Once the news was out, things really began taking a toll on the Rosas. Close friends were frustrated that Joaquin and Naya wouldn’t share the secret behind the company’s predictions and were disturbed that they’ve had access to it for years and hadn’t shared the wealth sooner. Naya’s own family has been turning on Joaquin, viewing him as some mustache-twirling, greedy supervillain for not offering these services for free. Neighbors and strangers have turned their noses down on them at every chance they get, believing the family is running some scam that will inspire an Oscar-worthy film in the years to come. Though what breaks Naya’s heart the most has been how often Alano was bullied by friends and even harassed by some parents at the park; adopting Bucky last week isn’t going to solve all of Alano’s struggles, but the puppy has been a wonderful distraction that keeps him from crying every night.

Failing these Deckers won’t help earn the public’s trust.

Naya won’t admit it out loud, but should Joaquin be forced to shutter the company, she will mourn what Death-Cast could have done for the world while celebrating her family’s return to normalcy.

That’s her purpose in this life.

Even if it sadly isn’t her husband’s.

Joaquin Rosa

5:00 a.m.

Death-Cast’s inaugural End Day calls have come to a close in the continental US.

Joaquin is upset he isn’t present with his team to commemorate this moment, but he’s still investigating the issue. If he can’t solve it by the time the heralds are released from group counseling, offering overtime to those who stay, he will simply have to work the call center alone upon his return.

No more Deckers will die unwarned on his watch.

Naya Rosa

5:11 a.m.

Once a herald finishes their call, there’s a stillness in the air.

That was the last End Day call for the night.

Naya is about to encourage everyone to take deep breaths when the very lovely customer success engineer Aster Gomez comes out of nowhere and attempts to start a round of applause for jobs well done. The heralds remain frozen in their seats. All but one. Andrea Donahue is a woman who wastes no time as she goes straight to the wellness room. She will have to wait for the rest of the group, since it is indeed group counseling, but Naya trusts everyone to know their own needs. For Andrea that could have been removing herself from the station where she just spent the past five hours telling people they were about to die. For the other nineteen heralds it appears they need a minute or two or five.

“This job isn’t easy, but it’s important work,” Naya says from the top of a chair where she can be seen. “We thank you for being the voices of this company.”