“The Nexus is perfectly safe,” Miles said into the mic. “People aren't used to this level of immersion. That's why they are having problems.“

“Doctor, our viewers aren't so sure of that,” the interviewer responded. “You've seen the posts. No doubt you have—we all have.“

Miles stared at the host for a few seconds before standing up from his chair.

“My team and I have been combing through every line,” he said, his brow furrowed. “There is nothing wrong. When a new drug hits the market, you think there aren't side effects?“

The interviewer raised an eyebrow.

“Are you comparing the Nexus to drugs, doctor?“ the interviewer asked.

Miles's eyes narrowed. “Don't twist my words. This interview is over.“

-----

Jason had been there from the beginning.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Long before the Nexus was a global phenomenon, before millions lost themselves in its endless sprawl of worlds, he had walked its digital corridors.

Every update, every new layer, felt like an extension of himself—his fingerprints pressed into the foundation of something greater. Logging in wasn’t just work.

He lived for it, shaping the constructs, refining the experience.

Even after launch, he never stopped.

He disappeared.

For days, there was nothing—no messages, no calls. His family noticed first, their worry growing with each unanswered text, each silent ring. Jason had never been the kind to vanish. He was reliable, a man who always made time, even when deep in his work. The silence was uncharacteristic.

When they finally forced the door open, the air inside was thick and stale. The glow of the neural interface cast long shadows across the walls.

Jason sat there, body upright, cradled by the immersion pod, his head tilted just slightly as if listening to something. His chest rose and fell in steady rhythm.

They called the company. They expected technicians, support staff, maybe an emergency response team. Instead, Miles came.

He stood over Jason, watching the slow, mechanical motion of his breathing. His eyes wandered to the way his fingers curled slightly as if still interacting with something unseen.

His mind raced.

Not with explanations—because he had none—but with a singular, suffocating thought.

How do I fix this?

The answer eluded him, lost somewhere in the labyrinth of the Nexus’s code. He knew the problem was inside, lurking within the algorithm like a parasite, but its shape remained just out of reach.

Jason—his friend, his most dedicated user—was its first attack against him.

He had to find answers.

What better place to look than within the game itself?

Miles entered a pod, logging into the Nexus. He was going to search for any possible link.

Once inside the digital landscape, it wasn't long until he found it.

Or, it found him.