Chapter 1: A Divided Reality

"If everyone has one, shouldn't you want one too?"

Xavier glared at me while addressing Nari, his contempt palpable. “They are not embodied; they can’t come to our world.” His disdain was clear—he viewed those less fortunate as beneath him, repulsed by the very idea of mingling with us. Naturally, we weren’t on the guest list for his extravagant party.

He only attended our school due to some legal requirement, but he lived in a different universe. His affluent family could afford the latest full-body haptic suits and top-tier simulation setups, allowing their children to run, leap, and even soar in the digital realm. My equipment was far more basic—a headset and gloves—confining me to the most rudimentary aspects of virtual existence. Full internet exploration was a luxury I couldn't afford.

“I’m really sorry,” Nari said, leaving us behind. Her apology felt sincere, but she still chose to go.

“It’s going to be an epic party,” Jonah remarked, equally uninvited. His gear was even more outdated than mine.

“Absolutely,” I agreed.

My opportunity for true embodiment awaited post-graduation when I landed a job at Westernland as a user supervisor, which came with an old simulation rig on lease.

Westernland was a simulation replicating the American frontier, filled with adventures and treasure hunts to entertain users. Some, however, frequented it for the saloon and other less savory activities.

One fateful day, I spotted Xavier at a bar in a deserted Mexican ghost town while responding to a report of a disturbance involving two high-profile users. What were the odds of crossing paths again?

Normally, our AI filters would eject rule-breaking users from the simulation. Yet, some individuals, particularly the affluent, often evaded this fate. If they were expelled, they wielded their influence to wreak havoc on the metaverse that dared to humiliate them.

My job was to manage delicate situations involving these wealthy users. There was Xavier McAllen, completely inebriated, mumbling incoherently as he paced before me. Typically, our AI systems would separate conflicting parties, ensuring each perceived a different reality, enhancing safety by sometimes replacing real people with AI-generated characters. These measures significantly minimized potential legal issues for our organization.

However, some tasks required a human touch.

If these privileged individuals realized they had merely been transferred from an interactive environment to an AI-controlled simulation, their outrage would escalate. Wealthy patrons loathed synthetic beings; they demanded authenticity in their experiences.

“Xavier! Hey there!” I called out, but he seemed oblivious, just like in school. I soon discovered that another user was present.

“Xavier! Are you alright?”

A distant voice sang in the stable.

Could it be?

“Please stay put, I’ll check.”

To my astonishment, the other high-profile user was Nari, serenading the moonlight while petting a digital donkey. The chill of the desert night contrasted with the vibrant purple hues of the cacti surrounding her.

“It can’t be you,” I murmured, recognizing her despite her altered avatar. She paused her song and met my gaze.

“Who updates their avatar anyway?” she quipped, as if we had just resumed a conversation from two years ago.

My avatar had undergone many transformations recently, but at work, I maintained a corporate look. Nari couldn’t possibly recognize me; that was the purpose of avatars. Yet, Xavier appeared unchanged.

“That’s odd,” I replied.

“Thanks.” Nari resumed her affection for the donkey, which filled me with envy. I wished for that same tender touch.

“Do you remember me? I’m Yuli from school.”

“Yuli?”

“What the…?” Xavier stumbled upon us. “Who are you?”

“Sir, I’m with User Support,” I said, retreating slightly. “I’m here regarding a disturbance.”

“A disturbance? What disturbance?” he inquired, moving closer, though unable to touch me in this virtual realm, his proximity was still daunting.

“Come on, let’s get out of here, Xavier,” Nari urged. “This place is a nightmare.”

“What? I enjoy Westernland…” But before he could finish, she logged off, casting a glance that left me uncertain whether she remembered me.

“Oh, crap! She’s right; this place is a dump!” Xavier exclaimed, kicking a cactus and logging off in frustration. My role was complete. Humans were essential for this line of work. Online, people often acted out, taking advantage of synthetic beings. However, when a real person entered the scene, they were reminded of their humanity and the consequences of their actions.

“Oh, hey Jonah!” I greeted him as he joined me on the rooftop of our apartment complex.

“Hey.” Jonah was sporting his new augmented reality glasses, glowing a vivid orange against the sunset. “No… No… I’ll be there,” he spoke into his device, leaving me momentarily alone once more.

“Sorry, just dealing with this girl…” He finally glanced at me after removing the glasses.

“So, how’s the new job treating you?” he asked.

“It’s good. I got a new rig.”

“What kind of rig?”

“The GForce900.”

“No way! What are you doing here then?”

“I can only use it during work hours, but it’s great…”

“Those jerks! Mind if I come check it out one day?”

“Of course! Stop by anytime.” Despite having access to the rig, I wouldn’t use it outside of work. I knew people who lived exclusively in the virtual realm. In a way, Jonah and others like him were fortunate to lack the means for full embodiment.

But I kept those thoughts to myself; he wouldn’t understand.

Chapter 2: The Duality of Existence

In this insightful video, the concept of "embodied" or "embodiment" is thoroughly examined, shedding light on its implications in both physical and virtual realities.

Camille Litalien's TEDx talk dives into the essence of embodied learning, emphasizing its transformative power in personal development and understanding.