episode 3:Three Idiots Walk Into a Lab File #004: CODE // VITRA

Wali stood in wait by the door, back in his (slightly rumpled) gear, hair still damp, hoodie back on with solemn expression.

Wali (feigning seriousness): "Fine. I'm departing. Don't make me have to call a hazmat team to de-microwave your disaster."

Yuna (saluting with a spoon): "No guarantees."

"Goodnight. Don't sabotage another airplane."

Wali stooped into a pretended bow and departed. The door closed behind him, ending his off-key singing as he went off down the corridor.

Quiet reasserted itself.

Yuna spat a popcorn kernel into her mouth. "Well. There goes the disaster rabbit."

Inaya did not answer. Her peacefulness changed-something icier beneath the surface. She turned off the horror film, stood up, and walked to the shelf.

Yuna's smile faltered.

Yuna: "You're doing it again."

Inaya did not answer. She moved behind a section of books and pulled out a black folder, already prepared and labeled.

Yuna (deadpan): "Wow. No warning? No 'Hey Yuna, wanna try government-level biotech horror tonight?'"

Inaya: "I wasn't going to tell you."

Yuna: "Yeah. That's not going to work."

She stepped in between Inaya and the door.

Yuna: "I'm coming with you."

Inaya (coolly): "No, you're not."

Yuna (grinning, but eyes sharp): "Try and stop me."

Inaya glared at her. Silent. Thinking.

Inaya: "This is not a joke, Yuna. This is an empty lab with six missing individuals and one confirmed test. I have absolutely no idea what I'm walking into. But I know it's dangerous."

Yuna: "Right. And you think I'm just gonna stay here and snack on popcorn while you go in there by yourself?"

Inaya (firmly): "You're not trained."

Yuna (lOuder): "I'm not helpless either."

Beat.

Yuna (whisper-quiet): "I know I'm not some undercover operative with combat boots and backup plans B. But I am smart. I don't panic. I've been working behind the scenes to extract you from danger for months. And I am not going to sit there while something could happen to you."

Yuna (gently): "You're not made of steel, Inaya. Stop pretending that you are."

That hurt more than it should have.

Inaya looked away.

Then-she unzipped the side pocket of her bag and tossed Yuna a small flashlight.

Inaya: "You stay with me. You do what I say. If I say run, run."

Yuna (smirking): "Run fast or run melodramatically?"

Inaya: "Run for your life. Because it may be."

Yuna: "Roger that, Agent Cold-Heart."

Inaya (deadpan): "I'm already sorry I did this."

EXT. ABANDONED INDUSTRIAL ZONE - NIGHT

Moonlight poured over broken glass and weeds. Tattered inscription on the rusty gates:

VITRA INDUSTRIES - CLOSED BY ORDER OF THE BDGOV BIOHAZARD ACT.

The gate creaked open.

Inaya led the way, flashlight steady. Yuna followed behind, quieter than expected, big-eyed.

Yuna (whispering):

".Okay this looks like every zombie level in a horror game."

Inaya: "Then don't touch anything that's glowing."

They entered the shadows of the facility - unaware that something had already started to move in there.

INT. DARK HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

There was the echo of footsteps behind them.

Yuna stopped."Did you hear that?"

Inaya raised her hand. Flashlight off. Dead silence.Another step. Closer. Too light to be a machine.

Then-a shadow erupted out of the darkness.

Yuna screamed. Inaya brought her gun into position.

Wali: "DON'T SHOOT! It's me!"

The light flickered on, and Wali stood there, arms raised, looking far too pleased with himself.

Yuna: "ARE YOU CRAZY?!"

Wali: "I got bored. And you were being sneaky. So I tagged along."

Inaya (flat): "I should've let the mop finish you off."

Wali: "Aw. You missed me. Just own up to it."

Yuna (shaking): "Wear a bell or something next time. I almost died."

Wali: "You're welcome for the workout. Now, what are we hunting? Ghosts? Monsters? Mutant rats?"

Inaya (gritting her teeth): "Shut up and keep up."

The three went on. A fresh trio, just as disorganized, just as unprepared.

Behind them, well back in the background-a red light flashed on.

A camera lens.

Watching.

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