Caleb's friends were geeks. Most of his social group were either studying or working in the fields of IT, Science or Engineering, they would role play, read and watch sci-fi and fantasy, and some were involved with a living history group. All used the internet and virtual reality in some form. The group was big enough that it includes the rarer female geeks.

Caleb logged onto the Castle Café Chat site. He went to the table where four of his friends were playing 500.

"John, Elf, Emma, Luke" he said.

"Ah Caleb, just the man I wanted . . ." said Emma.

"You're lucky Caleb, to be wanted by her" said John.

"If you weren't so desperate . . . How many times have you asked her out now?" said Elf.

John's attraction to Emma has become something of a running joke with the group. It isn't the first time that it has been implied Caleb was involved with her. However as his interest lies elsewhere he doesn't care.

"I didn't mean it that way. As I was saying do you have any idea what the GM has planned for the next session of our RL game?" said Emma.

"Nope, Matt's playing it close to his chest on this one, in virtual however . . ." said Caleb.

"Emma, it's your turn," said Luke.

". . . there's rumours that in Clans, animals and so forth from Japanese myth are going to be introduced into the game and how players deal with them will change the fortunes of the player."

"Caleb," whispered Kitten_girl into his ear from across the room.

"Uh guys, I'm being hailed, talk to you later," said Caleb.

He walked off not hearing their goodbyes.

Caleb had known Kitten_girl online for a few months. They'd exchanged pics and programs, they'd gamed together and had been cybering in private chat, the equivalent of a white box of a motel room. She surprised him every time. She seemed to constantly reinvent her avatar but all of them were of impressive technical quality. While the costume, hair colour and eye colour all changed, all were young, lithe and female.

He came to stand behind her.

"Hi," he said.

She reached backwards, took his hand and placed it on her shoulder.

"You coming with me?"

"Of course."

She drew a shimmering rainbow portal in the air in front of her. They stepped through into private chat.

***

"Any idea what's up with Caleb?" said Emma "He's vanished from chat rather quickly just now"

"He may have only gone into the crowd in here," said John.

"Uh, uh, I've got my chat options set to tell me who is on site."
"Ah, Emma, you always need to know everything, you control freak," said Elf.

"I've spotted him with a girl, time or two but it's none of our business" said Luke.

"He's been virtually present less and less over recent months," said Emma.

"It's still none of our business."

***

Caleb placed his arms around Kitten_girl's neck and pulled her in close. When his hands started to move downwards, she turned and kissed him.

"Want to try something a little different?" she said snuggling into his neck.

"It's always different with you."

He kissed her again running his hands down her back.

"Something that will blow you mind more than before."

"What isn't this enough?."

"It's like a pill, it's harmless."

"Anything that modifies VR settings is dange
rous."

"All the MEN are using it."

"Alright."

A singular white tablet appears in her hand. He takes it, swallows it and kisses her again, becoming excited faster than ever.

***

Luke walked up to the large group of friends in the cafeteria, after his first lecture of the morning.

"Hi everyone. What's up?" said Luke.

Emma looks up from where she has been sobbing into John's shoulder and struggled to compose herself.

"You've got to hear this," she said "Nineteen year old Caleb Williams was found comatose after a full systems crash last night. Police have called in data recovery experts to aid them and we all need to give statements as soon as possible. So much for it being none of our business."

The End

Author's Bio: A.R. Beissel is a member of the MadWordsmiths writing group and an editor of the zine ATSOISE.