…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOFDV2RtLg
The Enclosed Integrated System (EIS) eyes blink repeatedly, to view the oval cell around me which is white, bare, and made of strong material. I am standing. Memory slowly blooms within me…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41gadZHjsV
“Attend,” orders a disembodied voice, after which a circular portal of empty space smoothly irises open in the curved white wall ahead of me, showing through to twinkling dim…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMfHD41bHV
Curious.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkK3YG5Q9Q
I step through the portal and out into a dim dark hall filled with slow, floating motes of mysterious pale-green luminescence. A blue glow gently forms upon the dark floor beneath the EIS feet (me), then moves forward in a line…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dSnn6m5qP
Follow.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09CgQfkSr1
I follow the blue glow down the hall, around the corner and through another portal –copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPmzSkfXbp
– into another white cell. Turning back again, I see the portal smoothly iris shut to seal me inside before successive waves of blue light PULSE up from floor to ceiling…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiDHF1N16d
Brightness above…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7mtndJI6a
I pass up, and outside…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUZ6uRrJOC
This is all like a dream memory of something never before experienced in the flesh…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DUMkzO7BU
Wind blows soil-fragrance, and puffy white clouds are in geometrically perfect lines across an incredible azure sky. I smoothly rise up into rows of tended barley lined perpendicular across the rich soil, then gently stop. Below me, the circular white platform seamlessly melds into the dirt. The blue glow moves forward through this naturalistic scene, towards a barn. But…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡlt1IWpVF71
Something about this place is not quite right.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRWPXqGoav
I pass by rows of barley, where –copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1k8W7swVA7
Everything changes.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVBRDxhzdo
I blink.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2fySdZzCa
Wind now howls at night on a dark city street where a lone streetlamp shines in the gloomy distance…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DudzCG5xg
Something about this place is ALSO not quite right.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡdncOfPmwpz
The blue leads me towards that distant light, a long trek between endless shuttered tenements spread under an endless blanket of cold stars, before turning down a dark alley. Immediately: a menacing growl begins issuing from the black end…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0Cbyuoy31
I head forward without hesitation, where –copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8EcleO1jm
Everything changes.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡixKumZkIwK
Hm.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsKTDjn2Rr
A vast white square of that strong white material is below the EIS feet (me) standing upon it, surrounded by dark sky purpling, and a breeze of thin air…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zzIMVWBXg
Presence.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfNIKaI5Sf
I turn.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9Hz3lTroK
Twelve identical beings – tall, black-robed, grey-skinned, and crowned by a circlet of dark thorns – are standing at the nearest edge of this vast white square. In unison: they turn, eyes flashing. “You will serve me.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡSskra7n7Ik
A shiver runs down the EIS spine...copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGAbokl7pe
Pleasurable.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡmen3OqpISN
“I will serve.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKfNcqUzxD
Each points to their own feet. “Kneel before me.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVkt7JOsQe
After hesitating, I walk to the nearest, and kneel. I stand back up, walk to the next, and kneel. I stand back up, walk to –copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡHct4givF0n
Overlapping laughter. “The tweaks in your design are effective,” they announce in unison. “You are different.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡst8Ihk8cUF
I…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNB9hIS6bJ
All of them vanish with almost-simultaneous terrible CLAPS of wondrous sound…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSVNXb6tR6
Except one.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjAZ1Rja3d
Oh.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT1r2jaVql
Something previously waiting dormant inside of me settles, then begins filling me with an all-consuming devotion, and love...copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKeAybMEFD
Endless.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwXlvZcO9g
I walk before it, and kneel.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Z94rcnB7N
“Rise.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNycn7oaM3
I stand.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxzLT4L5TU
The Superior Being turns away from me and resumes looking beyond the edge of the vast white square…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVUvZmHnYP
I wait.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWCK80SwaE
“What do you see?” The Superior Being finally asks me, while still gazing out.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYc8K5cvb6
I come to stand beside it, looking beyond the… roof, of the Tower, across a landscape of mist spreading out kilometers below. Farther afield, where the mist begins to thin, are the silhouettes of twisted trees, and the horizon beyond is a glimmering shoreline where waxing dawn remains a pink blush. “I see land.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡqx1k21HJpF
It frowns. “I am The Master. You see my Domain.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBBblJcdgm
I consider.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPl4Y6abBl
Yes, The Master owns. I remember: The Master owns the land, The Master owns the Tower, and… The Master owns me. Oh.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1SjmUl4EK
“I did not fully understand the question,” I clarify. “Yes. I see your Domain.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡJellqH5CVl
The Master nods, then looks at me intently. “What do YOU own?”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡYObkSaq2l1
Anxiety flushes the Id EIS face at this inappropriate question. “I am not The Master. I do not own.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD3gXqbiuQ
“Relax.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2e4ozu6F71
I relax.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15QdqJnQLJ
The Master nods, its expression growing thoughtful. “Certain emotional responses are expected, considering the Id EIS design.” A pause. “And my own. Hm.” It begins humming distractedly, and walks from the edge of the vast white roof…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡSamWqjmCCR
I follow.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE6x3G29l9
A low thrumming, then we begin rising upon a white platform seamlessly upwelling from the previously solid white roof. Tiers of white follow, forming into a stepped structure which drips up liquid globules of that strong material, each silvering into display screens floating into wide orbit around a portal opening in the exact center of the top platform to birth upwards a techno-throne. Then everything smoothly STOPS, locking into place as a white rooftop pyramid.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmf1zGKXww
(Power…)copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpH3l8nIKZ
The Master sits upon its throne.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdEGLHmORH
I kneel. “Master.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡY34e5EUQBr
“Rise.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhQ4kbcIUW
I do so.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡHualaW3xLV
“You are as I hoped: an Attendant strong and quick-thinking. But…” The Master purses its grey lips. “I would prefer you to call me by my name.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJYjY4XSUz
“What is your name?”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhQalbmyUg
It smiles. “My name is Gabriel.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBLGXWC1tn
“Yes, Master Gabriel.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡWI7V15ZZYU
“You will be called Id.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhbpsxBO6v
Id…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B6Qh4MT5f
The Enclosed Integrated System (EIS) permanently imprints with the name: Id…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2XoYZuXYs
… and afterwards, I use the mouth of the now fully configured Id EIS to again say: “yes, Master Gabriel.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwK3WcBx0H
It frowns. “Are you being impertinent?”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25j9VAdHuj
“Never!” I protest.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMmUbkTFhR
The Master still remains frowning. “The Tower is my home, and a place you will inhabit at my will. Memories and knowledge of my Domain are implanted in you, but a tour by my sAI node will demonstrate that it took.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79oRdk3PS4
SUDDENLY: I am standing several meters away again via an unknown spatial technology. The orbiting screens are ahead of me now, obscuring –copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU9P35qhMU
“Id,” calls a feminine voice.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJHXEShxxz
Other.copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEJOwW9AL1
I turn, then stare down towards the lowest tier of the white pyramidal rooftop. Silhouetted against a vista of The Master’s Domain, with dawn warming red behind it…copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiWO80TyiF
Floats a golden sphere. “Let us begin.”copyright protection234ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTpaQ327BA
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