INT. JASON’S CUBE – DINNER HOUR
78Please respect copyright.PENANAZfXtZ9PYAA
The trio crouches around the improvised “table”: a crate flipped upside‑down, topped with steaming bowls of heavy‑grade oil stew and squares of re‑heated heat‑cubes. Jason sips first, wincing at the metallic spice.
78Please respect copyright.PENANAWbpSCwOQUO
JASON
“Alright, spill circuits. How do you two keep citing personal details I never shared?”
78Please respect copyright.PENANAvdoXmn5Xqo
A raises his visor from the bowl, wiping oil from his chin.
78Please respect copyright.PENANAC2sqSHWh0P
SD‑A
“Details? Which?”
78Please respect copyright.PENANAqsSdxooWsO
JASON
“Maglev Operators glaring, my HR emotion forms—stuff you shouldn’t know. I never talked about any of it.”
78Please respect copyright.PENANA4BUi8VrpVF
SD‑K, seated coolly in his new leather jacket, casually taps at a wrist panel.
78Please respect copyright.PENANADbiukTuHpd
SD‑K
“Observation.”
78Please respect copyright.PENANArXA2t7J6QX
JASON
“Observation, my chassis. You weren’t on the train. And HR files aren’t public. So how did you observe that?”
78Please respect copyright.PENANAOfFhKiVAWG
K glances at A—who looks innocently blank—then back at Jason. Finally, he slides a tiny metallic object onto the crate: a micro‑spider drone, no larger than a coin, eight slender legs curled in standby.
78Please respect copyright.PENANAFHjAwhKKVr
SD‑K
“I deployed reconnaissance units. Small, cheap. They skitter behind you, gather environmental data, and return. Simple.”
78Please respect copyright.PENANARdvfXRQnkl
JASON (staring at the bug)
“You’ve been droning me? In my own HQ? My commute? My cubicle?!”
78Please respect copyright.PENANAXuSlkUkbh8
SD‑K
“Efficient situational awareness. New environment. Unknown ally. Tactical necessity.”
78Please respect copyright.PENANAdPPs6X5prn
JASON
“Tactical—? I shower in that cube, K!”
78Please respect copyright.PENANASB2KDqvcXv
A nearly chokes on stew.
78Please respect copyright.PENANAohvMiwYeIc
SD‑A
“He does. I heard the pipe screaming.”
78Please respect copyright.PENANAuLxFS5evMp
K remains unapologetic.
78Please respect copyright.PENANAZLRacGbOIU
SD‑K
“I only monitor patterns, not… bathing rituals.”
78Please respect copyright.PENANA2wlFwGMGwP
JASON (rubs temples)
“Look, I get paranoia. Been there. But I need one place where I’m not on candid camera, capisce? Call off the spyders.”
78Please respect copyright.PENANADS7KB2mQcb
K tilts his head, weighing trust vs. habit, then nods once.
78Please respect copyright.PENANAxHlFDSuzQZ
SD‑K
“Understood. Units deactivated. Data feed deleted.”
78Please respect copyright.PENANAgWEyPo4dHt
He crushes the spider gently between two fingers; tiny spark, then silence. Jason exhales, tension easing.
78Please respect copyright.PENANA0xX4B3Iftu
JASON
“Thanks. I’ll ignore the memory violation this once. Next time, ask.”
78Please respect copyright.PENANAdTJSThR6p7
A raises a hand, genuinely curious.
78Please respect copyright.PENANA4O5yT9X1Nb
SD‑A
“If we ask, can we still use them? Maybe… outside?”
78Please respect copyright.PENANAZgQr1BuMDc
JASON
“Fine. Outside. Not in my shower.”
78Please respect copyright.PENANA6R80rOs8cV
SD‑A (thumbs‑up)
“Deal!”
78Please respect copyright.PENANADWPeXaiSHT
Jason pokes at his stew, then smirks despite himself.
78Please respect copyright.PENANAto84mB83I4
JASON
“Can’t believe I’m negotiating surveillance boundaries over soup.”
78Please respect copyright.PENANApTJxXfXOLT
K flicks a heat‑cube into his mouth like popcorn.
78Please respect copyright.PENANAhf5OJv95kp
SD‑K
“Welcome to family life.”
78Please respect copyright.PENANAyTrXYvmk78
They resume eating. The spoon‑king sculpture stares judgmentally from the counter, but for now the cube feels—if not private—at least honest.
ns216.73.216.224da2