Chapter One: Jack
It had been there for almost a year. Virtual Sexuality was the latest in virtual reality arcades. According to their ads on the holotube, you could 'live out your deepest sexual fantasies' in a completely safe environment. It didn't matter how depraved or mundane they were, since you only interacted in a virtual reality matrix, you never did anything that was actually wrong. Our thought lives were not criminalized, yet. I had thought of trying them out, but wasn't sure what fantasies I wanted to explore, or even if I wanted to explore them at all.
So what had changed? Marcia dumped me. We had been going steady for almost three years. The sex was great, or at least I thought so. It's not even like I forgot anniversaries or birthdays or some such stupid act of insensitivity. Three weeks ago, she announced, out of the blue, that I wasn't meeting her needs.
"What needs?" I had asked.
"After three years, you should know what my needs are!"
Good God, I'm not a mind reader, and if I was, I would have to wear a dampener. She could have at least said something like "I need more oral sex," or "A romantic dinner would be nice every once in a while," or "I like girls." I would have been able to deal with that. But no, I get that, "You should know," crap.
So here I am, three weeks of no sex, at least sex with someone else, and I'm going crazy. So, "Jack," I says to myself, "you should try out Virtual Sexuality. All the sex I want with none of the bullshit that seems to go with it." I mean, that's a fantasy, isn't it? A woman who will let me know what she wants and needs so that I can meet them? And it's only to tide me over until I get back on the dating thing again. After three years out of the loop, you get rusty.
Anyway, here I am, standing at the entrance to the place and thinking about going in. I'm not sure why I haven't yet. It seems like a big deal, for some reason. Some sort of Rubicon. Justin tells me that it is a wonderful experience, though he never describes what happens when he visits. I suppose there are some of my sexual fantasies that I would not want to share, either. I should at least figure out how the thing works. I have the feeling that it's not like a normal arcade. I mean, when you get into an Everest simulation, there's only so much that can happen. But sex? I've heard that there are no fantasies that can't be fulfilled.
Once I enter, the place looks so... normal. Almost like a spa or gym. There is someone at the front desk helping a couple. I can't help but overhear, given how excited and loud they are being.
"So, you want a private reality," the girl at the counter asks.
"Yes. No one else. Her dad insists we wait until we're married for real sex, but we can try out each other here."
"Will you be wanting any preliminary activities, dinner, movie, that kind of thing?"
The girl friend answered, "No, no. We just want to try out some sex, see if we're compatible."
"You do realize that our programming makes you compatible automatically?"
"How can a simulator make two people who might not be, actually seem compatible?" he asked.
"Our system is quite advanced. Unlike a sports VR, for example, that interacts with your external nervous system, our VR actually interacts with your subconscious, using feedback to determine what your desires are. Since any pair of people are compatible with each other at some basic level, the feedback between two people will enhance the things you like about each other and minimize the things you dislike."
The girl popped up with a, "Oh, we like everything about each other."
I could catch the hint of sarcasm when the reception lady continued with, "That will make it easier on the computer then. As I was saying, your VR selves will be a blend between what each of you wants most from themselves and in a partner. It makes for great sex, but for a poor compatibility test." The guy said, "I can live with great sex. How about you honey?"
"Yes. Great sex makes up for a lot."
"Very well. If you will sign these releases, We'll get you set up in VR room 27."
The couple signed the forms and another person came out from the back to lead them to room 27, wherever that was. I walked up to the counter and waited while she entered a few notations on her screen. Then she looked up.
"Welcome to Virtual Sexuality. How can I help you?"
"I was wanting to... I was hoping to try out... "
"First time?"
"No, I've had sex before. Just never in VR."
"That's what I meant. No one ever seems to know what to ask for on their first visit. We call them scenes. Do you want to engage in a scene?"
"I guess. How does it work?"
"You have several options. You didn't come in with anyone, so I assume you don't want a couple scene. You can engage a solitary scene. In a solitary, you are the only human in the VR simulation. Every one else you encounter is created from your own subconscious. You will have exactly the fantasy you want, perfectly. You could also enter the public matrix. There are currently, let's see now, 36 people in the matrix. You will interact with them on a variety of levels, depending on the desires of the others and yourself. The public matrix is out most popular option. We also have some specialty simulations that are preprogrammed to certain basic fantasies that come up a lot. These are less interactive than the public matrix or a solitary scene. There are currently 14 specialty matrices available, with simulations of things such as BDSM and rape."
"Rape?"
"Yes, rape fantasies are more popular than you would think. Our simulations let men and women explore those darker desires in a totally safe environment. Remember, rape fantasy is not the desire for real rape, just the desire to be forced in some way."
"I see." I didn't, but I wanted to move off this particular subject. "So, if I opt for a solitary scene, I will experience what I truly desire, perfectly."
"Yes. I should point out that what you truly desire may not be what you consciously desire. Our simulators interact with your subconscious mind. Many are shocked by their first solitary scene, at what their subconscious wants for them."
"I think I can handle it. I'll take a solitary scene. How does this all work?"
"You'll be placed under a standard looking VR hood and the remote contacts to your nervous system will link in. There will be the usual minute or two of disorientation and them you'll find yourself in your fantasy. You can do anything in the fantasy that you wish, and the feedback system will have the virtual players react exactly as you want them to."
"I see. How much is a scene?"
"$25 for a real time hour. Inside, that could be days or minutes, depending on how your fantasy plays out. You're aware of the small chances of damage from using virtual reality devices?"
"Yes." I did not consider the one in a million chance for brain damage to be worth worrying about. Even then, the damage usually results in nothing except the inability to interface with VR equipment again.
"If you'll sign this release, we'll have a tech get you started."