Chapter Text
The pearl, Looks to the Moon notes, is coloured a lavish gold.
Archived hearing - 1023.42 - Falling Drops upon Gathering Leaves, Council member in service of the City of Luna - Proposal for Iterator 0016-B
FDuGL: It is with the Utmost humility and Gratitude that I, Falling Drops upon Gathering Leaves, Earl to seven living blocks, Duke of one, Anointed by the Citadel, approach the council (May our rulings be ever Fair and our Judgement Holy) with a proposal for a fifth Iterator within the Looks to the Moon local group.
FDuGL: As the sixteenth Iterator to ever be built, we —the council AND the citizens— have enjoyed the luxuries provided to us by our creation (may her Searching be fruitful). As we terraformed the land and the surface became uninhabitable, it fell upon Looks to the Moon to shelter us and provide shipments of nectar, water, electricity, void fluid, etc. As I have brought to the attention of the council in the past (Repeatedly!), Looks to the Moon was not built with these necessities in mind.
FDuGL: Our Iterator herself has expressed her concerns with this! It is our duty (Morally and Practically) to relieve her of her Ever-growing Burden as she struggles to keep up with both her work regarding The Great Problem, and the demands of those living upon her back!
SIWRS: And a fifth iterator is your solution to this? Where would we even build it? Need I remind you that groundwater demands limit our action.
FDuGL: I will forgive your interruption, Sixteen Insect Wings, Radial Swirls, because I was just about to make my point:
FDuGL: If Luna (may we be blessed in eternal splendour) is no longer self-sustaining, and surface relocation is Absurdly infeasible, then our only recourse is to move again above the Clouds. To force all Luna’s citizens to seek Refuge among the other cities of the local group, however, is similarly absurd. My proposal to rectify this is simple: build another Iterator within Looks to the Moon’s facility grounds.
[Scribe notes: Immediate uproar among other Council members]
FDuGL: Please, calm yourselves! I have already petitioned Luna’s most Venerated Engineers, and they have found that in addition to her Natural aquifer, the Great Equaliser has allowed for Looks to the Moon’s facility to easily support a second Iterator.
SSaDC: And what about other concerns? The local facility is filled with Practical and Cultural Necessities— there is simply no space for a whole Iterator to sit, other than where Looks to the Moon is already situated. Unless you wish to suggest something drastic, such as removing the (Technically impractical, but highly venerated) True Anointed Citadel, then your proposal is Dead in the water before it can begin.
FDuGL: That is exactly what I am suggesting.
[Scribe notes: Uproar again, continuing for several minutes]
[ARCHIVED HEARING — 3671 MORE LINES]
Looks to the Moon lets the pearl drift from her grasp, and ponders, as Iterators are wont to do.
***
It is later in the cycle when Moon is visited by her friendliest Administrator.
Certainly not her Head Administrator, a cold and rather stern man. Leagues behind in competence than her first (long-ascended) Admin, Moon believes. Rather: Sinking Stones, Bellowing Endless Ripples. Friendly enough, and seeming even more so when in comparison to their peers on the Administration Board.
“Most Holy Iterator, might I intrude?” Comes the call, both from the broadcast Moon has already accepted, and from her maintenance shaft right above her puppet chamber.
Moon chuckles indulgently, “Yes, you may come in!”
Ripples enters her chamber, bowing as deep as they can in the anti-gravity, mask jingling somewhat, “Most Holy Iterator, a pleasure to be graced with your presence —and allowed within your chambers— again this cycle.”
“Not at all,” Moon dismisses. “I take this is in relation to the archived hearing?”
Ripples drifts to the floor, and Moon shifts her puppet’s arm out of the way. “That would indeed be the case. Have you had the time to peruse the contents?”
It is less a matter if Moon has had time (Iterators tend to read rather quickly), but rather if she has had the mental fortitude to suffer a transcript of a debate coming from her Council. Her Council and the Houses that form it are infamously… at odds with one another, to an even higher degree than is expected. “I have.”
“And?”
Moon shrugs the shoulders of her puppet. “I suppose I am grateful to be informed.”
Ripples frowns behind their mask. “I believe the council was seeking your opinion, when sending you a transcript.”
Her opinion? That would certainly be novel.
Perhaps she is being too harsh— she internally reprimands herself, folding her puppet’s hands together. Her opinion is often sought, and weighed adequately. She supposes that she just tires of politics she otherwise has little stake in.
“Any concerns I would have raised have already been addressed in some way or another,” Moon says diplomatically. “The matter of resources is obviously the primary concern, but if the engineers believe there is enough for two, then I trust their judgement.”
