INT. THE CUBE – LATE MORNING
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Knock, knock, knock.
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Jason drags himself to the door and swings it open lazily.
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Josh and Violet stand there.
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Josh looks absolutely wrecked—
his optics are dim and unfocused, his steps wobbly, and he keeps grabbing Violet’s shoulder to stop himself from face-planting on the floor.
Meanwhile, Violet looks as bright and energized as if she just came back from a week-long vacation at a luxury spa.
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Jason stares at them for a long, slow second.
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JASON (deadpan, smug)
"Did you guys like… just crawl outta some shady motel or something?"
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Violet grins with a too-innocent shrug, her optics sparkling mischievously.
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VIOLET
"Maybe."
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Jason recoils slightly, groaning like he’s just been physically assaulted by secondhand embarrassment.
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JASON (muttering under his breath)
"Not responsible parenting, I swear to every known and unknown god…"
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Violet pats him on the head patronizingly as she walks in.
Josh stumbles in behind her like a dying man who’s seen things—
terrible things.
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They gather in the main room. A, K, and Jason chatting briefly with Josh and Violet about how the night went (glossing over the "emotional breakdown" parts).
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Josh eventually tries to hold Emily.
Everything seems fine—until Violet shifts to grab her coffee and accidentally knocks Emily’s data pod loose from Josh’s unsteady grip.
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Time slows to a crawl.
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The data pod slips from Josh’s hands, falling through the air.
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Jason’s optics widen in horror.
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K even looks concerned for a split-second.
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A moves faster than thought—his wing, sharp and precise like a blade, snaps out and catches Emily mid-air, cradling her gently with the soft membrane.
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Silence.
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Everyone freezes.
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Josh’s jaw drops.
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Violet’s coffee sloshes onto the floor.
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K stops doodling and actually blinks.
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Jason stares blankly for a moment, then plants his face in both hands with a long, tortured groan.
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JASON (miserably)
"My fucking life…"
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CUT TO BLACK.
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