Here, in the open-plan habitat, dawn comes quietly. At 8:57, the first workers arrive in small, cautious groups. They carry food in transparent containers, a sign of both ambition and fear.
The most important feature of the habitat is the water cooler. Here, the species gathers to exchange information that has no known purpose, but which is, from every observation, essential to survival. A young male approaches. He holds a cup, but does not drink. He is waiting for somebody important to notice that he has taken a break.
At 9:15, the manager emerges. Tall and observant, he scans the room for signs of weakness. Immediately the workers show their natural defence: they begin typing very loudly. This behaviour, known as "busyness", requires little actual work, and the species has been perfecting it for decades.
On the far side lives the printer, a solitary creature. It is old, unpredictable and feared by all. It is known to attack without warning, usually at the exact moment when a report is due. Many have tried to tame it. All have failed.
Midday brings the great meeting. Eleven individuals sit around a table for an hour to decide something that could have been resolved by a short message. Nothing is decided. A follow-up is arranged. In nature, we call this "migration".
By evening, the habitat becomes quiet again. The workers leave in the same cautious groups, tired and unharmed. Tomorrow, they will return. They always do. It is, after all, instinct.
Fiction note: All people, places and events in this text are fictional.