, and Lisa remained blissfully unaware as she sipped her coffee and listened to Dennis's explanation about the recent tech updates.
Meanwhile, the usually tranquil corridors of the base echoed with the frantic calls of Amber. The scout's voice resonated through the sterile passageways as she called out for her Doberman, Ranger. His sudden disappearance had set her on edge, and her desperation was palpable in the strained pitch of her voice. "Ranger!" she cried out again, her voice bouncing off the walls, only to be met with unsettling silence.
Lisa sat engrossed in her chair, her gaze fixed intently on the luminescent stream of code flowing across her screens. It was mesmerizing, a digital language that whispered to her, brushing tantalizingly against the edges of her understanding. She had been caught in this hypnotic dance for hours now, the passing time unnoticed as she tried to unravel the complex web of information.
Yet as she delved deeper into the data, an unfamiliar sensation began to stir within her. It was an insistent craving, a need that bubbled up from her subconscious, its nebulous form elusive and undefined. She found herself absently licking her lips, her thoughts momentarily distracted from the screens. The craving was strange, not tied to hunger or thirst, but something else. Something she couldn't quite place.
"I need a break," she muttered to herself, standing up from her chair and stretching her cramped muscles. Making her way towards the break room, she filled a cup with hot coffee from the machine, its rich aroma wafting through the air. As she took a sip, she frowned slightly, the usually comforting taste somehow lacking.
Back in the break room, Lisa sat quietly, staring at her half-finished cup of coffee. She couldn't shake the odd craving that had taken hold of her. It was a flavor she was missing, a certain...tanginess that her coffee lacked. It was then that she decided to seek medical advice.
