EXT. TEMPORARY SECURITY HQ – LATE MORNING
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpunuMX6oGD
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.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAt5T2ydea
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.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByZl7Wgpik
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.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VwcJFoDHe
People whisper when they glance at it. They all know: that thing killed a city block.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bY8oDMkJJ
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.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP9csyc9au
Vult, ever composed, steps beside Jason, tablet in hand, glancing up from his files.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVJMsWWYnB
VULT
“Gearman. Good. Here’s the situation—”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MVa2vB1lK
(he doesn’t wait for confirmation)
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWBx3y4mYC
“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.”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPn9S0bPSDd
JASON
“Crude City. That’s a hell of a drive.”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl4cfCIOig
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.”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVOEBatCEf
Jason casts a glance toward the bio-container. One of the scientists is tightening a clamp with trembling fingers.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC2c7hIsED
JASON
“And you want me onboard.”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f11ogL5cc
VULT
“You and six others. Guard rotation and logistics team. You’ll receive mission-specific authority on-site. Transport departs at 18:00 sharp.”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5recm9YAG2
Jason tilts his head, sighs through his nose.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa2yWfQBaM
JASON
“Business trip, huh.”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf9Sk5h2Sd
Vult doesn’t even acknowledge the sarcasm, just turns and walks off, issuing orders through his comms.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKMJneLr5U
Jason stands there a second longer, eyeing the massive aircraft, the rising stack of crates, the pulsating container of liquid death.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2oBVjkWqq
Then he quietly turns and leaves.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUJEYk6PfF
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWKLO3FSsE
---
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFPddyZksj
INT. CUBE – MIDDAY
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaNm1ai88f
Jason enters the Cube again, already removing his vest. His movements are fluid but reserved. There’s weight on his shoulders again.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gp65YMcf0
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.”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt8uw39BJJ
A (from the sofa)
“What? Where?!”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YpmbhOytv
JASON
“Crude City. Transport mission. Dangerous. Long. Hot. Probably smelly.”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHmKYUJhE5
K (muttering)
“Sounds like a lovely vacation.”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNlrMZ7TIg
JASON
“Transport leaves at six. I’ll take anything that might make this less miserable.”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TXi5egcii
A
“I’ll get your bag.”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQDxcInbQH
JASON (half-smiling)
“Add a bottle of memory suppressant, in case I survive and want to forget.”
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJp14VyIpO
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.