Undisclosed location

1986

5:08 p.m.

The audio room was cold and gray, covered in cobwebs and dust. Lyn flicked a switch and waited. A few seconds later, it came to life, static emitting from archaic equipment and speakers. Cylinder shaped pixie lights resting above a computer flared, numbering one through nine. The last light flickered as a small spark fighting for its existence.

Lyn puffed her cigarette and sat in a chair before the major station. In a trance-like state, she twisted several knobs, inputted codes on the keyboard. Lipstick made her sumptuous lips a ruby red. Her rain stained eyes glowed in the darkness, countenance absent. She continued adjusting the knob until the static attained its crescendo before lowering and balancing the threshold meter.

Pale hands gripped the mike stand with emerald painted nails. She exhaled, vapor floating above her being sucked into the nosy vent above. With each passing second, flames withered the tobacco in her smoke, inching towards her fingers. Ashes fell into a tray beneath as the Pall Mall sizzled against her skin. However, Lyn’s view never strayed from the screen. Instead, with her free hand, she set a notebook on the table, following the written sequence with a pencil. She dismissed the burns and pushed a button on the mic.

Without warning, the ninth tube brightened, orange light manifesting in its glass tube.

She brought her mouth to the microphone, voice flat as she spoke. “Melchior: Seven. Fifteen. One. Two. Nineteen. Seven. Twenty-five. Six. Thirteen. Six. Seven. Fourteen. Zero.”

She turned off the mike and stood. A command prompt in green letters appeared.

Are you sure you want to terminate?

Y/N?

As she lit another fag and drew from it, she tapped a key and sauntered away, hips swaying seductively in the short skirt she wore. The screen flashed, powered off as did the other instruments. Before Lyn crossed the verge of the door, she stopped, muttered to herself. “Valeska, Lynda. Captain. Service number 01928 — 19912 — LV. I am the leaves… bathing in the sun.”