Gemotions

The hum of the servers, usually a comfort, now felt oppressive in the data center. Liam, his eyelids drooping, leaned against a cold steel cabinet. The flickering lights overhead seemed to be trying to hypnotize him. He’d been at it for hours, chasing a phantom bug through lines of code. The air conditioning was failing, and a sheen of perspiration coated his forehead. He yawned, a wide, soundless cavern opening behind his teeth.

A security guard approached, his expression a mixture of concern and bewilderment. “Mr. Chen? There's… someone here to see you. Regarding Project Chimera.”

He trudged after the guard, his steps heavy. In a small conference room, a woman from a rival tech firm sat hunched at a table. On the screen was the familiar architecture of his project. He sagged against the doorframe, a wave of weariness washing over him.