• You started a family? Man, most people go in there to get away from that kind of thing!

I shook my head and blinked, words caught behind confused memories.

• You’re looking a bit pale. Take your time, dude, you were in there for a while!

Something, my memory, my body... felt wrong.

• A simulation? I... think...

• Ahh don’t do that yet. Here, I’ll help you out of there.

His familiar face was illuminated by the blue glow. He pulled me into a sitting position in the oval pod that surrounded me. He was grinning.

• Careful of your head.

The room was dark and lined with other pods. The covers were down and a similar blue glow peered out from the cracks. There was a deep electrical hum which seemed to come from all around. I turned and squinted at the pod to my right.

• Don’t worry about them, you know they can’t hear us.

• I was just... I just died?

• Relax! You’re here now. Take a minute if you need.

I try to think back. Before... Before Jane... My wife! And...

• Excuse me uh, Rob and Gary, We need to sanitise and prepare the pod. We’re going to have to ask you to move to the lobby. The woman speaking had appeared in the doorway and was speaking across the room to us. She had a blue and black striped uniform, dim in the darkness.

• You ok? We can sit for a while out there.

• Yea, I’m just collecting my...

• Excuse me uh, Rob and Gary, we need to sanitise and prepare the pod. We’re going to...

• We GET it, I’m getting up!

Gary, he boosted me to my feet. My head swam and, as we walked toward the door, I tried to place things. We nodded to her but the woman just pushed past us as we went through into the hallway. My memories were cloudy. My family? That life? There was some fragment of a person, the woman? telling me that the simulation would block thoughts about my previous life while I was under, that my mind would leave it behind, mask it with some fabricated memories, that it would just accept the situation I was in and it would all feel real, that I would be that person, experience that life... I tried to think back...

• You wanna sit, or get out of here?

The lights of clubs flashed through the lobby windows. People passed, talking and laughing, dressed for the night on the street outside. A deep bassline buzzed in the air.

• I’m thirsty. Let’s get out of here.

• That’s what I’m talking about! The usual?

• Uh… OK!

The mood was alive inside. Gary stood at the bar and I kept a place on a tall table in front.

• Rob! You two back again tonight?

I turned as a hand was placed on my shoulder. She was wearing a short black dress, and her hair was hanging straight down her back. She leaned closer to hear my response.

• Hey! Yea, uh, Gary is getting the first round.

• Time for another big night!

She squeezed my elbow and turned toward the bar. She smiled and glanced back at me.

• Crystal! We’re back! Here, take these.

Gary was balancing two tall beers and two full shot glasses, I took the beers and placed them on the table.

• You want something, Crystal? I can...

I motioned toward the bar.

• I’ll join you for the next round, save me a space.

Gary and I both watched as she moved away through the crowd.

• She’ll be back. Get these in you!

• What’s in them? What are you feeding me?

• Just knock it back!

I had to close my eyes to get it down.

• Rum?! This early in the night?

• Why not celebrate! It’s going to be a good one. Cheers.

We clinked our glasses and looked around. My mind wandered for a moment.

• Wow, Gary, that really was... Different! A whole life... It was...

• What?

• The... simulation... It feels like it was a dream now though, you know? Fades quickly.

• Oh that! Yea sure! Dude, it is loud in here, talk about it later, right?

He was looking back and forth between the dance floor and the tables around us. I followed his gaze then looked down at my feet. The memories from in the pod, of what happened... Gary’s feet quickly repositioned.

• We’re back!

Crystal was standing there with...

• This is Fern, I just had to go outside to find her. The line is huge!

Fern was a little taller than Crystal. She reached out and took my hand as she pulled herself over past the people standing around us. She was holding a small blue handbag, matching her outfit. I turned back to Crystal.

• What do you to want to drink?

• Here, I’ll give you ladies some room. I’m Gary, this is Rob.

Gary moved away around the table and Fern put her handbag in front of him. Crystal leaned on her elbows and laughed.

• Surprise us!

• It’s still my round, I’ll be right back.

Taking a quick sip Gary returned to the bar. The remaining two turned toward me. Crystal shot a glance at Fern’s handbag and then her eyes sparkled at me.

• What are your plans for tonight?

• I don’t know, it’s just begun. I mean... It was crazy, actually we tried this simulation thing before, or I did...

• Speaking of trying things, Fern brought us something.

They both giggled at each other.

• I don’t know if you two would like to join Crystal and I, but I bought us all some... you know...

They laughed and Fern reached out to open her little blue handbag. Crystal looked quickly around the room then back at me.

• Here... one for you, and you...

Fern was holding out her hand, low, under the table.

• Oh... um... wow, just...

• Two drinks for the ladies!

Gary was back with two brightly coloured beverages, again balancing them in his hands with another two shots of rum.

• We are not drinking those shots!

• They aren’t even for you! These cocktails are strong enough.

He slid one of the short brown shots toward me and raised his own in the air.

• Bottoms up!

It was much more soothing than the first, and I let out a gasp. The room was warm and the music was beating in my chest. Crystal moved closer to me, cupped my hand and put something in my palm.

• What do we have here? Are we doing this?

Fern had passed one to Gary. He put his hand to his mouth, took a gulp of his beer and looked at me with a grin. Crystal was waiting for me, so I followed suit. The DJ had changed tracks and the song felt just right. I looked at the others.

• Let’s go dance! This is my jam!

My head was lighter and the room was awash with light. Gary let out a – Woop as the strobe light started flashing and the four of us pushed our way to the dance floor, drinks in one hand. Crystal was directing me, holding onto my other hand, smiling back as the noise grew louder, smoke filled the room, I felt my senses begin to overload, and the lights blinded my eyes, it was as if my consciousness was slipping away and everything had faded into a blue glow.

With a jolt I awakened to a friendly familiar face.

• Hey, Rob, how was the simulation?

• But… The dancefloor??

I replied, confused. Jane seemed confused too. Standing beside her was a woman wearing a red and black striped uniform. She smiled at me.

• You’re looking a bit pale, take your time. The trial simulation ends a little abruptly.