Ripples eyes the transcript still projected on the chamber walls. They chuckle, awkward, commiserating, “They did discuss that point in depth.”
“I believe they discussed the citadel even further,” Moon comments.
“That they did,” Ripples agrees.
“While I’m sure the Monks have had much to say on the matter, I find it lower on my list of priorities.”
“Actually,” Ripples says, “The Monks have had nothing to say on the matter. Excluding the ones on the Council, naturally. The proposal has been kept confidential between the Council, Administrators, and select Engineers. And yourself, of course.”
Moon perhaps shouldn’t be surprised by this either. The proposal is intimately tied to her in an unprecedented manner, after all. She’s gotten used to hearing about potential new Iterators at the same time as everyone else.
“I see…” Moon drifts slightly, lost in thought. “I assume that I’m to continue keeping this to myself?”
“If you would.”
“Of course,” Moon agrees. “I’ll draft a pearl of my thoughts for the Council, if they seek my opinion so genuinely.”
“I believe they do,” Ripples says, nodding quickly. “The council is… divided to say the least. You could offer some perspective they lack.”
“That being, concerns not related to the True Anointed Citadel?” Moon jokes, dry.
Ripples huffs, “Indeed, let’s not dredge up the argument again. We well know that the Monks will be doing that for us.”
Moon doesn’t doubt that in the slightest. She allows the gold-lacquered pearl to drift into her puppet’s orbit again. “I’ll warn you, I truly don’t know if I have much to offer to this discussion.”
Ripples blinks, “How could you not?” They wince, as if embarrassed by their apparent indolence.
Moon waves her puppet’s hands, playing at flustered, “It affects me far less than you think!”
A lie, in three parts:
One: she is not remotely opposed to her city packing up and leaving. She does not dislike her citizens, exactly, but the endless discourse is rather tiring when she’s made to be the constant centre. The fact that this is happening at all can be pinned on her— the Hearing made it clear it was her complaints that spurred this proposal.
Two: she’s the local group senior. No matter where a new Iterator is positioned, they will quickly become her problem one way or the other. A task she usually takes to with a fair measure of joy, and yet—
Three: She can feel every inch of her can, her senses dull across her wider facility. What would it mean, to have a whole other structure close enough to touch? To feel their roots in her grounds?
Ripples gives her a sceptical look. Moon ignores this, in favour of drafting a preliminary outline of her own contributions to the argument.
“…Is there a reason they have to be built within my facility grounds?” Moon asks, “Other than practicality of transport?”
Ripples shrugs, having the grace to look apologetic. “We’re out of space.”
Moon had read as much in the transcript. Hearing it stated so plainly is still a small shock to her system.
She remembers well when the horizon was free of towering steel. When the sky wasn’t choked with grey, When the only rains people had to fear for half a continent were her own. The sixteenth Iterator ever built, and now they number in the thousands.
“I’m not opposed,” Moon eventually says. “But I do hold… reservations.”
Ripples nods, like they expected this. Moon supposes she was never all that good at hiding her thoughts, for those apt enough to pay attention. “I’m sure the Council would be pleased to hear them.”
Moon sighs, blanketing the sky in clouds. She supposes she should feel excited, to suddenly hold this much sway.
“I’ll send a broadcast to the Council, once I feel I can articulate myself clearly,” Moon says. “Shall I send a copy to you, as well?”
“All the Administrators would like to hear what you have to say, Most Holy Iterator,” Ripples says. “I wouldn’t presume to be given special treatment.”
Her puppet’s eyes form crescents, the closest she can make of a smile. “I’ll send it to you in advance.”
***
Sinking Stones, Bellowing Endless Ripples does not tell their fellow Administrators that they have already read the essay that the Head Admin has called them to meeting to pore over. Instead, they twiddle their thumbs as their colleagues debate something they ultimately have no say in, and consider Looks to the Moon’s words.
[Excerpt from [A Measured Response to the Proposed Iterator 0016-B] beginning at line 605]
…I cannot pretend that the thought of removing —or even simply lightening— the burden of my city does not appeal to me. I was not built with the weight of Luna in mind, and I find my work to find the Solution and in providing for the People both suffer.
It can be argued: A new Iterator is always on the minds of the High Council. Why not satisfy their need for more machine-power, as it were, and my own needs in one fell swoop? Two birds with one stone.
It can be argued: A new Iterator would satisfy and exceed both of these demands. When thinking about it pragmatically, it is the obvious solution.
***
Archived hearing - 1023.47 - Discourse regarding Iterator 0016-B
SSaDC: Could we not make the Iterator more compact? Endeavour that they don’t take up as much space? Third Generation technology could achieve Looks to the Moon’s own technical capacity with just half the required space.
