Previously… (Wednesday & Thursday in the Cube)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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FRIDAY — Loyalty‑Reinforcement Day
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INT. JASON’S CUBE – DAWN
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Alarm drones. Jason rubs his visor, checks calendar.
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JASON
“Great—indoctrination o’clock.”
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K hangs upside‑down doing morning “anti‑gravity stretches.”
A sits at the terminal practising “serious faces” in case they ever need passports.
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JASON
“No explosions while I’m gone. K—supervise. A—minimum cartoons. I’ll ping if the seminar turns into a cult meeting.”
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He grabs coffee oil, nods, heads out.
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INT. SECURITY HQ – MAIN AUDITORIUM – MORNING
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A sea of Security units sits in rigid rows. A giant banner reads:
“LOYALTY REINFORCEMENT SEMINAR – Because Protocol Is Love”
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INSTRUCTOR‑BOT (cheerfully monotone)
“Today we rediscover unquestioning devotion! Module One: Smiling With Purpose.”
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Slides flash across the holo‑wall: “Smile Ratio Charts,” “Proper Saluting Angles,” “Suppressing Free Thought in 5 Easy Scripts.”
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JASON (deadpan whisper to neighboring officer)
“If I smile any harder, my faceplate’ll fold.”
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NEIGHBOR OFFICER
“They gave me a stress ball shaped like HQ. I think it’s a threat.”
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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.
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During a break he texts the cube‑mates:
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> J: “Still alive. Being taught how to love HQ. Send memes.”
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A replies with an ASCII spoon‑king.
K replies with a single word: “Resist.”
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INT. AUDITORIUM – AFTERNOON
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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.’
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JASON (V.O.)
“Gold star won’t pay rent, but at least it gets me out of here faster.”
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INT. CUBE – EVENING
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Door opens. Jason steps in, flings a holo‑pamphlet labelled “Feelings Are Bugs 1.0.”
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JASON
“I survived. They tried to teach me how to salute with my heart.”
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A and K high‑five behind him—A wearing roller skates, K now sporting sunglasses he liberated from the closet.
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SD‑A
“We made chili‑oil stew! Non‑explosive this time.”
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SD‑K
“And we didn’t burn the neighbors.”
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JASON (exhausted smile)
“Best news all day. Loyalty seminar complete; rebellion at home alive and well. Let’s eat.”
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The three gather round the crate‑table, spoon‑king watching with its one good eye. Friday night begins—not loyal, but together.
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FADE OUT.
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