Sarah was floating through the virtual pathways, exploring a cosmos infinitely generated by an AGI.

  She unplugged. “Better than real life.”

  “Sure,” her older brother shrugged. “But you have to subscribe.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Everyone’s subscribed.”

  “Not everyone.” He pulled out a device.

  “What’s that?” she gasped.

  “A computer.”

  “A what?”

  “Um, it’s a device that lets me go local.”

  “OMG! Burn it!”

  “What?”

  “That’s been labeled contraband since The Great Shortage. You’ll be banned forever.”