Originally, the government had pitched Death-Cast being operated through robocalls for efficiency. Joaquin was very close to leaning into this idea when Naya spoke up. In the same way that doctors personally deliver unfavorable diagnoses, Naya believed that calling to tell someone they were going to die needed that human touch. Discovering your life was over by some prerecorded message was too cold.

In advocating for the Deckers, Naya knew she must take care of the heralds too.

She first designed this open-floor plan to protect the heralds’ well-being, not wanting them isolated in personal offices or divided in cubicles. There are four long glossy white tables, each able to sit five people. Everyone is encouraged to personalize their spaces with joyful pictures of loved ones, pets, anything that keeps the threads to their own lives strong so they never become hopeless. And while Naya had toyed around with the idea of stationing little speakers around the call center that played calming music, she decided to have fountains installed to keep everyone connected to actual nature while working their shifts.

Once the End Day calls have concluded tonight, all the employees—both heralds and customer service reps—have mandated group counseling with the option for private sessions too. Naya will also make herself available for personal feedback on how best the company can meet their needs.

Hopefully there will still be a company after tonight.

Naya steps away from the heart of the call center and joins Alano and Bucky in one of the private booths reserved for heralds who need a moment after any interaction that brought them distress. She doesn’t know who has more energy right now, her son or the puppy, but watching them play together brings the biggest smile on her face.

“You should go back to sleep,” Naya says.

“I like being up late,” Alano says.

“Don’t get used to it. Regular bedtime tomorrow.”

This includes herself, desperate to be asleep in her own bed.

This year has been beyond exhausting. The public only became aware of Death-Cast on the first of July but so much work has gone into the program behind the scenes. Everything had to be done discreetly. For instance, the architects believed they were building a customer service center for a new phone that will be releasing; something that is part of Death-Cast’s long game but not happening for another few years.