INT. JASON’S CUBE – DINNER HOUR
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZopzgo5AQ
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.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEanskXD38
JASON
“Alright, spill circuits. How do you two keep citing personal details I never shared?”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZHHNAxjyA
A raises his visor from the bowl, wiping oil from his chin.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUl1YDGvbPl
SD‑A
“Details? Which?”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF76mlmeIej
JASON
“Maglev Operators glaring, my HR emotion forms—stuff you shouldn’t know. I never talked about any of it.”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdyUyVPhC2
SD‑K, seated coolly in his new leather jacket, casually taps at a wrist panel.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQwvBxNXf6
SD‑K
“Observation.”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJYL9888KE
JASON
“Observation, my chassis. You weren’t on the train. And HR files aren’t public. So how did you observe that?”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1mPDKrgva
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.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmGNmV6JQZ
SD‑K
“I deployed reconnaissance units. Small, cheap. They skitter behind you, gather environmental data, and return. Simple.”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU1ILf6EYy
JASON (staring at the bug)
“You’ve been droning me? In my own HQ? My commute? My cubicle?!”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcrMOomUO5
SD‑K
“Efficient situational awareness. New environment. Unknown ally. Tactical necessity.”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntjKEBqzDg
JASON
“Tactical—? I shower in that cube, K!”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtN9gEvX5z
A nearly chokes on stew.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgktuaEAeQt
SD‑A
“He does. I heard the pipe screaming.”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9utreCL08k
K remains unapologetic.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsFBSn7lKM
SD‑K
“I only monitor patterns, not… bathing rituals.”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDgCdMfE4Y
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.”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xejmCS95G
K tilts his head, weighing trust vs. habit, then nods once.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0iyaomz7q
SD‑K
“Understood. Units deactivated. Data feed deleted.”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVhHxslGKZ
He crushes the spider gently between two fingers; tiny spark, then silence. Jason exhales, tension easing.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2jip803WT
JASON
“Thanks. I’ll ignore the memory violation this once. Next time, ask.”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEu3m0ZobkA
A raises a hand, genuinely curious.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjRquBpAR8
SD‑A
“If we ask, can we still use them? Maybe… outside?”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvTPgkNKVE
JASON
“Fine. Outside. Not in my shower.”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQL5enMZR0Q
SD‑A (thumbs‑up)
“Deal!”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggu2L1tUlt
Jason pokes at his stew, then smirks despite himself.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpIbS8orgT
JASON
“Can’t believe I’m negotiating surveillance boundaries over soup.”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtByLNk4wzE
K flicks a heat‑cube into his mouth like popcorn.
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH6C9c3BW0
SD‑K
“Welcome to family life.”
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2oCa1JKqA
They resume eating. The spoon‑king sculpture stares judgmentally from the counter, but for now the cube feels—if not private—at least honest.
ns18.221.85.236da2
