EXT. TEMPORARY SECURITY HQ – LATE MORNING
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXcO2yqJj6
The sky above Central City remains dull, sun filtering through like weak tea. The temporary HQ—an old converted office building—is alive with movement. Scientists in white and grey coats cross paths with armored Security staff. Cables trail across the floor, and heavy crates shift on auto-lifters with sharp metallic hisses. Everyone has a destination, and no time to waste.
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAosjAKXqBf
Jason steps through the main gate, crisp in his standard formal attire: black suit pants, a white shirt rolled neatly at the elbows, and a deep navy-blue vest. His eyes flick across the chaos with practiced calm.
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSA4OUcbw1
Inside, the BIO-CONTAINER 03 sits heavily in the center of the room—its thick glass full of bubbling biology liquid, greenish-blue, faintly glowing. Inside it, the core floats like something out of a dark dream. Pulsing faintly. Mysterious. Still.
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8lHwLFOFK
People whisper when they glance at it. They all know: that thing killed a city block.
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RF1kpnyIW
On the rooftop, a military transport aircraft waits with its engines humming low. Large crates—jarred specimens, containers of cooling gel, data drives, and fragile electronics—are already being loaded by specialized bots and staff in exo-suits.
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxj5liNQ4E
Vult, ever composed, steps beside Jason, tablet in hand, glancing up from his files.
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9VQ2kMySL
VULT
“Gearman. Good. Here’s the situation—”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVCEjW1zGi
(he doesn’t wait for confirmation)
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsUn2O2e6j
“HQ’s still a mess. No access to deep-analysis equipment. No secure server cores. So we’re transporting everything—samples, data, and the core itself—to Crude City’s main hub. It’s the only functional Tier-One facility left with enough containment measures.”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxJQlmaDRX
JASON
“Crude City. That’s a hell of a drive.”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTK8Wj4hXn6
VULT
“Three days. Extreme weather risk is high. Oil wells flare up randomly, and temperature dips cause magnetic storm surges. But it’s fortified, and stable.”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQp7biC8k2l
Jason casts a glance toward the bio-container. One of the scientists is tightening a clamp with trembling fingers.
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyPImlS6Au
JASON
“And you want me onboard.”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooHAYva3Zj
VULT
“You and six others. Guard rotation and logistics team. You’ll receive mission-specific authority on-site. Transport departs at 18:00 sharp.”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidILSCNGwD
Jason tilts his head, sighs through his nose.
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUzSZXGeky
JASON
“Business trip, huh.”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAigBQvIjK9
Vult doesn’t even acknowledge the sarcasm, just turns and walks off, issuing orders through his comms.
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSY9Fr2ofZ
Jason stands there a second longer, eyeing the massive aircraft, the rising stack of crates, the pulsating container of liquid death.
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsREsQkddB
Then he quietly turns and leaves.
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRC0KOdqOe
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs01uoteZ2i
---
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzkrxX4L6e
INT. CUBE – MIDDAY
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyay6phImb
Jason enters the Cube again, already removing his vest. His movements are fluid but reserved. There’s weight on his shoulders again.
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPvnOhe9HT
JASON (to A and K)
“Pack me three days’ worth of painkillers, shock-absorption foam, spare power cells, and maybe a neck pillow if we still have one. I’m going out of town.”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxEep82V8i
A (from the sofa)
“What? Where?!”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsZ8Kn6bqA
JASON
“Crude City. Transport mission. Dangerous. Long. Hot. Probably smelly.”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQ593bVihF
K (muttering)
“Sounds like a lovely vacation.”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1wah78Qfm
JASON
“Transport leaves at six. I’ll take anything that might make this less miserable.”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ22E9ccZB3
A
“I’ll get your bag.”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIj8CjCxFw
JASON (half-smiling)
“Add a bottle of memory suppressant, in case I survive and want to forget.”
226Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnd8fEgtmxq
As A begins collecting supplies and K rummages for rations, Jason sits down at the table, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He hasn’t even left yet, and his spine already aches with anticipation.
ns216.73.217.139da2
and then Add to home screen.