Club 19

“Initialising” 

 

The hub displayed the words, the bright, almost neon blue text, underscored by a series of blinking dots representing the loading process. Although it took less than a minute to load, I had already indulged in a few swigs of beer by the time it had completed.

 

My ears were the first to feel the immersive experience. The soft thumping of bass penetrating my mind, before the rest of the scene appeared before my eyes, a slight flicker and then I was thrown into the fake reality. Ahead of me stood a large door, on the step a virtual figure, dressed head to toe in black, a typical bouncer. As I took a step forward the figure bent forward turning the handle and opening the door for me. I gave a nod in appreciation, even if it was a NPC there was no reason not to be polite. Besides, I had made the mistake before, assuming someone was an NPC, when really it was an actual person experiencing the virtual, just in the most mundane of ways. 

 

Despite the opened door, the music had not increased its volume, still a steady bass echoing in my ears, however, once I stepped across the threshold it hit me. The bass no longer a soft rumble it pounded my ears, my senses, I could even feel the vibrations in my chest thanks to the latest synth suit. 

 

‘Menu’, I spoke to no-one.

 

An array of options appeared on the display. Scrolling my eyes downward I was able to select the sound settings and reduced the music level and increased the chat. The bass immediately mellowed, becoming tolerable. Clearing the display, I took another swig of my beer and reached forward, my fingers feeling the soft velvet of a curtain that blocked my view to the club. Pulling the curtain back, the music increased slightly once more, thank god I had reduced the levels.

 

Behind the curtain was an intense abundance of visual splendour.  The room was filled with such vibrant colours. This was not my first time at Club 19, however each time was always a surprise, the clubs aesthetics forever changing. Over to the left, the bar was lit by a mix of pink and blue lights and above an assortment of holograms screamed out to the patrons, their brilliance depicting the different concoctions available for the evening. I personally preferred to drink in the real, that way you know no-one can mess with what you ingest. That is of course if you have been able to get the products delivered, a task that was getting much harder recently as more and more became reliant on virtual. 

 

Lifting the bottle to my lips I took a final sip before the bottle was empty, the only struggle with drinking in the real is seeing your stash, after a few failed attempts, my hand fumbling into nothingness, for a moment  I resort to removing the head set. My apartment is dull, muted in comparison to the vividness of virtual, the silence deafening. I grab my second beer and immerse once more.

 

Heading over to the bar I can already see Dave and his friends taking a series of unnaturally bright green shots. 

 

‘There he is, Dan ya mother flunker, where’ve you been?’ Dave greets me with such affection. ‘So this is Tim, that’s Phil. Now what you having?’ Already Dave’s speech is slurred, the artif shots in virtual have a much stronger affect than in the real, especially if you were like Dave and lowered your settings to allow less tolerance, ‘making it a cheaper night’ as Dave would say.

 

‘No, you’re alright, I’m covered.’ I say, holding up what looks to be an empty hand, my beer not visible in virtual.

 

‘Oh lardy dar…’ Dave mocks, ‘Look at you with drinks in the real, anyway, more for us then.’ The group proceeds to take another shot. 

 

‘Heads up.’ Dave gestured toward the end of the bar where two girls were sat talking, their focus flitting from each other and Dave. ‘Ok guys you stay here, Dan, on me.’ 

 

Reluctantly I followed, the only drive coming from one of the girls we were heading towards. Her avatar was striking, not perfect but still stunning. As we got closer, I could notice that her skin was an iridescent pink, shining with what looked like glitter, a contrast to her bright blue hair. 

 

‘I’m Dave, this is Dan, and you are?’ Dave never had the most finesse. 

 

‘Sarah’ the girl on the left responded, her eyes fixed on Dave as she reached out her hand. ‘And this is Sophia.’ 

 

‘Ok, well lovely to meet you both… Sarah shall we dance? Leave Sophia and Dan here to get to know each other?’

 

Sarah did not respond, just walked with Dave toward the dance floor, indeed leaving me and Sophia alone. 

 

‘He’s an interesting one… your mate.’ Sophia expressed, a side smile suggesting her real meaning.

 

‘Oh yeh…’ I respond, her glittering skin dazzling. ‘Dave’s a dick alright… but he’s also been a good mate’.

 

Sophia’s laugh sings into my ears as she coyly looks down to the bar, looking back at me, her eyes are now a dazzling green.  I can smell her, a sweetness. She has invested in a full package including the aromas. Most cannot appreciate this as they only have basic synth and so are lucky to experience touch never mind smell. 

 

‘Shot?’ She asks.

 

I take a breath, before I respond the shot is already in front of me, this one a glowing pink. Fuck it. As soon as the artificial liquid hits my tongue, I feel the endorphin rush instantly. The one shot doing the job of ten real beers. I feel sharper, more alert, everything is bolder, even the colours that were already so striking, are now another level, and Sophia, her smile, stunning. I notice a small, purple beauty spot on her cheek, had that always been there and only now I was seeing it? She literally was getting more beautiful each minute. 

 

‘So, before you were drinking in the real? Someone must be doing all right for themselves to afford that.’ Sophia jostled.

 

‘I do ok, I work in tech.’ I need say no more and people understand I am really doing better than ok. Tech is the primary industry that is flourishing today. Her hair has a lighter blue pigment coming through the roots. I feel her hand on my arm, the synth suit was definitely the best investment as I now feel her leg rubbing against mine, the physical connection exhilarating.

 

Another shot has appeared before me. I do not think twice and knock it back in one, the virtual spinning, the colours blurring and the bass increasing, her face in the middle of my vision the whole time and then nothing. 

 

Private rooms are easy to activate, just a few blinks and Sophia and I are alone in the hotel room. I have spent a few extra credits to make it a good one, a view looking out over the Thames, a suite with a separate sitting room. She leads me into the bedroom, I can feel her hand in mine, the softness of her skin, although virtual, it is still more contact than anything I can experience in the real. 

 

Now sitting down on the bed, she straddles me. Her smell stronger, filling my nose until it hits the back of my throat. I can feel her delicate weight pressing on to me, pushing me backwards. Sex in virtual is a hundred times better than in the real, if you have your settings right. We become one, the room around us blurring until I pass out.

 

Opening my eyes, the hub is black. I remove the headset, my apartment is equally dark, except for a soft glow from the control tablet on the table. I stand, my body aches. Lifting the tablet, I try activating the lights.

 

“Insufficient credits.”

 

I double blink, rubbing my eyes, trying to rub out the grogginess, the pounding bass still reverberating around my head giving me a head ache. I try the activation again.

 

“Insufficient credits.”

 

I feel a panic begin to develop in my stomach, a fluttering that is gradually climbing up my throat. Checking my online accounts, I can see the balance.

 

“£0.00 available.”

 

Nothing. Hacked, and it was my own fault. Of course, she was a con. I walk over to the window, opening the curtains I hope for day light, it streams in. The sun dazzling my eyes as I look out into the real for the first time in over two years. The streets silent, empty as I question what to do next.