Episode 51 - You’ve Activated Protocol: Mundane Intrusion

The form flickered when Olivia touched it.

Not visibly. Just under the surface.

The paper was cool. Crisp. Smug.

Across the building, three people paused in perfect sync.

Charles, halfway through tuning the frequency dampener in Studio Beta, suddenly straightened. He sniffed the air once and muttered, “Form 33-T. Level Two engagement. Damn it.”

He rolled down his sleeves. Grabbed the clipboard labeled "Tour Script (Real Edition)" And took the long hallway.

Miss LaDonna, mid-meditation on the roof, opened her eyes. The candle beside her guttered in reverse.

She calmly pressed a button beneath her chair.

It folded itself away. The tea vanished. Her clipboard appeared in her hand.

She smiled.

“There it is,” she murmured.

Bernard stopped rearranging reels labeled "Almost", "Nearly", and "Just Missed". He pulsed once.

Low.

And dark.

He didn’t float.

He drifted.

Toward the front desk.

The FCC agent had made it as far as “I’ll need to inspect your signal routing and transmitter origin, of course,” when she noticed the lighting shift.

Subtly.

Softly.

The station was… interested.

Monitor 6B displayed the cartoon dog—ears perked, tail still, eyes glowing softly.

The floor creaked behind her.

Charles stepped into view. Clipboard in hand.

“Afternoon,” he said brightly. “Charles. Technical director. I’ll be handling your tour.”

Miss LaDonna stepped in behind her.

“I’ll be answering your regulatory concerns,” she said calmly.

Bernard appeared silently beside the water cooler.

He said nothing.

He didn’t have to.

Olivia handed over the visitor badge.

It flickered once.

The nameplate said:

[REDACTED] Compliance Observer, Allegedly

The agent hesitated.

Then muttered, “I’ll… just follow along.”

She looked at Olivia one last time.

“Is there a coffee station?”

Olivia’s smile never wavered.

“We haven’t used that in years.”