*Weser!*

Startled, my coffee mug slipped out of my hand, smashing to pieces across the floor. For a moment, I looked at the carnage, incredulous, before turning my attention to my vision feed.

*Could you - I don't know? - Maybe use a ringtone like everyone else?* I tried to imbue the message with as much anger as I could muster, but I knew, somewhere, that Maurice was likely laughing at my reaction.

*What? You don't love it when someone's screaming in your head at eight in the morning?*

I sighed. *What do you need?* I knelt down to scoop up the larger pieces of ceramic - the cleaning system would handle the rest. I crossed the room to pour myself a new cup and dump the debris into the recycler.

*Hello? Maurice?* My vision feed informed me that Maurice had suddenly disconnected.

A moment later: *Sorry, sorry. Work's hell this morning.*

*Oh, yeah?* I knew where this was going.

*Listen...* I could almost hear his placating tone. I sipped on my coffee and waited. *...I'm gonna need you to come in early again today-*

*Oh, what? For the third time this week?*

*Hey, come on! The city's a goddamn circus right now. We've all gotta do our part. And you'll be paid overtime, of course.*

*I'm not the only biotech in Brooklyn, Maurice! Can't you find someone else?*

*Yeah - and they're all at the office already. Man, why are you always so stubborn?*

I sniffed. I wasn't stubborn. I just liked having my downtime, was all. But Maurice was right - as much as I've been spending time at work, it would be expected of me to keep my nose to the grindstone.

*Alright. I'll be over in about an hour.*

*Glad to hear it.* Maurice disconnected and the feed went blank. Shaking my head, I put my coffee down to grab a plate. Might as well treat myself for breakfast today, right? I opened the fridge, checked the fermentation tank. The display was a cheery green - the microbes inside had apparently been successful with the production of some fresh synth-bacon.

Suddenly, my day didn't seem nearly as bad.