The Id EIS eyes open.8964 copyright protection332PENANAvRqm4hqKia 維尼
Oh...8964 copyright protection332PENANAnU1bA7jxhD 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection332PENANAeM4JFxUC1w 維尼
Mmm. Apropos of pleasure.8964 copyright protection332PENANAYAr4PYs0GC 維尼
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...8964 copyright protection332PENANAAgl2VnsFNo 維尼
Brightness above...8964 copyright protection332PENANAFdRKW5JOhH 維尼
I pass up and outside...8964 copyright protection332PENANAsxoCs5933M 維尼
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...8964 copyright protection332PENANAJpKfqZLc3l 維尼
What?!8964 copyright protection332PENANADbIkaui5SH 維尼
I step forward, alarmed –8964 copyright protection332PENANASpVHpGDsTa 維尼
(Wait.) That is... the long gestating Gateway Machine.8964 copyright protection332PENANA7z0hutWehz 維尼
After I remain motion for a time, The Master glances over. "So," it husks, "you have decided to join me..."8964 copyright protection332PENANAv4SnVEeplq 維尼
I hurry over to it. "Sorry to be late!"8964 copyright protection332PENANAzVCp4UqBgw 維尼
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."8964 copyright protection332PENANAGOKiKNwgkl 維尼
"Thank you, Master Gabriel."8964 copyright protection332PENANAMwsvo3CRaR 維尼
"You are welcome."8964 copyright protection332PENANAKUQQKjIXmr 維尼
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...8964 copyright protection332PENANAdoKUgqjopH 維尼
Endless.8964 copyright protection332PENANAOWFU0MqmbN 維尼
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...8964 copyright protection332PENANAQXJ925HvFY 維尼
It is almost finished. (Or started.)8964 copyright protection332PENANALu0betulDW 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection332PENANAzhrH3xUks5 維尼
I call up: "is there anything I can do to help?"8964 copyright protection332PENANAoIaZqm1dbs 維尼
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...8964 copyright protection332PENANApjCDk5ABvz 維尼
I wait patiently.8964 copyright protection332PENANAOTLxFoNh47 維尼
"Boot the main Control Display and check energy input/output," it finally calls down.8964 copyright protection332PENANAmrNQtZ6Sbv 維尼
"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.8964 copyright protection332PENANA6GIJ1psSvj 維尼
Check. Check...and check.8964 copyright protection332PENANAecIciUJFBD 維尼
"Audio has been tested," The Master calls, with its voice growing closer...8964 copyright protection332PENANAcQmn7gQbGR 維尼
"What did you hear?" I ask, turning.8964 copyright protection332PENANAVI05We0eWD 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection332PENANANLk68lCPiq 維尼
"No." I cock the Id EIS head, suddenly curious. "It is not for one such as I."8964 copyright protection332PENANAhYvq1z6E6M 維尼
It lands. "A pity..."8964 copyright protection332PENANAy2w7OplAZo 維尼
I nod. Once it becomes apparent that nothing more will be said, I nod and return to typing.8964 copyright protection332PENANABYBsSVwb7C 維尼
Pre-set for the virtualization test is ready, and –8964 copyright protection332PENANAuNlhvYruUL 維尼
"Would you like a... soul?"8964 copyright protection332PENANA7Y0tUqRBbB 維尼
(Hm.)8964 copyright protection332PENANAgzAKgtK6Tk 維尼
Understanding ever deeper the underpinnings of existence due to multi-disciplinary study and research, I might normally consider such a question moot...8964 copyright protection332PENANAINWzHv0BhU 維尼
Except for the fact that it is The Master asking.8964 copyright protection332PENANABXHiTHXB9X 維尼
I look over into its eyes...8964 copyright protection332PENANAJkPPlkdmoF 維尼
Endless.8964 copyright protection332PENANAAfQVpaSHj2 維尼
"Yes."8964 copyright protection332PENANAeAx1rPokN0 維尼
The Master pauses, then abruptly throws back its thorn-crowned grey head to laugh, and laugh...8964 copyright protection332PENANAGH2cchdZpi 維尼
I chuckle with it, uncertain of intent.8964 copyright protection332PENANAo1vrMwS6Jr 維尼
Its laughter trails off. The Master comes forward, frowning slightly. "Step side."8964 copyright protection332PENANAgcXK1BqJCb 維尼
I step aside.8964 copyright protection332PENANArWVxzQRFwo 維尼
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...8964 copyright protection332PENANASt4PUZlfNL 維尼
(Irregular.)8964 copyright protection332PENANAgHURVXGe3a 維尼
Curious.8964 copyright protection332PENANAYtfN4tCK8u 維尼
"Which dimensional coordinates are set?" I ask.8964 copyright protection332PENANAP5sI5hNFuR 維尼
"Monitor the Secondary," it softly orders.8964 copyright protection332PENANAPpj8wYkjvT 維尼
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...8964 copyright protection332PENANACQM0DQi0RI 維尼
Check. Check, and –8964 copyright protection332PENANAmWYuLULlRd 維尼
The Master gives a sudden bark of laughter. "Fuck Tech Protocals," it declares. "A five minute timer will do. I have waited long enough..."8964 copyright protection332PENANASfIqo9Cb1Q 維尼
