[04:30, 04/12/2040]

Ace gets nearly four hours of sleep which is routine for him, but his lack of sleep for the past month makes it feel not as so. He expected to sleep another hour or two, but unfortunately, Brooklyn has the same sleeping pattern. She wakes up bright and early, beginning work at her desk. It's dark in the room. The only bright things are her computer screen and her radiating enthusiasm. Ace walks over to check out what she's doing. Upon seeing her in action, his mind can't keep up with her each and every act. She noisily types a consistent hundred words a minute on a digital spreadsheet. Her left-hand types while her right simultaneously writes lengthy notes on paper. He doesn't even know what he should be focusing on. As he leans over, she finally senses his presence.

Brooklyn- "Mister Ace, you've woken up early."

Denarrow- "Same could be said for you. What are you doing so early in the morning?"

Brooklyn- "With the addition of you, I can now pay for my groceries. On the com, I'm budgeting and on paper I'm studying for a class."

Denarrow- 'Reminds me of someone I know.' "Do you have a cookie or something around here? I'm kind of hungry.""

He looks around the room. With his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he remembers that the room is exceptionally well organized. So if there's not a kitchen, a mini-fridge or any type of food-looking cabinet in the room, the next best bet is downstairs. Whereas it is common to leave a bag of chips or a simple snack lying around in the bedroom.

Brooklyn- "Fish, bagels, and rice downstairs."

Denarrow- "Thanks, I'll let you get back to it then."

She vigorously returns to work, making up the time she was distracted. Ace goes downstairs to see Mr. Miyagu in the same spot he was in last night. The old man watches the news on a small television planted on top of the bar table. Ace enters the kitchen seeing snacks everywhere along the counter.

Denarrow- 'These must be the neighbor's food. I'll be nice to not eat their food,'

Out of respect for his new neighbors, Ace avoids their snacks and takes a bagel from atop the fridge. Not knowing the bagel bag has someone else's name on it, he starts nibbling on the plain bagel. While eating, he goes to the bar table and watches television with the old man.

Channel 1- "Firefighters have finally been able to wash out the flames at the famous casino/nightclub Vicino-"

Denarrow- 'I guess he changes the channel without warning.'

Channel 2- "One person in particular saved twenty people but left before the media were allowed past the perimeter. In fact he left right after the fire department came in the dozens, as they were held up in traffic. Witnesses described a dark haired young adult male-"

Channel 3- "The Kingdom has once again stirred up relations in the Eastern Middle and all the while Rosiya has continued to stand back. What will this mean-"

Channel 4-"Know what? I'm just gunna have to say it and it's been the elephant in the room all night. This explosion was caused by the vigilante on his war on Crime. Just think about it, if-"

Channel 5- "Despite the safety concerns from last night, the Tournament For Paradise will continue as planned."

Denarrow- "Don't skip this one."

The old man looks, just realizing a person has been sitting in front of him. The digital remote on his phone then disappears due to inactivity.

Channel 5- "'The tournament will begin no matter what!', the statement from the head of the tournament board. In other sports news, the less violent type, the Knickerbockers and Celts, played in Havanas last night in the play-in-tourney. The Bockers won by-"

Denarrow- 'The Tournament For Paradise…'

Ace looks back at the old man, who is now asleep.

Mrs. Miyagu- "Who're you?"

An old southeastern Axian woman snaps at him as she walks up behind the old man.

Denarrow- "Ace."

She ignores his response.

Mrs. Miyagu- "Wake up ole bitch!"

Mr. Miyagu- "Huh, shut up whore."

She then turns on his phone and then changes the channel. He then fully wakes up and continues watching the news.

Mrs. Miyagu- "Who're you?"

She sounds mad, but it does not give off the ambiance that she is actually angry or frustrated at Ace. Rather, it appears more a part of her personality.

Denarrow- "Denarrow Ace."

Mr. Miyagu- "He's Royce girl's new roommate. Remember she was tripping on and on about that for weeks. And it's him now."

Mrs. Miyagu- "I know about the roommate situation. But it's him."

Mr. Miyagu- "I just said-"

Mrs. Miyagu- So you gay?"

Denarrow- "Huh?"

