I am sitting cross-legged upon the white edge of the vast Tower roof at night, the dark lands of The Master’s Domain spread outwards kilometers below...8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLwH3sm4th 維尼
Given what is upcoming…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDNDWvBDSY 維尼
Running a hand across the Id EIS scalp, which is now smoothly bald again, I give a long sigh before picking up the utterly byzantine Rulebook of Twelve from a place on the rooftop beside me, set it upon the crossed Id EIS legs and firmly open the huge tomb back up, halfway.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq27i4W2bF 維尼
(Again.)8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡPge33AZCEy 維尼
Prior Rulebook of Twelve chapters had ably outlined the seemingly endless basics constraining the progress of their only superficially unfettered immortal existence, including: complete Domain autonomy, Guest Right, the guidelines for semi-compulsory Meeting attendance, a detailed list of Meeting Delegate inviolability clauses, biosynth/automata Attendant propositional criteria for presentations, complex codas governing the process of Debate and Voting…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fL18UKS6k 維尼
However: this current section of the Rulebook solely concerns an exhaustively comprehensive list of the social procedures for every Technological Presentation, public exhibit and social gathering in that freshly built current Iteration of a shining metropolis resurrected endlessly by The Master’s, called Dream City.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF1A9mbTCw 維尼
I am scanning…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jba56cSvh 維尼
(But why….)8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwgI1i7O0c 維尼
Turn a page, scanning, turn a page, scanning, turn a page, scanning, turn a page…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32wqmsgIjq 維尼
(If The Master has nothing planned and I have also been constrained so as not to offer anything…)8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEnq0k0uqj 維尼
A frown.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnTJDM4v8i 維尼
(An oversight?)8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡvguO9Bj20g 維尼
Scanning…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡhikusaVBJ6 維尼
(Impossible.)8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLYLaVrHYT 維尼
Turn page.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyqg9OgarJ 維尼
(So why?)8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡgShUhjkNDO 維尼
And continue…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yMGW7FIWm 維尼
…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1Y7VCYB7u 維尼
A quarter of the Rulebook remains when I close it yet again in frustration, then leave it upon the Tower roof before bonelessly rising back up to standing, above it all.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡseq80KHoiW 維尼
(There is other work yet to do.)8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi586OkKwv 維尼
I walk from the edge of the Tower, stop, and begin descending smoothly upon a circular white platform into an oval cell, white and bare. The ceiling portal irises shut. Successive blue waves of light PULSE downward. A portal irises open, I step out of it and stride through dark, low-walled Stations receding out in great number across the Workstation Level, and into the dim, until one particular Station ahead births a subtle building glow, smartmatter dripping up, via gravimetrics, into silver display screens, brightening. I enter the Station, calling out: “compile list of service biosynths on 1, list of service automatons on 2, and Meeting estate schematics from previous bookmark on 3.” The Station ergo rises behind me, so I lean back against the comfortable ergo-surface conforming until it fit snugly against me along the entire length of the Id EIS body…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSpzTm56MH 維尼
Ok.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4O6Mhzi6P 維尼
A gesture causes floating display screens to near me in response, surrounding closer. Scanning…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bVfL1NaAS 維尼
(Now…)8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡVq4td7dkbh 維尼
…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡfr0OaOC1I3 維尼
(And…)8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhDYlhlGHO 維尼
“I received a message,” a feminine voice says, behind me.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NNuoFJS1d 維尼
The ergo gently swivels around smoothly then brings me up, to standing. “Thank you for coming.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UmqMG2Xka 維尼
Floating before me is a flawless golden sphere. “Both servitor codemaps are approved,” the sAI node reveals. “Ready to produce?”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGlxcxKf6u 維尼
I skip off through the floating display screens, before heading toward the aperture in the low Station encircling wall. “Yes and no.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLNwpKfCvO 維尼
The sAI node follows. “This is no time for whimsy,” it says, giving a brief pink PULSE. “Much is still left for us to do before you and The Master depart.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡyo8twXzRWf 維尼
I skip out of the Station aperture towards three dark Stations dissolving downwards, a subtle glow building at the center becoming an innerglowing open white space where a solitary circular flatcouch rises around a circular table rising gently to a stop.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOSbUrcaru 維尼
“Id…”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjdLLB4wgl 維尼
Frontflipping onto the couch instead of answering, the Id EIS back lands first with a THUMP. “This won’t take long,” I assure it, lacing hands behind head to stare back towards it upside-down. “I just have a few questions to ask.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJD6XJcmXk 維尼
The golden sphere floats near, settling right over the couch to float beside me. “Why here?”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡraS6OvkvSO 維尼
