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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