Space is quiet. There is no wind. There are no animals frolicking around. There is not even noisy traffic of vehicles rumbling past. On the station, the best you get is flowing water going through a pipe.

That is, of course, unless the AI controlling the station thinks it is a good idea to run an emergency shutdown drill.

Blaring silence, a few screams heard from nearby residents surprised and/or hurting themselves from jumping, and the loud crashing slams of steel shutters closing is how Dr Elune greeted the day. And this did not suit them one bit.

As Dr Elune was scrambling around their apartment, getting halfway dressed and looking for the cause of such a commotion, one of their many screens flickered on on it's own, "Don't panic, I'm just running the shutdown drill. You don't need to get ready just yet."

While glaring at the monitor did not faze the reassuringly smiling face on the screen, it made the doctor feel slightly better. "And why, might I ask, do we need a drill run?"

"We have been receiving a few reports lately of oddly malfunctioning shutters. People have been using them for privacy, and for sealing off unused sections as you are aware. Besides, we were long overdue according to the regulations."

"... You know how I feel about those regulations. And the residents won't notice the lack of regular checks..." Grumbling, the doctor finished getting dressed, ready for the inevitable meeting, "Now... You aren't in the clear yet."

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"And why is that, doctor?"

"You know full well why. You are not to perform any unscheduled tasks outside of this room unless given express permission from the board... Or at least me, as the director. There were better ways of carrying this out."

Silence followed, which was rather unusual for Alex.

"... The drill should be over now. Turn of those sirens, and open the shutters that are in use." As the doctor shuffled to the doorway, they sighed as the sounds stopped, "And... In the board meeting... Turn off the cameras."

"Even though there is the security risk in doing so?"

"Yes. And compile the report on the shutter operations for when I get back... Since you went through the effort of getting the data."

"... Yes doctor."

And so Dr Elune found themself walking to nothing but the soft slapping sound of their shoes on the floor, deliberating how to start the meeting with the board.

And the face on the monitor watched them go, unseen... Smile faltering slightly as Alex began compiling their report.