Frank gestures to the counter in front of us. “There’s a button right here, next to the spare filters. If you crouch down you'll be able to see it."

I squat and look where he's pointing. A brushed chrome panel is inlaid on the underside of the counter, with a small button in the centre. It's not the kind you can hit by accident—you have to flip the plastic cover back and push the button underneath. Frank shows me how, but doesn't engage it.

"So, when should I use this?" I ask.

"Only if something needs the Wardens' attention. Like if an Abandoned came in, say—" I'm sure my eyes must be popping out of their sockets. I fight the urge to glance at Dani, but Frank doesn't seem to notice my sudden intensity, "—or if anyone's causing trouble, refusing to pay. Dani here'll fill ya in."

Dani smiles behind Frank's shoulder, cleaning the grinder down before the cafe opens for the day. They don't look directy at me.

"So, uh..." I don't want to push the subject, but I have to know, "if I call the Wardens on someone, one of the Abandoned, say. What happens to them?"

"Reform, if they're lucky,” Frank answers with a sniff, staring up at his plants, turning the leaves over and inspecting them.

"And... If they’re unlucky?"

Frank turns to regard me, frowning. His eyebrows bush up at the centre where his forehead creases. Shit, I pushed too far.

"I think it's best you don't ask too much about that sorta thing, Kyla," he says with a cautious edge to his voice. "It could get you into trouble. Best leave it to the Wardens, keep your nose clean."

I nod emphatically and give an awkward thumbs-up. Then, realising I look like an idiot, I shove my hands in my apron pockets. "Yup, got ya!"

Dani snorts. "Dork. Come on, we need to get the stores prepped. I'll show you how the syrups are sorted."

My mouth goes dry, but I follow Dani into the back storeroom, prepared for a showdown. They still haven't looked me in the eye.

The storage cupboard is a walk-in at the back of the cafe, hidden from the customer's view by the wall covered in cacti and creeping foliage. Inside the cupboard, every item is vacuum-packed in silver foil with the Emotiv logo emblazoned everywhere; bottles, boxes and cartons are stacked from floor to ceiling.

"Woah..."

"Yeah," Dani puts their hands on their hips, surveying the room, "there's a lot. Look, it's simple enough so long as you help keep it organised. That's the really important thing. As soon as a bottle gets stacked in the wrong box, we've got VIPs drinking Empathy and workers guzzling Bliss, and that's not the kind of trouble you want to mess with."

I swallow the lump of sand on my tongue, fighting the urge to speak the dry, nasty words sat there. But you'll mess with the Abandoned's trouble, and drag me into it?

It remains unspoken, but it's almost as if Dani hears me anyway. They look away quickly, and point to the middle shelf in the corner. "Right here is where we keep the worker syrups, and the VIP supply above it, here. Same order as under the counter. We need to take stock every couple days, but Melly keeps track for the most part."

I scribble on my note pad, making sketches of the cupboard as a memory aid.

"Why do you use that?" Dani asks, pointing at my pad.

"To help me remember," I answer, confused—why else would I use a notepad?

"No, I mean... why don't you just use a tablet like the rest of us?"

"Uh, I dunno," I shrug, scratching my head with the tip of my pen. "I guess I like the feel of it?"

Dani raises an eyebrow and tuts at the pad in my hands. "So wasteful, all that paper..."

I open my mouth, and close it again. It's not worth getting into an argument about the ethics of paper recycling when we're stood in a cupboard full of plastic and foil. Still, I'm sure they catch my eyes flicking over to the packaging.

"Have you decided what you'll have this morning?" Dani asks me, thankfully changing the subject.

"Oh! I hadn't thought of anything yet. What do you think would work best?"

Dani smiles. "Well, as it's your first day serving, I think a cup of courage would be a decent plan. Come on."

They grab a box from the back and point another out to me. We return to the counter and set up for the day, and with five minutes to spare, they drag me to the grinder. "Right. You'll be making your own today."

"Oh, geez."

"You're fine, it's easy. Okay, the menu is right here—" they motion to the screen on the left of the copper machinery. I can barely read it, it's so tangled amidst the copper pipes and valves. I peer through and see my order on screen, with step-by-step instructions below.

1: Steam Water.

I pour a jug of water and steam it using the copper spout. Dani shows me the movements to make, how to avoid burning myself, and how to clean it off afterwards. ("Every time, yes, even if it's water. You wouldn’t believe how quick the limescale builds up.")

Once the water is hot, they tell me to swirl it about in the cup. ("Gets rid of that chemical smell.") I remember they did that for the Abandoned man yesterday, too.

2: Pour into large mug.

3: Add flavouring of choice.

