I am sitting cross-legged upon the white edge of the vast Tower roof at night, the dark lands of The Master’s Domain spread outwards kilometers below...copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96hscXoHFX

Given what is upcoming…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBWYhIIun1

Running a hand across the Id EIS scalp, which is now smoothly bald again, I give a long sigh before picking up the utterly byzantine Rulebook of Twelve from a place on the rooftop beside me, set it upon the crossed Id EIS legs and firmly open the huge tomb back up, halfway.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvEemCMlcG

(Again.)copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CSiZ1Xe2l

Prior Rulebook of Twelve chapters had ably outlined the seemingly endless basics constraining the progress of their only superficially unfettered immortal existence, including: complete Domain autonomy, Guest Right, the guidelines for semi-compulsory Meeting attendance, a detailed list of Meeting Delegate inviolability clauses, biosynth/automata Attendant  propositional criteria for presentations, complex codas governing the process of Debate and Voting…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34ZZGIjov9

However: this current section of the Rulebook solely concerns an exhaustively comprehensive list of the social procedures for every Technological Presentation, public exhibit and social gathering in that freshly built current Iteration of a shining metropolis resurrected endlessly by The Master’s, called Dream City.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtRHNkHECr

I am scanning…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3l8zssSnn

(But why….)copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjuKM6LR1L

Turn a page, scanning, turn a page, scanning, turn a page, scanning, turn a page…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQM4pBDW2o

(If The Master has nothing planned and I have also been constrained so as not to offer anything…)copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQbWINTr76

A frown.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnpudsaKXd

(An oversight?)copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡxz4o741WPs

Scanning…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmh2kS2TKq

(Impossible.)copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVYKpSc722

Turn page.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRjQkwAky5

(So why?)copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXRr5IgsuX

And continue…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eVDtiamAp

…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH4sxsxSq2

A quarter of the Rulebook remains when I close it yet again in frustration, then leave it upon the Tower roof before bonelessly rising back up to standing, above it all.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTVxLNoGHF

(There is other work yet to do.)copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbjVJOOvhB

I walk from the edge of the Tower, stop, and begin descending smoothly upon a circular white platform into an oval cell, white and bare. The ceiling portal irises shut. Successive blue waves of light PULSE downward. A portal irises open, I step out of it and stride through dark, low-walled Stations receding out in great number across the Workstation Level, and into the dim, until one particular Station ahead births a subtle building glow, smartmatter dripping up, via gravimetrics, into silver display screens, brightening. I enter the Station, calling out: “compile list of service biosynths on 1, list of service automatons on 2, and Meeting estate schematics from previous bookmark on 3.” The Station ergo rises behind me, so I lean back against the comfortable ergo-surface conforming until it fit snugly against me along the entire length of the Id EIS body…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPC2vtEOWE

Ok.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡRctZA8zvki

A gesture causes floating display screens to near me in response, surrounding closer. Scanning…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wls0as3sx

(Now…)copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM8UJR2ycA

…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡOevdTS4iOl

(And…)copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuT6hnKyjE

“I received a message,” a feminine voice says, behind me.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4SIkqcEhz

The ergo gently swivels around smoothly then brings me up, to standing. “Thank you for coming.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75M3MgFtF7

Floating before me is a flawless golden sphere. “Both servitor codemaps are approved,” the sAI node reveals. “Ready to produce?”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SCNjo0j7y

I skip off through the floating display screens, before heading toward the aperture in the low Station encircling wall. “Yes and no.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡppdOBr2ocb

The sAI node follows. “This is no time for whimsy,” it says, giving a brief pink PULSE. “Much is still left for us to do before you and The Master depart.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmX9vckJRH

I skip out of the Station aperture towards three dark Stations dissolving downwards, a subtle glow building at the center becoming an innerglowing open white space where a solitary circular flatcouch rises around a circular table rising gently to a stop.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrjY4mBDop

“Id…”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR3Fgd7XSt

Frontflipping onto the couch instead of answering, the Id EIS back lands first with a THUMP. “This won’t take long,” I assure it, lacing hands behind head to stare back towards it upside-down. “I just have a few questions to ask.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHOnQB1t3M

