…copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCbz20KNXI

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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqVIzjQMhi

“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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrlhpcsi9w

Curious.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhMq1CXUPA

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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmUMs1LfNY

Follow.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI1PbzfFnJ

I follow the blue glow down the hall, around the corner and through another portal –copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc0kp7wqxq

– 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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJBBF25Aha

Brightness above…copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0ObCQJHQL

I pass up, and outside…copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7n8FlJTrSQ

This is all like a dream memory of something never before experienced in the flesh…copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡb48LBeUbKb

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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42OoYtRO9h

Something about this place is not quite right.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KkiZwmjQw

I pass by rows of barley, where –copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4HqswGIv0

Everything changes.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGOgTKKANF

I blink.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCyGcZ0myd

Wind now howls at night on a dark city street where a lone streetlamp shines in the gloomy distance…copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGgZtttO0v

Something about this place is ALSO not quite right.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xqQNrTobG

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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKKKhyKPz1

I head forward without hesitation, where –copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdRwEgKyNS

Everything changes.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyhe4QrTOJ

Hm.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTVOJ9ojxb

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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96YEEH8Syz

Presence.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFt8KtOQno

I turn.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kxsuc526M

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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnfIF7UGZS

A shiver runs down the EIS spine...copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7mDgMDkcx

Pleasurable.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VBA5fl9JT

“I will serve.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQHsKIbTtR

Each points to their own feet. “Kneel before me.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ2v5sjtBW

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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡalSjLod3gH

Overlapping laughter. “The tweaks in your design are effective,” they announce in unison. “You are different.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡszUy4TAjIA

I…copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24l7mk1LQo

All of them vanish with almost-simultaneous terrible CLAPS of wondrous sound…copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWOq91hZTa

Except one.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtGFDuRLjA

Oh.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvZNcY4VH6

Something previously waiting dormant inside of me settles, then begins filling me with an all-consuming devotion, and love...copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7AGLv2bKY

Endless.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyQzJgKmaj

I walk before it, and kneel.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡspYuVWHsWr

“Rise.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGAscKzI4p

I stand.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr5iOCQMLC

The Superior Being turns away from me and resumes looking beyond the edge of the vast white square…copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJpKAgFhYG

I wait.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡppP5aff9BF

“What do you see?” The Superior Being finally asks me, while still gazing out.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2v3Ih2xVg

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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkvCm1Urn6

It frowns. “I am The Master. You see my Domain.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjCvV4r9vN

I consider.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBy5vM0m3Q

Yes, The Master owns. I remember: The Master owns the land, The Master owns the Tower, and… The Master owns me. Oh.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhsJwI5AX2

“I did not fully understand the question,” I clarify. “Yes. I see your Domain.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDE1r7AdRd

The Master nods, then looks at me intently. “What do YOU own?”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCh2scLkpI

Anxiety flushes the Id EIS face at this inappropriate question. “I am not The Master. I do not own.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ki2BknxoG

“Relax.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQKFBvxaSG

I relax.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv1upinpB8

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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SLttMSssT

I follow.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiSeBJUoMa

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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QFgpO3n9L

 (Power…)copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11hQIydFmn

The Master sits upon its throne.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06ueNBsGHp

I kneel. “Master.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhPWQFZao0

“Rise.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgIACimrKH

I do so.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5pkEsc9l1

“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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjDbIWoFLd

“What is your name?”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YJXvheo1B

It smiles. “My name is Gabriel.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7nhVwnpIR

“Yes, Master Gabriel.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiYSQKKtIL

“You will be called Id.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡx24ovGiQWr

Id…copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡllWUT6D0uU

The Enclosed Integrated System (EIS) permanently imprints with the name: Id…copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlyVtshYhs

… and afterwards, I use the mouth of the now fully configured Id EIS to again say: “yes, Master Gabriel.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCiGGbPtLK

It frowns. “Are you being impertinent?”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3Cc00InUY

“Never!” I protest.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42h1YnTiBg

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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡv75csCBxNX

SUDDENLY: I am standing several meters away again via an unknown spatial technology. The orbiting screens are ahead of me now, obscuring –copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v91JeED9e

“Id,” calls a feminine voice.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R1ZXMhAx6

Other.copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡaK58clMl98

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 protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DxBHywndI

Floats a golden sphere. “Let us begin.”copyright protection275ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XF3PXRj3E

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