Previously… (Wednesday & Thursday in the Cube)
29Please respect copyright.PENANADCC89sxpWS
Wednesday morning: Jason leaves for patrol; A & K decide to “cook.” Outcome: Stew à la Battery Acid (inedible) and one scorched pan. Jason returns, applauds the effort, bans experimental cuisine for 48 hours.
29Please respect copyright.PENANAqxtc9a1GzB
Wednesday night: Rooftop flight practice. A nails a perfect barrel‑roll; K times him with a pocket chronometer, pretends not to be impressed. Jason nearly has a heart attack when A dive‑bombs to wave at him.
29Please respect copyright.PENANAqLlob7z82V
Thursday afternoon: A discovers roller skates at the back of the closet; K adds shock‑absorber mods. Result: turbo‑powered skating inside the corridor, three terrified neighbors, one apology note.
29Please respect copyright.PENANAV8f6HW7gBZ
Thursday midnight: UNO rematch #4. A wins again. K accuses him of “probability witchcraft.” Jason unveils Junk‑Jenga—tower collapses, everyone laughs, spoon‑king loses a googly‑eye (now taped back on).
29Please respect copyright.PENANAKIveD1Z7W1
29Please respect copyright.PENANAXju99xpai0
29Please respect copyright.PENANA9pkBTYxnOb
---
29Please respect copyright.PENANAJ38X9xXIzS
FRIDAY — Loyalty‑Reinforcement Day
29Please respect copyright.PENANAOfJRwMyEEA
INT. JASON’S CUBE – DAWN
29Please respect copyright.PENANAGkwgCdKMQt
Alarm drones. Jason rubs his visor, checks calendar.
29Please respect copyright.PENANAy6qtyJ2ZeD
JASON
“Great—indoctrination o’clock.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANAvypNkiXfA0
K hangs upside‑down doing morning “anti‑gravity stretches.”
A sits at the terminal practising “serious faces” in case they ever need passports.
29Please respect copyright.PENANAh9IRosw4XH
JASON
“No explosions while I’m gone. K—supervise. A—minimum cartoons. I’ll ping if the seminar turns into a cult meeting.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANAWVT9zoXPoV
He grabs coffee oil, nods, heads out.
29Please respect copyright.PENANAMYTVWbpMpK
29Please respect copyright.PENANAj7nRlgTNAh
---
29Please respect copyright.PENANAb1byxipjOX
INT. SECURITY HQ – MAIN AUDITORIUM – MORNING
29Please respect copyright.PENANALZby1YvB7S
A sea of Security units sits in rigid rows. A giant banner reads:
“LOYALTY REINFORCEMENT SEMINAR – Because Protocol Is Love”
29Please respect copyright.PENANAZwJnA1Qnhf
INSTRUCTOR‑BOT (cheerfully monotone)
“Today we rediscover unquestioning devotion! Module One: Smiling With Purpose.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANAFsRowYuWSd
Slides flash across the holo‑wall: “Smile Ratio Charts,” “Proper Saluting Angles,” “Suppressing Free Thought in 5 Easy Scripts.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANAT3gNT0P0QD
JASON (deadpan whisper to neighboring officer)
“If I smile any harder, my faceplate’ll fold.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANAkMadBKcpne
NEIGHBOR OFFICER
“They gave me a stress ball shaped like HQ. I think it’s a threat.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANA6V7Rwr4r6n
Jason endures modules on: “Brand‑Safe Language,” “Fulfilling the Mission Statement in Casual Conversation,” and the ever‑popular “Synchronized Chant Break.” He mumbles the chant half‑heartedly, visor twitching.
29Please respect copyright.PENANA9E5xpxQFR7
During a break he texts the cube‑mates:
29Please respect copyright.PENANAJb0GrS1zQv
> J: “Still alive. Being taught how to love HQ. Send memes.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2lgbotdK8h
29Please respect copyright.PENANAzQxzroYuRl
29Please respect copyright.PENANAlCUs3fJzTc
A replies with an ASCII spoon‑king.
K replies with a single word: “Resist.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANAE7YJEkmoYr
29Please respect copyright.PENANAWgUku8ZRLt
---
29Please respect copyright.PENANAIx8Pagt6Fx
INT. AUDITORIUM – AFTERNOON
29Please respect copyright.PENANAJqvCcaDajw
Final drill: VR scenario called “Temptation of Disloyalty.” Jason’s avatar offered a bribe to skip patrols. He chooses “Refuse, punch villain, file report.” The program awards ‘Gold Star of Adherence.’
29Please respect copyright.PENANA33BAlHULWV
JASON (V.O.)
“Gold star won’t pay rent, but at least it gets me out of here faster.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANAFSDAImSTnd
29Please respect copyright.PENANAWb822DGSkB
---
29Please respect copyright.PENANA8EQXI4mYjr
INT. CUBE – EVENING
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2tjRZLiP9v
Door opens. Jason steps in, flings a holo‑pamphlet labelled “Feelings Are Bugs 1.0.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANAH7D2okWVNA
JASON
“I survived. They tried to teach me how to salute with my heart.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANAnt9Y9yKFp9
A and K high‑five behind him—A wearing roller skates, K now sporting sunglasses he liberated from the closet.
29Please respect copyright.PENANAw8D0gkIk64
SD‑A
“We made chili‑oil stew! Non‑explosive this time.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANAvad3vC1J5m
SD‑K
“And we didn’t burn the neighbors.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANAd1PR6PvacD
JASON (exhausted smile)
“Best news all day. Loyalty seminar complete; rebellion at home alive and well. Let’s eat.”
29Please respect copyright.PENANA605VpHysqB
The three gather round the crate‑table, spoon‑king watching with its one good eye. Friday night begins—not loyal, but together.
29Please respect copyright.PENANAPKMznx30Vy
FADE OUT.
ns3.145.45.170da2