The plane shuddered suddenly, a low vibration rippling through the floor as auxiliary power cycled. Lights flickered almost imperceptibly. A few passengers glanced around, unsettled, then returned to their phones. Alyssa stayed frozen, certain now that whatever was wrong wasn’t going away.
The captain’s voice returned, still calm but more deliberate now. He announced a further delay, explaining that some formalities were being completed before departure. The word lingered in Alyssa’s mind—formalities. What formalities had to be completed at this stage?