INT. THE CUBE – MIDNIGHT
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFKdI80NSw
The Cube is wrapped in silence, lit only by the pale blue of the ambient wall lights and the occasional flicker from the holo-clock. It’s well past midnight.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJyeARxPw2
Jason lies on the bed, eyes open. His face is blank, but it’s the kind of blank that hides too many tabs running at once. A lays peacefully beside him, curled up with his wings gently twitching in dream-state. K hangs upside down from the ceiling beam, one eye dimmed, the other flickering faintly—he might be dreaming too, or just pretending to sleep.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbMBpuYbO3
Jason shifts, sits up slowly, rubbing his eyes with a hand. He doesn’t feel tired, just heavier. Like sleep couldn’t hold onto him tonight.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEsvtTV4BR
He quietly reaches to his nightstand and picks up his Texter. The screen glows in the dark, illuminating the side of his tired face. He hasn’t checked it in three days.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8GUbjuAZr
New Messages.
[System Broadcast] – 6:24 PM
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbE7fp5Xfr
> CORE successfully extracted and neutralized. Currently stored in Bio-Containment Tank 03, Temp HQ. All Security personnel: access restricted, contact Vult for further details.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReg0ZpwjfB
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1ru3DA78j
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61Pzz5ww4I
Jason stares at it. His eyes narrow just a little, like his brain is squinting inside his head.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JnFExHe0b
He scrolls.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYk8lf1oocd
[Message from Vult] – Yesterday
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkwofTZPrV
> Report when you’re back. Bring no one else. Top clearance only.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9rl4RuWm5
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVYQ2SBv6k
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJfCffhlhY
He taps the message, marks it as read, then lets the Texter drop onto the bed with a soft thud.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZXePHuCEx
Jason gets up and walks to the kitchen, steps quiet. The light from the fridge blinds him slightly as he opens it—not because it’s bright, but because everything else is too dark. He pulls out a bottle of maintenance fluid, twists the cap, and leans against the counter as he drinks.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyybqPWyGm
His gaze drifts toward the main window. Outside, the city is quiet. The artificial clouds glow faint orange from the late-hour lamp grids, and the shape of the HQ tower looms in the distance like a ghostly monument.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzCTMy4U0k
Jason sighs. The air hisses softly through his nose vents.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkhKDTWopR
JASON (soft, to himself)
“Bio-liquid tank, huh? That’s how we deal with it? Just… jar it up like some floating brain? Great plan. What could possibly go wrong…”
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9Wc3k5jfv
He taps his fingers on the counter. In this still hour, his sarcasm doesn’t even feel satisfying—it just echoes back, empty.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RxuUfMgw1
He turns his head slightly. A is still sleeping, tail loosely curled around a pillow. K hasn’t moved at all.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNWMjIrd8D
Jason leans his head back against the cabinet behind him. His optics dim as he closes his eyes.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIjQZxlE85
His voice is a whisper now—half-sincere, half-tired.
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1WSyvCNuX
JASON
“Why does it never end…?”
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAI7YRcskZb
The cube hums softly, alive with silence. The clock ticks on.
ns216.73.216.154da2
