Previously… (Wednesday & Thursday in the Cube)
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjQmdc2kEU
Wednesday morning: Jason leaves for patrol; A & K decide to “cook.” Outcome: Stew à la Battery Acid (inedible) and one scorched pan. Jason returns, applauds the effort, bans experimental cuisine for 48 hours.
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVMX35VTid
Wednesday night: Rooftop flight practice. A nails a perfect barrel‑roll; K times him with a pocket chronometer, pretends not to be impressed. Jason nearly has a heart attack when A dive‑bombs to wave at him.
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLarrqnqVl
Thursday afternoon: A discovers roller skates at the back of the closet; K adds shock‑absorber mods. Result: turbo‑powered skating inside the corridor, three terrified neighbors, one apology note.
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExpj5fzyUv
Thursday midnight: UNO rematch #4. A wins again. K accuses him of “probability witchcraft.” Jason unveils Junk‑Jenga—tower collapses, everyone laughs, spoon‑king loses a googly‑eye (now taped back on).
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0FnCKyG7R
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5g9kp9zqu4
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXgo8ypBar
---
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnzaTvQgTe
FRIDAY — Loyalty‑Reinforcement Day
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjy8NeCJNf3
INT. JASON’S CUBE – DAWN
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBv0T9XfcT
Alarm drones. Jason rubs his visor, checks calendar.
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZYVX73c18
JASON
“Great—indoctrination o’clock.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA1xoecxHF
K hangs upside‑down doing morning “anti‑gravity stretches.”
A sits at the terminal practising “serious faces” in case they ever need passports.
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bTpQS8Euz
JASON
“No explosions while I’m gone. K—supervise. A—minimum cartoons. I’ll ping if the seminar turns into a cult meeting.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4dnOSaU1E
He grabs coffee oil, nods, heads out.
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjXPHJRqW0
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuyPnCvd61
---
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3Fr3wZZjb
INT. SECURITY HQ – MAIN AUDITORIUM – MORNING
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnk6lluBCc
A sea of Security units sits in rigid rows. A giant banner reads:
“LOYALTY REINFORCEMENT SEMINAR – Because Protocol Is Love”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gK4MlcY6R
INSTRUCTOR‑BOT (cheerfully monotone)
“Today we rediscover unquestioning devotion! Module One: Smiling With Purpose.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoEfqfGpgY
Slides flash across the holo‑wall: “Smile Ratio Charts,” “Proper Saluting Angles,” “Suppressing Free Thought in 5 Easy Scripts.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C0Jb1c6qz
JASON (deadpan whisper to neighboring officer)
“If I smile any harder, my faceplate’ll fold.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76cTIPDMS3
NEIGHBOR OFFICER
“They gave me a stress ball shaped like HQ. I think it’s a threat.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZj4eByx7q
Jason endures modules on: “Brand‑Safe Language,” “Fulfilling the Mission Statement in Casual Conversation,” and the ever‑popular “Synchronized Chant Break.” He mumbles the chant half‑heartedly, visor twitching.
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFWLjSjAMJ
During a break he texts the cube‑mates:
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXoknjfr2v
> J: “Still alive. Being taught how to love HQ. Send memes.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCCd44MEVN
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OcvEu6G83
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JI6OLQE2j
A replies with an ASCII spoon‑king.
K replies with a single word: “Resist.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqQhl8INiB
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnus6wft0E
---
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqiwgWysn8
INT. AUDITORIUM – AFTERNOON
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMRQyrOYh9
Final drill: VR scenario called “Temptation of Disloyalty.” Jason’s avatar offered a bribe to skip patrols. He chooses “Refuse, punch villain, file report.” The program awards ‘Gold Star of Adherence.’
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvwYgDLUyP
JASON (V.O.)
“Gold star won’t pay rent, but at least it gets me out of here faster.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Tpnmx1kmg
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcL2gPzBHi
---
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IVTvZsKG2
INT. CUBE – EVENING
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQWdyLHjbp
Door opens. Jason steps in, flings a holo‑pamphlet labelled “Feelings Are Bugs 1.0.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1k2aI7sl4Q
JASON
“I survived. They tried to teach me how to salute with my heart.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraSfqASg6o
A and K high‑five behind him—A wearing roller skates, K now sporting sunglasses he liberated from the closet.
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR057itnrj
SD‑A
“We made chili‑oil stew! Non‑explosive this time.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsI8wLc1EhH
SD‑K
“And we didn’t burn the neighbors.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCgsbMZQvo
JASON (exhausted smile)
“Best news all day. Loyalty seminar complete; rebellion at home alive and well. Let’s eat.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCvS8sNkZi
The three gather round the crate‑table, spoon‑king watching with its one good eye. Friday night begins—not loyal, but together.
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1GgZDyr1W
FADE OUT.
ns216.73.216.192da2