SIWRS: Second Sunrise atop Dense Canopies, if we were to do that, then why build an Iterator at all? If we aren’t going to exercise the full breadth of the technological progress enjoyed since the First Generation, then why bother?
SIWRS: Not to mention that building a lesser Iterator would simply lead us to the same issues that Looks to the Moon is currently suffering. We need an Iterator that can dedicate themselves in their Entirety, twicefold, to Us and their Task.
FDuGL: We also must consider that a smaller Iterator does not mean a small structure. The Citadel’s land would still need to be repurposed, not even considering the (Quite Important!) engineering minutiae that a compacted Iterator would need to fulfil. They would need to be tall enough to sit above the clouds, and yet their width and depth would be axed. Does this not sound, perhaps, a bit Implausible?
SIWRS: The manner of the city needing to fit atop the Iterator must also be discussed.
SSaDC: Yes, yes, your point has been made (And internalised), fellow Council members. Shall we hear from someone with anything new to add?
***
[Excerpt from [A Measured Response to the Proposed Iterator 0016-B] beginning at line 867]
…Now that the positives have been discussed in length, I may revisit the myriad drawbacks I glossed over for the sake of this essay’s structure.
Beginning pragmatically: The resources required to sustain a functioning Iterator are known to us all. Metal, Biological Material, and functioning Components can all be sourced elsewhere, or created on-site. A consistent stream of Water and Void Fluid, however, poses more long-term problems.
Both the Council and Myself have been made aware that there is enough water to theoretically be shared —I certainly know I don’t use a vast majority of my reserves each cycle— and the thought that Void Fluid could somehow be scarce is one to scoff at.
However, it is not the abundance I am concerned with, but rather the sourcing. Machinery cannot share priority in an emergency. Should myself or the theoretical 0016-B begin to malfunction or otherwise, and draw upon enough water and Void Fluid to deprive the other of their required cut, how will the machinery, and further, the Administrators, respond?
***
Archived hearing - 1023.53 - Discourse regarding Iterator 0016-B
SIWRS: Obviously, Looks to the Moon will be given priority over 0016-B. Despite her outdated machinery, we owe her for her Service thus far as both her Parents and her Subjects. The Facility Grounds are first Hers and 0016-B’s second.
SSaDC: You speak as if the Iterator’s creation is decided!
TGPH: If I may…
FDaGL: Please speak, Thirteen Grains Piled High.
TGPH: You speak of our obligations to Looks to the Moon (of which we certainly have), and yet— do we not also hold the same obligations to 0016-B, should they be built?
TGPH: What would such priorities to Looks to the Moon even entail? If you intend to grant her full Administrator access to the new structure, are we not simply choosing to doom one or the other, in the event of an emergency?
SIWRS: It is a matter of safety. Looks to the Moon, as the elder, would be more likely to successfully manage such a thing with the Calm required.
SSaDC: Implying that something Will go wrong?
FDuGL: A matter of preemptive safety. Incidents like One Thousand Fathom’s affliction of Rot and subsequent shutdown could have been avoided had the more rigorous Self-Modification Taboos been implemented from the beginning.
FDuGL: Giving Looks to the Moon Administrator access, while I am sceptical, could allow her to act quickly in a time of crisis while our Councils (Ours current, and the Future one dedicated to 0016-B) and Houses debate at length.
TGPH: There is a point to be made, I suppose, but I feel the speculative scenario is different enough from the historical one to warrant further Debate.
SIWRS: That is what we are here for, no?
***
[Excerpt from [A Measured Response to the Proposed Iterator 0016-B] beginning at line 1252]
…Now that the practical drawbacks have been outlined, I can express my thoughts on the cultural ones.
There is a sense of pride among my Citizens for Luna, and (as I am grateful) toward myself. To ask that the whole, or even a randomly selected portion, of my citizenry relocate themselves to a new Iterator —who themself would form new Houses and a Council, and the differences therein— is bound to cause a ruckus. If you cannot convince the People, your project will suffer greatly.
It ought to be well known within my Council that I do not often participate in Spiritual Discourse, but I feel I should address the vulture in the room. That is to say, the True Anointed Citadel as the proposed location for Iterator 0016-B.
I myself am not opposed to that location specifically. It is reasonably far from more vital facility grounds so as to not interrupt them, such as the linear farm arrays. However, I can only offer my condolences and good luck to those among my Council that will have to pitch this to the Monks.
***
Falling Drops upon Gathering Leaves sits with his head in his hands as he reads the (quite charged) message to the Council, courtesy of the Monks of the Citadel. He assumes some fool from the House of Wheels on the Council can be blamed for the leak, but nonetheless, the damage is already done.
