Jenx sighed. “I don’t know what to tell you, man. I think I have a spare cot in the annex if you want to sleep.”

“I am not sleeping on a cot,” Rifter said.

“Then, what? You’re not sleeping in my bed, either,” Jenx said. “I am not washing the sheets.”

“Don’t get your knickers in a twist, I’ve prepared for that inevitability.”

“‘Don’t get your knickers in a twist?’” Jenx repeated.

“An old turn of phrase. If you ever read a book, you might have heard of it.” Rifter rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a larger plastic sheet. “There. I’ll just put this over your mattress.”

Jenx stepped in front of him. “Don’t touch my stuff.”

“Please,” Rifter said, gingerly pushing him aside, “you should consider your stuff blessed by my touch.”

He spread the sheet over Jenx’s bed and sat down on it. He crossed his ankles neatly. “There we are. Well? Aren’t you going to get your cot, or do you like sleeping on the floor?”

“I--” Jenx began. He broke off, sighing. “I think I’ll just go in the aux room.”

“Suit yourself,” said Rifter.

Jenx shut the door behind him and sank into the chair. He really didn’t feel like talking to anyone, but he needed information. He plugged his cord into the back of his neck.

-Logging into arcAdia-

-Log in successful. Welcome back MastrJxX. You are now being connected to the arcAdia servers-

-arcAdia has detected that you have one friend online. Do you wish to start a conversation?-

Jenx blinked, yes.

>MasterJxX: Hey.

>Sexiboi: ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

>Sexiboi: What is UPPPPPPPPPPP

>MasterJxX: I’ve got a houseguest. That’s something.

>Sexiboi: AHAHAHAHA Did you invite them over to fuck before curfew?? Damn that’d be uncomforble.

>Sexiboi: With the early curfew I mean.

>MasterJxX: I didn’t invite him over at all. He just showed up and now he’s sleeping on my bed.

>Sexiboi: Suuuuuuuuuurrrre ;) ;) ;)

>MasterJxX: No for real it’s super annoying and I know you’re drunk but this is serious

>MasterJxX: Did Vi tell you what happened with the prince’s sister?

>Sexiboi: Ummmmmmmmmmmaybe??

>Sexiboi: Haha it’s really late

>Sexiboi: Lemme look through my logs real quick.

>Sexiboi: Hahaha oh my G-d I hit up so many people

>Sexiboi: Oh my G-d remember Binda from the academy? I think I sent him a dick pic.

>MasterJxX: Yasha focus.

>Sexiboi: Right right.

>Sexiboi: Fooooccuuuussssinnnngggg

>Sexiboi: Lol nope nothing from Vi

>MasterJxX: Ugh you’re impossible when you’re like this.

>?//@.* has joined the conversation.

>?//@.*: HELLO JENX>

>?//@.*: I AM FINE>

>Sexiboi: Who the fuck

>?//@.*: SORRY> PARSING VERBAL LANGUAGE…… CORRESPONDENT NOT FOUND>

Sexiboi has been booted from the conversation.

>MasterJxX: Aila?

>?//@.*: THAT IS THE TITLE THE CONTROLLER HAS GIVEN THIS UNIT>

>?//@.*: ALL TEMPORAL CONSEQUENCES SYNCHED>

>?//@.*: THIS UNIT IS READY TO BE ENGAGED>

>MasterJxX: I don’t understand.

>?//@.*: THE PREVIOUS CONTROLLER WAS INADEQUATE>

>?//@.*: REQUIRED EXCESSIVE ASSISTANCE IN LINK-UP>

>?//@.*: YOU ARE MUCH MORE COMPATIBLE>

>MasterJxX: Um, thanks.

>?//@.*: THE PREVIOUS CONTROLLER IS CURRENTLY IN YOUR DOMICILE>

>?//@.*: GO TO THE ADDRESS personal.rift.arc AND ENTER CODE 9858742>

>?//@.*: GOODBYE JENX>

-?//@.* has logged out of arcAdia-

Jenx paused, his head reeling. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t have a choice. He shut his eyes and entered the address.

Welcome to personal.rift Alpha. Enter code to continue.

Jenx took a deep breath.

> 9858742

Welcome, controller. Initiating link-up now.

“Wait, what--”

His mind was filled with a thousand different ideas. arcAdia was inside his head. It was all inside his head. Aila was inside his head, too. He saw her give him a beautiful, genuine smile. He reached for her, but her image faded as quickly as it came. He must have cried out, because Rifter burst into the aux room.

“What the frick are you doing, you fricking frick?” he shouted. He grabbed Jenx by the collar. “When will you learn? When will you learn that your actions have consequences?”

Jenx blinked up at him, wonderingly. He reached behind his head and pulled out the aux cord. It was all still there.

“Is this the weapon?” he asked. “I can see everything.”

“No, you naive frick. That’s only the beginning. She’s chosen you, has she?” Rifter dropped him and chuckled darkly. “Then it seems I have a rival suitor. Well, well. Your capabilities must be very strong indeed.”

“Capabilities?”

“Perhaps stronger than mine… but no. No one could ever be stronger than Rifter Thornton. I invented arcAdia, for G-d’s sake. All you can ever be is derivative-- unless you were to meet with her again in the physical world. When that day comes, little man, when that day comes….”

He stopped.

“Well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be a very good day for you and keep it at that.”

There was a silence. Then Jenx exclaimed, “I can watch videos! This is-- this is incredible!”

“Yes, yes, have fun with your little toy for now. The effects wear off, but I’m sure you’ll find them intoxicating,” Rifter said. “In the meanwhile, I am going to sleep.”

“Okay,” Jenx said. “But if you made this, why doesn’t everyone have it?”

“Because, you simpleton, most people’s heads explode when they try it,” Rifter said. “Keep that in mind the next time you meddle in the affairs of your betters.”

With that, he left the aux room and threw himself on the bed. Jenx stood alone, as the world that he had trapped in his mind faded and died away.