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People Who Like This
#14

SCENE 12 – “What Shouldn’t Be There”

Author Author
Apr 18, 2025 92 2 Mins Read
x
No Plagiarism!dvxqk4CD6bJIk1VRKjWkposted on PＥNAＮＡ

INT. MAINTENANCE TUNNEL – BELOW CENTRAL CITY – NIGHT96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFLOILdFRD
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1TnXVXhid
[The tunnel is barely wide enough for Jason’s shoulders. His flashlight-arm illuminates the narrow path ahead—metal walls groaning softly as the city above shifts in its sleep. There’s a low hum. Not from machinery. Not natural.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikL9gOprnt
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVhIkiFFTk
[He presses forward, eyes locked on the streaks of oil and scratch marks.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7ksY31OFR
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JgmmVhXh2
[Then he sees it—light reflecting off something wet, just ahead.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6e71Nt9qt
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtU2KlzGdAt
[He emerges into a cramped side chamber filled with hanging wires, blown-out consoles, and a single Labor bot—slumped, twitching, back propped against a wall.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsRmMnLwyG
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEk8FOoLjw
[At first glance: standard unit. Rusted. Oil leaking from the abdomen. But then—Jason freezes. The bot’s chest cavity is… wrong.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZnwAv6KXb
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZOKJbhJFs
[A spiderweb of black tendrils coils out from the seams. They're organic-metal hybrids, squirming faintly—alive. They pulse slowly, like a machine breathing.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcDtQ9Yu8j
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ3inmqYjW
JASON96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOoVKxpclQ
(low, guarded)96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZlyuFxk2y
“…What the hell?”96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC24r6vAB9G
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEqbdgkhA6
[The Labor bot’s eyes are dim red, blinking erratically. One arm tries to lift but fails, fingers spasming. Jason steps closer, railcannon aimed. The tendrils respond—contracting inward like they’re hiding.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaP3UVZNWdw
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRA3uGx83bQ
[He crouches, scanning.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYN4NCSSY2
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzm4CzBX9Vo
JASON (V.O.)96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3AM8MMCaY
“That’s no hacking virus. That’s infestation.”96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAVHyFUgrV
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D1zfjafAV
[The bot jerks its head slightly, jaw creaking. Its voice module is corrupted—glitchy, broken.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyrIlHWqJV
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3MynpbtnL
LABOR BOT (GLITCHED)96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsToq5oGnT
“h̵̼̖̐͊ē̷͕͗͝l̵̢̛̍̐͗p̴̘̿̎̕… ̷̻͉̓͆m̶̯̼̐͐͝e̷̢̥̎̈́̐…”96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPMRLMYuSk
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sxjEpNQYT
[Jason stares. His hand twitches. For a second, the tough-guy façade slips. Just a second.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAxVgZOVL6
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8XIsZhTkw
JASON (V.O.)96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtdoBkDoqG
“I’ve fought bots trying to kill me. I’ve fought bots programmed to kill. But this… this looks like something forgot how to die.”96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTuNwrpwuB
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyJfK8ON22
[Suddenly, one of the tendrils lashes out, narrowly missing his head. Jason blasts it, and the bot shrieks—a distorted, multi-pitched sound that echoes off the walls like metal screaming.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoKLG2ZRmr
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWh1nGcUsn5
[The tendrils retreat into the bot’s torso. Its frame convulses violently. Jason raises his railcannon again.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEWP1xzZOi
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTh8CN5qaZl
LABOR BOT (GLITCHED)96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkqNAkV95G
“d̷͕̒o̴̘͊n̷͔̽’̸̦̔t̵͚͋̕… ̷̟̊l̸̤̎ē̸̪t̵̯͌.̴̤̐̚.̶͚̐.̶̼͑”96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkojk4YSmY
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kVSwThEG9
[Jason pauses. Then fires a single, clean shot into the bot’s core. It collapses, finally still. The tendrils curl, blackened, twitch once—and die.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDYNtypait
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpgH0WybtO
[Silence.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjB0CL2zOk
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0J4R2ImtN7
[Jason kneels, wiping splattered oil from his face.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3bonHMr0M
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnQtkgt89C
JASON96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRcGkvudK5
(softly)96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMOsqddpR3
“This wasn’t a bot anymore.”96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eQAtnVAM9
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBCt74V2J5
[He looks at the remains of the parasitic mass.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztWI1a2IFc
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmRRL1jCE3
JASON (V.O.)96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVptiZHv42
“Whatever this is… it wasn’t built. It grew.”96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpbiU4wyRn
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJI0T8Joihz
[He pulls a blade from his side holster, slicing off a fragment of the tendril and storing it in a sealed tube. He stands, breathing heavier than usual. Not from exertion—but unease.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdSfI3e5AW
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSIWtd63jH
[Suddenly—thud. A distant sound from the tunnel ahead. Not footsteps. Something… dragging.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQr4TuicVXr
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rn3koS4qs
JASON96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglOX1BzCrN
(to himself)96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrC3g8YGa3
“Round two already? Great.”96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNAVHSmNsX
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkgBcuJur5
[He turns toward the sound, eyes glowing sharper now. One last glance at the dead bot. Then—onward.]96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezxm8d7v3M