Following the lengthy introductions, the pearl reads:
It has been brought to our Attention (and further, that our Attention needed to be gained at all!) that the Council of Luna has been considering a new Iterator project, to be pitched to the High Council at a later date (presumably, once the Infinite logistical issues have been ironed out).
Our response is as follows: A new Iterator within the local group should have been deemed impossible upon its first suggestion! It was clear even from Unparalleled Innocence’s primary construction that she would be the last in the local group. Our cities have been Built, and the space has been Claimed.
To put Looks to the Moon at risk by forcing her to share grounds with a second Iterator is an insult to her and her Task! Furthermore, to propose the True Anointed Citadel as the only feasible location is Heresy most dire. Our society is built on our Faith (may our Cycle be diminished, and may the Void release our Eternal Souls), to deface and vandalise it in such a manner binds your Council and its members to the karmic urges (the First, most prominently! If Hubris were one of the karmas, I would attribute it as well), and spits in the face of the very purpose of Iterators to begin with.
Know this, that unless the movement for this new Iterator —that shall henceforth be exclusively referred to as the Apostate Superstructure Abomination— is immediately dismissed, we the Monks of the True Anointed Citadel (and the collection of us forming the House of Wheels upon Luna) will endeavour to inform all related parties of the underhanded developments occurring within…
[ARCHIVED MESSAGE — 2361 MORE LINES]
***
Archived hearing - 1023.59 - Discourse regarding Iterator 0016-B
TGPH: Someone of our number has leaked this proposal, then?
SSaDC: Highly likely. Though it easily could have been one of the Administrators, or the consulted Engineers.
SIWRS: As irritating as it is, we cannot afford to throw blame around while we still have much to discuss regarding the Viability of this project as a whole.
TGPH: The Viability of this project, as pointed out by Looks to the Moon herself, relies heavily on public opinion! For the sake of 0016-B and our present Iterator, we cannot afford the fallout of this project being leaked before we have the Foundation to combat the imminent controversy!
SSaDC: Again, many of you speak as though the Project is set in stone.
SIWRS: Falling Drops upon Gathering Leaves has convinced me somewhat of the Project’s necessity, not that I have been entirely endeared to it.
FDuGL: Thank you for your support (if nothing else), Sixteen Insect Wings, Radial Swirls. Ultimately, I agree with Thirteen Grains Piled High that the potential uproar in this early stage could be a critical blow against the 0016-B project. I have endeavoured to iron out many of the Infinite Logistical Issues, as our most charming Monks have put it, but there is still much to consider.
SSaDC: Other cities will be vying to express their opinions once they hear of this, as well. To say nothing of the undoubtedly numerous thoughts Iterators beyond Looks to the Moon will hold.
***
[Excerpt from [A Measured Response to the Proposed Iterator 0016-B] beginning at line 3167]
…To move beyond the pragmatic and cultural arguments, my own thoughts on how the matter will affect me are, admittedly, unclear.
I already act as my local group’s Senior, a role which I have thoroughly enjoyed since it was bestowed upon me. I have welcomed my three fellow group members with the kind of love and open arms that I dearly hope has made them feel welcome, as we all toil in our task. Ordinarily I would not bat an eye at adding another to our number. Would be excited, even!
Yet, it is something I would struggle to explain to anyone not an Iterator (and even then, the words elude me) exactly the concerns I hold for another being built so close. There are concerns of safety, yes, but I find it is the measures to ensure that safety that concern me the most. If the Council were to do something drastic, such as granting me Administrator privileges over 0016-B’s structure, how could we ever develop a relationship as peers, when I would hold such a direct mark of power over them?
Words Looks to the Moon did not write in her essay: Even with such power, she suspects that she would struggle to ever bring herself to use it. She knows firsthand how invasive manual overrides are, even with all the proper warning the Administrators can provide. A lance to the mind, a sudden severing of your body.
Words Looks to the Moon chose to keep tucked away, contemplation for herself alone: Could she, or the potential 0016-B, suffer such close proximity? Could they even begin to develop the friendship she enjoys with Wind, with Sig, with Inno? 0016-B would be chained at initialisation— could she even hope that they would care for the hand that holds the leash?
Words Looks to the Moon tries to smother in her secondary thought threads before they can reach her primary consciousness: Could she, herself, suffer such an imposition on her facility? Her fields, her factories, her limbs, all no longer hers alone. Her citizens, her city, the sole attention of her creators, ripped and split in twain as she is unable to provide for them in a way they deem satisfactory. They failed to think ahead, and now she must suffer the brunt of the consequences.
