INT. THE CUBE – MIDNIGHT
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1gk83mtND
The Cube is wrapped in silence, lit only by the pale blue of the ambient wall lights and the occasional flicker from the holo-clock. It’s well past midnight.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQx46j1CG54
Jason lies on the bed, eyes open. His face is blank, but it’s the kind of blank that hides too many tabs running at once. A lays peacefully beside him, curled up with his wings gently twitching in dream-state. K hangs upside down from the ceiling beam, one eye dimmed, the other flickering faintly—he might be dreaming too, or just pretending to sleep.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzCsG5EluU
Jason shifts, sits up slowly, rubbing his eyes with a hand. He doesn’t feel tired, just heavier. Like sleep couldn’t hold onto him tonight.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZKsCftmAZ
He quietly reaches to his nightstand and picks up his Texter. The screen glows in the dark, illuminating the side of his tired face. He hasn’t checked it in three days.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwP7AneDFj
New Messages.
[System Broadcast] – 6:24 PM
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ417JsGkAYN
> CORE successfully extracted and neutralized. Currently stored in Bio-Containment Tank 03, Temp HQ. All Security personnel: access restricted, contact Vult for further details.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGbRcCprdz
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoWYXV3SCX
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouGNRaejRR
Jason stares at it. His eyes narrow just a little, like his brain is squinting inside his head.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM47m6KNMiY
He scrolls.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyj0FRRdV8
[Message from Vult] – Yesterday
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuaiJxRa6N
> Report when you’re back. Bring no one else. Top clearance only.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjGtb6PGs5
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvYNixrXPm
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7Jscu2ykk
He taps the message, marks it as read, then lets the Texter drop onto the bed with a soft thud.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3eLtmk3Cw
Jason gets up and walks to the kitchen, steps quiet. The light from the fridge blinds him slightly as he opens it—not because it’s bright, but because everything else is too dark. He pulls out a bottle of maintenance fluid, twists the cap, and leans against the counter as he drinks.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcjMn8G6xj
His gaze drifts toward the main window. Outside, the city is quiet. The artificial clouds glow faint orange from the late-hour lamp grids, and the shape of the HQ tower looms in the distance like a ghostly monument.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoegedSACPI
Jason sighs. The air hisses softly through his nose vents.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNULayFvRm
JASON (soft, to himself)
“Bio-liquid tank, huh? That’s how we deal with it? Just… jar it up like some floating brain? Great plan. What could possibly go wrong…”
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWq8kEv8SL
He taps his fingers on the counter. In this still hour, his sarcasm doesn’t even feel satisfying—it just echoes back, empty.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgg1AzdGuwR
He turns his head slightly. A is still sleeping, tail loosely curled around a pillow. K hasn’t moved at all.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsSlFYw6Io
Jason leans his head back against the cabinet behind him. His optics dim as he closes his eyes.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFC7UI8HC9
His voice is a whisper now—half-sincere, half-tired.
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqmWZcRW0s
JASON
“Why does it never end…?”
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzc5Ivomfx
The cube hums softly, alive with silence. The clock ticks on.
ns216.73.216.192da2
