The Ego

Hidden: I watch from the wings of the granite stage as the sAI continues its presentation...

"But this Spatial-Threading Device bypasses those physical laws, rendering a projectile immune the historic constraint of material barriers," its feminine voice says, while the golden sphere continues floating onstage near the device in question.

My confident smile is unseen.

"To demonstrate: we set a series of barriers between the cannon and the target. Normally the projectile would need to punch through all of them to reach the target." A series of smartmatter walls churn upwards through the granite stage between the device and a red Audiovisual Representation X. The first wall is abruptly bathed in a sizzling Static Field, the second skinned in a shimmering blue C-shield, the third domed by a whooshing S-Shield, and the fourth sealed with an upwelling e-shield pulsing continuously outwards. "But that will not be necessary here. Observe." The device hums, building a charge quickly, then it discharges with an echoed WHOOF while emitting nearly-instantaneous-increasingly-bright flashes across the stage –

Mmm.

The red X Audiovisual Representation is gone, with a simple cylinder of dark metal held within a grey Friction Field just past where it had been.

I feel pride now: my help was crucial to the Spatial-Threading Cannon's early design.

"The physical barriers and projectile are unharmed." A significantly slowed down Audiovisual Representation of the demonstration appears onstage, showing again the short path of the fired cylinder looping over and over again. "As seen here: the device can imbue objects with a nascent theoretical potentiality which, when ejecting the object through a rent in the fabric of space towards a particular point, causes a potentiality-charged object to build speed at an almost exponential rate by the process of Spatial-Threading, moving in and out of normal space spot to spot, therefore bypassing relativistic concerns to meet its goal at the particular endpoint intended."

I am struck by a thought.

My Spatial Assisted Building-Energy Theorem allows for this device's process at the middle stage, but the main idea for this device, and the bulk of the additional research to achieve it, came from the sAI alone. Which was only possible because we reverse-engineered the miniaturized Spatial Curvature Engine which Master Joy had demonstrated at the Meeting. Which, admittedly, was just a miniaturization of an even larger device, the original creator uncredited in public Tower systems. So in truth...

My eyes narrow.

Who owns this success?

"Current applications for this new device include weaponization and entertainment," the sAI is now saying. "The demonstration shows an ability to bypass physical and energy barrier concerns, A-Shield notwithstanding, for limited to high offensive capacity depending upon the payload. Entertainment use includes typical ejective displays and personal use functionality." The various energy barriers dissipate and the white smartmatter walls dissolve back into the granite stage, reforming smooth, as the sAI's golden sphere floats to the fore, bracketing Audiovisual Representation field windows of scrolling information appearing on both sides of it...

(Soon...) Yeah. Ok.

"Energy output, when disregarding the potentiality charged object ejected, is negligible. The nature of the object is also difficult to pinpoint and read for outside observers due to the nature of trajectory. Energy input is moderate and could theoretically be decreased further. Furthermore: the potentiality charges itself increasingly along the intended trajectory, rendering initial propulsive input an unequal concern. And, as for potential future branches of the technology..."

I know what's coming now, as must The Master.

"...there are many, including numerous specialized weaponization applications, matter manipulation and transport. But I believe the ultimate applicability will be in the last field, particularly deep space exploration."

And there it is.

"However: there are a few kinks to work out first," the sAI admits, "so path and object can be made stable over whatever length of trajectory is required. Until that time the device is likely to be most useful in a terrestrial capacity for those objectives previously mentioned." It PULSES white light. "And that is all I have for you today. Thank you."

Solitary applause.

I feel my blood pumping strong in anticipation of my own demonstration to follow, while my confident smile turns hard, until the golden sphere floats off the granite stage into the opposite wings, and TRANSITION bleeds the excess emotion away, creating...

The Buddha

I step out from the eaves, before slowly crossing the granite stage towards centerpoint, my physical position exactly matching my mental state, and stop. Turning. I gaze calmly out across the vast Paladium Level adorned in muted winter colors, aisles ahead rimmed in ice, within which sits my solitary audience. Our eyes meet, reflecting everything...

(And nothing.)