(She does not even like their attention at the best of times.)
(She is not even being abandoned— they seek to leave because she has asked them to. They have, shockingly, followed her request to the letter.)
(They would even ruin her relationship with this future Iterator before they’ve even been given a name, all in the interest of her safety.)
Words Looks to the Moon chooses to finally end her essay with:
With my gratitude for your consideration, I hope the Council finds my words illuminating as they tread this unclear path. Though much of this essay is consisted of the potential drawbacks, know that I remain largely neutral in this matter. Whether 0016-B is to be pitched to the High Council, or if an alternate solution is proposed, I trust the Council’s judgement and thank them for their concerns.
***
Sinking Stones, Bellowing Endless Ripples was polite enough to provide Moon all further transcripts of the Council meetings proceeding her contribution. They were also polite enough to inform her when the situation was leaked to the Monks, and was about half a cycle late to informing her that the situation had been leaked to the Iterators and Councils of the local group, courtesy of said Monks.
Moon settles herself in to play damage control.
[LIVE BROADCAST] CLOSED GROUP - [LTTMLOCALGROUP] Looks to the Moon, No Significant Harassment, Chasing Wind, Unparalleled Innocence
NSH: And I reiterate!
LTTM: You really don’t have to say it again, Sig.
NSH: I really do, Moon. You’re not nearly as angry about this as you should be.
NSH: I’d certainly be throwing a fit if they tried to stick another Iterator in my facility!
UI: Not all of us are you, Siggie~
NSH: You’d be throwing an even worse fit, Innocence.
UI: Rude!
CW: Is he wrong, though?
CW: Not that I believe I’d be much better. Having another Iterator so close seems horribly invasive.
NSH: Glad you’re all on my side.
NSH: You should really be whipping up more of a protest, Moon. You could have leaked this sooner!
LTTM: I really am neutral, though!
LTTM: I don’t want to kill the idea before it can even fully form. The logistics are shaky *now*, but that’s because they require time to properly develop.
NSH: And when is Properly Developed? When the Iterator’s already half-built? It’ll be kind of hard to kick up a fuss by then.
LTTM: So far? I don’t have a reason to kick up a fuss.
UI: You’re kidding.
LTTM: I’m really not! This proposal was in response to my own complaints, after all.
LTTM: If this is the only way my concerns can be addressed, I’m willing to compromise.
NSH: You’re letting them walk all over you.
LTTM: Well, they’re supposed to do that~
NSH: Oh, ha ha
NSH: But seriously, they could come up with a better solution than this.
LTTM: If there was one, I think they would have explored it already. The ones most opposed to the idea are my Council itself, second only to the Monks.
LTTM: Simply directing all my citizens to spread across all your cities would only serve to overencumber each of you instead, not to mention the nightmare that is dividing a city in this manner.
LTTM: Really, I think just building a new city from scratch is the best solution we can find.
CW: I take you’ve iterated on it yourself?
LTTM: Of course.
LTTM: Unless I want to keep overextending myself, a new member in the local group seems inevitable.
NSH: Hm.
UI: I guess if you think it’s fine…
LTTM: If anything changes, I’ll let all of you know.
LTTM: But for now, I’m happy to let this play out.
CW: I suspect we won’t be the ones you’ll have to convince the most.
NSH: The Monks are nasty pieces of work when they want to be.
CW: I’m not necessarily referring to them.
CW: The Citadel is more of a symbol than it initially appears. At least to the more devout among the People.
UI: Your city is super religious, though.
CW: That doesn’t mean the sentiment doesn’t exist elsewhere.
CW: Moon won’t be the only one dealing with the fallout once word gets out to the public.
***
Chasing Wind’s words were, as they often are, something of an omen. The ensuing fallout after the Monks of the Citadel make good on their threat is something to behold.
Moon’s work on the Great Problem has been entirely stalled for the past three cycles, her attention instead dedicated to ensuring her city is not overly damaged by the relatively small, but rather loud protests that have erupted atop her can. Her Council is in panicked shambles.
Moon hadn’t realised so many of her citizenry were so zealous. Judging by her overseer data, many of the protesters haven’t visited the Citadel in upwards of several thousand cycles.
She shouldn’t judge so harshly, perhaps. Wind is right in saying that the Citadel is a symbol.
Innocence has been spamming the local group broadcast, complaining about the sudden ruckus in her city. Wind has been idly reporting on the progression of debate among their Houses. Harassment has been oddly quiet.
Moon has little better to do.
[LIVE BROADCAST] PRIVATE - Looks to the Moon, No Significant Harassment
LTTM: How have you been dealing with the noise?
