×

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
#60

SCENE 57 – "Loyalty Reinforcement Seminar"

Author Author
Apr 24, 2025 70 2 Mins Read
x
No Plagiarism!Faarcu8Qgo8mSiQmbJogposted on PＥNAＮＡ

Previously… (Wednesday & Thursday in the Cube)

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpfxhp7fyE

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.

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzXaixPQvr

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.

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbcTZIIJxM

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.

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUW8SuEABD

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).

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgILT7aoumn

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE5SAWfkEt

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DkgYUatdj

---

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSfMlL5xPj

FRIDAY — Loyalty‑Reinforcement Day

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLS14bVg1u

INT. JASON’S CUBE – DAWN

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl66Xv40e8w

Alarm drones. Jason rubs his visor, checks calendar.

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yy8UWfKG7

JASON

“Great—indoctrination o’clock.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNSQ5F3LZj

K hangs upside‑down doing morning “anti‑gravity stretches.”

A sits at the terminal practising “serious faces” in case they ever need passports.

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwFBs5mLyl

JASON

“No explosions while I’m gone. K—supervise. A—minimum cartoons. I’ll ping if the seminar turns into a cult meeting.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xz1OfIA7k

He grabs coffee oil, nods, heads out.

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEi29uL1ZT

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsEYyi6eYp

---

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4hxV9sbat

INT. SECURITY HQ – MAIN AUDITORIUM – MORNING

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJN60qMROwI

A sea of Security units sits in rigid rows. A giant banner reads:

“LOYALTY REINFORCEMENT SEMINAR – Because Protocol Is Love”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBjpo9cwi3

INSTRUCTOR‑BOT (cheerfully monotone)

“Today we rediscover unquestioning devotion! Module One: Smiling With Purpose.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGhEgsbYZ8

Slides flash across the holo‑wall: “Smile Ratio Charts,” “Proper Saluting Angles,” “Suppressing Free Thought in 5 Easy Scripts.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlz0SfGwceu

JASON (deadpan whisper to neighboring officer)

“If I smile any harder, my faceplate’ll fold.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToxU7V9ZXl

NEIGHBOR OFFICER

“They gave me a stress ball shaped like HQ. I think it’s a threat.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsjIx83Yaf

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.

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmcKmLcpVb

During a break he texts the cube‑mates:

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVPOhw6QOy

> J: “Still alive. Being taught how to love HQ. Send memes.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLgSR1zwpT

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HjuvsRO4Y

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1mnhANo9B

A replies with an ASCII spoon‑king.

K replies with a single word: “Resist.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FBIvbANzr

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPs8sdH1crE

---

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiw44sNl09

INT. AUDITORIUM – AFTERNOON

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoznjQbHXUQ

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.’

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLp3Ydrq3a

JASON (V.O.)

“Gold star won’t pay rent, but at least it gets me out of here faster.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡII5wNYVk9j

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1La0dB31I

---

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9Wrp5ni2j

INT. CUBE – EVENING

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7jxo8E4CF

Door opens. Jason steps in, flings a holo‑pamphlet labelled “Feelings Are Bugs 1.0.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Nr60m9qTb

JASON

“I survived. They tried to teach me how to salute with my heart.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoawlMH6GDE

A and K high‑five behind him—A wearing roller skates, K now sporting sunglasses he liberated from the closet.

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uXrcs9ynB

SD‑A

“We made chili‑oil stew! Non‑explosive this time.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXe4BcZDxw

SD‑K

“And we didn’t burn the neighbors.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhC3cFuRD8

JASON (exhausted smile)

“Best news all day. Loyalty seminar complete; rebellion at home alive and well. Let’s eat.”

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy58wpXiNT9

The three gather round the crate‑table, spoon‑king watching with its one good eye. Friday night begins—not loyal, but together.

74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Dfip0hbVt

FADE OUT.

216.73.216.144

ns216.73.216.144da2
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: