INT. THE CUBE – MORNING
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9DlfUClrj
A knock rattles the door early in the morning.
A practically sprints to open it, his face lit up with an excitement usually reserved for cartoons and new snack deliveries.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1qabetH1x
He swings the door wide.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5rWMimUzg
A (grinning)
"Good morning!!"
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjdfooinZV
Standing outside are Josh Anderson and Violet Solace, both carrying bags and looking very... surprised.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRfENQF0xi
Josh blinks, his optics doing a little mechanical whirr as he takes in the tall, smiley bot who is definitely not Jason.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIQUBi2Zuw
JOSH (awkwardly clearing his throat)
"Uh... hi? Is Jason here?"
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q6uVE5f5U
Before A can respond, Jason skids into view, still pulling a hoodie over his head and looking like he lost a fight with his own bed.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡET4qFhfz6l
JASON (huffing)
"Yeah, yeah, I’m here. Long story—roommates."
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpEHEjaMV5
Josh raises a brow, but shrugs it off in classic Josh fashion—if it’s weird, it’s probably normal for Jason.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqQmwHM7nn
Violet, on the other hand, immediately grins like a shark spotting blood.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqWuX6LJRX
VIOLET (teasing)
"Roommates? What, you finally got sick of living with just your own depressing thoughts?"
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0Djv1zn6X
Jason rolls his eyes.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGjbi2akN9
JASON (grinning back)
"Yeah, figured I should diversify the mental illnesses around me."
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLk2WVWtYJ
They both laugh like it’s the funniest thing ever.
Josh sighs, looking between them helplessly—clearly used to this dynamic.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqlbrtmFEc
Violet nudges Josh’s arm with an elbow.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOGo9sDOZu
VIOLET (smirking)
"Remember college? When I had to drag your sorry ass out of the laundry room 'cause someone glued your pants to the floor?"
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lExj0rIBm
JASON (cackling)
"Best prank of the semester. You were screaming like a kettle."
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhu78vLwA78
Josh mutters something about "trauma" and "therapy bills."
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkUsiyuP8d
VIOLET (mocking, to Jason)
"And you were always the bad influence. Top of the food chain."
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPpx7f0yDv
JASON (mock innocent)
"Hey, you were the one encouraging me! If I’m the poison, you're the damn delivery system."
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9VHtz9IPc
They both exchange an evil, nostalgic look.
Josh just groans dramatically, as if he'd aged a century just standing there.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8i03egZ02
Meanwhile, A gently cradles Emily—a small, egg-shaped data pod with a soft pulsing blue glow—like she’s made of clouds.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR5XBnl6rU
A (whispering, awed)
"She’s adorable."
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNwYrLCmsZ
Violet softens a little, watching A hold the pod with such care.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWEB6GQghW
VIOLET (grinning)
"Take good care of her, alright? She likes soft humming noises and hates loud banging."
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav4SnSw6U1
Jason snorts.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrwqCRyfbD
JASON (deadpan)
"Perfect. We’re a rock band of chaos and murder. What could go wrong?"
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhZeWMhKz9
Josh gives a nervous chuckle, handing A a tiny manual titled "Emergency Data Pod Care" written in about 500 words of technobabble and legal threats.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gejRQJqcB
JOSH (half-joking)
"If she explodes, you’re buying us a new kid."
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdYoiTMBlp
JASON (saluting lazily)
"Sir, yes sir."
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO8SyAhthj
VIOLET (turning to leave, calling over her shoulder)
"Don’t let him teach her sarcasm before she even has legs!"
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXk1JjT4FYt
JASON (mock-offended)
"Hey, sarcasm is a life skill!"
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNpGt3VpWx
The front door clicks shut after them.
Silence falls over the cube... broken only by the soft pulsing of the data pod.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEfpXCcI24
Jason turns slowly to face A and K, hands on hips.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XCqlF0urH
JASON (grimacing)
"Well, congratulations. We’re officially in charge of a tiny semi-sentient bean."
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeJzyw7RDz
A cradles Emily proudly like he’s holding the future.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6fTAMa3kE
K scribbles a doodle of a baby pod wielding a giant axe on the wall behind them.
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHw8ht8RFP
JASON (sighing)
"This... is gonna be a nightmare."
75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2Lod9NOHe
FADE OUT.
ns216.73.216.176da2
