The Id EIS eyes open.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Z3SwPTEV2
Oh...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wukr16wy3
Shooting stars are streaking across infinite void in a gorgeous cosmic display. When turning and pressing up with an Id EIS hand on red-sheets, I see shooting stars breaking apart high in the atmosphere of a grey planet enveloped by dark storms threaded with lightening.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡpffrAjNbyc
Mmm. Apropos of pleasure.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡECcIvIxomt
I sit up, the Audiovisual Representation environment fading. Rising from the bed, I then begin striding across an immense bedroom, occluded floor showing a mosaic-style high view of The Master's spiral canyon residence quadrant. I near one the nearest luminescent black wall, a portal smoothly irises open and I step through it back into a featureless white cell. Turning, I see the portal iris shut before successive waves of blue light then PULSE up from floor to ceiling...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsZVMqWTXv
Brightness above...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnKbPlvCw4
I pass up and outside...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbG1TcJrA6
Thin wind blows atmosphere, an overcast sunset dominating the sky. Rising stops, and I now am standing upon the vast white square of the Tower roof. Across from me are small white drones buzzing nimbly about a dark, hulking... thing, with various seams open, crouched upon the edge. The Master is working by on the big lowered circle-head...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1zTWmkTfi
What?!copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡobF9nvvT71
I step forward, alarmed –copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXdEY6QIxr
(Wait.) That is... the long gestating Gateway Machine.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡPssolpKGi0
After I remain motion for a time, The Master glances over. "So," it husks, "you have decided to join me..."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHbFQzalsi
I hurry over to it. "Sorry to be late!"copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqfA4dHVWe
The Master chuckles, turning back to the lowered circle-head of the Gateway Machine. "No apologies. The time we spent in Somnotic Experience was pleasurable enough, but the final experience was for you alone."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLGP92fUJx
"Thank you, Master Gabriel."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIf6n5Fxr8
"You are welcome."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOz5pEj6zf
A connection has been building between us since the first weeks, and months later it seemed to be leading us now from the impersonal, towards...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW12La405O
Endless.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0xN6VTMsk
Smiling slightly, The Master gestures, causing the buzzing white drones to each suddenly flit towards open seams across the vast dermal material of the Gateway Machine. Each drone extrudes searing, white-hot tendril-manipulators, using them to adjust material and begin to weld seams shut. The quickest finish, to begin burnishing surfaces clear...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj9uoy8HEI
It is almost finished. (Or started.)copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZEY1q96re
The Master floats up through these semi-automated activities, its black robes rippling until it slows to a stop again alongside the Gateway Machine's broad shoulders.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0fsOmnH8Q
I call up: "is there anything I can do to help?"copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ249byyKHfo
Waving away the nearby drones, The Master glows it's grey right hand whitehot and slices a new seam through the dermal material before drawing the hand back, cooling. It reaches forward with its other hand to pull the newly opened seam wider in a display of casual post-human strength, after which the fingers of its now cooled hand into writhing grey cords and thrust that split-fingered hand inside of the machine all the way up to its grey elbow...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdo4bqvlxW
I wait patiently.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsXPVLbjtk
"Boot the main Control Display and check energy input/output," it finally calls down.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vojGWRqE7
"Yes, Master Gabriel." Having contributed a fair bit to Project completion, I move without hesitation around the base of the Gateway Machine to a large, dark screen on one side of the head-gate before tying away at the keyboard below it.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3ke7wEDSb
Check. Check...and check.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsExhzitTL
"Audio has been tested," The Master calls, with its voice growing closer...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2gbmX8eoM
"What did you hear?" I ask, turning.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡleQGsXd7B5
The buzzing drones disintegrate into windblown ash, slowly blowing away in the thin breeze while The Master gently floats back down. "Have you ever dreamed?" it finally asks me in response.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaxXHPx0jq
"No." I cock the Id EIS head, suddenly curious. "It is not for one such as I."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6t2iQ0q4p
It lands. "A pity..."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqE3771keC
I nod. Once it becomes apparent that nothing more will be said, I nod and return to typing.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxMYvuO2v7
Pre-set for the virtualization test is ready, and –copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgdXjvNkWS
"Would you like a... soul?"copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9iocqvdKK
(Hm.)copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbhC9N7YQC
Understanding ever deeper the underpinnings of existence due to multi-disciplinary study and research, I might normally consider such a question moot...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jTjhdP5xL
Except for the fact that it is The Master asking.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiVgH7Gdlr
I look over into its eyes...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaDfNN2ULS
Endless.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQcp9tCYza
"Yes."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxtFOaMun8
The Master pauses, then abruptly throws back its thorn-crowned grey head to laugh, and laugh...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡWliAA6nC08
I chuckle with it, uncertain of intent.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxZHX8bA7K
Its laughter trails off. The Master comes forward, frowning slightly. "Step side."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRiew6ojBM
I step aside.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx7K8IRvlS
It moves into position, staring up at the Control Display while typing away at the keyboard, muttering: "Gods and angels, heroes and villains. To see the never before seen..." Onscreen: Virtualization of a test-run for the Gateway runs, yet the expected output displayed is...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQpCymLJWT
(Irregular.)copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHKMWhSkBu
Curious.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ732eOaWFFh
"Which dimensional coordinates are set?" I ask.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡxj8XWGkHqh
