INT. THE CUBE – STILL THAT DAMN MORNING
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Josh is still frozen.
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Mouth slightly open.
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Optics flickering.
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Processor fans audibly whirring.
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He’s about two seconds away from blue-screening.
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Violet, on the other hand, is vibing.
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She leans forward from the couch, elbow on her knee, chin on palm, and smiles sweetly at A like they’re old friends.
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VIOLET (grinning)
“So, A—question.
If you had to... I don’t know... turn Jason into a battle mount during a Purification raid, where would you install the saddle?”
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Jason lifts his head just enough from the blanket to glare at her with one glowing optic.
Horrified.
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A blinks. Processing.
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Clearly not understanding it’s a joke, he thinks for a moment with a hand on his chin.
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A (serious tone)
“I’d say upper back region.
Between the shoulder joints for optimal balance.
He’s sturdy enough to carry one full-grown unit and a side-arm drone.”
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Jason groans in spiritual pain, then collapses again, face-down into the blanket, limbs dangling lifelessly over the couch like a crime scene outline.
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JASON (muffled, desperate)
"Why am I friends with her. Why.
Why did I agree to babysit.
Why is my life like this."
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A gently pats Jason’s back, hand resting lightly between his shoulders in a comforting rhythm.
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Exactly like a parent consoling a five-year-old after they dropped their lollipop.
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Meanwhile, Josh is still stuck in Loading...
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His eyes just kind of glow in a disconnected way, and he’s whispering the same phrase over and over.
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JOSH (softly, repeatedly)
“They’re Purification bots... in a cube... with a child... in a cube... with Purification bots…”
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K leans against the wall beside him, arms crossed, looking mildly empathetic.
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He gives Josh a slow nod like a monk who’s seen things.
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K (calmly)
“I know your feelings, mate.
Living with these emotionally unstable psychopaths... it’s exhausting.”
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Josh turns his head slowly toward K, optics twitching.
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JOSH (numb)
"You live here too."
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K
“Exactly.”
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Jason lets out a pathetic pffff into the blanket.
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JASON (still muffled)
“He’s not wrong.”
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A (innocently)
"I don't think I'm emotionally unstable. I log emotions properly and react within functional range."
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VIOLET (chuckling)
“Oh, sweetie, you tried. That’s cute.”
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Emily lets out a little chirp from Violet’s lap, reaching a tiny arm toward Jason’s collapsed body.
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JASON (groaning as he turns his head)
“No, child. Don’t come to me. I’m dead.
Go to your emotionally stable murder uncle.”
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A chuckles softly and shifts closer to Jason, sitting down beside him while gently dragging the blanket up over his shoulders.
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It’s peaceful.
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In that deeply unhinged kind of way.
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FADE OUT.
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