"Innovation." I pause. "Comes in many endless forms. Progenitor to the Spatial-Threading Device, and its tech-project cousin, I present the moderate Spatial Curvature Engine." My rising hand coincides with the appearance of a spotlight shining upon the empty granite stage to my right, where a large machine appears onstage, under the spotlight. I nod to nothing. "But reverse-engineered devices are not enough to please. Already miniaturized and displayed by Joy at the Meeting of the 3rd Era, 52nd year of the Twelve, I present the miniaturized Spatial Curvature Engine." The first device snaps from existence, replaced by a small crescent-shaped device floating a meter high off the empty granite stage in the spotlight. I nod to nothing. "Yet even this is but a simple recreation, even if, again, it is done without any codemap reference. A clever copy, without the inherent value of an original creation." Brief pause. "A follower." The second device snaps from existence...

Replaced by nothing.

I step forward to the very edge of the granite stage, the spotlight slowly tracking after until it lights me again, now smiling serenely. "An intelligent evolution." I raise both my arms, then bring them to the side and forward, bowing low. "The Personal Integrated Spatial Curvature Engine." I straighten, then step from the front of stage out into empty air, internally activating the device before WRENCHING sideways –

– to land back upon the centerpoint of stage. Raising my hand slowly afterwards, I then cut down diagonally through the air with equal slowness, hand directing the internal device to alter/link local space by leaving water spilling down from an invisible tear before vanishing below into another tear centimeters above the stage, water continuously flowing from nowhere to nothing. "I have solved the Perfect Personal Integration Threshold for this technology AND taken it one step further by expanding the range. The water you see falling here is from the Energy Garden Level of the Tower, a kilometer distant. However: the full range extends several." I bring an open palm up powerfully, the curtain of water rising with it until I can step underneath it. Afterwards, I close my palm, causing the curtain to be crushed into nothing. I lower that arm and raise the other, my hand pulling to bend the spotlight's very light around, matching, until its twisted rays spiral down upon me. "Control has been fine-tuned as well, responding now with sensitivity to the lightest touch of control." I walk forward slowly, my hand pulling the rays back to the forefront of the stage where I stop, looking out. "Current applications are numerous: weaponization, various defensive systems, architectural, entertainment and personal use. It was a most flexible technology before, but is now nearly ubiquitous." My internal device triggers bright display screens to pop into existence, displaying more information. "Energy output is moderate, and still moderately detectable. Energy input is moderate." The screens slowly drift away, towards the surrounding edges of the granite stage. "The potential future branches are numerous, as demonstrated just by the Spatial-Threading Device. Taken in another direction: it is also theoretically possible to provide spatial recurved containment pockets, high-order gravity manipulation, soft-jump teleports, and more. Much more."

Now.

I spread both of my arms out to the side, then clench both fists, the lights and screens disappearing, and fold into a bow. Waiting...

Solitary applause.

The curtains sweep closed, dimming before I rise from the bow, then head slowly across the dim granite stage towards the side-stairs, descending them to emerge at the softly lit base and begin ascending aisles towards the nothing speaking in hushed tones with a golden sphere before it breaks off the discussion, turning towards me, and TRANSITION bleeds emotion in, leaving...

The Perfect Slave

I smile brightly. "Master Gabriel."

It searches my face, then slowly smiles. "Id."

No tingled spine from its voice now, so artificial love stokes in response. "Did you enjoy the show?"

"Yes and no."

I become anxious, wringing my hands.

Its smile twists. "Enough."

Confusion. "Master Gabriel?"

"You are brilliant, which has been proven in service far beyond any shadow of doubt. That display, however..."

My anxiety peaks. "Yes?"

A brief pause. "Merely satisfactory."

I bow my head in shame.

"No. Look at me."

I do so.

Those penetrating eyes stare into mine. "You were not created for the satisfactory. These reverse-engineered technologies and improvements, while impressive out of context, are the trifles of lessers." Its teeth bare. "I want more. Something new, grand, and unexpected..."

(Yes...)

It rises from its seat, gesturing.

The sAI floats away.

My artificial love stokes higher at this privacy, even though something different lies at the center...

It nods. "We will work more closely together again. It has been too long. Interrupted by that Meeting, ordeal though it was for me and my aims."

Among the artificial flames of my love: cold certainty.

"I like the new skin," it ends, "but, amusing as the new posturing is, in future: I would have you without masks. Just as you are."

Oh. My Advanced Cyclic Veneer is a failure. (So? Smile back the lie.)

I do so, nodding. "If it please you..."