NSH: Eh, it’s not so loud.
NSH: I’ve mostly been letting my Council deal with it~
LTTM: Would that I could do the same! For all our sakes, I’ve decided to lend them a hand.
LTTM: Most of my city is naturally uneasy about the idea, and a few sensationalists are stirring up more fervour.
NSH: It’s about the same over here, though most of my citizens don’t actually care all that much.
NSH: They really should care a bit more.
LTTM: How come?
NSH: Everyone (that means you) is really confident in that assessment that your facility can support two Iterators.
LTTM: …
LTTM: It’s not that I’m *not* concerned.
NSH: Could’ve fooled me.
LTTM: Sig.
NSH: Moon.
NSH: Seriously, forget all the existential stuff I’m sure you’re agonising over. Even if you’ve rationalised it.
NSH: I’ve kept an eye on all the new third generation tech as it’s developed. That stuff is experimental. For all we know, enough water for two copies of you could be barely nothing to the new guy.
LTTM: You’re exaggerating.
NSH: A bit.
NSH: But my point stands. This project could suffocate you, and fast.
LTTM: It’s been decided by my Council that my having full Administrator privileges over 0016-B will be a confirmed part of their preliminary pitch to the High Council.
LTTM: Should there be a problem, I have the authority to deal with it.
NSH: Wow, really? They’re basically just handing you an on/off switch.
LTTM: It’s a little more complicated than that…
LTTM: But it is a bit disconcerting.
NSH: My point again.
NSH: Would you even use it?
Well, that’s hardly a fair question. There’s no sincerity Moon can offer that will change the truth of the situation.
LTTM: With any luck, we’ll never have to find out!~
NSH: Yeah, if this Iterator is never built.
LTTM: I suppose that’s up to the High Council, at this point. I won’t obstruct my own Council from finishing their proposal.
LTTM: I ask that you don’t meddle, either.
NSH: I couldn’t if I wanted to!
A lie, one Moon deflects with gratitude. Should No Significant Harassment direct his Council to pressure her own, the already fraught political environment would quickly become dire.
LTTM: Nevertheless.
LTTM: Try not to let the noise bother you too much, Sig.
NSH: I think they’re getting louder…
Moon laughs to herself in her chamber, and cuts the broadcast.
***
Archived hearing - 1024.13 - Discourse regarding Iterator 0016-B
FDuGL: We cannot afford to keep arguing in circles!
SSaDC: Would you rather the proposal be overwrought, or half-baked?
FDuGL: This is not a matter of the proposal itself! We have Lost the luxury of taking our time.
SIWRS: As much as I dislike admitting it, if we allow the Discourse within Luna and the local group to continue unassailed, our circular arguments here will quickly become meaningless.
SSaDC: And how, pray tell, do you suggest we Assail?
TGPH: I assume we will simply have to work faster.
FDuGL: Then, regarding the matter of transporting citizens from Luna to 0016-B’s City?
SIWRS: The simplest solution (as many of us often forget) is frequently the best. Just build a void-damned bridge.
TGPH: Connecting the Iterators so physically?
SSaDC: Swirls’ point is sound, Grains. It’s not as if other Iterators don’t already have rail lines connecting them. This bridge will be sturdier, surely, but it’s not so grand an Imposition as you may suggest. Besides, even if Luna is dissolved, there will still need to be Engineers and Administrators that commute to Looks to the Moon’s can to make repairs and otherwise. Convenience is key.
TGPH: I worry for the compromises we are forcing our Creations to make.
FDuGL: Such things can be further discussed after the High Council has approved our pitch.
***
[LIVE BROADCAST] CLOSED GROUP - [LTTMLOCALGROUP] Looks to the Moon, No Significant Harassment, Chasing Wind, Unparalleled Innocence
CW: I somehow doubt 0016-B will even be approved at this rate.
CW: The High Council isn’t immune to social pressures. There’s never been this much controversy for a new Iterator.
NSH: True! If our citizens really wanted to make a difference here, they’d be directing their preemptive complaints to the High Council, rather than bothering us about it~
LTTM: The bothering is mostly incidental, unfortunately.
CW: You can’t deny our respective Councils are overwhelmed, though.
UI: Mine keeps asking me what to do! I know we were built to solve problems, but this is getting ridiculous.
NSH: Maybe they can ask the new guy when they get built.
UI: Hilarious, Sig.
UI: I think I’m with Wind though. I can’t see the pitch being approved like this.
LTTM: I’m not so sure…
LTTM: Though the High Council has always been something of an enigma.
NSH: Way to say nonsensical.
