×

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
#14

SCENE 12 – “What Shouldn’t Be There”

Author Author
Apr 18, 2025 79 2 Mins Read
x
No Plagiarism!jRWiqLcvXWcSR9uB65eGposted on PＥNAＮＡ

INT. MAINTENANCE TUNNEL – BELOW CENTRAL CITY – NIGHT83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MSkgpP14B
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIghm7xYYa
[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.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY3FP24X1P
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6dZtZE1RY
[He presses forward, eyes locked on the streaks of oil and scratch marks.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsatmoJ09B
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGTTCuKmvy
[Then he sees it—light reflecting off something wet, just ahead.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlysgCOLtO
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCfEx8I7qn
[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.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIHNtouyD2
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDOv5m9vTn
[At first glance: standard unit. Rusted. Oil leaking from the abdomen. But then—Jason freezes. The bot’s chest cavity is… wrong.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3m4DJPw4G
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FdK6B7fgX
[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.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb6qFO6UpS
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkUIax2spe
JASON83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hnrK3i0BR
(low, guarded)83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5rXdabnhM
“…What the hell?”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILasuUuRwR
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUlewkvJ2Q
[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.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL7sISNCZW
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYrEKkK8yC
[He crouches, scanning.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwZ4cbiqpd
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkXaYJnpeD
JASON (V.O.)83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckbMboihLf
“That’s no hacking virus. That’s infestation.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sqK3u1k9A
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx2msnVn8N
[The bot jerks its head slightly, jaw creaking. Its voice module is corrupted—glitchy, broken.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWKUvIzuRH
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtZXBc1PH6
LABOR BOT (GLITCHED)83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXBsdxlGeZ
“h̵̼̖̐͊ē̷͕͗͝l̵̢̛̍̐͗p̴̘̿̎̕… ̷̻͉̓͆m̶̯̼̐͐͝e̷̢̥̎̈́̐…”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNlIi9zy3u
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKq9lc0DhI
[Jason stares. His hand twitches. For a second, the tough-guy façade slips. Just a second.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnbeji8CAz
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyyXtDI7N2
JASON (V.O.)83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXzbixeX4y
“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.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwCBLlL6o1
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ649SMbe2Iz
[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.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqhsS2yhya
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJZQec8ohl
[The tendrils retreat into the bot’s torso. Its frame convulses violently. Jason raises his railcannon again.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFArguQhur
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2sQdqElDw
LABOR BOT (GLITCHED)83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkHTygg5AC
“d̷͕̒o̴̘͊n̷͔̽’̸̦̔t̵͚͋̕… ̷̟̊l̸̤̎ē̸̪t̵̯͌.̴̤̐̚.̶͚̐.̶̼͑”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53CTOXbxg7
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlXUU0Sa1h
[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.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHjPrcisNv
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuU0YGiWtg
[Silence.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gkuLVeJBU
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPaoygScrY
[Jason kneels, wiping splattered oil from his face.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzNXx4wWEA
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNR6H1pglww
JASON83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzpTchjjVU
(softly)83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe6euif66r
“This wasn’t a bot anymore.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU8YLZYgri
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BbWgT9Epm
[He looks at the remains of the parasitic mass.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTer3PudUh8
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBKPSIqr2v
JASON (V.O.)83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81c3YFbg7j
“Whatever this is… it wasn’t built. It grew.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7JZxRMMeB
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdooOf73BrJ
[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.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHo3gtVf8c
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj6pnGFFEp
[Suddenly—thud. A distant sound from the tunnel ahead. Not footsteps. Something… dragging.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpp48clCgc
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0x9kTwXlj
JASON83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVvNV5WT7W
(to himself)83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7P3hlfLSBY
“Round two already? Great.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2GqBKXBS6
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53yXEHSZ8l
[He turns toward the sound, eyes glowing sharper now. One last glance at the dead bot. Then—onward.]83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLfQQ3sN8a

216.73.216.34

ns216.73.216.34da2
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: