EXT. CENTRAL CITY STREETS – EVENING
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBJjycurr7
The trio strolls back toward the cube, the neon lights humming softly against the dusk. Jason still carries the medicine bag, but his mouth hasn't stopped moving since they left the store.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigBnLLAMmc
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbyxEpnYUc
---
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRrSYrvgvR
JASON (grinning like a devil)
"You know, of all the things you could've grabbed... You had to pick the robot intimacy enhancer. Real smooth, A. Real natural."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNucrUW0pe
A trails behind, pulling the hoodie of his coat up in embarrassment.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbkR3ikMCr
A (grumbling)
"I just thought it looked nice..."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEU9SRHNdt
JASON (mockingly sweet)
"Oh, sure. Next thing you know you’re pouring it into your coffee. 'Mmm, tastes like desperate mistakes.'"
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs6fedFcUp
K chuckles lowly from behind his scarf, amused at the chaos.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwMv4Cao1S
A (defensive, mumbling)
"It wasn't on purpose..."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku7D5VcA8H
Jason snorts and shakes his head, then tosses a glance over his shoulder at the two.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi7ffWqCKc
JASON
"Which reminds me—since you two seem weirdly curious about it—might as well explain how robot babies are made."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsYbSZPaly
He clears his throat dramatically, making A and K visibly brace for whatever nonsense he's about to say.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaX5BS0LJ4B
JASON (mock teacher voice)
"Step one: No, you don’t just mash bodies together. We’re not cavemen. Sexual interactions? Fun, maybe—depending on your firmware—but totally useless for making kids."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMLENl5cCu
A (wide-eyed)
"Then... how?"
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzsIjoI9xJ
Jason wiggles his fingers like he's sprinkling fairy dust.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VhrQhIm6W
JASON
"Magical code-mixing, my innocent child. Two or more robots can combine their programs—their operating cores, their quirks, their bugs—and shove it into a data pod."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTDjpVdeLP
He points a thumb to his head.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc45LB7q1kz
JASON
"Once it’s in there, it starts developing a whole new program by itself, based on the stuff it inherited. It evolves, learns, becomes something unique."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78SGGCRkA5
K (casually)
"And gender?"
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGCCT4KyFU
JASON
"Pfft. Irrelevant. Code doesn’t care about meatspace nonsense. Two guys, two gals, one toaster and a vending machine—you name it, they can have a kid if they mix their programs right."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFOpRsezsp
A’s eyes light up with amazement, while K just looks faintly disturbed.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSZb5FnUtx
A
"So after...?"
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3aqrQsRGv
JASON
"After the code stabilizes, the pod pings the guardians. Then you yank the developing memory chip out and install it into a bigger, mobile body."
(beat)
"Congratulations, it’s a terrible toddler who’s gonna wreck your life."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeF57ZohRLK
A ponders this deeply, like he just unlocked some universal secret. Jason stretches, the bag of meds swinging on his wrist.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFz9quzWCm
JASON (grinning)
"And that, my dearest creeps, is why society isn’t full of wild robot orgies—because love and babies are two different nightmares."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyO7LLG7QHm
They walk for a beat in silence, before Jason turns slightly toward K.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pP2LyAPAW
JASON (curious)
"Ever seen any Purifiers have kids?"
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm09iH2wiG1
K shrugs casually, the city lights painting stripes of gold and blue across his jacket.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8uTv7kau4
K
"We’re not social. We don’t build families. We hunt. We survive. Barely talk unless we have to. Most of us... don’t even think about it."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqAfqQrAdf
A (softly)
"That's... kind of lonely."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxC8uJ8rwF
K (flatly)
"I like it that way."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUseLpjFXz9
Jason hums thoughtfully, slowing his pace a little to walk between them.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjk2og9rBm
JASON (casually)
"Well, congratulations. You're stuck in a 'family' now. No returns, no refunds."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxaQ71NCos
A (smiling)
"I'm fine with that."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp1tFIHPHq
K (grumbling quietly)
"...Tolerable."
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD2w4kFPMk
Jason just chuckles, shaking his head, as they turn onto the familiar street leading back toward the cube.
12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW571oViBR
FADE OUT.
ns3.145.49.72da2
