"It's no good trying to keep up old friendships.

You know what has original music, impressive art, and compelling stories? Video games. You open Steam, not to run around with elves for the next three hours, but as a deep dive into the current state of the digital arts. This is serious study. It could take four hours.

You're happily leading a band of misfits down a danger-path when you get an in-game message. You didn't know this game had that feature. You click on it, hoping for a sale.

"We've been monitoring you," it says. "Please reply."

"Hot. What r u wearing?" you type and hit reply.

You don't expect a response, especially so fast:

"This is serious."

"Suuuuuure," you type, uncertain if you used enough "U"s.

"Have you seen The Last Starfighter?" they ask.

"Nope."

"The Sword in the Stone?"

"Nope."

"The Lord of the Rings?"

"Nope."

"Read any YA books? Manga? The Bible? Any story where it's all on one person to save the world?"

"Nope."

You can almost hear the sigh as they type. "You've been chosen. Where can we meet?"