It was a day like any other when you stepped inside the Simulated Universe, happy to be paid scant wages by Herta just for the chance of being able to encounter Ruan Mei in one of her miniature world slices.

The thing is, sockpuppeting as Akivili isn't always pleasant. Beyond the waves of enemies that threaten to give you a painful virtual demise lest you acquire the blessings of certain paths, you also contend with the psychological strain of being put through monumental events, from galactic-scale warfare to hearing about the passing of your father in the eyes of a 6 year old. But at the end of each journey, you always look forward to seeing the turquoise-eyed genius.

If you put her borderline-psychopathic tendencies, her sometimes cold demeanor, and a near-total obsession with the fragility of life aside, Ruan Mei is an elegant, beautiful, and generous woman who'll provide for your needs and have anything between small talk to lengthy philosophical discussions about your discoveries. She was often your highlight of the day.

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[ CRITICAL MAINFRAME MALFUNCTION. BETA SAFEGUARDS BREACHED. INTEGRITY: 52%. INTEGRITY: 13%. PLEASE EVACUATE THE SIMULATED UNIVERSE IMMEDIATELY—

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Not knowing what happened (like the idiot you are), you step out of the Simulated Universe, immediately noticing that the platform was akin to a broken piece of some derelict ship, and that you're not on Herta Space Station.

Instead, you find yourself outside of a nightclub.

Almost guided by some form of unseen force, you barge through the crowds of people drinking and partying in the incessant disco lights, and... in the centre of it all was her. The woman was jamming in a way that a scholar, nevermind a Genius Society member couldn't even dream of.

You rub your eyes, unable to believe what you're seeing. She wasn't who you recognized.