He stops nibbling on his dry bagel and looks into her profoundly earnest eyes.

Denarrow- "No."

Her eyes widened in surprise. Even the old man turns his gaze from the television to look at Ace.

Denarrow- "What?"

The old woman looks at him, looking up and down as if she were checking him out. She then looks at her husband, who looks back in surprise.

Mrs. Miyagu- "You told me he was."

Mr. Miyagu- "I said he might have been. He came in last night without a shirt like a joytoy and not many single women live with men unless their-"

Mrs. Miyagu- "There ya go with all that assuming shit."

Mr. Miyagu closes his mouth, robotically turns, and looks at the television, ignoring his wife.

Denarrow- ‘The fuck is a joytoy.’

He then looks back at the television and changes the channel. Then a man with blonde hair walks by. He waves hello and bye at Mr. and Mrs. Miyagu while walking away. He looked very busy and in a rush.

Mrs. Miyagu- "If he's already up and leaving, then it's time for me to get goin."

Denarrow- 'It's not even five in the morning.'

All of a sudden, the television grabs their attention.

Channel 6- "It has been five days since the famous Golden Hold worthy journalist, Nami Vince, published the paper citing Hate's very possible existence in the city. Since then there has yet to be any sighting or reports of the renowned terrorist and yet it has pushed the city on edge. Couple of famous figures have gone to Social Sphere and called for the Code Lockdowns to be discussed, sparking mass controversy. Since five days ago, markets have fallen five percent particularly in-"

Mr. Miyagu- "We've lived just long enough to only meet death in the form of that thing."

[05:30]

After an hour of being awake, Brooklyn offered to drive Ace to the McRC. However, that would be challenged by her vehicle being in the shop, and she would have to get it first. The two go out into the city to the auto shop using public transportation. In a public street car, it was, the least to say, an 'experience’. Anyone could tell that the technology put into the vehicle is advanced and beyond modern standards. Yet the surface is dirtied with graffiti, grime, and other trash left behind by overpopulation.

Brooklyn- "Oi, Mister Ace."

Ace looks down at Brooklyn's green eyes that look right back at him, similar to a child's gaze. The two stand just a centimeter apart, with people surrounding them on all sides and in numbers. Ace holds onto the handrail above while Brooklyn and everyone else in the railcar stiffly plants their feet to avoid holding onto anything.

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Brooklyn- "Where are you from?"

Denarrow- "Alazka."

Brooklyn- 'No wonder why he seems so old, he's a country boy.' "Why'd you come to Midcity?"

Denarrow- "I don't really know. I'm supposed to meet up with my sister but I don't know where she could be and she doesn't return my messages. And I don't know much else about this city besides the fact that it's a big one."

Brooklyn- 'Sister, I wonder what she would look like.' "Then would you like a tour?"

Denarrow- "Sure."

Brooklyn- "I can't show you anything right now since we're stuck in the middle of this ride and we're going somewhere anyways but I can tell you some tips instead."

Denarrow- "Tips?"

Brooklyn- "Little things here and there on how we are in the city. Like don't touch any object in public, especially on public transport, they're quite disgusting."

Ace quickly lets go of the handrail above and adjusts to balancing on his feet.

Brooklyn- "You seem pretty good at this already, but don't look at anyone, especially during the first rush hour. You can look at me of course."

Denarrow- "It's five in the morning, why are this many people out?"

Brooklyn- "You really don't know anything."

Her tone isn't disrespectful, rude, or harsh; rather it is quite blatant and directly open.

Denarrow- "Uhh, I guess I don't." 'Now I see why people don't like it when I'm honest with them.'

Brooklyn- "This is a city. Millions of people live and work with, around, below, and above each other at all parts of the day. We all have lives that wish to be interrupted by potential annoyances. Most people's lives are as busy as it is. Getting looked at a certain way could ruin a person's already long day. To answer your question, most of us stay up between eighteen to twenty hours a day. So as a citizen of Midcity, we do the most by doing the absolute least in hindering each other's lives in public. Especially during the communal transitions."

Denarrow- "You guys are a bunch of assholes then."

An outsider would probably expect anyone nearby them to take offense, but no, it’s Midcity. Therefore, even if they were listening, they would probably agree. Most likely answering with a ‘yes we are’.

