The story takes place in a somewhat different version of 1991, in the real world. A massive economic downturn and stock market crash occurs one day, but it appears that things are safe once a company is able to buy off excess shares. This company is the Pencil Corporation, a company dedicated to processing and developing pencils. While they saved the World Economy, they are somewhat ruthless in enforcing world-wide use of pencils. The general public is too focused on Operation Desert Storm to worry about the Pencil Corporation. That youth is you.