Night Signal Scan

A clicking vibration echoed from behind the cabinet base. I pivoted into a firm stance and advanced toward the sound. A digital wall timer was rotating its dial, ticking rhythmically under a faint red standby beam. I braced my shield against the front casing to check for operational instability. The dial completed its notch with a sharp snap. The indicator shifted to green. The rhythm steadied, and the sector settled into quiet.