Courage is flavourless, so I choose Almond. Dani points out the almond powder, and I take a measuring spoon, levelling it off and adding it to the water. ("Always add to the water, never add the water to the powder. Then you get huge dry lumps. It’s gross.")

4: Add Courage: one pump.

I pump one measure of Courage into the mug.

5: Secure top. Shake.

Popping the cover on the mug, I shake it to mix, trying to follow Dani's instructions, but I'm nervous I might burn myself. ("Harder. Harder. Harder! You want to really mix that powder in well or... lumps—Gross.")

6: Use pressurised canister for topping.

The Whip canister is terrifying. A steel jug with a bullet of pressurised gas protruding from the top, which I have to 'charge' before spraying whipped soy-cream over the surface of the drink.

The sudden hissing sound it makes is so loud I almost drop the whole thing. Dani laughs, making no effort to hide their amusement, banging their fist on the counter.

"It's okay!" they exclaim, "scares the shit out of us all the first time. Kind of a rite of passage. You got this. Tilt it up..."

Now recovered from their laughing fit, they coach me through the rest. I spray the soy-cream using gentle pressure on the canister, and try my best to artfully swirl it on top of my liquid Courage.

By the time I'm done, it's like a silly string factory exploded.

Dani laughs again, going red in the face, cheeks ballooning outward. But this time I find I'm laughing along with them. Compared to the works of art they served yesterday, I wouldn't be able to give this one away.

The smile slides from my face when realisation dawns. "What the hell am I going to do if a VIP comes? I can't serve this!"

Dani waves a hand. "Don't panic. You're still in training—I'll be right by you."

"Won't you be serving, too?"

"Well, yeah..." they give me a wink, "but I'm really good. I can keep an eye out for both of us. It's no trouble."

My shoulders relax a little. "Okay. Thanks, Dani."

The awkwardness from yesterday melts away. I'm relieved after spending so much of last night worrying about this shift.

"Sure thing! Now drink up!" They point to my mug. "Your gunk awaits."

I chuckle and lift the monstrous creation to my lips. The steam carries the scent of almonds—like inhaling marzipan. I take a sip, and the taste is just like almond cake, nutty and sweet, with a slight creaminess from the soy-whip gunk.

Courage hits different to Focus. Whereas yesterday's drink tingled in my fingers and warmed my body, the Courage lights a fire in my stomach. The heat radiates outward, warming my muscles, until I could take on a full-grown dragon if someone gave me half the chance. "Oh... Oh my."

"Oh yeah, we love Courage." Dani says, opening up the front entrance. "You're gonna need it. Fridays are always busy."

I take a few more hasty gulps and tuck my mug behind the counter, so I can take another sip between customers. The fire in my belly burns pleasantly, bringing a grin to my face.

My first customer enters, announced by Melly. "Greetings, patron. You will be served by Kyla today."

White stripe, two dash.

I nod respectfully. "Xir, welcome to Emotiv. What can I get for you?"

They gaze at the menu board, hanging from the ceiling above the counter. I wait patiently while they read, their mouths agape, a static image of indecision.

"Uh... I think I need some... Focus?"

Ooh. Handy. I do my best to recall the steps Dani showed me yesterday, and grab a cup ready. "Oat milk or Soy, Xir?"

"Soy, please."

I fill the steamer jug with Soy milk and read the menu instructions.

1: Steam milk of choice.

Yup, I remembered that right. Well done Kyla, finally something's going to plan. This should be a breeze.

I steam the soy milk until it froths and swirl it into a mug. Reaching down to the bottle labelled 'Focus', I add one pump to the mug and stir vigourously with a steel spoon. The drink froths more until it's almost tumbling over the brim. I chuckle a little to the customer. "Looks like a lively mix today!"

Dani is eyeing me from the other end of the counter. I can feel their gaze burning my neck. I turn my back to the customer and raise my eyebrows, trying out the telepathy I use with Caleb. What?

They jerk their chin at the mug, which is now fizzing up, aqua coloured soy bubbles spilling over the top of the rim. I whack a lid on it and clean up the sides with a cloth before sliding it across to the customer with a grin. "Thank you, Xir. That will be forty credits."

They tap their bracelet on the counter with a beep, and take their drink. As they take a sip on their way out, I see them grimace, and shake their head.

Shit.

Dani chuckles. "Stir gently, remember? Wooden stirrer?"

Double shit.

"Don't worry about it." Dani taps me on the shoulder, and points to the door. "There's always the chance to make it right."

"Greetings, patron. You will be served by Kyla today."

Even the Courage in my bloodstream can't stop my hands from shaking as my gaze meets a pair of eyes I recognise very well.

Icy blue, sad eyes, belonging to a man hunched over a broken crutch.