Fluorescent Authority

[INTRO] [sound cue: fluorescent buzz rising] [sound cue: distant forklift reverse beep looping] [VERSE 1] The lights don’t flicker randomly they blink like they’re counting us overhead voice says “all clear” but nothing clears Dockrat42 looks up like the ceiling might answer back steel reflections on wet concrete spell nothing official [PRE-CHORUS] [spoken] That message wasn’t scheduled that voice wasn’t routed but it’s still broadcasting [sound cue: PA system crackle surge] [CHORUS] [ensemble chant] ALL CLEAR / ALL CLEAR STAY IN MOTION ALL CLEAR / ALL CLEAR DO NOT CONFIRM ALL CLEAR / ALL CLEAR THE SYSTEM IS SPEAKING [VERSE 2] Forklifts pause mid-turn like they heard instructions twice but only one was real someone repeats “copy that” no one sent anything Dockrat42 writes it down but the clipboard writes back harder [PRE-CHORUS] [spoken] [broken] Authority is generating itself from unused airwaves from overhead light cycles from— [sound cue: metallic hum spike] [CHORUS] [ensemble chant] ALL CLEAR / ALL CLEAR NO SOURCE REQUIRED ALL CLEAR / ALL CLEAR COMPLIANCE IS AUTOMATIC [OUTRO] [spoken] The lights stay on too evenly now like they’ve decided what reality looks like Dockrat42 stops logging because logging is now part of it [sound cue: fluorescent hum locks into steady tone]