The Id EIS eyes open.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlRBbereIQ 維尼
Oh...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJViFfHsgr 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡexZDug2pMA 維尼
Mmm. Apropos of pleasure.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vcGMCOQLF 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl8JgD1H9s 維尼
Brightness above...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aqwcsMIkW 維尼
I pass up and outside...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrV3JB1b6O 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE4uf65XAC 維尼
What?!8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtoNheHThP 維尼
I step forward, alarmed –8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHZ91jr82V 維尼
(Wait.) That is... the long gestating Gateway Machine.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJZO8flUwk 維尼
After I remain motion for a time, The Master glances over. "So," it husks, "you have decided to join me..."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz5lqXf6q7 維尼
I hurry over to it. "Sorry to be late!"8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzzg47h1F1 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjJAz09Hkl 維尼
"Thank you, Master Gabriel."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡYR44tNwbD6 維尼
"You are welcome."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ucxNe5UWG 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E6oBnK8yd 維尼
Endless.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3ZPgwtYPc 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpvGQKA9yA 維尼
It is almost finished. (Or started.)8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVK7EZQ4ku 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡKB8UIl2bgy 維尼
I call up: "is there anything I can do to help?"8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsxf6Gwcsi 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5BBOCePp7 維尼
I wait patiently.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33gJ8fifgC 維尼
"Boot the main Control Display and check energy input/output," it finally calls down.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHmQol0BdQ 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡthVrnKmlqY 維尼
Check. Check...and check.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd1xY0b4sj 維尼
"Audio has been tested," The Master calls, with its voice growing closer...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP326zwqOE 維尼
"What did you hear?" I ask, turning.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPOELfyN1k 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOw7IRzvR4 維尼
"No." I cock the Id EIS head, suddenly curious. "It is not for one such as I."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡip0aIwzoID 維尼
It lands. "A pity..."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIFjHLw7VN 維尼
I nod. Once it becomes apparent that nothing more will be said, I nod and return to typing.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yYlAAotNo 維尼
Pre-set for the virtualization test is ready, and –8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvszmyWKTj 維尼
"Would you like a... soul?"8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOzarUxMKU 維尼
(Hm.)8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQMWq9IenZ 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8Dqk5SL7G 維尼
Except for the fact that it is The Master asking.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tV8lMy1zX 維尼
I look over into its eyes...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdpPnjmPkn 維尼
Endless.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBBWoDUyFR 維尼
"Yes."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2VuKDm89X 維尼
The Master pauses, then abruptly throws back its thorn-crowned grey head to laugh, and laugh...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsUcatTTBf 維尼
I chuckle with it, uncertain of intent.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3ngUax4KV 維尼
Its laughter trails off. The Master comes forward, frowning slightly. "Step side."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡiesQo3Sps9 維尼
I step aside.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhT3KBRbt1 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEjgLLzpcw 維尼
(Irregular.)8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkvub8xS6X 維尼
Curious.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSA5QYeY9T 維尼
"Which dimensional coordinates are set?" I ask.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx5nb8OkHX 維尼
"Monitor the Secondary," it softly orders.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡpODbGyPUbd 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54htsXtiNb 維尼
Check. Check, and –8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXvy4YU8tD 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNg8nXG1jD 維尼
I laugh too. "As you say, Master Gabriel."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxEp0gccU0 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1wA9kvXXA 維尼
"Initiating frequency banding," it calls.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJ2pBbuANJ 維尼
A hum begins building deep within the big, hulking Gateway Machine, while a cold wind starts to blow...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjSQoQMalj 維尼
I carefully monitor the readouts on the intentionally archaic Secondary display screen overhead...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI4OS9i4Sq 維尼
Normal.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2O1x6ajCc 維尼
"Syncing co-ordinates to second of 3 Abnormality Sites," it calls. "Secondary confirm."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡba6mQXasj4 維尼
I type briefly. "Confirmed. Proceed when ready."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9HlBFvvrB 維尼
A long pause.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkDwkG8FoA 維尼
"Initiating bridge," The Master finally states, no small amount of longing in its voice.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhXtRC1oJh 維尼
The lowered circular gate-head is now brightening between us, and paling with glowing distortion...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpzCZ1fy3v 維尼
"Activating Gate."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7BTzFzV0k 維尼
Slurred rending, then ethereal fire bands the circular gate-head, interior now burning dark...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvAixHb4vr 維尼
I gaze at it, into...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBWZ8pmnvO 維尼
Abyss.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXhDvRysmG 維尼
... (...)8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31CEYSIR8W 維尼
The Master calls: "I'm going to adjust –"8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡEezrXpCzgo 維尼
All sound drops.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXx2aY7ikc 維尼
What?8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L7T9rCm1V 維尼
The Id EIS eyes narrow.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡLV5a4VEi9o 維尼
(Yes.)8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiO8ntXq99 維尼
The inside the circular gate-head clears, showing...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡNO8A1FR27k 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTGESF9T3h 維尼
Hm. Like schools of alien fish. Or bloodflow. Or –8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4Pxv2J5B0 維尼
I step forward, to get a better view.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC1a1iTsCj 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8cq2m9n13 維尼
What?8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfBXSIBpAd 維尼
I step forward again.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbfWa5XWON 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF9VfavJnU 維尼
How...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05qZysoZKu 維尼
Another step closer.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeRYb6J2uz 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuK5I3yLoj 維尼
Whe...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCvWy1uApj 維尼
Again, closer...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBeoA18McF 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3WX1VqmVv 維尼
W...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwcKCjK7NB 維尼
Closer.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQgjArcN55 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡVetyS104ni 維尼
Vertigo.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡaN5ziGx290 維尼
No. It is pushing up AS the landscape. (Leviathon, crowning...)8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Kx5t95dqm 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Se1ZA3Wav 維尼
sky/rock/soil/liquid/All8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJwqzJUPoO 維尼
(We.)8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhrgGkaDU6 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2JOTZWpoG 維尼
POP: all of it suddenly bursts like a bubble.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡzftqq6cAkq 維尼
Oh.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyvzNY9Xnw 維尼
Ethereal glow dims...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Lw3F1RwVM 維尼
Song fades...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrAGXeSyy2 維尼
(...)8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zBjpr4kap 維尼
And.8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡUS8RgYKukI 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 protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiMw2G6Y32 維尼
The Master, who is standing beside me while still staring ahead with a strangely blank expression...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZgKjTrtrw 維尼
We...8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfZcYPn5dg 維尼
"Master Gabriel..."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKJXYY0Vjl 維尼
"Leave," it whispers. "Leave me now, Id."8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCyd14n6ad 維尼
I leave.324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfoiEOpiBU
8964 copyright protection320ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxQOIsoAwl 維尼
