Avatar System Novels & Stories

At the top, it reads: THE REAL TRUTH Oh please. Subtle. I scroll, looking for an owner, some real name to pin this on — but the avatar is a freaking Darth Vader mask. The username reads — Truth Vader. I snort despite the ice crawling up my spine. Of course. A basement-dwelling Sith Lord with Wi-Fi. A true geek, I would guess. Probably types in a cape. The page prompts me to select a name from an alphabetical list. Every single one is a celebrity — athletes, actors, singers, politicians. Public executions in digital form.

I slipped the sleek VR headset on in my private lab, heart beating faster. As the lead designer, I had poured months into this hyper-realistic erotic simulator. Today marked the first full test with Kai, our top programmer. He joined from his station across the building, his avatar loading beside mine in a luxurious virtual beach villa. "System ready, Ava?" his voice came through crystal clear, sounding exactly like him—deep and smooth. His digital form looked incredibly lifelike, tall with defined muscles and handsome features that matched his real striking appearance.

AVA** I stared at the empty space where my phone had just been. If Isabella expected me to scream, cry, or lunge for the window, she was going to be sorely disappointed. She stood there, chest puffed out like a peacock who had just won a prize fight. "Well? Nothing to say? Your little life is currently being dismantled by Mark’s best technicians. Every secret, every sordid little detail of your 'Ava Reed' double life, is being uploaded to the Vance servers as we speak."

They reached the Solar-Tether—a massive spire of liquid-metal that connected the asteroid to the gravitational fields of the two stars. ​Standing in their way was a Siphon-Avatar—a being of pure "Nothingness" shaped like a faceless Nora Davis. ​"The error must be erased," the Avatar whispered. "The machine was perfect until you gave it a heart. Now it is broken. It must be recycled." ​The Friction of the Machine ​Nora didn't wait. She began to play the "Song of the Sundered," but she didn't play it for the humans. She played it for the Computers.

Vincent, who never engaged on social media, had commented with a heart emoji. Then, a private message popped up from Sophia. "Hey hubby, miss you already! Can't wait for our trip!" It was immediately withdrawn, followed by a voice note. "Oopsies! So sorry, Isabella! Meant to send that to Vincent. Your avatars are so similar! I'll have him change his, don't want any more... mix-ups." I didn't reply. Vincent would never change the profile picture his late mother had taken. He'd called me sentimental for even suggesting matching avatars once. I'd used a similar picture anyway, and he'd never commented. I took it as silent acceptance.

A shifting, high-definition avatar of the man who had bought the world. "Clara," the wind spoke, the voice sounding like a thousand boardrooms in unison. "Look at the peace I have bought you. No more Auditors. No more wars. No more loss. We are finally... Stable." "Stable is just another word for Dead, Julian!" Clara shouted, stepping toward the avatar. "Look at the gardener! Look at the birds! They’re trapped! You haven't saved them; you’ve Archived them!"

“Then why does it want you to sit down?” Ava stared at the seat. Her voice came out dry. “Because I already did.” And then she stepped forward and placed her hand on the right armrest. The chair chirped. The terminal flashed. > “Continuity host detected.” “Personality match: AVA MONROE — 96%.” “Subject: IRIS – Baseline personality confirmed.” “Ready for continuity install.” Ella backed toward the wall, shaking her head. “No. No no no—this isn’t recovery. This is overwrite.”

“Then I uninstall.” I slip it on. Darkness swallows me whole. The world hums alive around me. At first it’s exactly what I expected — a basic menu screen, empty grid stretching into nothing. Floating text hovers in front of me: Choose Avatar. Adjust Body. Begin Experience. I raise a trembling hand and drag sliders. Taller. Slimmer. No acne. The kind of body I’ll never have outside this headset. My shy gamer self sculpted into something else entirely. “Not bad,” I murmur.

He let out a breath and turned to face me. "So... two boyfriends, huh?" he teased, his eyes twinkling with amusement. I rolled my eyes and pulled out my phone. The female AI voice read out the words at the speed I had chosen. * They’re kids. They say whatever pops into their heads. * Gavin chuckled, his lips twitching. "Mmm. So I don’t have any competition, then?" I typed quickly, smirking as I held up the screen. * Just Captain America. *

he said coolly as he joined her in the gazebo, lying directly in her face without flinching. Vaquesha, in her Avita persona, did not disclose his lies but expressed her belief in him by saying, “you must have been irritated upon knowing that.” “But it doesn’t matter because I get to see your lovely face when I return,” he continued, clearly in shock that someone could be so naïve. Vaquesha forced herself to show a bashful smile, causing Arnold to pump his virtual fists in triumph, clearly pleased with how she was acting. “You... stop teasing me!” she replied coyly, clasping her hands together.