INT. JASON’S CUBE – DINNER HOUR
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZSyCSLuqz
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.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV81qC4OsJS
JASON
“Alright, spill circuits. How do you two keep citing personal details I never shared?”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPw42JnhtF
A raises his visor from the bowl, wiping oil from his chin.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RXALGAK8F
SD‑A
“Details? Which?”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsV5Njn0bF
JASON
“Maglev Operators glaring, my HR emotion forms—stuff you shouldn’t know. I never talked about any of it.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloWeO811Rz
SD‑K, seated coolly in his new leather jacket, casually taps at a wrist panel.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLf54nu1Wc
SD‑K
“Observation.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuONlGQasmY
JASON
“Observation, my chassis. You weren’t on the train. And HR files aren’t public. So how did you observe that?”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhicSKazGh
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.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SKFoSGu4X
SD‑K
“I deployed reconnaissance units. Small, cheap. They skitter behind you, gather environmental data, and return. Simple.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysF1rUBCsz
JASON (staring at the bug)
“You’ve been droning me? In my own HQ? My commute? My cubicle?!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPS7D2KpaI
SD‑K
“Efficient situational awareness. New environment. Unknown ally. Tactical necessity.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nUNE96BQZ
JASON
“Tactical—? I shower in that cube, K!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdLTrJKDGf
A nearly chokes on stew.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLKNGqvw6J
SD‑A
“He does. I heard the pipe screaming.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanjerZJBJI
K remains unapologetic.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSdQg1v9dr
SD‑K
“I only monitor patterns, not… bathing rituals.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQSV2p9Eim
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.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjs12XFvht
K tilts his head, weighing trust vs. habit, then nods once.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KvIOM87R8
SD‑K
“Understood. Units deactivated. Data feed deleted.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcApZCwDKpq
He crushes the spider gently between two fingers; tiny spark, then silence. Jason exhales, tension easing.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nNyROSDxE
JASON
“Thanks. I’ll ignore the memory violation this once. Next time, ask.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZyrRarsaG
A raises a hand, genuinely curious.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRh5tpXSfd
SD‑A
“If we ask, can we still use them? Maybe… outside?”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT3Sgo0HwH
JASON
“Fine. Outside. Not in my shower.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGDCMNYcEC
SD‑A (thumbs‑up)
“Deal!”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYUh1l2qjo
Jason pokes at his stew, then smirks despite himself.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx7k7ReKO1
JASON
“Can’t believe I’m negotiating surveillance boundaries over soup.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyNR2JdDjl
K flicks a heat‑cube into his mouth like popcorn.
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkdb4V7tRR
SD‑K
“Welcome to family life.”
30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkwebDJPfk
They resume eating. The spoon‑king sculpture stares judgmentally from the counter, but for now the cube feels—if not private—at least honest.
ns18.218.251.50da2
