×

menu
Penana
US
search
search
Popular Tags
What Others Are Reading
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
Please use Chrome or Firefox for better user experience!
close
Comments close
Show more...


favorite
0
comment
0
arrow_back_ios_new
Prev
arrow_back_ios_new
Next
format_color_text
Style
open_in_full
Expand
list
Menu
coins
Sponsor
campaign
Request update
share
Share
report
Report
×
Login first to show your name as a sponsor, or donate with Pena Coins.

× Pena Coins Credit Card

Close
People Who Like This
#68

SCENE 65 – “The Lungs Below”

Author Author
Apr 29, 2025 46 2 Mins Read
x
No Plagiarism!EmhnPeyCaP964qNhFT5rposted on PＥNAＮＡ

INT. HQ SUB-LEVEL – ORGANIC PASSAGE – NIGHT

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGok3lHmYl

The world beneath the HQ is not an extension of it—it’s a transformation. Metal bones swallowed by a new, pulsing flesh. A world turned inside out.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoMm7I7RnN

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfqG4OUeye

---

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDGSOD76v5

DESCENT COMPLETE

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMteKjHYRc

The squad hits ground—a wet, spongy surface, like stepping on breathing lungs. The floor gives with every step, pulsing under their weight. Searchlights struggle against the fog-thick heat. Everything glistens with sweat-like condensation.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FkYMJ6dNy

JASON checks his suit’s systems—coolant levels already dipping dangerously.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrtc4V6Kck

JASON

“Temperature’s burning coolant faster than I burn through insults.”

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj0NHfnJtI

F2

“At least your mouth still works. That’s reassuring.”

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZunFOuEqR

D3-MINI

“Environmental readings: eighty-five Celsius and climbing. Advise short bursts of motion, minimal power draw.”

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KZ8pDLPRe

Their boots squelch in the soft tissue. Every vine on the wall pulses rhythmically, as if pumping... something.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvMyJzUHBS

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblxaG57eSW

---

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHyH4IEvlR

MOVING FORWARD

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5VgOB220O

They press on in a staggered line formation—quiet, focused. The air is thick with humidity and bioelectric charge, making every movement feel watched. Yet, no hostiles appear.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtOblk1GQ1

JASON glances to the vines, watching their surface bulge and twitch as fluids travel within.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3z79NQ9VB

JASON

“Whatever this stuff is... it’s still growing.”

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrPj0RXBNX

R8

“No threat signs. No motion alerts. No visuals.”

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkNNofQFSx

F2

“Yeah, and that’s what’s freaking me out. It’s too clean.”

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbB1pX6ORhW

D3-MINI

“This section appears intentionally vacant. I believe it’s... a transition zone.”

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVSoeD0PMl

They stop at an intersection—three warped tunnels ahead, each coated in fleshy growth. One tunnel breathes inward, a slow, drawn inhale. The others ripple subtly, as if shivering.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusMJo2jVq5

JASON places a hand on the wall. It’s warm. Wet. Alive.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhABDPJd1Ac

JASON

“This isn’t structure anymore. It’s... function.”

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM18j9C0b8Q

A distant gulp echoes from the left tunnel. Then, silence.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqx2XxHeTv

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4C2KMZTtr

---

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc4VpYmGPC

THE SOUND OF LIFE

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8huVKspRNj

The ambient howl returns, louder. Less like an animal now—more like a warning siren. Layered beneath, the sloshing churn of fluid systems.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jGx5QF503

The team’s comms flicker briefly—garbled whispers, unreadable data pulses.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6fRKaHd3e

D3-MINI

“Interference increasing. Signal contamination... it’s mimicking comms traffic.”

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAOlbMcNA9

R8

“Keep line of sight. No solo moves. If it speaks, don’t respond.”

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ag8CRbug0

F2

“Too late. Jason’s already been talking to the walls.”

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAqBueNKzy

JASON (dryly)

“They listen better than you.”

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGh1U8oI7n

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXHY4dJdwt

---

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBHS5Smnom

They press forward, down the center tunnel. The walls close tighter, breathing heavier, vines thicker. Still—no enemies. No signs of life. Only that terrible silence... and the constant throb of something enormous, somewhere deeper below.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5N2ROSxBp7

The kind of silence that always comes before something happens.

50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSUXCpO239

FADE OUT.

216.73.216.0

ns216.73.216.0da2
favorite
comment 0
coins
0 likes Suggest Edits
Be the first to like this issue!
Next Issue >
close
Robotic Essences
home
Bookmark!
campaign Request update 0
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”
× Share Email
Click to Share!
Share to Facebook
Share to Twitter
 content_copy
Copy link to clipboard
 share
Other options
Share this Publication by Email
Add a personal message
×

Proceed

×
format_size
remove_circle_outline 20 add_circle_outline
format_line_spacing remove_circle_outline 20 add_circle_outline
REGISTER
LOGIN

Forget Password?
OR
Login with Facebook
×
Subscribe
Go to the magazine
/
+ Add tip
The tip will be charged every payment period
+ Add promotion code
Apply close
Recipient Name

Shipping address



Phone Number


JOIN
Pay with
xxxx xxxx xxxx
Update payment method
Confirm Cancel
This is a one-time purchase.
If you don't cancel before the trial ends, you will automatically be charged the subscription fee every until you cancel. Renews automatically every , unless you decide to cancel. You can cancel your subscription at any time.
You can pay with non-card methods if you subscribe for 12 months.
Please leave your contact phone number here..
We will reach you soon by Whatsapp at the tel number you provide.
Please enter phone number.

Credit card payment

You have subscribed to this plan already!

Never miss what's happening on Penana!
Turn on notifications
Later
Close
×
Interface Language:
Story Language: