A/N: *insert Paul Rudd at the end of Hot Ones video here* Who would've thought? Not me!

I never expected to continue writing this story (six-ish? seven-ish?) years later. I didn't forget about it, but I just got busy. I still am super busy, but I think I needed the creative outlet. If you're here from before - WOW - thanks for returning to this story. If you're a new reader, thanks for giving it a shot.

This isn't my favorite chapter I've ever written, but I was ready to just get something out there. Plus, I've been sitting on what happens at the end of this chapter since I started writing the story.

Thanks again for reading and for being here. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 6

"Thank GOD, thank god," Jackie collapsed onto a barstool in relief at the news of the portal being set up.

"Motherboard was able to create the portal for a round trip, so we'll pick up Inez and come right back," Matt explained, typing away on his skwak to give the go-ahead to Digit. Despite his heart pounding furiously, he managed to continue riding his steady, centered wave; he knew that he needed to be the strength of the group. He clung to the nervous energy, pressed down the exhaustion and doubt, and swallowed the underlying feeling that he could crumble at any moment.

"Wait - before we go, I - I want to talk about something." Jackie said. "After we rescue Inez, we need to come back."

Matt, distracted, hit SEND for his message to Digit. "Yeah, Jacks, that's what I just said."

"That's not what I mean." He looked up from the skwakpad into her serious expression. "I... I think we should really come back. We should come back for good."

He felt his stomach thunk down.

Jackie didn't make eye contact as she continued. "It hurts me to say it, but I think we should have left it a long time ago. Way before the war began... before we got out of middle school, even. Instead of growing out of it like we should have, we got more and more trapped in the fantasy-"

"You and I both know that it's not a fantasy," Matt interrupted sharply. "It would be so simple if we could just click our heels together and wake up. You want the easy way out. Trust me, I know the feeling."

"Honestly, Matt?" She slammed her hand down on the counter and turned. Their eyes locked and he could see desperation and exasperation in hers. "I think playing pretend is a big part of it. Up until now, it's been an escape mechanism. Cyberspace was the exciting adventure land that every kid wishes they had. We happened to be the lucky little bastards that stumbled upon it at the library that one day. Or group-hallucinated it, I don't know." She got up and began to pace again. "It was like... a true-to-life video game. Now, it's messing with our real lives. There's a dark energy there that's stealing us away."

He let her words echo in his mind. His knee-jerk reaction would always be to defend his home away from home, but his deeper inner voice couldn't help but consider the truth in what she said. It was pretty insane, when you looked at it from an outside perspective. Were they imagining it all? Was he prolonging something make-believe as a way to cope with the three of them growing up and changing?

Briefly, his mind conjured a scene of him and Inez walking through a local park on Earth. Freed from the responsibilities beyond her years, Fantasy-Inez's dark circles under her eyes had vanished, and color had returned to her cheeks. She threw her head back and laughed, arms spread wide, drinking in the sunshine. Matt watched Fantasy-Matt catch her arms, spin her around, draw her in close to him, and lean his face towards hers...

Matt shook himself out of the scene and drew in a breath. "I get it. I do. I'm not going to give a hard yes or a no to that just yet. But I understand where you're coming from. And we definitely can't - "

"Tell Inez," Jackie chorused the words with him. "I agree, that would cause much more harm than good."

"If we decide to... go that route, we'll need to give it some time first, and then ease her in." Matt looked out the window at the sun sinking closer to the horizon. Even with the sunset approaching, they would be back in time for Inez to see the Earth sun that day. The thought that he could give her that simple happiness gave him some solace.

The dull portal appeared next to the kitchen island. "All right, let's go," Matt said, standing up. "Get in, get Inez, get out." He wondered if this would be the last time he traveled to Cyberspace. The thought struck his heart like a mallet hitting a gong.

"Got it." Jackie stepped next to Matt, preparing for the portal ride. "Thanks for hearing me out."

He reached over and pulled Jackie in for a one-armed hug. He kept his arm around her. "You ready?"

"Yup. Let's do this" she replied, her jaw set and her eyes focused on the path ahead.

They stepped through the portal together, but were immediately yanked apart by the rough energy. Wailing noises filled Matt's ears as he was jerked back and forth disconcertingly, occasionally whacking into Jackie, but unable to apologize. In reality, the trip was almost instantaneous, but it seemed to be endless. Finally, it came to a conclusion as they were unceremoniously ejected onto the floor of Control Central. The portal stayed up behind them, ready for the return trip.

"Jackie! Matt!" Digit immediately swooped and landed in front of them. "Good to see you."

"Thanks, Didge. Back atcha. How are things?" Matt asked, getting up with a wince and brushing himself off.

"'Bout the same as when you guys left," Digit said as he helped Jackie up. "Dr. Marbles is here for an update and strategy session. He's in the other room with Inez."

"Talking about us behind our backs, are you?" Dr. Marbles walked into the room with a smile. Inez followed him, causing Matt's heart to skip a beat and his throat to swell up. He was overwhelmed by how much he had missed her, even though it had only been a couple of days. And somehow, he hadn't given a single thought to how he could possibly apologize for what he had said and done...

