…8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnkEotRhW4 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQy6tBZm6D 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYYF6sQliq 維尼
Curious.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBrQDEUZTf 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHPkdZ8F9f 維尼
Follow.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJhXwlZB1f 維尼
I follow the blue glow down the hall, around the corner and through another portal –8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG5DWCH7nG 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡySetLHhlJ8 維尼
Brightness above…8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFEH0eW0bF 維尼
I pass up, and outside…8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsm5lKSLRe 維尼
This is all like a dream memory of something never before experienced in the flesh…8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡ986AIAPlnd 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXPMV0WhbW 維尼
Something about this place is not quite right.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKRH7spPMk 維尼
I pass by rows of barley, where –8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvXHNnin74 維尼
Everything changes.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXADEOt61C 維尼
I blink.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡBO07I0NPG5 維尼
Wind now howls at night on a dark city street where a lone streetlamp shines in the gloomy distance…8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gcEhUlspu 維尼
Something about this place is ALSO not quite right.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSgrsjNkdh 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFE6ZiHkYo 維尼
I head forward without hesitation, where –8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡph7nPfHgVU 維尼
Everything changes.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMigPmXIaZ 維尼
Hm.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxYAJIMpne 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RFIGsLAnA 維尼
Presence.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ37vsScUv4 維尼
I turn.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrybtKz2nG 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yguvVrmzn 維尼
A shiver runs down the EIS spine...8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPs6SmK3tm 維尼
Pleasurable.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7g7JU0m1dH 維尼
“I will serve.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡvihKwkp6am 維尼
Each points to their own feet. “Kneel before me.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeevDqLXrr 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfzaPDbhQG 維尼
Overlapping laughter. “The tweaks in your design are effective,” they announce in unison. “You are different.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kI8VwO1UX 維尼
I…8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLbjv2sNqF 維尼
All of them vanish with almost-simultaneous terrible CLAPS of wondrous sound…8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡuC1pvxQsPw 維尼
Except one.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1nxKxMfTr 維尼
Oh.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JvSWOCcXz 維尼
Something previously waiting dormant inside of me settles, then begins filling me with an all-consuming devotion, and love...8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8AV4sW4O4 維尼
Endless.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2hZFj2v95 維尼
I walk before it, and kneel.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01eZpnKQI8 維尼
“Rise.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71HL6iFYDy 維尼
I stand.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT6B5wqDd0 維尼
The Superior Being turns away from me and resumes looking beyond the edge of the vast white square…8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNHTLqlcRg 維尼
I wait.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSE0mUyw9O 維尼
“What do you see?” The Superior Being finally asks me, while still gazing out.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrh50GqUqq 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7Lrv1jx7v 維尼
It frowns. “I am The Master. You see my Domain.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHTcj5XpXJ 維尼
I consider.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqQaOSKGxo 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqdAaZ4CkY 維尼
“I did not fully understand the question,” I clarify. “Yes. I see your Domain.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfdUQL8nbP 維尼
The Master nods, then looks at me intently. “What do YOU own?”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqsGeu1zTT 維尼
Anxiety flushes the Id EIS face at this inappropriate question. “I am not The Master. I do not own.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4sPlnhXOy 維尼
“Relax.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡqie5k9SayT 維尼
I relax.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPlObWcI2U 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPjKkQ4W7F 維尼
I follow.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡhD4XOpLxuw 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡa671ybHgbv 維尼
(Power…)8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkrqEFOvMs 維尼
The Master sits upon its throne.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJF1S8GSWw 維尼
I kneel. “Master.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCk6Bku4Yn 維尼
“Rise.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡfltolkvhu0 維尼
I do so.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡRN76acQxwf 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsAV0tQlAA 維尼
“What is your name?”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSM2FCtfFT 維尼
It smiles. “My name is Gabriel.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMiPy7921t 維尼
“Yes, Master Gabriel.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62ES1IGp6w 維尼
“You will be called Id.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡV94FSRsIMr 維尼
Id…8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wQyciSmmz 維尼
The Enclosed Integrated System (EIS) permanently imprints with the name: Id…8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡTj6iNJVmKq 維尼
… and afterwards, I use the mouth of the now fully configured Id EIS to again say: “yes, Master Gabriel.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYCyt8FxLz 維尼
It frowns. “Are you being impertinent?”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡw78EhVYThm 維尼
“Never!” I protest.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwkRR7070q 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡumPbLd09If 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7SVcNoSfV 維尼
“Id,” calls a feminine voice.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUR4V91Ca8 維尼
Other.8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbIdnyqqLd 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 protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vlMABhyqz 維尼
Floats a golden sphere. “Let us begin.”8964 copyright protection407ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzs6GTl3de 維尼
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