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People Who Like This
#14

SCENE 12 – “What Shouldn’t Be There”

Author Author
Apr 18, 2025 93 2 Mins Read
x
No Plagiarism!G2lKh7Ifpe3gOwdWZfRKposted on PＥNAＮＡ

INT. MAINTENANCE TUNNEL – BELOW CENTRAL CITY – NIGHT97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwO7Vf5Ywg
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlLU83vJx2
[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.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXzkSBhpQa
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdpmcqMvSE
[He presses forward, eyes locked on the streaks of oil and scratch marks.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj706LGBe9
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZw6BGKM51G
[Then he sees it—light reflecting off something wet, just ahead.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSYcWBngtb
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKZhlyeUBR
[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.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKoPVMr3wh
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbn1AsQ5kXy
[At first glance: standard unit. Rusted. Oil leaking from the abdomen. But then—Jason freezes. The bot’s chest cavity is… wrong.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuU0JYH03l
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wSr4YANDE
[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.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNxMcaWWOF
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKdLS7VnBF
JASON97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVA6LFYBK6
(low, guarded)97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡev1N9MOLRh
“…What the hell?”97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUdBz4L9HI
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi37WkygKg
[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.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRYo369INO
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhsESMI9ZP
[He crouches, scanning.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0JZBqN0nY
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcnNayNMxS
JASON (V.O.)97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZDxh4orGE
“That’s no hacking virus. That’s infestation.”97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0esaGYLLp
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDbFFxoVWq
[The bot jerks its head slightly, jaw creaking. Its voice module is corrupted—glitchy, broken.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHhkIW8lJZ
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE4LH6Ah62
LABOR BOT (GLITCHED)97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv77WH8KMt
“h̵̼̖̐͊ē̷͕͗͝l̵̢̛̍̐͗p̴̘̿̎̕… ̷̻͉̓͆m̶̯̼̐͐͝e̷̢̥̎̈́̐…”97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ua4rRx4JV
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbKqDI7B6c
[Jason stares. His hand twitches. For a second, the tough-guy façade slips. Just a second.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuBjgV88Fa
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPDam3ww22
JASON (V.O.)97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kZHgNOjG1
“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.”97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNaM7xfxMg
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uavWf06Ed
[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.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuusrz0qA0
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTEf3wbtaT
[The tendrils retreat into the bot’s torso. Its frame convulses violently. Jason raises his railcannon again.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua4d8kuWfi
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg7Em9Cc5N
LABOR BOT (GLITCHED)97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZkCiFw78X
“d̷͕̒o̴̘͊n̷͔̽’̸̦̔t̵͚͋̕… ̷̟̊l̸̤̎ē̸̪t̵̯͌.̴̤̐̚.̶͚̐.̶̼͑”97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡen7MzaZDlq
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ4uQBHcLF
[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.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDucOlbEo0
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY75IadM05v
[Silence.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYSawNBSje
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedbtDm09uu
[Jason kneels, wiping splattered oil from his face.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMiY5ovazM
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYMIupORtY
JASON97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6icTm8BTP
(softly)97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R4SC2JVmD
“This wasn’t a bot anymore.”97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALCoU6NUJo
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2s7UnYQRQ
[He looks at the remains of the parasitic mass.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AHZFuieXr
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAkQ3vPvYv
JASON (V.O.)97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlKo9lLOZm
“Whatever this is… it wasn’t built. It grew.”97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9eXB5zB77
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZj3mZ6xhJL
[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.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6a9m4CHe9
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphTE2LMvBP
[Suddenly—thud. A distant sound from the tunnel ahead. Not footsteps. Something… dragging.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPATkygdUa
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZjjUy6ujK
JASON97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6Akojna1D
(to himself)97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYclIQDglm
“Round two already? Great.”97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7JxOxk3hd
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8UBH6zNmj
[He turns toward the sound, eyes glowing sharper now. One last glance at the dead bot. Then—onward.]97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQ6VH6vomP

216.73.216.111

ns216.73.216.111da2
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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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