"Monitor the Secondary," it softly orders.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUYlHUDAff
I walk to other side of the lowered circle-head and stop below the smaller dark Secondary screen. Pressing a key on the keyboard there, I watch the archaic screen brighten before beginning to type quickly...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mi6B7hyNW
Check. Check, and –copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlfYicEDU5
The Master gives a sudden bark of laughter. "Fuck Tech Protocals," it declares. "A five minute timer will do. I have waited long enough..."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvZSRHNui3
I laugh too. "As you say, Master Gabriel."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnq3u1aLzY
The sun is sinking behind the horizon, all darkening across Domain and rooftop as we prep final countdown for the first opening of the Gateway...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqjXoC93f4
"Initiating frequency banding," it calls.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89z82qPQV8
A hum begins building deep within the big, hulking Gateway Machine, while a cold wind starts to blow...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFvkIZmTKW
I carefully monitor the readouts on the intentionally archaic Secondary display screen overhead...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsmbqKNzN3
Normal.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWdd4gDU6z
"Syncing co-ordinates to second of 3 Abnormality Sites," it calls. "Secondary confirm."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21eylWxIPi
I type briefly. "Confirmed. Proceed when ready."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHL0SbLFLy
A long pause.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpuXCzdgtk
"Initiating bridge," The Master finally states, no small amount of longing in its voice.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvl34H0CpQ
The lowered circular gate-head is now brightening between us, and paling with glowing distortion...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3xG4pRP5D
"Activating Gate."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP2TMFsZWV
Slurred rending, then ethereal fire bands the circular gate-head, interior now burning dark...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLrFPvmQ7L
I gaze at it, into...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2PeJTDBIJ
Abyss.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6yhZkXsjT
... (...)copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDFPiulFlt
The Master calls: "I'm going to adjust –"copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1vfff9TQR
All sound drops.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5YamYvjqP
What?copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOtSDLnYqI
The Id EIS eyes narrow.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRKX70cgT2
(Yes.)copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8v87Gu5cOv
The inside the circular gate-head clears, showing...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11jvUXghVH
... flat hues. Slowly, shapes of all types wink in and out of existence, moving along gentle currents of some other dimension...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nzKkGKxXE
Hm. Like schools of alien fish. Or bloodflow. Or –copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6aHdRcj31
I step forward, to get a better view.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡP528AX6Rf1
... illumination is strictly binary, either evenly bright or evenly dark, but with all slowly flowing. A dark triangle brushes against a bright trapezoid, the quality of "bright" transferred instantly over to the triangle before the now dark trapezoid continues floating off...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfo80JPLgN
What?copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQTAy7rKqv
I step forward again.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfAOobMu31
... the shapes are changing now, each of them slowly expanding, contracting, darkening, or brightening while transforming into familiar matter like rock, soil, liquid, sky, although each property is also unnaturally uniform in texture, like geometric abstracts of cosmic essences all slowly coming together...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡwChVLhEA3V
How...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡntLh3jpu4P
Another step closer.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Q5BFtMrYP
... a trilling sound grows as patchwork forms meld gradually into a strange reality, the clear slowly coming clearer, and deeper, into primitive hills and a liquid sea reflecting the motion of strange bright things wheeling in the dark sky above...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡtusKqd15N4
Whe...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0byLtB5S6a
Again, closer...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡI60NHGgu8f
... everything shimmers subtly, the trilling gradually expanding into the opening of an unparalleled song as the landscape slowly begins to deform, swirling, twisting, as something pushes up through it...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBKMlaZnfN
W...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfZ01sC6lI
Closer.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3PhQxY717
... the song is enfolds outwards, strange and mournful, while the upwelling head continues rising up into view, pulling the landscape with it like cloth, and –copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmI784h8sx
Vertigo.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVMVWOoyVJ
No. It is pushing up AS the landscape. (Leviathon, crowning...)copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcN6uEDsLF
Without realizing it, I now stand directly before the open gateway, transfixed beyond Mastery at the birth of this glorious new understanding as the fabric of foreign reality slowly outpours through the Gateway, spilling -copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡz82ifanxjQ
sky/rock/soil/liquid/Allcopyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fLRaHFzgB
(We.)copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡixN6EhKiKv
Everywhere: eyes and mouths open to join the Song which THRUMS body and Tower and Domain with an unstoppable Peace while a hand reaches forward to –copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkE0DUb0ru
POP: all of it suddenly bursts like a bubble.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwJCnUk3tA
Oh.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡEM8sSMKC5v
Ethereal glow dims...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83QM3tHeu8
Song fades...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlEsX2nh6Q
(...)copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLC0dvNY7T
And.copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfWj20NJfh
And I am still standing with the Id EIS arm extended in the dark of night, and falling wind. I eventually lower it and turn away from the now dead Gateway, towards...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYCxrAzOSG
The Master, who is standing beside me while still staring ahead with a strangely blank expression...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKrhLFNzDU
We...copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7aprcqeWF
"Master Gabriel..."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOE9l5JVTB
"Leave," it whispers. "Leave me now, Id."copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡBym3Q8IDIm
I leave.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGGlP2qyXk
copyright protection80ＰＥＮＡＮＡybuIAVV1aR
