Chapter 20
The plan was to reunite the group in the common room before the plug was pulled and everyone was traumatized. There was a lot of debate on that topic. Some thought that it could trigger the trauma again, while others thought it might be better for them to discover the room on their own, and no one wanted to put their subjects through that mental anguish again.
In a compromise, it was decided that it would be a bar, the local watering hole, where everyone would meet and then it would just be theirs.
There was just one problem with that plan, Jenny had other ideas. Even though most of her memories of that incident were wiped, she still wanted the orgy and in this cyber environment, somehow, she was more powerful than all the others. No one understood why this was the case, for now, they would have to accept it and adjust their plans to compensate.
Eric looked at the invitation again. He had the right address; it didn't look like the kind of building that would host a philosophical discussion. He shrugged and jogged up to the third floor, instead of using the elevator. There were sounds of soft rock playing, he looked and saw the suite number matched that on his invitation. He pulled on the door, and it opened to what looked like a very plush nightclub or bar. There were three women there, holding glasses and talking in a circle. All heads turned in his direction and he immediately felt self-conscious. Taking a few steps, he held out the invitation as one of the women met him. "You must be Eric, welcome to our little group," she said and extended her hand to shake. The others joined. "This is Claudia," she pointed "and Nikki," she smiled broadly; "I'm Jenny."
"Are you expecting others?" Eric asked nervously, worried about what he'd gotten himself into.
"No, this is it. Can I get you a drink, perhaps a beer?"
Hesitatingly Eric asked if they had any light beer. "Of course, any particular brand?"
"Michelob ULTRA, if you have it if not any..." Jenny handed him the beer he requested. "Thanks," He replied, surprised that they had it. He twisted the top, heard the familiar sound, and took a long pull of the cold beverage.
"I'm not sure I'm in the right place..." he started to say but was interrupted by Jenny.
"Like you, Eric, Claudia, and Nikki were confused about why they were asked to meet, the reason is simple. We are the only ones in this city that are real."
Eric chuckled a few times until he saw that Jenny wasn't kidding and Claudia and Nikki didn't share his skepticism. "You're kidding, right? I just took an Uber to get here and gave the driver a significant tip."
"Perhaps that's not the best word." Jenny thought about it and then continued, "Hmmm... What I mean is that we are the only ones sentient."
Although Nikki and Claudia arrived before him this was news to them too. The three began to challenge what Jenny was saying. And the philosophical discussion began. Nikki talked about all the people she interacted with, and Jenny countered with the question of how well she knew them. Claudia talked about the people she worked with, and Jenny asked her where she worked, shocking her when she couldn't say where. Eric asked how it could be true she was the only one who knew. Jenny admitted that she didn't know the answer, but that it was true, and she could prove it. The offer hung in the air until the three demanded that she should.
"Three seconds after I finish this statement, a man will come into this room and ask if everything is fine. Feel free to ask questions beyond the polite subtleties you normally ask."
No sooner did she finish talking than the door opened and a man entered, "Hello, I hope you are finding the accommodations satisfactory. Is there anything I can get for you?"
"Okay," Eric turned to Jenny and said, "That could have been rehearsed and proves nothing."
"All of you feel free to ask any questions," she replied.
"Ah...there is one thing," Nikki said, "Can you tell me what your favorite color is?"