EXT. SECURITY HQ PERIMETER – CONTINUOUS
80Please respect copyright.PENANAIkOHAQ6UBx
Smoke and red rotating beacons paint the plaza. The monstrous spire hums, vein‑like ridges pulsing with dim light; thinner tendrils slither from its roots, melding into pavement.
80Please respect copyright.PENANApiL7l2cvt4
Jason hustles to the nearest instructor‑bot marshal point—a portable command kiosk bristling with scanners. Cadets and veterans alike cluster in squads, armor clanking.
80Please respect copyright.PENANAWJgYD6ECVr
JASON
“Gearman, Unit 4789. Status?”
80Please respect copyright.PENANALWGNzbwDOf
INSTRUCTOR‑BOT (rapid‑fire)
“Spire emerged at 02:14—zero seismic precursors. Material scans match 87% with parasitic alloy samples recovered last month.”
80Please respect copyright.PENANAyGvR7AVluW
Jason’s eyes narrow—exactly what he saw in the corpse‑puppets.
80Please respect copyright.PENANAMo1a27yef7
INSTRUCTOR‑BOT (cont.)
“Patrol formation Delta‑Grid. Surround HQ at fifty‑meter radius—block civilian access. S.R.S. units are sweeping Sector Four, shuttling non‑combatants out.”
80Please respect copyright.PENANAQw7jgoMbRK
Jason glimpses S.R.S. mechs down the avenue—riot shields, crowd‑guidance drones shepherding frightened bots to safety.
80Please respect copyright.PENANAnUQUgoGPME
JASON
“Science teams?”
80Please respect copyright.PENANAO6ObeFc0on
INSTRUCTOR‑BOT
“Trying to secure micro‑core samples. Vines lash at anything within ten meters. Two analysts already cocooned—parasitic fusion in seconds.”
80Please respect copyright.PENANAZHmOGXJwud
Jason winces, stares at the twitching roots.
80Please respect copyright.PENANA5DVE91zUsh
INSTRUCTOR‑BOT
“Your squad’s there—north barricade. Move!”
80Please respect copyright.PENANAprD2P0r23b
Jason jogs to a line of Security bots stacking portable blast‑shields. The air reeks of ozone and burnt circuitry.
80Please respect copyright.PENANAzJT5OY4jtu
SERGEANT‑BOT
“We hold until R&D figures out how to torch this weed.”
80Please respect copyright.PENANATUKyNZQNqn
A patrolmate leans over.
80Please respect copyright.PENANAeSsQLI1BhP
PATROLMATE
“You see how fast it shot up? One blink—bam, tower kebab.”
80Please respect copyright.PENANA1rKyL1msXr
Jason loads a slug into his rail‑cannon, voice low.
80Please respect copyright.PENANAOa775uugfO
JASON
“Same alloy we scraped off parasite hosts. Means this isn’t random—it’s planned.”
80Please respect copyright.PENANAjuV83FwWfY
He eyes the spire’s surface—organic metal plates flex like breathing skin.
80Please respect copyright.PENANAnbedPOt4UW
SERGEANT‑BOT
“Focus, Gearman. If that thing sprouts friends, we’re first wall.”
80Please respect copyright.PENANA2u9eco0wqr
Jason nods, sets stance behind the shield line. In the distance, science drones hover, edging closer—one vine snaps out, spears a drone, drags it into the core with a sizzling hiss.
80Please respect copyright.PENANAUt1RnnHCtd
JASON (V.O.)
“Whatever’s down there, it’s done hiding.”
80Please respect copyright.PENANAcbXy4Soxrf
He grips his weapon tighter. Night air vibrates with the spire’s heartbeat, and the battle of HQ begins.
80Please respect copyright.PENANAmf8lRjyNCt
FADE OUT.
ns216.73.217.1da2