Perkatory: Coffee and Zombies

Zoe stared at the trembling group huddled in the center of Perkatory. The air was thick with fear, and the sounds of low groans and scraping from outside pressed in like a weight. It had been a harrowing first hour since the chaos began, but she knew one thing for sure: they needed to calm down if they were going to think clearly and survive this.

"Alright," Zoe said, forcing her voice to stay steady. "Let's take a moment to catch our breath. Darren and Erica, keep watch near the barricades. Pearson, see if there's anything useful in the cabinets. Everyone else, just…sit tight."

The small tasks seemed to anchor them slightly. The frantic expressions softened into something resembling focus. Zoe turned back to the counter, trying to summon the same kind of purpose. Her hands itched to do something—anything—to stave off the rising panic. And that's when it hit her.

"Coffee," she muttered under her breath. What better way to start than with what she did best if normalcy was the goal?

She moved to the espresso machine and started working, letting the familiar routine of brewing coffee soothe her nerves. The hum of the grinder, the hiss of the steamer, and the scent of fresh grounds all helped her feel more in control. She lined up cups individually, preparing drinks she knew by heart.

"Darren, double shot espresso. Erica, caramel macchiato," she murmured to herself. "Pearson…black coffee. Obviously."

As she worked, the knot in her chest began to loosen. She could offer a brief reprieve if she couldn't fix the apocalypse.

The first drink was nearly finished when it happened.

A sudden jolt of light pierced her vision, so sharp and unexpected that she dropped the cup she'd been holding. The shattering of porcelain startled everyone.

"Zoe?" Darren called, alarmed. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just…clumsy," she lied, shaking her head as if to clear it. But the light hadn't disappeared. Instead, it hovered in her field of vision, a translucent interface that seemed to overlay the world around her.

Welcome to the Brewmaster's System! [Version 1.0]

Zoe blinked. Was she hallucinating? The words were right there, floating in the air like a hologram.

Initializing…

User: Zoe Carter

Occupation: Barista

Situation Analysis: High stress, survival scenario detected. (Understatement of the century.)

Activating Starter Pack…

The text faded momentarily, replaced by a series of icons and menus. Zoe barely registered the others' curious glances as she stared at the bizarre display. Her first thought was that she was finally losing it, but the details were too crisp and vivid to be a figment of her imagination.

System Overview:

The Brewmaster's System is designed to assist baristas in crafting extraordinary beverages tailored to meet mundane and exceptional needs. Through this system, you will unlock recipes, tools, and abilities that extend beyond traditional coffee-making. Your drinks can influence emotions, enhance capabilities, and, with practice, alter circumstances.

Starter Abilities Unlocked:

Emotion Infusion: Imbue a drink with calming properties to soothe fear and anxiety.Flavor Optimization: Automatically adjust proportions for the most appealing taste.

Starter Recipes Unlocked:

Tranquil Brew: A coffee blend designed to calm a frightened individual.

Would you like to begin?

A small prompt appeared: [YES/NO].

"What the…?" Zoe muttered. She instinctively reached out to touch the "YES" option, though she half-expected her hand to pass through the display. Instead, the selection glowed in confirmation.

Congratulations! Your journey as a Brewmaster begins.

Hint: Try not to screw it up.

Please choose your first recipe to craft:

A list materialized, but only one option was available:

Tranquil Brew

Ingredients Required:

Fresh coffee beans (any type)Milk (optional)One teaspoon of honey (optional)

Would you like to proceed?

Zoe's gaze flicked to the counter. The ingredients were all within arm's reach. She hesitated, but a glance at the group settled her resolve. Darren's hands trembled as he gripped a chair leg, Erica's shoulders were hunched with tension, and the college students looked one loud noise away from breaking down entirely.

"Yeah," she whispered. "Let's do this."

Acknowledged. Initiating Recipe Preparation…Oh, and don't forget to breathe. Apparently, that's important for humans.

A subtle warmth spread through her hands as she reached for the beans. The system's interface provided step-by-step guidance, displaying glowing outlines around the items she needed and even highlighting the proportions for her.

Step 1: Grind the beans.

Helpful Tip: Don't spill them everywhere.

"Thanks for the encouragement," Zoe muttered, grinding the beans precisely.

Step 2: Brew the espresso shot.

Note: No pressure, but this part's critical.

She poured the shot carefully, then added a splash of milk. The honey glistened as she swirled it in, the entire process feeling oddly intuitive, almost like muscle memory. When she finished, the cup seemed to emit a faint, golden glow, though it was subtle enough that she wondered if it was her imagination.

"What's that?" Darren asked, nodding toward the drink.

"Something new," Zoe said vaguely. "Just…try it."

Darren hesitated but took the cup. He sniffed it cautiously before taking a sip. His eyes widened, and the tension in his shoulders visibly eased.

"This is…really good," he said, his voice steadier. He took another sip, then a deep breath. "Wow. I feel…better. Like, actually better."

"You sure?" Erica asked, watching him closely.

"Yeah," Darren said, nodding. "I mean, I'm still freaked out, but it's…manageable now."

Zoe stared at the cup, a mix of wonder and disbelief washing over her. The system had worked. She'd just made a drink that could calm someone down—in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.

Achievement Unlocked: First Brew!

Note: Congratulations! You've managed to make coffee without breaking the machine. Let's see if you can keep the streak alive.

The notification faded, replaced by a new prompt:

Would you like to experiment further or unlock additional features? (Spoiler: You want to.)

Before she could respond, the sound of something scraping against the security gate made everyone freeze. The moment of calm shattered like glass. Zoe turned toward the noise, gripping the counter for support.

"We're not out of the woods yet," she said, her voice steady despite the fear bubbling beneath the surface. "But we're going to handle this. One step at a time."

System Note: And here I thought baristas only dealt with bad tips and latte art competitions. Buckle up, Zoe. It's going to be a grind.