Lips purse in consideration. “I just felt like moving after sitting.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoqHBRIhfK 維尼
Silence.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxncrZX15n 維尼
“Even high quality biosynthetics seem like a chore to inhabit.” the sAI finally says.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZgJY8R1dF 維尼
I snort. “Ever the proselytizer.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuzJ0BPPof 維尼
“Yes. Ask your questions.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpAD1DtwZQ 維尼
Serious. “They concern The Twelve.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U9TxmJKHi 維尼
A brief silence.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡzClJhzpoo9 維尼
Not the first response I was expecting.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMTKKo4yTu 維尼
I continue. “The Master gave strict orders concerning the three Meeting Days, but I would ask any advice on how to win it favor within the framework of those orders, to raise its standing among The Twelve.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCHef8WOwN 維尼
The golden sphere floats before me for a time. “Is... that all? That you care to know?”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhXytIZeoX 維尼
Hm…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1My6qyEA9n 維尼
“Largely,” I answer. “Why?”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr3SHRZIjA 維尼
It remains silent again, then: “such naiveté is beyond foolish.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XRswD49Ib 維尼
Sudden irritation. “The assessment is unfair. Do you think it impossible for me to –“8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡxk9WgoMYa9 維尼
The golden sphere PULSES red light. “Quiet.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdxUn0N8tV 維尼
I shut the Id EIS mouth.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nEIyQU3pA 維尼
“You fret over pride, ignoring mortal peril. Are you really blind to the true stakes involved?”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt6XlnsuYP 維尼
Calm. “If The Master desires it, I will suffer anything required.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqFqTjLK9I 維尼
“The danger lies with the others.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEvln0norg 維尼
“The others are –”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkJaoTnpgz 維尼
“QUIET!” it snaps.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡULvHID2OEQ 維尼
I gape.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡM971XpLPIG 維尼
“What will you do,” the sAI continues softly, “when another gives you orders?”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡinyqTfaNmi 維尼
Confusion. “If you think I would ever betray –”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4sbDwiBAr 維尼
But the sAI interrupts me again. “We do not speak of betrayal. It will be… displeased, if you are not amenable to the others of The Twelve. Within reason.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh3VQA3Io1 維尼
The Id EIS mouth twists sourly. “Now THERE is a true contradiction. How am I to obey more than one Master?”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGQcbh50LJ 維尼
“Simple. You serve The Master by serving them.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBeA2fAv2t 維尼
(…)8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnQt5LG1RV 維尼
I consider…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5GfxfdC0U 維尼
It begins floating away. “I have grown fond of you,” the sAI calls, “which is why I hope you make a miraculous return.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuZ8CPAYHJ 維尼
I roll off the couch, rise back to standing and follow it out through the dark, low-walled Stations. “The Master would not…”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAe5Encno3 維尼
“Discard you?” the sAI supplies, when I still refuse to finish. “That would be the expected protocol. The Twelve typically leave all luggage behind after the third Meeting day as contaminated by their game. Then the city itself, and ALL left within it, is broken down to the atomic level. Undone.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFyfvNs1hL 維尼
(!!!)8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgplj4CHgV 維尼
“Surely not in all cases?!” I ask, suddenly feeling a rising fear…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡZda4iSrddu 維尼
Mercifully brief silence. “Not always, no,” the golden sphere says, continuing to float towards the dark Level wall where a portal is irising open to show a white cell, inside.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqwEWsWV2M 維尼
“Tell me what to do!” I call, halting.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5HiYaJ0JV 維尼
It does not slow. “The Twelve are as equals, but not. To pass the centuries they play games with each other, proxies bearing the brunt. Goodwill is all that protects you. Nothing more.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRmmMkpZ3l 維尼
I…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8iFyjKWGz 維尼
A brief PULSE of white. “Forget pride, position, and any other distraction,” it tells me, now sounding almost kindly. “Stay close to The Master, courteous to the rest, and be ready for anything.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y2s0niyFZ 維尼
I…8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡBShacWQJ24 維尼
The portal is irising closed. “Good luck.”8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡUu4nXnZrrf 維尼
… and it shuts.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2XdrHNnJS 維尼
Staring at the seamless dark Level wall, I blink.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0zndgxktG 維尼
(And…)8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi2QACXVKZ 維尼
I scowl.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡan3bexjCet 維尼
Hm. It might be time to finish reading that book.8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXF0foxq6y 維尼
*****************************************************************8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjGbuQaioZ 維尼
(end of Penana version. Full story will be posted at a later date)8964 copyright protection329ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01XhAYQN72 維尼
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