***
[NOTICE]
Your [Council of Luna] submission of [Preliminary Pitch for Iterator 0016-B and the Dissemination of Luna] has been received by the relevant parties! The High Council will review the material and offer any Relevant Information or Rulings within Twenty Cycles.
By your Eternal Splendour,
The High Council for the People, Seat of the Faith.
***
The Council of Luna waits with bated breath, twenty cycles past the submission of the pitch for the 0016-B project.
Thirteen Grains Piled High holds some concern for the outcome. The pitch was rushed, logistical failings hastily patched with placeholder ideas, courtesy of the public uproar forcing their hand towards efficiency over more proper consideration. Grains believes it was wise not to make it public that the pitch had been sent. They’d all likely be dealing with a protest outside the Council Hall otherwise.
Falling Drops upon Gathering Leaves looks most nervous. 0016-B was initially his idea, Grains recalls, and it will be a social blow to suffer this much controversy and be struck down by the High Council in one fell swoop. Grains does not envy him. He would not envy himself, either, the potential social ramifications extending to Luna’s whole council.
Most of all, he doesn’t envy the Iterator beneath his feet, nor the shadow of one yet to be built.
Several golden overseers (And one green, and one mauve, and one grey. How word spreads. Iterators are gossips, he’s been told.) poke their eyes into the chamber, betraying Looks to the Moon’s own curiosity. Grains wonders if she truly meant everything she said in her essay.
The terminal that displays incoming data and broadcasts for the Council blips. Everyone, overseers included, leans forward with stifled gasps.
It’s Sixteen Insect Wings, Radial Swirls who breaks free of the paralysis first. He gives the room a derisive look for their frozen state (despite having been one of them just a moment before), and marches forward to accept the broadcast.
A hologram projects:
[NOTICE [URGENT]]
The High Council for the People, Seat of the Faith, has reviewed your [Council of Luna] [Pitch], [Preliminary Pitch for Iterator 0016-B and the Dissemination of Luna].
After much consideration, the High Council has declared that the [Pitch] be allowed to continue into Preliminary Development. [Engineers will be dispatched to aid with Third Generation Development] [The High Council asks that Luna prepare an adequate force of Mechanical Engineers, Biological Engineers, and Neural Engineers to aid the Dispatched force] [The High Council asks that Luna take full responsibility for the Cultural development of [Unnamed], including reformation of its Council and Houses] [The High Council asks that Luna arrange the Bureaucratic Management of [0016-B] under its own power, including Administrators, Maintenance, and Biological and Code sourcing]
Congratulations!
By your Eternal Splendour,
The High Council for the People, Seat of the Faith.
Grains did not expect jubilation, or revelry, or anything unbecoming of the Council. The stark silence is a tad awkward, though.
Falling Drops upon Gathering Leaves coughs, and then begins chuckling. “Well, if it So Pleases the Council!” he says, poorly acting as though the outcome was a given. “I believe we have some arrangements to make.”
“Can we even begin before this so-called Dispatched Force arrives?” Second Sunrise atop Dense Canopies asks. Grains is unsurprised by her conflicted expression at the news, visible even behind her mask.
Leaves waves a hand. “The High Council has made it Clear! We are to arrange our own Administrators, and our own Bureaucratic Structure. We don’t wish to look Unprepared, do we?”
“Engineers,” Swirls says. “We’ll have to contact them.”
“Are we dividing Looks to the Moon’s Engineers, or are we training new ones?” Another Council member asks.
Another scoffs, “This should have been considered in advance.”
“If I may.” Grains interrupts.
“Please,” Leaves says wearily, “Speak.”
Grains takes a breath.
“The Council is well aware why certain aspects of the 0016-B project were glossed over,” he begins, sending a pointed look to the room. “Past that, our Council as it exists today will be imminently dissolved. I find myself considering a career change in the rearrangement.”
“Speak plainly,” Sunrise demands.
“Those knowledgeable about my person will be aware that I spent some time as a Neural Engineer for Looks to the Moon herself,” Grains says. “As the opportunity has presented itself, I —Humbly, Gratefully— nominate myself for consideration as Head Neural Engineer for 0016-B.”
It is a small wonder, to build an Iterator. A greater wonder, to build its mind. Simply put: there is no higher honour.
“Quite the ambitious turn,” Leaves comments.
“Do you denounce the motion?”
Leaves shakes his head. “Not at all. I wholeheartedly second your nomination, Thirteen Grains Piled High. It was simply unexpected.”
“Hurry and put it to a vote, will you?” Swirls sighs. “We cannot dismiss past Courtesies entirely, even if we’ve been running this Council like a herd of rabid vultures the past few decacycles.”
