Smeg contracts were Draconian by design. Tristan was glad; it was going to take a lot to make up for his failure to stop the Sales Boys pissing in his spa. He scanned the pages over his first random breakfast of Froot Loops, left buttock still aching from his NanoBot injection. In a few hours, the implant would advise Smeg Client Service that Tristan's meal had entered his duodenum and was past the point of return.

Failure to receive this message every 24 hours would elicit a warning. Unless Tristan could prove an eligible medical condition, his contract would be terminated, his huge surety forfeited and his loser status proclaimed on Smeg's RBG microsite. When he arrived at work, he was stunned to see every browser displaying this exact site.

'We're all eager to see how you get on.' The Copywriter's breath was hot at Tristan's ear. 'We've even organised a little communal bet, if you're feeling confident.'

Tristan flushed. 'Oh really?' His voice shrilled as heads popped from every cubicle. 'You're bloody on!'

A cheer went up and the Copywriter handed Tristan a pen. 'Nice one, Squadron Leader, sign here!'

The contract was printed on the studio's best paper. Through smarting tears Tristan beheld a terrifying figure in double bolded comic sans.

**********

Tristan barely slept that night. He was hocked to the eyeballs; if he lost the bet, he'd have to default on his BMW. He glared at the pristine hoppers glinting in the moonlight. Suddenly they gave an unearthly groan and began to rotate. Tristan leapt like a deer, straight through his Japanese changing screen.

Then he remembered: the RBG self-cleaned daily. He'd nominated 3:00pm; the cycle was twelve hours early. For fifteen minutes he watched the machine behave like a mantis after feeding. The awful scrapes and whines raised his hackles repeatedly. Thoroughly spooked, he watched his 'Lost in Space' videos until it was time for breakfast.

He got Froot Loops.

To be continued...