Second Lies

Virtual Depravity (Part 1)

"Look RJ, your supposed to be relaxing so do that when you get to Tennessee and stop worrying about bullshit." As NF drove me up to the airport entrance he again told me to "have a good time".

The flight was typically crowded and non-eventful. Saturday afternoon was good. I landed in Knoxville and found my way to Bear’s place up in the hills. Bear and Star greeted me and we went shopping.

While in the local ‘Kroeger’s, (Bear stayed in the car) Star dropped a bombshell. "I’m going to leave Bear…I can’t go on here RJ." "When do you plan to tell him this and why wait till I got here to do this?" "Listen RJ, you’re his spiritual advisor as well as his best friend, I’m gonna tell him after Church on Sunday." "Star you need to tell him right away, don’t drag me into any bullshit, by the way where do you plan to go?"

"RJ, I told you about my new friends in ‘SECOND LIFE’, and I also have a lover their too." "Star that’s a virtual reality game played with avatars, are you serious?" "Yeah!" After we did our shopping I got quiet in the SUV I rented. Bear went on and on about Fort Louden, the Civil War sites in the area and other points of interest.

When we got back to Bear’s the tension was palpable. Star got on the computer and logged into ‘SECOND LIFE’ then brought up this avatar that looked like a model or an Amazonian Barbie doll that represented her to her virtual community. In her virtual world she could directly interact with other avatars that represented real people. They had virtual bars, virtual homes, virtual cars, virtual pets, could have virtual sex and could make and spend virtual money you can only get if you have real money to exchange.

She talked to everyone in her virtual world via her headset with attached microphone. She met with a male avatar who was her new lover ‘virtually’ which she wanted to get with in reality. "His name is Evanzer" said Star as Bear got the goods in the fridge and asked Star if she was going to join us for dinner (Bear was pissed) Star got off of the game and sat at the table with us for dinner.

After I half ate I looked at her and said "you and Bear need to talk, I’m going outside." They both said "no, please sit with us". Bear looked straight at Star and said "you must think I’m totally stupid…I know what’s going on." "Bear, I have to leave, I can’t stand this place anymore, I can’t be with you in any way shape or form." "Where you gonna go Star?" Bear’s face was sheet white with disbelief.

"Terry said I could stay with him for a while, he lives in Louisiana. He said he could get me a job close to where he lives and help me get a driver’s license." "Who the fuck is Terry" Bear’s eyes were getting bigger as his pupils got smaller. As he listened to the rest of what is obviously bad news. "Terry is Evanzer in ‘SECOND LIFE’ we have had an ongoing relationship for several weeks."

Bear was obviously having problems with this news, now his neck and ears were turning bright red. Bear asked Star "have you ever met this guy in person?" Star, shaking her half empty bottle of Wild Turkey said "No" as she removed the cap and drank straight from the bottle. Bear looked at me and said "she has been on the computer for nearly 10 hours every day for weeks on this fucking ‘SECOND LIFE’ game."

I had to interject some questions so I could understand this a little better. I had all kinds of things going through my head so I asked Star to lighten up and please help me "see what you see." "Star, how do you know what this guy looks like?" "He posted a picture of himself in ‘SECOND LIFE’ and I have it on the wall of my house." ‘This house’ I asked? "No, my house in ‘SECOND LIFE’. Bear got up to go to the bathroom.

Star got up and ran to the computer, she waved me over and showed me her virtual world, her virtual house, all of Terry’s pictures which only showed a face and two of the three were soft blurred (definitely altered).

When Bear came back to the table I asked Star to join us there. She declined as she was now on her cell phone talking to Terry. "You really think I’m stupid, your gonna plot and scheme and think I know nothing?" Bear said this his voice steadily raising as he fixed a laser like stare on Star.

I jumped in this conversation again to get Bear to remain rational (only the local armory had more hunting gear than Bear). "Star, let me ask you…how do you know that the pictures of this guy Terry in ‘SECOND LIFE’ is really him?"

"We have been swapping pictures for a while, its him" Star said as if nothing else could be true. Tell me how did you get money to buy a house and property in this virtual world."

"I work for it, I’m a level’s advisor and have a class on "gestures and protocol" where I get paid in dollars that I can convert to ‘Lindens’ (Linden are ‘SECOND LIFE’ dollars). That’s how I have such nice stuff." I looked at Bear who now stared at Star as a prison guard looks at a mental patient. "Star, these avatars that are the creations of these ‘people’, they don’t necessarily have to represent themselves as they are do they?"

"What are you asking RJ?" "If a man created a female avatar and interacts in your world as a white female lets say looking real young and real hot but is actually a 6’6" black man with a sex offender rap sheet you wouldn’t know it would you? Star thought about it for a few seconds and said that "Linden Labs" has ways of knowing that. "Yeah, is Linden Labs under any obligation to disclose that to you and the other Second Lifers, are they?

"I guess not. But so what? RJ, this game is about having fun virtually you can do anything here you can do with people." So I understand your avatars can have virtual sex in your virtual world is that right?" "All the time and the graphics are great RJ." So you are voyeurs as well as participants in hardcore porn living a real personal fantasy in a two dimensional fake world. Right Star? "It’s fun."

It seems to me that you enjoy virtual sex, virtual clubbing and virtual interaction but do you really know who is controlling the image being projected into this pseudo-world? Do you really know Terry? "I know he loves me" said Star as she puffed away on her third or fourth cigarette. Bear stood up and eyes beady and bright white, "How long you been plotting this and why now? Why when RJ comes to visit?"

"I wanted to tell RJ like I’m telling you…to your face. I also wanted you to have someone hear to support you spiritually. I know this hurts you…but I have to go." "Star, is Terry still on the phone?" "Yes RJ!" "Do you mind if we talk without leaving him there in limbo, kinda rude, aint it? Star hung up with Terry as Bear continued to stare down Star with unreal intensity.

"When did you plan to leave" Bear said slowly. "I figure I need about a month to get things together" said Star in a "matter of fact" kind of way. Before Bear could get out another word I said "look it’s Saturday Night, lets all leave this subject for tomorrow night. If you want me there, I will only be there to council both of you. If one or both of you can’t deal with what I have to say, I will step back and let you guys work it out."

"Work out what RJ, the bitch said she’s leaving right?" "Bear, you guys need to talk through a whole lot of stuff before she goes anywhere, for her sake as well as yours, OK!" "I’m going to bed RJ" Bear stared at Star like she was an object before he went into the bedroom and shut the door. "Star, I do believe you seriously need to consult someone professionally about what your feeling."

"RJ, I been to Rehab several times as well as AA and dealt with therapists, I’m not going down that road anymore." "Is there any chance of you staying in Tennessee with anybody else for a little while, until you had time to think this through? Star looked at me with a gleam in her eye and said, "I’ve been thinking this through for a long time." "Why now Star?" "Because nothing will happen to me while you’re here RJ."

"Good Night Star, lets be ready for Church and be honestly sober for after Church."

To be continued!

RJ