Zero Hour — Jordan Castillo Price

Ernest just turned thirty. It's time for retirement, freedom from the tedious drudgery of his job as a data clerk. Time to explore parts of the city he's never seen before, and hopefully meet some actual people. And at the end of the month? Time to die.

Will runs the counter at the historic coffee shop, and when he talks, he sounds just like an old-time data feed. Tongues are for talking, and Will's got plenty to say. He's nothing like anyone Ernest has ever met-though unfortunately that's not saying much, since most of Ernest's interaction to date has been with his artificial intelligence, L0U15E.

Ernest wants to believe Will's radical notions, but what if Will is just working some angle to take advantage of him? Although he's old enough to qualify for the senior discount at the VR Palace, Ernest finds his interactions with Will leave him feeling painfully naive.