Brooklyn- "Yes we are. Of course towards close people it's fine, but otherwise we keep it moving. Us Miders pride ourselves on being a big city. And not paying taxes too."

Denarrow- "You don't pay taxes here?"

Brooklyn- "If you live in Midcity, you don't pay federal taxes but instead pay a state standard tax rate of twenty-five percent no matter who you are. Businesses get ten percent and residential properties, like mine, are like fifteen percent. Low and consistent taxes is why there are so many here. Of course there are smaller things that are taxed as well but that's it."

He attempts to do quick maths in his head. Unfortunately, he doesn't get anywhere mathematically because he isn't good at it, but a few questions stem from the attempt.

Denarrow- "How does the city pay for police then?" 'Last night when the police arrived at the blast site, I almost mistook them for a secret government agency with their body armor, helmets, and military vehicles.'

Brooklyn- "The city doesn't fund the city police or any law enforcement, the UC government does. Sometimes they are referred to as federal police. That's why the city can afford free education, public transportation, and mostly free healthcare. Things ya don't see outside the wall all too well."

The two-step off the stationed lightrail and onto the busy city roads. Ace remembers this street, but he observes it differently than yesterday. After Brooklyn gave him a harsh reality check on how the city works, his view of it changed. People move fast almost robotically ignoring each other and even more harshly, they ignore the beggars.

Denarrow- 'I never thought about using her as a guide. She must know her stuff well if she lives here.' "Can you explain to me about the addresses here. It's confusing."

Brooklyn- "Well…"

She looks around until gazing at the digital street sign. They then cross the street and head towards the auto repair shop.

Brooklyn- "Right now we are on X avenue. Midcity is shaped like a rectangle, there are two big boulevards, intersecting each other like a 't' that divide the city almost evenly in four quadrants."

Denarrow- "X and Y… right?"

Brooklyn- "Yes. It gives the city a line graph look. Using a compass, if you go northeast you'll be in the positives. Southwest, the negatives. You get the rest?"

Denarrow- "I don't."

A considerable amount of people would begin to lose patience or question his the bringing of his education, but she moves on perfectly fine and patient.

Brooklyn- "Each building's address is numbered by its position on the graph, like a coordinate. The auto shop we're going to is numbered negative twenty-five, negative thirty-four. Most people can know where they are based on which side of Ace tower they are looking at. It's the big high-rise in the middle of the city that can be seen by all except those underground."

Denarrow- "I can't see it right now."

He looks around, seeing nothing but people, cars, and towering buildings. Brooklyn smiles and realizes she slipped up on that one.

Brooklyn- "Maybe I was being a bit theatrical, but you can at least see it in a tall building.

Denarrow- "Interesting? Negative twenty-five, negative thirty-four.So are we in the positives?"

Brooklyn- "No, the negatives."

Denarrow- 'That's what I meant.'

Brooklyn- "It's mostly known as the downtown area of Midcity."

Denarrow- "So where is the hostel?"

Brooklyn- "In the Holladay district, fifty-five point five, fifty point five."

Denarrow- "Point five?"

Brooklyn- "Unlike other state or city addresses, Midcity places a building's address as it is on the map and rounds it up to the nearest one-fourth fractional decimal or digit."

Denarrow- "I'm not too good with numbers, it's kind of hard to imagine it all."

Brooklyn- "It doesn't help that the Hostel is on the end of a triangular block but as long as you know the coordinates, you'll find a way. The addresses get longer when you put in street names or when you're underground or in an apartment, or often both. Underground they add the Z coordinate."

Together they begin walking next to each other as Brooklyn leads the way toward their destination.

Denarrow- "Have you always lived in Midcity?"

She nods.

Brooklyn- "I was born in Midcity and I have never ever left."

Denarrow- "Is that hotel-"

Brooklyn- "Hostel."

Dennarow- "Is that your house then?"

She nods.

Brooklyn- "And I own it."

Denarrow- "You do?"

Brooklyn- "Actually, it's a yes and no. I don't really own the Hostel, I don't even pay any of its expenses."

She smiles after saying that.

Denarrow- "How?"

