INT. THE CUBE – LATE MORNING
82Please respect copyright.PENANAhOpYhLKXea
Knock, knock, knock.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAqdScIU2nwM
Jason drags himself to the door and swings it open lazily.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAa11adJKjVW
Josh and Violet stand there.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAdE0YNLsUiq
Josh looks absolutely wrecked—
his optics are dim and unfocused, his steps wobbly, and he keeps grabbing Violet’s shoulder to stop himself from face-planting on the floor.
Meanwhile, Violet looks as bright and energized as if she just came back from a week-long vacation at a luxury spa.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAp3bXMN55i9
Jason stares at them for a long, slow second.
82Please respect copyright.PENANABELCJFSpV1
JASON (deadpan, smug)
"Did you guys like… just crawl outta some shady motel or something?"
82Please respect copyright.PENANATIfs3Wd7ak
Violet grins with a too-innocent shrug, her optics sparkling mischievously.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAB6KCnVubfU
VIOLET
"Maybe."
82Please respect copyright.PENANA6wv8laBZPp
Jason recoils slightly, groaning like he’s just been physically assaulted by secondhand embarrassment.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAAOyPP5bzxT
JASON (muttering under his breath)
"Not responsible parenting, I swear to every known and unknown god…"
82Please respect copyright.PENANALZOH8n8rYT
Violet pats him on the head patronizingly as she walks in.
Josh stumbles in behind her like a dying man who’s seen things—
terrible things.
82Please respect copyright.PENANArjjFRj6uC0
They gather in the main room. A, K, and Jason chatting briefly with Josh and Violet about how the night went (glossing over the "emotional breakdown" parts).
82Please respect copyright.PENANAEx0plGZva4
Josh eventually tries to hold Emily.
Everything seems fine—until Violet shifts to grab her coffee and accidentally knocks Emily’s data pod loose from Josh’s unsteady grip.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAv0aZaLs3EO
Time slows to a crawl.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAC2y4qsMXFg
The data pod slips from Josh’s hands, falling through the air.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAIqigbiQHqF
Jason’s optics widen in horror.
82Please respect copyright.PENANA6L0swu2oPl
K even looks concerned for a split-second.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAvZ1rNSBgSi
A moves faster than thought—his wing, sharp and precise like a blade, snaps out and catches Emily mid-air, cradling her gently with the soft membrane.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAewKr2HtRHG
Silence.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAR6aT5cn8XY
Everyone freezes.
82Please respect copyright.PENANADZkhgjksTM
Josh’s jaw drops.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAMRKVBILJ5N
Violet’s coffee sloshes onto the floor.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAJ95DKHzgbl
K stops doodling and actually blinks.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAaYCvfpL1ZO
Jason stares blankly for a moment, then plants his face in both hands with a long, tortured groan.
82Please respect copyright.PENANAGM7jBlYNct
JASON (miserably)
"My fucking life…"
82Please respect copyright.PENANAoezhhwGqsJ
CUT TO BLACK.
ns216.73.217.1da2