My mind connected the dots. I don't recognize the picture though.

"Um, Zach? Did you see those pictures of me and Doktor Urmind in the hallway?"

"Well, could have been you, could have been me. I only met Urmind a couple of times. I'd have to look at the pictures to see if they match the times I met the Doktor." said Zach.

That's better. Seeing 'Hashi' over Zach's head has been bothering me.

"I need to log off for a bit. I'll get back on as soon as I can." Kithera tells us.

I wave. Zach bows. Kithera disappears.

I ask Zach, "How about we go look at those pictures and you can tell me more about meeting Urmind."

Zach gets up and says, "Sure." He walks with me out into the hall.

It's a well-lit hallway. The walls are covered with tight-fitting strips of some white wood. I run my hands over the walls. There's some haptic feedback when I touch the surface, I can tell that the surface is a little rough. Zach's beside me.

"I like touching things in Real World Online," I say aloud.

Zach runs his hand over the paneling as well. "I never was able to get any realistic tactile sensation into the in-game interface."

I avoid looking at him. I look at picture number 6 instead. The one that I remember. It's weird to see a picture of me and Urmind with our nameplates over our heads. I don't remember there being anyone there painting that would see this picture. Who made the picture?

I look at each picture in turn. I'm not talking and neither is Zach. He's following along looking at each of the pictures after I do. I don't remember being in these places. The avatars are the same but somethings different about the first five.

I turn to Zach, "What's different between the first five and number six? I remember number six. I don't remember the others."

Zach looks at me and examines five and six and then the other four.

Zach points at the nameplates. "The sixth picture says Hashi. The others all say Hashi (away)."

Oh.

Zach tells me, "The only time I've seen the Hashi (away) avatars were when I was shoulder surfing when Kithera was playing. Let's head back to the library, Kithera's back."

Kithera isn't AFK anymore. She's spread some papers on a table nearby while we were gone.

She says, "I've printed out some of your notes since you started using the interface, Zach. You might want to finish telling your story before we look at the notes."

Zach looks at Kithera and they both get quiet for a little bit. I'm pretty sure they are talking outside of the game. I wish I knew what they were saying.

[System: Do you wish to monitor current interface audio?]

Um. That doesn't feel right.

Zach starts talking again. "Doktor Urmind approached me at a coffee shop in game. I'd only had my interface working for a few days. Here's a transcript of the conversation." Zach hands me a parchment.

Doktor Urmind: Pardon me, I'd like to discuss a business proposition with you.

Me: Have we met before? Do you know me from somewhere? You have me at a bit of a disadvantage here.

Doktor Urmind: Zachery Russell. I know of you. We've never met before. I've heard of you and your research from some associates.

Me: Uh, can we talk about this irl somewhere? Perhaps on the phone. I don't really want to talk about my research in-game.

Doktor Urmind: The game is the easiest place for me to conduct business. Perhaps at my office? It is a private space.

Me: Nothing on this server is really private. Phone? Text? Secured chat? Would any of those do?

Doktor Urmind: Secured chat would work. Say in about a half hour. I can make it worth your while, even pay you for your time.

Me: Any particular chat program? Voice chat?

Doktor Urmind: I'll drop you an email with contact information. Talk to you soon.

I look up at Zach, "And then what happened?"

Urmind was acting suspiciously.

Was he spying on Zach?