Brooklyn- "Ava Law was such good mates with my previous mentor, or the previous hostel manager, that she decided to own the prop and pay for it herself without actually changing or working on it and let me stay in it. My name is just on the lease but the bills aren't paid by me. Also,I still use it as a business to get some profit."

Denarrow- 'Ava Law…'

His thick dark eyebrows flinch downwards.

Denarrow- "I assumed you needed a roommate because of money."

Brooklyn- "I do, I still pay off the remodel loans, maintenance and utility costs, and private college loans. Oh look we're here."

Ace looks at the daytime cloudy sky and then at the small one-story auto repair shop building placed on the corner of a block neighboring five other behemoth skyscrapers. It simply stands out by not standing at all to its neighbors. Brooklyn goes ahead, crossing the street with anticipation. Ace soon follows her after letting a few cars go before crossing the street. He crosses slowly with his hands in his pockets, observing his surroundings. Brooklyn meets with a shady old woman who looks like she just woke up. Ace stands outside the garaged building, looking around as Brooklyn talks.

Mechanic- "Don't worry too much about paying back the cost on time Royce girl, the favor you did for me the other day was more than I could charge you for."

Brooklyn- "Thanks very much Miss Oubre."

Mechanic- "You welcome dear. Oi, was that your boyfriend over there? He's very handsome. You got good taste, don't ya."

Brooklyn- "No it's not like that, but he's my new roommate."

Mechanic- "Hmmh…"

She smiles and raises her eyebrows, intending her 'hmmh' to come out in a sexual manner causing Brooklyn to be momentarily dumbfounded.

Mechanic- "Oi."

The mechanic dangles a car key in her hand.

Brooklyn- "Again, thanks."

The mechanic nods and smiles.

Brooklyn drives her truck out of the garage and opens the passenger door signaling Ace to get in. The five-seated red pickup truck is unlike any of the vehicles Ace had seen so far in Midcity. It looked to be made in the twenties. It's a simple design without any flashy lights, futuristic doors, or other car accessories that other vehicles possess on these streets. Inside, it's pristine, with no trash, crumbs, or scratches. The comfortable leather, spotless metal-colored doors and dashboard gave the truck its unique techno feeling. Ace climbs inside, putting on his seatbelt.

Denarrow- "Nice car. Did you get it clean?"

Brooklyn- "I cleaned it myself. But no, the engine went down again. I would usually repair it, but I have little time these days. So which side did you enter the city from?"

Denarrow- "I think the south side."

Brooklyn- "To the McRC then."

She drives off, heading south.

Denarrow- "How do you know which one I went to? Isn't there multiple of them?

Brooklyn- "There is only one in each quadrant and they're all far apart from each other. It only makes sense that you went to the closest one to the wall entrance you came from, which is negatives one-sixty-fourth n one-forty-sixth on Siskiyou street."

Denarrow- 'That's what the people were telling me.' "Things are making sense now."

Brooklyn- "I'm glad they are."

As she drives, it's silent. It isn't an awkward car ride, but it eerily doesn't sit well with either of them.

Denarrow- "You said earlier that you had a mentor, who was he?"

Brooklyn- "He was popularly known by his last name Acy. I called him by his first name, Mister Decker. He was a smart and talented guy. He died of oldness though."

Denarrow- 'Oldness? Is that a thing?'

Brooklyn- "He taught me a lot and practically raised me in the Hostel."

Denarrow- "Did you go to school?"

Brooklyn- "I go to college."

Denarrow- "I meant high school."

Brooklyn- "You mean secondary school? Yes, for a little while. But I received homeschooling and that same year I passed all the qualifications to get my diploma at."

Denarrow- 'I assumed she was smart, but she might be the smartest.' "You're ahead for an eighteen year old then."

Brooklyn- "Nineteen and that's what a lot of people say, but I don't feel too ahead."

Denarrow- 'Damn, I feel like a bum now. What was I doing at eighteen? I guess the Master really was right.'

They arrive at the registration center. Ace gets out of the car and looks at the McRC building, slightly disliking its outside daytime appearance. His dislike goes further as he sees the people inside the building.

Denarrow- 'Not surprising that the amount of people in the waiting area hasn't changed. I think I saw him yesterday in the same place.'