Prologue
The light grey phone vibrated insistently on the small bedside table of a third storey apartment. The young man reached across and switched off the alarm. The screen showed that it was seven pm, time to wake up.
His shoulder length brown hair fell over his face as he sat up and reached for a small container marked 'vitamins'. Clicking open the top, he carefully dropped one orange tablet into his other hand, before placing the treat into his mouth.
All of his actions were automatic and routine, which allowed his mind to wander. A new area had just been unlocked in the online game he was playing. He was keen to try it out, but would have to wait until after work.
It was nine-thirty pm when the young man arrived at work, a half hour before the start of his shift. His work was a small twenty-four hour coffee shop, which presented itself as a square in the wall of a large office building. The neon sign above read 'Beans and Stuff' next to a round logo featuring a stick of celery. This indicated that the shop was owned by Celery Corp, one of the six prominent companies in this city.
"`Evening Trent" the short haired young woman standing inside the shop greeted him cheerfully.
"`Morning" he replied as he came through the side entrance.
They were dressed in the same uniform, black trousers with a green and brown pinstripe shirt. This was then covered by a large beige apron, with the company logo on the left breast.
"Another quiet night" she commented "so everything should be cleaned and stocked."
"Isn't it always when you work?" they smiled at each other. "How are your studies going?"
"They're good" she leaned back casually against a small bench "only one more exam before the winter break."
"The chemistry one?"
"Of course" she laughed "saving the difficult one for last."
D'Arcy was studying a degree in food science, which required some higher level chemistry classes that she did not enjoy. For the last two years she had been working evenings, often before Trent who did four overnight shifts per week. He didn't mind, he preferred the quiet times when he could really get the place cleaned up, both under and inside the various machines that surrounded him. There were two coffee machines, so he could clean one while still being able to serve customers.
It must be one am, the young man thought as he watched the short, dark skinned woman walk up to the shop front. Her black hair was mostly hidden beneath a light purple beanie. Only her shoes showed beneath the long matching coat.
"Your usual order?" he offered as he began pouring a medium portion of almond milk.
"Yes, please" she smiled politely as she retrieved her bank card from an inner coat pocket.
Behind her stood a giant of a man, light skinned and topped with short messy red hair. He wore the midnight blue uniform of a security person, but without the iconic patches used by one of the six. This meant that he worked for one of the smaller companies, which were permitted, but forbidden from openly advertising.