"PORTABLE CLIENT DETECTED. ROLLING BACK TIMELINE. PLEASE REINSERT STICK TO CONTINUE EXISTENCE."

She unplugged the USB. The screen flickered, and for a split second, the chat log updated with a single message from a user named :

Over the next three days, Arjun used the portable client like a prophet. He avoided the elevator (it got stuck between floors). He took the bus (his car’s starter motor failed). He even "accidentally" submitted a report two hours early after seeing a future message demanding it.