The golden sphere floats near, settling right over the couch to float beside me. “Why here?”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBuD1whek7

Lips purse in consideration. “I just felt like moving after sitting.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaia6r5E2s

Silence.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1kvqhrQP1

“Even high quality biosynthetics seem like a chore to inhabit.” the sAI finally says.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFv5oKwgf3

I snort. “Ever the proselytizer.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wrGPuW4T4

“Yes. Ask your questions.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ225izu0uUo

Serious. “They concern The Twelve.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xLi5PJ8dq

A brief silence.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡknSm33y1EP

Not the first response I was expecting.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEuzHCN560

I continue. “The Master gave strict orders concerning the three Meeting Days, but I would ask any advice on how to win it favor within the framework of those orders, to raise its standing among The Twelve.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVQBZwoJ73

The golden sphere floats before me for a time. “Is... that all? That you care to know?”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07KEh4auB1

Hm…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTgvJz9r5Q

“Largely,” I answer. “Why?”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRrnPCZ0m4

It remains silent again, then: “such naiveté is beyond foolish.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVWp45cqy0

Sudden irritation. “The assessment is unfair. Do you think it impossible for me to –“copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn1ECrtB5p

The golden sphere PULSES red light. “Quiet.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeYv4NHXQf

I shut the Id EIS mouth.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qnm2U59KL

“You fret over pride, ignoring mortal peril. Are you really blind to the true stakes involved?”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KRgF8Cik4

Calm. “If The Master desires it, I will suffer anything required.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡRk1tqoNW9G

“The danger lies with the others.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡJv3tLAp8v6

“The others are –”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTVI4trZra

“QUIET!” it snaps.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡro3SsvnxMe

I gape.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoHngtxYPP

“What will you do,” the sAI continues softly, “when another gives you orders?”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡpna2UYUYRv

Confusion. “If you think I would ever betray –”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9MU7ZMjHm

But the sAI interrupts me again. “We do not speak of betrayal. It will be… displeased, if you are not amenable to the others of The Twelve. Within reason.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGk7Uf72va

The Id EIS mouth twists sourly. “Now THERE is a true contradiction. How am I to obey more than one Master?”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡOijisufivE

“Simple. You serve The Master by serving them.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡez2ywTVKUZ

(…)copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡisgIY0qxGM

I consider…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sP3XF1QpQ

It begins floating away. “I have grown fond of you,” the sAI calls, “which is why I hope you make a miraculous return.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡncVbaZ2lQM

I roll off the couch, rise back to standing and follow it out through the dark, low-walled Stations. “The Master would not…”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeX043tUyA

“Discard you?” the sAI supplies, when I still refuse to finish. “That would be the expected protocol. The Twelve typically leave all luggage behind after the third Meeting day as contaminated by their game. Then the city itself, and ALL left within it, is broken down to the atomic level. Undone.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7og7oDuGj6

(!!!)copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCKXlrQyzx

 “Surely not in all cases?!” I ask, suddenly feeling a rising fear…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVmigAZM3S

Mercifully brief silence.  “Not always, no,” the golden sphere says, continuing to float towards the dark Level wall where a portal is irising open to show a white cell, inside.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2lY4vqoCo

“Tell me what to do!” I call, halting.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93PblMJbRH

It does not slow. “The Twelve are as equals, but not. To pass the centuries they play games with each other, proxies bearing the brunt. Goodwill is all that protects you. Nothing more.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpzVEcbKuT

I…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMeZaRm5Ef

A brief PULSE of white. “Forget pride, position, and any other distraction,” it tells me, now sounding almost kindly. “Stay close to The Master, courteous to the rest, and be ready for anything.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhjqRpAoZ6

I…copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrRSavXiV1

The portal is irising closed. “Good luck.”copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2ErZoqlw4

… and it shuts.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Rc630xGmO

Staring at the seamless dark Level wall, I blink.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqkPQIjadq

(And…)copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIifU6teQX

I scowl.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlztRKXjuO

Hm. It might be time to finish reading that book.copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCTlafNVwt

*****************************************************************copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVrVDNT5wv

(end of Penana version. Full story will be posted at a later date)copyright protection213ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2j9giWwUlk

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