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People Who Like This
#14

SCENE 12 – “What Shouldn’t Be There”

Author Author
Apr 18, 2025 42 2 Mins Read
x
No Plagiarism!dm2TY0ONreAaMjpJtXroposted on PＥNAＮＡ

INT. MAINTENANCE TUNNEL – BELOW CENTRAL CITY – NIGHT46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlFGnyLcSx
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlCeXfRzCb
[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.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL6eSJ0yVv
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleud8rySmA
[He presses forward, eyes locked on the streaks of oil and scratch marks.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbckptAdp60
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27OBz3WeDq
[Then he sees it—light reflecting off something wet, just ahead.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXWj61yTQ0
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyK2RyQ2t6
[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.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha8yM57F3z
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJP2nxPIRy
[At first glance: standard unit. Rusted. Oil leaking from the abdomen. But then—Jason freezes. The bot’s chest cavity is… wrong.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8OE44DDTe
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOUTtcuPGw
[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.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LdFzWMRV1
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0738a85LC
JASON46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4z2D9jKEsg
(low, guarded)46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEluIAc2Ve
“…What the hell?”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3HngKjzZM
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfo6JpAJow
[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.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLYLDMnJvU
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn6yujzWyZ
[He crouches, scanning.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrOMykFrpk
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69Vp23ZbEl
JASON (V.O.)46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJ6uSlQglx
“That’s no hacking virus. That’s infestation.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKd16N8nSfz
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vKHSqNuSv
[The bot jerks its head slightly, jaw creaking. Its voice module is corrupted—glitchy, broken.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiKnnuo8Za
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLMBVEx1j9
LABOR BOT (GLITCHED)46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRtZDcuLdb
“h̵̼̖̐͊ē̷͕͗͝l̵̢̛̍̐͗p̴̘̿̎̕… ̷̻͉̓͆m̶̯̼̐͐͝e̷̢̥̎̈́̐…”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMws2svXNy
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOLI3CajNq
[Jason stares. His hand twitches. For a second, the tough-guy façade slips. Just a second.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2RyNPPSbe
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y1sO3ogdK
JASON (V.O.)46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq3UKs2rdY
“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.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3a6UDvQ3L
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYkDYeZanc
[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.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETSXnqmcSQ
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBO1IMCQgv
[The tendrils retreat into the bot’s torso. Its frame convulses violently. Jason raises his railcannon again.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbuu86jryq
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiwBFYYXpi
LABOR BOT (GLITCHED)46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0cEiunEk3
“d̷͕̒o̴̘͊n̷͔̽’̸̦̔t̵͚͋̕… ̷̟̊l̸̤̎ē̸̪t̵̯͌.̴̤̐̚.̶͚̐.̶̼͑”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN3uE8nIGQ
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifNHRVSVJr
[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.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE37vZCkKBA
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhgmOLC62W
[Silence.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZrUQL0MtD
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1dlUJuMXB
[Jason kneels, wiping splattered oil from his face.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypPvmPGPoY
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPgCuHCVqg
JASON46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9IpVESBZo
(softly)46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXC5VqwdSc
“This wasn’t a bot anymore.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4KlVCN6Sy
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tStYfDKCb
[He looks at the remains of the parasitic mass.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgptSKJqQs
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOXKZMZIX6
JASON (V.O.)46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98UToeGq06
“Whatever this is… it wasn’t built. It grew.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WzLLIrwjv
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkAoviEWAx
[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.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfkz5Q4wgf
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPPrNrXqIk
[Suddenly—thud. A distant sound from the tunnel ahead. Not footsteps. Something… dragging.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBpJwruV1I
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeS8YGh5GN
JASON46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWRlcpviud
(to himself)46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GYsJnbjzo
“Round two already? Great.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaqFcx05J6
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmuDGNA3EB
[He turns toward the sound, eyes glowing sharper now. One last glance at the dead bot. Then—onward.]46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdkShjyTlr

216.73.216.67

ns216.73.216.67da2
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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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