Tales of a Former Admin

[Garrett Jax]

Former Admin Garrett Jax maneuvered his Starblazer toward Barrier Gate Station in Coronado System. The waitress at Sunbucks advised him that if he wanted to meet new people, he wouldn't find a more diverse group than the ones that frequented that base. Garrett wasn't sure whether he was ready to settle in among the members of the Community, but he was bored, and you could only meet so many people at Fort Bush.

A beeping noise from his comm system told him that a transmission was incoming. He pressed the communication tab on the hud to accept the transmission. To his astonishment, it was an invitation for all interested parties to join in something called RP back behind Barrier Gate. The voice of a young woman asked, Are you interested in meeting the most interesting and exotic people? It gave assurances that everyone was screened for infectious diseases and they had something for just about any person's taste. What followed, sounded like their tagline: Remember, what happens in Barrier Gate Station, stays in Barrier Gate Station. How convenient, he thought. Just what he came to the station to do. He wasn't sure what this "RP" was, but if it involved getting to know the Community better, he was all for it. The advertisement even stated that there was discreet docking for his ship behind the station. How thoughtful.

Garrett docked his tiny ship behind Barrier Gate, a thousand red muted lights directing him where to go. He disembarked and discovered a line of red velvet ropes leading him out of the bay and into a lounge/bar type atmosphere. This place made the Sunbucks cafe appear stuffy and sterile. Part of him could tell that the owners of this establishment wanted his patrons to feel very comfortable and relaxed. In reality, he didn't feel comfortable at all. Everything felt almost too informal for his liking. A long bar with glass shelves holding bottles of every type of drink lay ahead. The darkened dining areas were lit up just enough to make out the silhouettes of patrons, mostly male. One or two females dotted the lounge, and everyone seemed to be sitting alone. For a place that was meant to encourage interaction, there didn't seem to be much mingling.

A female shaped android, enhanced with curves in all the right places and long flowing hair walked smoothly toward him. "Have you been here before sir?" it asked.

Garrett recognized the voice of the android as the one on the transmission. "No, I haven't," he replied.

"Excellent," it said, cheerfully. It's voice raised in pitch to denote excitement. "This is a place where couples may engage in "RP" with each other. May I explain how this occurs?"

Garrett needed some answers. Some explaining would definitely help. "Please do," he said. "I have no idea what "RP" is."

The android's eyes lit up, literally. "Why, RP stands for Role Play, sir," she exclaimed. "Role Play makes it easier to get to know new people. You can be whatever you want, you just need to pick a role and then play it in front of the person you wish to meet. The other person picks a role he or she wants to play and they play it in front of you. Do you understand?"

Garrett thought he had it figured out. What an odd way to meet new people. "This is what Mortals do for fun?" he asked.

"Oh yes," the android replied. "Many humans enjoy this type of interaction immensely."

"What if I just want to be myself?" Garrett asked.

The android simulated a droopy face. "Where is the fun in that?" it said. It scanned him a little more carefully. "Who are you, anyways?"

Garrett smirked. "Nobody important." "I used to be an Admin though."

"An Admin?!?" the android said, arms rising in the air to show excitement. "Even a former Admin would be an exciting person to meet. Most people here want to be something more exciting than what they are. You would be an exception to that, I think."

"Yeah, well, I just want to see what's out there, you know," said Garrett. There was a whole community of people to get to know. It was true he knew them as an Admin, but people acted different when they knew you were an Admin. Too much boot licking and groveling. If he came to them as a peer, they might open up and he could get to know them better.

The android smiled, "That is what we are here for, sir." It turned, its arm directing him toward a hallway off to the side. "If you follow me, we can get you started."

Garrett followed the android down the hallway and into a small, dimly lit room. The room smelled of sweat and filth. Before him, a sturdy wooden chair lay askew on the floor with a small wastebasket nearby. A large computer monitor with a keyboard, along with a box of tissues sat on a table which was divided by a heavy dark curtain. He couldn't see anything beyond the curtain, but Garrett assumed it was a room similar to his which held the other half of the table, a computer and a chair of its own. The android straightened the chair and hurriedly checked the wastebasket for debris. It began grumbling when it discovered some discarded tissues and replaced the waste bag with a fresh one.

The android pulled an aerosol can from its torso and proceeded to spray the room. It smelled like flowers trying to cover over sweat and filth. "My apologies for the mess," the android said. "We try to keep these rooms clean at all times, but sometimes humans get a bit...messy."

Garrett rolled his eyes. He was getting frustrated. Why did Mortals have to make things so hard. He considered leaving, but the android already pulled out the chair and invited him to sit down. He took his seat, and instantly the monitor came alive.

The android pointed at the monitor. "Sir, you see the menu on the right hand side? This lists all the roles that are available. If you choose something not on the menu, you may select "Other" at the bottom and type the role you will be playing. Be advised, however, that if the other person doesn't understand what your role is, it may lead to confusion."

"You mean, I won't get to actually meet the person face to face?" asked Garrett.

The android simulated a sigh. "Not at first, sir. You may choose to see a small webcam picture of the person, with whom you are interacting, at the upper left hand corner of your monitor, however most people do not choose that option as it ruins the RP experience for them. Simply select the small webcam box if you wish to see the person. The box will glow red if the other person has chosen to see you."

Garrett noticed the small camera sitting atop the monitor. Do people really interact this way? "So, I just communicate with them via the keyboard?" he asked, dumbfounded.

"Affirmative," replied the android. "You must speak in RP at all times. If you absolutely must speak "Out of Role Play", you must type "//" before your sentence. This will tell the other person that you are not speaking in RP. Any other questions?"

Garrett looked at the curtain. "What is the curtain there for?"

"The curtain may be removed by mutual consent only," admonished the android. Its voice increased in pitch again. "If all goes well, then you may finally meet the person you have been Role Playing with face to face."

That sounded too complicated to Garrett. "Why can't we just remove the curtain and talk to each other now?" he asked.

The android sounded as if it were trying to clear it's 'throat'. "I apologize sir. I am unaccustomed to having to explain human nature to...well...humans. Suffice it to say, this is the way that humans want this process to go: They want to dip their toes in the water first, see how it feels and then either wade in, or get out, all the while preserving as much anonymity as possible."

"Mortals are strange," concluded Garrett.

"They are indeed, sir," the android agreed. "Are you ready to begin?"

Garrett took a deep breath. He didn't have an answer, but he figured he never would feel more ready than he was right now. Might as well see what type of people this Community consisted of. He tried to remain positive and upbeat. After all, he was sure they would be more scared of him, than he was of them. He pressed the button labeled, "Other" and typed in: "Former Admin" in the box. He sat back and waited for the first person to show up.



//End of Part One

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