…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xgIB7ciYY 維尼
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…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuOLt912Ww 維尼
“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…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxjm5hHPui 維尼
Curious.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNotGNepbn 維尼
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…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oTpDr2Juh 維尼
Follow.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CkWiTY2Ky 維尼
I follow the blue glow down the hall, around the corner and through another portal –8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVfHfhdles 維尼
– 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…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwi7V74R36 維尼
Brightness above…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QPTfSGQYi 維尼
I pass up, and outside…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhGEuBnjoN 維尼
This is all like a dream memory of something never before experienced in the flesh…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGFCkiLMu0 維尼
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…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2YtIOEybM 維尼
Something about this place is not quite right.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN1sRoLFG8 維尼
I pass by rows of barley, where –8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNlr9GgMHW 維尼
Everything changes.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGHKXSGqTx 維尼
I blink.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtZD3cSxcy 維尼
Wind now howls at night on a dark city street where a lone streetlamp shines in the gloomy distance…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ByrkhUp2Z 維尼
Something about this place is ALSO not quite right.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOxLjKSXgd 維尼
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…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YWydYQrSL 維尼
I head forward without hesitation, where –8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOYFTU3hqy 維尼
Everything changes.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡw28W2lKM68 維尼
Hm.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiH3s7ICuz 維尼
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…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CeJs3sMft 維尼
Presence.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yycSp0Ug3 維尼
I turn.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgr8xu6snK 維尼
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.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡd39NhPSvLy 維尼
A shiver runs down the EIS spine...8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlWH91Dywr 維尼
Pleasurable.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4C8YKRiKx 維尼
“I will serve.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡFofQykCbSj 維尼
Each points to their own feet. “Kneel before me.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMuhX4Lw7Y 維尼
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 –8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPoEVvEa25 維尼
Overlapping laughter. “The tweaks in your design are effective,” they announce in unison. “You are different.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡUegRWY1FPC 維尼
I…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡUm4aw3kDts 維尼
All of them vanish with almost-simultaneous terrible CLAPS of wondrous sound…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86oyOUOnyq 維尼
Except one.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡmz2wdbBENr 維尼
Oh.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmpBJcmAQF 維尼
Something previously waiting dormant inside of me settles, then begins filling me with an all-consuming devotion, and love...8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWSN5wrG4j 維尼
Endless.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bnqF8ErL2 維尼
I walk before it, and kneel.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡloJnZFQUC3 維尼
“Rise.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6z4lCGPNj2 維尼
I stand.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4msqLyx0F5 維尼
The Superior Being turns away from me and resumes looking beyond the edge of the vast white square…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxvqY4qOKl 維尼
I wait.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC9gjj5ALJ 維尼
“What do you see?” The Superior Being finally asks me, while still gazing out.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2xOkWol6h 維尼
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.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1vBPHuSXA 維尼
It frowns. “I am The Master. You see my Domain.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtJn7yVWSh 維尼
I consider.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFYi1ldpby 維尼
Yes, The Master owns. I remember: The Master owns the land, The Master owns the Tower, and… The Master owns me. Oh.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7fXPImtsh 維尼
“I did not fully understand the question,” I clarify. “Yes. I see your Domain.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkRSdDmhjP 維尼
The Master nods, then looks at me intently. “What do YOU own?”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBo0BTVUmK 維尼
Anxiety flushes the Id EIS face at this inappropriate question. “I am not The Master. I do not own.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcL6T9ffDi 維尼
“Relax.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbsybeFC6p 維尼
I relax.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1SHAcSkTa 維尼
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…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡtndnPAdIrN 維尼
I follow.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFtcnGTIIV 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5QsxjXLdP 維尼
(Power…)8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcvbiKucmW 維尼
The Master sits upon its throne.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ1rkIGJ3f 維尼
I kneel. “Master.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjKAvTS7FY 維尼
“Rise.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrrCr6lovk 維尼
I do so.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEfiQulWDh 維尼
“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.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSvQLL7ekb 維尼
“What is your name?”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKSTkqBJYc 維尼
It smiles. “My name is Gabriel.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzExfdMv5w 維尼
“Yes, Master Gabriel.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCCJGhJOhX 維尼
“You will be called Id.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJwiDPELJv 維尼
Id…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTbgyTUeh6 維尼
The Enclosed Integrated System (EIS) permanently imprints with the name: Id…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Fgy8hfmSP 維尼
… and afterwards, I use the mouth of the now fully configured Id EIS to again say: “yes, Master Gabriel.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sPLGtmmdp 維尼
It frowns. “Are you being impertinent?”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx7kMuahMc 維尼
“Never!” I protest.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSvUaVwKvG 維尼
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.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW5mRdHAYz 維尼
SUDDENLY: I am standing several meters away again via an unknown spatial technology. The orbiting screens are ahead of me now, obscuring –8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91TdvDaaxv 維尼
“Id,” calls a feminine voice.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKLj4imOfP 維尼
Other.8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1nuO3pfNe 維尼
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…8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJjLryVfmk 維尼
Floats a golden sphere. “Let us begin.”8964 copyright protection394ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPRARVcbsG 維尼
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