/story/178881/robotic-essences/issue/94
Robotic Essences - SCENE 91 – “Business As Usual” | Penana
arrow_back
Robotic Essences
more_vert
  • info_outline Info
  • toc Table of Contents
  • share Share
  • format_color_text Display Settings
  • exposure_plus_1 Recommend
  • coins Sponsor
  • report_problem Report
  • account_circle Login
share bookmark_border file_download
info_outline
format_color_text
toc
comment 0
exposure_plus_1
coins
Search stories, writers or societies
Show More Tags
Continue ReadingClear All
More
What Others Are ReadingRefresh
See more results for ""
X
Never miss what's happening on Penana!
Turn on notifications
Later
Robotic Essences
ISSUE #94
Author: Author
Robotic Essences
Author: Author
ISSUE #94
SCENE 91 – “Business As Usual”
No Plagiarism!K2wTRWWSmIpI2oc7UQ7Nposted on PＥNAＮＡ

INT. THE CUBE – MID AFTERNOON

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGYUjUPlOG

The cube is oddly peaceful. Sunlight filters through the dusty window, and each of them is doing their own thing—but the hum of life is present.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4rw9RLOdo

AT THE TABLE –

Jason’s right arm is completely detached, wires and servos exposed. Josh is hunched over it with a toolkit, sleeves rolled up and face full of concentration.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPo5RmDmkwq

Jason lounges lazily on the chair, sipping a canned coolant like it’s soda.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOSAwOFCRH

JASON

“You’re way too serious, man. If I replaced that servo with a potato, I bet it’d still punch fine.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMz0YJ2Zba

JOSH (dryly)

“Sure. Until it catches fire and explodes in your face. Again.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X1p2xXzo0

JASON

“That was one time.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9eUl8bx8E

Josh gives him a look like he’s heard that line a thousand times.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtBGOzVOJn

JOSH

“‘One time’ is exactly the number of times a limb explosion should occur in your life, Jason.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF18E7Tkljo

JASON

“Fair.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulN8RaGWbr

ON THE COUCH –

Violet and A are on the sofa, a soap opera flickering on the screen. The dialogue is melodramatic and utterly ridiculous—overacted, emotional chaos.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmdmEFT8Xt

TV ACTOR (sobbing)

“…But Travis! You’re my twin brother’s cloned son! I can’t love you unless I erase my memory chip!”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxz6jT43vI

A blinks slowly.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwOxG1ldNO

A

“This…is confusing.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyPZU6RMQK

VIOLET (delighted)

“It’s educational. This is where you learn how to manipulate dramatic tension.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyUkgNWtPz

A (concerned)

“I thought you said this was about family.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISPs0fdmUy

VIOLET

“It is. A very complicated family.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqsNQkiufa

She leans over, whispering something not-at-all family friendly into A’s auditory sensor.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulTLo5wkvB

A’s eyes widen instantly. He sits upright, mouth twitching in horror.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlOvxYgSLK

A

“That… That’s not how docking protocols work—”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVjZBKua6c

JASON (shouting across the room)

“VIOLET! STOP TEACHING HIM THAT! HE’S TOO PURE!”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRizuKNnLqU

VIOLET (grinning)

“Jason, you can’t protect him forever.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KyvD7ApQB

JASON

“I can try!”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtjcA56mFA

K (quietly, nearby Emily’s pod)

“Can someone put on something that doesn’t rot logic circuits?”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s87BkdjGr

No one hears him.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyQSuqcbfY

EMILY’S POD chirps happily as K turns a page in his book with a claw.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy2bxiktWG

BACK TO THE TABLE –

Jason watches Josh solder something into the forearm module.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNthhq5AFau

JASON

“…Hey. Seriously. Thanks for doing this.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8CfZrxxhW

Josh doesn’t look up, but gives a small smirk.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz48NvmKjWC

JOSH

“Just paying you back for all the trauma in college.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATs7AAgRjQ

JASON

“Pfft. Trauma builds character.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCe2pbULYih

JOSH

“Character built. Now let me fix this mess before you blow it off again.”

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcWCvRVJdD

They keep working in silence, a comfortable kind.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKbZTOFzkV

The scene is calm. Strange, imperfect—but warm.

276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUTgKHH4KI

A cube filled with chaos. And companionship.

216.73.217.70

ns216.73.217.70da2
Comments
BOOKMARK
+RECOMMEND
LIKES 0
READS 272
BOOKMARKS 0
campaign Request update 0
Sponsor
Suggest Edits
Login with Facebook or Sign up/Login to comment or bookmark!
< Prev Issue
Next Issue >
Click to load the next chapter
Be the first to like this issue!
X
X
Login first to show your name as a sponsor.

Pena Coins Credit Card

×
Robotic Essences
Sci-Fiction
Dystopia
Last updated: May 2, 2025
Total word count: 50,475
Total reading time: 234 Minutes
Writer:
Author
No tags yet.
Report this story
×
×
Write down what you like about the story
×
Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically


Reset to default

X
×
x
Proceed

x
Before You Publish
Please ensure your story does not contain illegal, hateful, inciting, or violence-promoting content, or any infringing, plagiarized, or spam material, and that it complies with Penana’s Terms of Use.
Penana reserves the right to remove any content that violates these rules or causes legal or community risk, and to suspend or terminate related accounts.
arrow_back
×

Select a reason:

×

Install this webapp for easier offline reading: tap and then Add to home screen.