INT. JASON’S CUBE – DINNER HOUR
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wQiPxvb8W
The trio crouches around the improvised “table”: a crate flipped upside‑down, topped with steaming bowls of heavy‑grade oil stew and squares of re‑heated heat‑cubes. Jason sips first, wincing at the metallic spice.
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iJTw1V947
JASON
“Alright, spill circuits. How do you two keep citing personal details I never shared?”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn6ZThEPVl
A raises his visor from the bowl, wiping oil from his chin.
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe40Dg3yo4W
SD‑A
“Details? Which?”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygBMZyBwHR
JASON
“Maglev Operators glaring, my HR emotion forms—stuff you shouldn’t know. I never talked about any of it.”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkbb8qofQz
SD‑K, seated coolly in his new leather jacket, casually taps at a wrist panel.
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dQWkQBr2t
SD‑K
“Observation.”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K1sJ9KEAl
JASON
“Observation, my chassis. You weren’t on the train. And HR files aren’t public. So how did you observe that?”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPFo6Nm51q
K glances at A—who looks innocently blank—then back at Jason. Finally, he slides a tiny metallic object onto the crate: a micro‑spider drone, no larger than a coin, eight slender legs curled in standby.
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53PeHQkpls
SD‑K
“I deployed reconnaissance units. Small, cheap. They skitter behind you, gather environmental data, and return. Simple.”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfVyXPh6vW
JASON (staring at the bug)
“You’ve been droning me? In my own HQ? My commute? My cubicle?!”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkU8DDX2nw
SD‑K
“Efficient situational awareness. New environment. Unknown ally. Tactical necessity.”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoxIHlDglw
JASON
“Tactical—? I shower in that cube, K!”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yn30WQqM2
A nearly chokes on stew.
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3rh2mf07e
SD‑A
“He does. I heard the pipe screaming.”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzZztuF4Hx
K remains unapologetic.
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ggSUFlfsl
SD‑K
“I only monitor patterns, not… bathing rituals.”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtz89EqMPb8
JASON (rubs temples)
“Look, I get paranoia. Been there. But I need one place where I’m not on candid camera, capisce? Call off the spyders.”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7nSXeBKtk
K tilts his head, weighing trust vs. habit, then nods once.
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfxEdwcjIE
SD‑K
“Understood. Units deactivated. Data feed deleted.”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwMD5GudwE
He crushes the spider gently between two fingers; tiny spark, then silence. Jason exhales, tension easing.
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDzkGfs6pF
JASON
“Thanks. I’ll ignore the memory violation this once. Next time, ask.”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYmw4iEmw8
A raises a hand, genuinely curious.
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XPB8Rmz0S
SD‑A
“If we ask, can we still use them? Maybe… outside?”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYy0TkxHe3
JASON
“Fine. Outside. Not in my shower.”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4mNT5kznG
SD‑A (thumbs‑up)
“Deal!”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTxt7Ok42y
Jason pokes at his stew, then smirks despite himself.
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHlqhb2iIK
JASON
“Can’t believe I’m negotiating surveillance boundaries over soup.”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1XyJ0mR56
K flicks a heat‑cube into his mouth like popcorn.
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgaT7IVAo6
SD‑K
“Welcome to family life.”
76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsea1cnQ3Z
They resume eating. The spoon‑king sculpture stares judgmentally from the counter, but for now the cube feels—if not private—at least honest.
ns216.73.216.176da2