Jackie rushed forward and caught Inez in a hug. "I'm so so sorry... this is all our fault... I was worried sick... we're so sorry, Inez..."

"It's okay, Jacks, I understand," Inez said softly, accepting the long embrace. After a moment, her eyes drifted upwards and caught Matt's, causing his stomach to lurch forward.

Before Matt could react, Dr. Marbles came forward, shaking his hand and placing a hand on his shoulder in greeting. "Matt - glad to see you."

"Likewise, Doc," Matt replied, smiling. Although short-lived, it was always a relief when Marbles was around. "Any updates?"

"Plenty, actually - and there is one major development to be discussed by all of us. I haven't gotten to it yet with Inez," the doctor said somewhat distractedly, letting go of Matt. "But we'll get to it momentarily. You two finish dusting yourselves off and we'll chat."

The doctor shifted towards the girls, who had finally broken apart. Matt assumed by his response that Digit hadn't informed Marbles of the immediate-return-to-Earth plan. As Marbles and Digit greeted Jackie, Matt and Inez were left to reunite.

Inez still seemed to radiate determination, even through clear exhaustion and a deeply furrowed brow. Matt could feel the warning waves rolling off of her. The tension in the distance between them seemed tangible.

"Well, I've gotta be honest with you… we've both looked better, Nezzie." Was humor the right approach? He guessed he would find out. Instantaneously, her eyebrows shot towards her hairline and she crossed her arms tightly. He figured he had his answer. Hastily, he added "Joking, joking… sort of?"

Silence. Try again, asshole, his inner voice taunted.

He let out a short breath and took a step forward. Inez flinched.

"Inez… please let me in. I really messed up. I let my emotions take over. Please let me in to help."

She looked at the floor. He watched as a tear fell, shimmering in the light and splattering on the green tile.

"Say something," he begged.

"I… very literally… don't know what to say to you." She stiffened as she spoke softly and slowly. "I'm feeling about 17 million things at once. There's no way that I could know where to start."

"You don't have to know where to start. Come back with us. We can think about starting after you get a good week's worth of Earth sleep. The portal's still right over there." He took another step forward. "Let me make something right. Let us take you home."

Matt closed the distance between them and Inez shut her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her in a stiff, protective embrace. She didn't lift her own arms, but he could feel her forehead resting on his chin, in a very small form of acceptance.

"I'm so tired, Matt." He was surprised by the smallness of her voice.

"We're taking you home," he said firmly.

Silence. Then, acceptance. "Okay."

He squeezed her tighter in relief, then let her go. "Jacks," he called. "It's time."

Jackie turned to him from across the room, then back to Marbles. "Dr. Marbles…" she said hesitantly. "We want to hear more, but we planned to take Inez back in the portal right away. She needs to rest."

The doctor seemed slightly perturbed at first, but shook it off. "Well - I - yes, you're right, Inez certainly needs time on Earth to recharge and refuel." He turned to Digit. "After our comrades leave, we must comb through the Radopolis files and find the schematic."

"Radopolis?" Jackie's head snapped to attention. "What's going on in Radopolis?" Her tone had immediately grown urgent, almost frantic.

Matt reached over and touched her arm. "We'll find out and help as best as we can when we get back," he said, giving her a meaningful look.

"You gotta do what's important, Jackie," Digit nodded along vigorously. "That's taking care of yourself and your friend right now. We've got Radopolis under control."

Jackie reluctantly joined Matt and Inez in front of the portal. He could sense her change of heart and knew that she was thinking of a shadowy memory from their past. She was the one calling this place make-believe, he thought sourly. We can't worry about it yet… Or ever?

Matt looked back at Digit and Marbles, wondering again if it was the last time. His gut told him to forge ahead and rip the bandage off. "Thanks, guys. We're going to go take care of her." He grasped Inez's hand. Jackie slowly took her other hand.

"I'm sorry…" Inez trailed off, swaying slightly.

"No apologies, Inez, you must go," Dr. Marbles assured her. "We'll see you all soon."

Matt made an attempt at a smile, then turned back toward the awful portal. He took a deep breath. Rip the band-aid.

"All right, guys, count of three. One…. Two…. Three."

They lunged toward the portal, but something was immediately wrong. He was being sucked forward, but could feel Inez being forced backwards, away from him. In the split second, he whipped his head to the right and caught Jackie's fearful eye. If they didn't do something, they'd be sucked into the portal without Inez.

"LET GO NOW!" He roared the directive towards Jackie. They let go of Inez's hands and forced themselves away from her and the portal with all of the energy they could muster. The three of them fell backwards onto the floor.

Silence for a moment.

"No." Inez slowly got up, dusted herself off, and ran directly towards the portal.

"INEZ, NO!"

She hit the portal dead center and ricocheted directly backwards, as if the portal was made of heavy duty glass. She slammed into the floor with sickening force.

The portal disappeared.