It won’t stop.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tqg7BQPbd 維尼
(Five million, one hundred eighty thousand seconds.)8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI07OsubZW 維尼
I skim through partial schematics for the incomplete Blanker Project displayed across bright display screens floating in an arc before me…8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡurcwwrRAFg 維尼
(Eighty-six thousand, four hundred minutes.)8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nsEgTWouC 維尼
A slow, languid gesture of the Id EIS arm directs the Station Subroutine to fill in a code-gap…8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPLA9AMszs 維尼
(One thousand forty hours.)8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDvGmwMyrA 維尼
I frown…8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3EIsSrxq6 維尼
(Sixty days.)8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2uP21OygQ 維尼
… and stand, the surrounding floating bright screens parting as I head through them across the innerglowing white Station, exiting through the Station aperture in the low white Station wall to pass back out among dark low-walled stations, and into the dim. But halfway across the Workstation Level I suddenly feel emotionally exhausted and slow to a stop, letting the Id EIS chin slowly sink to the Id EIS chest and the Id EIS eyes slowly close.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67rg2cJS9n 維尼
…8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡAATabYRwzI 維尼
“Id.”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKJhI4GkCf 維尼
I grunt.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡweOkXCrhKY 維尼
The feminine voice calls again: “come.”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLlzbjHlTQ 維尼
Do I have to?8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CM9YHZLZx 維尼
The Id EIS eyes open, with the Id EIS chin rising again before I turn and head through dark, low-walled stations towards a different distant dark wall of the Workstation Level slowly brightening materially clear to show a black, star-twinkling night sky. I cross steadily for a long, long time until eventually slowing at the now fully cleared wall showing The Master’s dark Domain spread kilometers below. Approaching the floating golden sphere, I finally come to a stop beside it…8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡevHpXqbdvx 維尼
Life. Power. Service.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHEKBzdKji 維尼
To stare beyond.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NI3VM7aWJ 維尼
…8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9V39RdtyD 維尼
“You should not sulk,” the sAI unexpectedly chastises me, after the long silence.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdefY4e0lX 維尼
Half-turning. “I…”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6JxXl78Wx 維尼
“Yes?”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3z28avkL56 維尼
It apprehends the emotional pain I am feeling.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjV5ec3bvK 維尼
I sigh. “It has been two months since The Master last summoned me.”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UB6gl8zDd 維尼
“And?”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqhrVSyUZK 維尼
Although it is the worst pain I know to be apart from the Master for so long, I still feel…8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡw45zpspfTw 維尼
Endless.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡOn05TU55i8 維尼
To serve is all: a first axiom. And service is not always of a comfortable fit for Attendants, I must remember.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡF39IkXymXD 維尼
I just stare at it for a moment, belatedly considering what should have been the obvious realities of Attendant service. “You are right.”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7HmFHbx8R 維尼
“Yes.”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zbFV9fW9G 維尼
Plaintive. “Is there anything else I should do?”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡbC8DlFLMUO 維尼
Silence.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN3xEtLTya 維尼
“Always,” it says. “But you have not been idle.”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2kRX8zscW 維尼
“Yes,” I admit. “Well… there is still much to learn, and research. I even began a new project.” Frowning. “In the hope…”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvdp6CouM3 維尼
Silence.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5QWf9Vwp8 維尼
“You possess a unique capacity for brilliance,” the sAI eventually admits. “I would not see it wasted.”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi3ah3n7W6 維尼
The Id EIS eyes widen.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FuOEZLCDg 維尼
Amazing. This is the strongest praise it has shared with me so far. In fact, it is more than I had hoped for so soon. And yet…8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡOniBNwgCPp 維尼
“You think me so capable?” I ask.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxIF7N6cin 維尼
“It is merely potential at this point.”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdFuPCYvuP 維尼
Warming. “We are… similar, are we not? I see you as an ally and would have you as a friend. If you allow it, of course.”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Lvmbe8wvM 維尼
Silence.8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYBigEHp91 維尼
“It is possible that you represent a fresh perspective,” the sAI finally allows. “It would be well for us to… work more closely, on certain projects. If you are able.”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ghcWiFJyQ 維尼
A partner! A friend!8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLi4UuNZ5R 維尼
Joy. “Anything to serve The Master!”8964 copyright protection342ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLthsOPpao 維尼
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