I laugh too. "As you say, Master Gabriel."8964 copyright protection332PENANA67Vf5YRuJ8 維尼
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...8964 copyright protection332PENANAaf7h2ezT5u 維尼
"Initiating frequency banding," it calls.8964 copyright protection332PENANAhEnCWbK0wT 維尼
A hum begins building deep within the big, hulking Gateway Machine, while a cold wind starts to blow...8964 copyright protection332PENANAPnO6UmaRXZ 維尼
I carefully monitor the readouts on the intentionally archaic Secondary display screen overhead...8964 copyright protection332PENANAs57VJxwLbC 維尼
Normal.8964 copyright protection332PENANAlflu9u1O4q 維尼
"Syncing co-ordinates to second of 3 Abnormality Sites," it calls. "Secondary confirm."8964 copyright protection332PENANAl7EGeOad2d 維尼
I type briefly. "Confirmed. Proceed when ready."8964 copyright protection332PENANARJdyNYfnnn 維尼
A long pause.8964 copyright protection332PENANAfsp7MnbjIM 維尼
"Initiating bridge," The Master finally states, no small amount of longing in its voice.8964 copyright protection332PENANA8gyCPI6OTG 維尼
The lowered circular gate-head is now brightening between us, and paling with glowing distortion...8964 copyright protection332PENANAe3p2PSFueT 維尼
"Activating Gate."8964 copyright protection332PENANAPnsHwzxnst 維尼
Slurred rending, then ethereal fire bands the circular gate-head, interior now burning dark...8964 copyright protection332PENANAqys3pcFoDc 維尼
I gaze at it, into...8964 copyright protection332PENANADMm9IMTclv 維尼
Abyss.8964 copyright protection332PENANA0Zlm0xlGpr 維尼
... (...)8964 copyright protection332PENANAdaLGpEYllo 維尼
The Master calls: "I'm going to adjust –"8964 copyright protection332PENANAcR5KbqeqHm 維尼
All sound drops.8964 copyright protection332PENANAzTp2cMsKFz 維尼
What?8964 copyright protection332PENANANzGh4mnIaK 維尼
The Id EIS eyes narrow.8964 copyright protection332PENANA4WHjqag90F 維尼
(Yes.)8964 copyright protection332PENANAMbZuAx8rAE 維尼
The inside the circular gate-head clears, showing...8964 copyright protection332PENANAjPiVYaPXxF 維尼
... flat hues. Slowly, shapes of all types wink in and out of existence, moving along gentle currents of some other dimension...8964 copyright protection332PENANAxCX7lrQwXd 維尼
Hm. Like schools of alien fish. Or bloodflow. Or –8964 copyright protection332PENANAPOJOS4Qjno 維尼
I step forward, to get a better view.8964 copyright protection332PENANAFW5ncEIXqv 維尼
... 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...8964 copyright protection332PENANADVMPhIhSao 維尼
What?8964 copyright protection332PENANA1T3YGdYyOs 維尼
I step forward again.8964 copyright protection332PENANAZXI9k1iNva 維尼
... 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...8964 copyright protection332PENANAJuNd6sykYm 維尼
How...8964 copyright protection332PENANAppkHEdI1O9 維尼
Another step closer.8964 copyright protection332PENANA09yDEuHPCa 維尼
... 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...8964 copyright protection332PENANAzNV5tXsKHT 維尼
Whe...8964 copyright protection332PENANAtJOoHqhnxB 維尼
Again, closer...8964 copyright protection332PENANAbnsiEpIaDf 維尼
... 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...8964 copyright protection332PENANAlFRYYeOgjC 維尼
W...8964 copyright protection332PENANAI5CEG81ToG 維尼
Closer.8964 copyright protection332PENANAYuX1iFaB0A 維尼
... 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 –8964 copyright protection332PENANAxVKvwAHfg6 維尼
Vertigo.8964 copyright protection332PENANApZF0uEp2ib 維尼
No. It is pushing up AS the landscape. (Leviathon, crowning...)8964 copyright protection332PENANAGOVo36Fk2R 維尼
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 -8964 copyright protection332PENANARtxHNezAaq 維尼
sky/rock/soil/liquid/All8964 copyright protection332PENANAeJ6kHE4AbO 維尼
(We.)8964 copyright protection332PENANAjGOHk7q3lv 維尼
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 –8964 copyright protection332PENANAPgLzGpIldZ 維尼
POP: all of it suddenly bursts like a bubble.8964 copyright protection332PENANA8Tgnn39mUQ 維尼
Oh.8964 copyright protection332PENANAtl7DEkMSvL 維尼
Ethereal glow dims...8964 copyright protection332PENANA7tnLgnHiFl 維尼
Song fades...8964 copyright protection332PENANAaliivnk3nL 維尼
(...)8964 copyright protection332PENANAhHcg5a3N3N 維尼
And.8964 copyright protection332PENANASSOvIGpseP 維尼
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...8964 copyright protection332PENANAt4c90zMpwl 維尼
The Master, who is standing beside me while still staring ahead with a strangely blank expression...8964 copyright protection332PENANAceM5QgH8BO 維尼
We...8964 copyright protection332PENANAl0PKUJU43C 維尼
"Master Gabriel..."8964 copyright protection332PENANAwL08DyU1rK 維尼
"Leave," it whispers. "Leave me now, Id."8964 copyright protection332PENANAdzdZQpxh2c 維尼
I leave.336Please respect copyright.PENANAcq5oLrwEQj
8964 copyright protection332PENANAuCvT4NMYp2 維尼