216.73.216.154

ns216.73.216.154da2
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Table of Contents
#0 Intro
#1 Welcome to Central City
#2 SCENE 1 – “Security Life” pt1
#3 SCENE 1 – “Security Life” pt2
#4 SCENE 2 – “Quiet Doesn’t Last”
#5 SCENE 3 – “Unwelcome Footprints”
#6 SCENE 4 – “Break the Silence”
#7 SCENE 5 – “The Parts We Don’t Talk About”
#8 SCENE 6 – “Still Breathing”
#9 SCENE 7 – “The Smiling Knife”
#10 SCENE 8 – “Ghost in the Pipes”
#11 SCENE 9 – “Right-Hand Problems”
#12 SCENE 10 – “Drag Marks and Doubt”
#13 SCENE 11 – “Below the Skin of the City”
#14 SCENE 12 – “What Shouldn’t Be There”
#15 SCENE 13 – “Echoes of Vision”
#16 SCENE 14 – “Fragments of a Dying Empire”
#17 SCENE 15 – “Shadows Don’t Bargain”
#18 SCENE 16 – “Rust Between Circuits”
#19 SCENE 17 – “The Breach”
#20 SCENE 18 – “Three Bots & a Parasite”
#21 SCENE 19 – “Paperwork and Parasites”
#22 SCENE 20 – “Smuggle Me Softly”
#23 SCENE 21 – “Oil, Info, and Idiots”
#24 SCENE 21 – EXTENDED: “Sleepover Protocols & Other Malfunctions”
#25 SCENE 22 – “Robot Makeover: Low Budget Edition”
#26 SCENE 23 – “Caffeine, Cloaks, and Casual Paranoia”
#27 SCENE 24 – “Rustfields”
#28 SCENE 25 – “Buzz and Circuits”
#29 SCENE 26 – “Tune-Ups and Tightropes”
#30 SCENE 27 – “Errands and Egos”
#31 SCENE 28 – “Groceries and Good Lies”
#32 SCENE 29 – “Dinner and Disclosures”
#33 SCENE 30 – “Steam, Suffering, and Swords”
#34 SCENE 31 – “Dicey Decisions”
#35 SCENE 32 – “Good Night, You Weirdos”
#36 SCENE 33 – “Dreamscapes”
#37 SCENE 34 – “Office and Off-Duty”
#38 SCENE 35 – “A Pleasant Stroll… with Minor Homicidal Undertones”
#39 SCENE 36 – “Wings and Wires”
#40 SCENE 37 – “After-Hours”
#41 SCENE 38 – “Alcohol & Stuff”
#42 SCENE 39 – “Shutdown.exe”
#43 SCENE 40 – “The Weight of Peace”
#44 SCENE 41 – “Midnight, Glitches, and Blankets”
#45 SCENE 42 – “Dawn of the Mildly Functional”
#46 SCENE 43 – “Commute to Doom”
#47 SCENE 44 – “An Office Full of Violence and Vending Machines”
#48 SCENE 45 – “Lunch Break and Clickbait Nightmares”
#49 SCENE 46 – “Rise and Resist (Routine)”
#50 SCENE 47 – “Unauthorized Research”
#51 SCENE 48 – “Wardrobe Upgrades”
#52 SCENE 49 – “Field‑Trip From Hell”
#53 SCENE 50 – “Afternoon Idleness”
#54 SCENE 51 – “Uno and Other Emergencies”
#55 SCENE 52 – “Tech on a Budget”
#56 SCENE 53 – “Delivery, Disobedience & Discoveries”
#57 SCENE 54 – “Questions & Quirks”
#58 SCENE 55 – “Privacy Settings”
#59 SCENE 56 – “Entertainment Planning”
#60 SCENE 57 – "Loyalty Reinforcement Seminar"
#61 SCENE 58 – “Friday‑Night Free Play”
#62 SCENE 59 – “Spire of Panic”
#63 SCENE 60 – “Lines, Orders, and Vines”
#64 SCENE 61 – “Infiltration”
#65 SCENE 62 – “Regroup & Re‑Arm”
#66 SCENE 63 – “Through Flesh and Steel”
#67 SCENE 64 – “Descent Protocol”
#68 SCENE 65 – “The Lungs Below”
#69 SCENE 66 – “Dead Air”
#70 SCENE 67 – “The Heart of the Hollow”
#71 SCENE 68 – “Overheat Protocol”
#72 SCENE 69 – “Sanitized and Sampled”
#73 SCENE 70 – “Totally Normal Roommates”
#74 SCENE 71 – "The Long Walk to Judgment"
#75 SCENE 72 – "Welcome Home, Idiot"
#76 SCENE 73 – "A Promise, A Vacation"
#77 SCENE 74 – "Field Trip to Food"
#78 SCENE 75 – "Cabin Fever"
#79 SCENE 76 – "Manners, Please"
#80 SCENE 77 – "Errands with Extra Steps"
#81 SCENE 78 – "Books, Pills, and Poor Decisions"
#82 SCENE 79 – "Pharmacy Phantoms"
#83 SCENE 80 – "Digital Birds and Binary Bees"
#84 SCENE 81 – "Babysitting? Seriously?"
#85 SCENE 82 – "The Babysitting Begins"
#86 SCENE 83 – "Chaos, Baby-Sized"
#87 SCENE 84 – "Midnight Meltdown"
#88 SCENE 85 – "The Dreams They Dreamed"
#89 SCENE 86 – "The Morning After"
#90 SCENE 87 – "Return of the Parents"
#91 SCENE 88 – "The Reveal"
#92 SCENE 89 – "System Error: Josh.exe Has Stopped Responding"
#93 SCENE 90 – "A Totally Normal Lunch"
#94 SCENE 91 – “Business As Usual”
#95 SCENE 92 – “After the Storm”
#96 SCENE 93 – “The Rim of Opinions”
#97 SCENE 94 – “Tales, Tails, and Talking at 2AM”
#98 SCENE 95 – “Surgery, Solo”
#99 SCENE 96 – “Sleepless Core”
#100 SCENE 97 – “Unknown Systems”
#101 SCENE 98 – “Orders and Oil”
#102 SCENE 99 – “Key Moments”
#103 SCENE 100 – “Three Days of Sky”
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