×

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
#86

SCENE 83 – "Chaos, Baby-Sized"

Author Author
May 2, 2025 18 3 Mins Read
x
No Plagiarism!PlJBHjthhRvKI1ysF8apposted on PＥNAＮＡ

INT. THE CUBE – LATE MORNING

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xtlprOlIG

The three sit around the cube’s makeshift living room—a lumpy couch, a tiny table, and now, a pristine blanket laid carefully on the floor where Emily’s data pod rests, humming softly.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dGYkHP4IA

K crouches nearby, gently adjusting a tiny cooling patch on the pod's surface like a practiced medic.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpbe0oJhRC

JASON (muttering, impressed)

"Wow. Didn’t think you of all murder gremlins would be the motherly type."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVmF3xYzbX

K flicks his optic lazily toward Jason, then returns to fussing over the pod.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pbBEjpOOo

K (flatly)

"Efficient survival ensures the continuity of species."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznbV61l1rv

JASON (grinning)

"Translation: You like the kid, admit it."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSqB52MDws

A sits beside the pod with a storybook—not that Emily can read yet, but it doesn’t stop him from showing her colorful illustrations.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfm9Ap3ra6

A (brightly, to Emily)

"This is a cow! It goes ‘moo.’ This is a firetruck! It goes ‘woo-woo!’ And this is Jason—he goes 'aaaaah' when he stubs his toe."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1GzfiA3EM

Jason throws a pillow at A’s head.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RhSFYcXwu

JASON (snickering)

"At least I don’t split my face open to eat a sandwich."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfWXqwmZa0

A smirks and ruffles Emily’s pod surface softly.

The room feels weirdly warm... normal.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kgNnuelzm

Jason, ever the corrupting influence, leans closer to the pod conspiratorially.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVnrKopl2Z

JASON (whispering to Emily)

"Listen up, kid. First rule of survival—never pay for overpriced coolant at chain stores. And second rule—always insult your enemies’ processors before you smash 'em."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uaw9KLRbP

Emily’s pod hums innocently.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77rFJp5Ahu

Before he can spill more questionable wisdom, A’s optic narrows dangerously.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QEmg7Yh9E

A (sternly)

"Jason Gearman, you are banned from education duties."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVJKKxClgI

JASON (mock hurt)

"WHAT? I was giving life lessons!"

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tNE1V8G37

A (folding arms)

"Corner. Now."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3wqcsU8hB

K silently points to the farthest, saddest corner of the cube.

Jason trudges over dramatically, slumping against the wall like a punished cat.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5I6rBGZea

JASON (grumbling)

"This is oppression."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcwLGX9bk6

K (deadpan)

"You deserve worse."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMYA8fRWRu

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UWwtx0ORQ

---

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWK8aJMP7D

TIME SKIP – MIDDAY

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgxxtpqoZ0

Emily naps peacefully on her blanket.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPj85uoWCD

Jason sneaks back to the couch, only to find A and K deep in conversation—of all things—about robot intimacy systems.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBennqKPJR

A (curious, whispering)

"I still don’t get it. So when two robots... you know... how does it even work?"

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjD91ZDXiM

Jason perks up immediately, sensing forbidden topics.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRz5VaWsKe

JASON (grinning like the devil)

"Well, it's more code-based than... physical. Technically, you don’t need a body to mix code. Two bots sync their operating systems and allow their base codes to interact."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmKCCjkr2m

K hums thoughtfully.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1Y4FJfMMR

K (tapping chin)

"Programs exchanging information at core level... sounds like a strategic resource merge."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb20lQePA60

A (wide-eyed)

"And... babies happen when their codes mix, right?"

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFoPhzdGoH

JASON (nodding)

"Yup. Two codes—sometimes more if you're into complicated networks—merge and start a self-writing program inside a data pod. It grows on its own, bit by bit, until the pod tells you it’s ready to be upgraded to a proper body."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuHiNerQ1N

A thinks about it seriously.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80Spk7QMik

A (tilting head)

"So technically, two robots of the same model, same type... even same gender identity... can still have a kid?"

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitjB06kM58

JASON (grinning)

"Exactly. No squishy biology bullshit. Pure logic... and chaos."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS47HTN5llZ

K (murmuring)

"Efficient."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiHOvr2uzi

Jason leans back smugly.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBamby8krFC

JASON (grinning wider)

"Romance, marriage, all that? Optional. But if two idiots love each other enough to smash their codes together and raise a tiny chaos gremlin... well, that's commitment."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ1I5rIHq3

A looks down at Emily's sleeping pod.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyrMyFdHKR

A (softly)

"Sounds nice."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4xiL4iRVO

Jason, noticing the tone, shifts a little uncomfortably.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡth0HdjxGYX

JASON (teasing, but a little gentle)

"You planning to make tiny yous one day, A?"

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4SzKzojn7

A (smiling shyly)

"Maybe. One day."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CFQ9iGyQ4

K shrugs.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZbMiFteGx

K (calm)

"Would be nice to have backup."

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS3W9ntUIx

Jason bursts out laughing at that answer.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdSCgerP83

The chaos continues—Jason tries to sneak-feed Emily "forbidden knowledge" about tax fraud, gets caught again and sentenced to another round in the Sad Corner.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFkNtF5W0d

Meanwhile, A and K actually turn out to be amazing babysitters.

22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHswFleSi9A

The afternoon passes in a weird bubble of peace, laughter, and the tiny sound of Emily’s happy humming.

18.221.54.244

ns18.221.54.244da2
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: