…copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡEohXNwBclK
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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1QvClwcH2
“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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrmaWRdFSf
Curious.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AlTjLGYGH
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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqapV5NRJ7
Follow.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡRX4HUHHzSu
I follow the blue glow down the hall, around the corner and through another portal –copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9rPQc2stt
– 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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKiUdvHb2J
Brightness above…copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡUje1kpBBB9
I pass up, and outside…copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP2EBjnYSr
This is all like a dream memory of something never before experienced in the flesh…copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡj08VxUogdG
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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iGbAASHaB
Something about this place is not quite right.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jmf7CXHfx
I pass by rows of barley, where –copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6glALzdsiq
Everything changes.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQ80S1Srct
I blink.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmPlr6RZmQ
Wind now howls at night on a dark city street where a lone streetlamp shines in the gloomy distance…copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxEjkzO0B8
Something about this place is ALSO not quite right.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7elHBvevKV
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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc4sU0fcFk
I head forward without hesitation, where –copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEgG85fYzU
Everything changes.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsUFG5KrLL
Hm.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡIueHYII5Dd
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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbmvlIHvNY
Presence.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtfSgQAtVG
I turn.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqj5DA2mSB
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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJNg3ArAWq
A shiver runs down the EIS spine...copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeKsN9OqP2
Pleasurable.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3Lle2rpYV
“I will serve.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9iK7cZs9o
Each points to their own feet. “Kneel before me.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡETusvrDp7A
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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡAi7UaxuFhS
Overlapping laughter. “The tweaks in your design are effective,” they announce in unison. “You are different.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKSMVvVHyi
I…copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0zDN98NL8
All of them vanish with almost-simultaneous terrible CLAPS of wondrous sound…copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2SNLaXinn
Except one.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDLxmxexGR
Oh.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq6wiFZMqr
Something previously waiting dormant inside of me settles, then begins filling me with an all-consuming devotion, and love...copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPsBC9VYl4
Endless.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhw7pK7Krw
I walk before it, and kneel.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1X29l5cjQk
“Rise.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNKWfbbKld
I stand.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSRnVLDAVM
The Superior Being turns away from me and resumes looking beyond the edge of the vast white square…copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRzymL8ZYH
I wait.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bQtwMn0eR
“What do you see?” The Superior Being finally asks me, while still gazing out.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUAgxeSaFD
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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGaRUpbt5k
It frowns. “I am The Master. You see my Domain.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡURbxGmzuO3
I consider.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2odGY1PCIm
Yes, The Master owns. I remember: The Master owns the land, The Master owns the Tower, and… The Master owns me. Oh.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡdH15sKLDpj
“I did not fully understand the question,” I clarify. “Yes. I see your Domain.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQeB7xS3Sy
The Master nods, then looks at me intently. “What do YOU own?”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHgE3VZg0e
Anxiety flushes the Id EIS face at this inappropriate question. “I am not The Master. I do not own.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYjVCixqMk
“Relax.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zs9ZLMZ1S
I relax.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡBahRERwJ9f
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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6QZTme2hH
I follow.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MVIs6A4OU
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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TG1LZP2VH
(Power…)copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yGqeLSJSU
The Master sits upon its throne.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0P37th99o
I kneel. “Master.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPFB0zHKJE
“Rise.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGRzXbQxjv
I do so.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡap3PcdB0md
“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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIhq3rWp7T
“What is your name?”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAlLGvyNCQ
It smiles. “My name is Gabriel.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡronCwaBjlm
“Yes, Master Gabriel.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7fMOedzQW
“You will be called Id.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjty5Pcsck
Id…copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGLFCuwhf2
The Enclosed Integrated System (EIS) permanently imprints with the name: Id…copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F9YQSszYX
… and afterwards, I use the mouth of the now fully configured Id EIS to again say: “yes, Master Gabriel.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6MNvCw4IY
It frowns. “Are you being impertinent?”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20I5ZJ39ns
“Never!” I protest.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8qqkatfEG
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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxPVu0lWMm
SUDDENLY: I am standing several meters away again via an unknown spatial technology. The orbiting screens are ahead of me now, obscuring –copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz9fTX2jdy
“Id,” calls a feminine voice.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86JzQ64PhF
Other.copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡP79y3osbIT
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 protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pC88CLFO4
Floats a golden sphere. “Let us begin.”copyright protection267ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSERCprCx3
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