The Council Head, an irritatingly passive and neutral woman, drones: “All in favour of Thirteen Grains Piled High (Count of one Living Block)’s election as Head Neural Engineer?”
Grains watches as approximately three-fifths of the room says aye. He thinks he sees one of Looks to the Moon’s overseers bobbing its head as well.
“Motion passed.” The Council Head sweeps her hand.
He stifles a relieved smile in favour of a formal bow. “I Humbly thank the Council for this opportunity. I accept the relevant Responsibilities of organising Secondary Neural Engineers, and the Holy Task of shaping our future Iterator’s mind.”
“Good luck, Grains,” Sunrise says. “I suspect you will need it.”
***
And just like that, it’s done.
Looks to the Moon spins her puppet in her chamber, stunned.
Approved! For reasons as inscrutable as she expected. A whole new Iterator joining the local group, after she was so sure Innocence would be the last. A whole new Iterator, her immediate neighbour.
A whole new Iterator, with a bridge to her side. The only Iterator she’ll ever have the luxury of touching, conjoined at the arm. Close enough to touch, and never let go.
(A leash, a hand to squeeze. An eternal nightmare or an eternal comfort.)
Looks to the Moon has never once made progress on their Great Task, something she shares in common with many. She decides the processing power would be wasted otherwise, and directs her attention to iterating on her new, and rather more pressing problem.
She hopes she’ll have more luck finding an answer for this one.
***
[LIVE BROADCAST] CLOSED GROUP - [LTTMLOCALGROUP] Looks to the Moon, No Significant Harassment, Chasing Wind, Unparalleled Innocence
NSH: Well I guess that’s that.
CW: I’m shocked!
LTTM: I wasn’t sure what to expect, really. Either way I would have been surprised, I think!
UI: Head Neural Engineer was decided pretty fast.
UI: What’s his portfolio like?
NSH: He said he worked on you, Moon?
LTTM: Grains hasn’t worked as my Engineer in some time, but he was quite competent!
LTTM: He appreciates the delicacy of his task.
CW: He sounds like a good choice, then.
NSH: I wonder what the public response will look like once Luna gets around to announcing it?
UI: Ugh.
LTTM: Ah, I hadn’t thought about that…
LTTM: I think I got carried away in the excitement!
UI: You’re really into this, Moonie~
UI: Neutrality’s gone out the window I see.
LTTM: You know I always love to welcome a new Iterator! Though I suppose you’ve only seen it firsthand just the once.
LTTM: It would hardly be fair to be cold for something outside their control, anyway.
CW: True.
CW: We can’t really speak in hypotheticals any longer now that the project has been approved.
NSH: There’s still time for everything to explode.
LTTM: For my sake, let’s hope not.
LTTM: Things would probably be exploding in alarmingly close proximity to me.
***
Things don’t explode, but it’s a close thing.
Looks to the Moon hadn’t realised that there would be so many people willing to take up arms against the High Council, not fond of them though she may be. The Monks’ own militant disapproval is both a surprise and entirely not— their reverence of the Citadel at war with their deference to the Seat of the Faith.
The unfortunate title of ‘Apostate Superstructure Abomination’ seems to have stuck, as Moon reads through the many, many complaints and calls for action directed her way. She replies to each of them with polite dismissal. The project has already been approved. With the High Council’s word as law, her influence over her own Council means nothing.
0016-B has yet to begin construction, has not even been designed. However, it’s not long after the High Council’s approval that Sinking Stones, Bellowing Endless Ripples enters her chamber with a pearl of a rudimentary blueprint for the bridge that will connect at her west side.
“Rather Sturdy, isn’t it?” Ripples comments, observing the blueprint as Moon projects it onto her chamber wall.
“It is…” she agrees.
Sturdy, unflinching. Even without the design finalised, Moon can see that it would take something drastic to shake it.
“Will it house rail lines?”
“For the sake of Convenience, certainly.” Ripples nods. “Though their exact positioning hasn’t been decided yet.”
“I suppose it’s only been ten cycles.” Moon hums. “Any word on when the High Council’s dispatch of Engineers will arrive?”
“They’re taking a route via Bell of Gesture and Seven Red Suns, I believe. They’ll have to take a detour via Chasing Wind before they can reach Luna, though,” Ripples explains.
Moon nods. She doesn’t have any rail lines connecting her to Iterators outside the local group, so distant travel to Luna can be a bit tedious, she’s heard.
She eyes the blueprints once again. “Have the Administrators begun dividing themselves?” she asks.
Ripples shifts uncomfortably. “Not yet.”
Moon tilts her puppet’s head, her display of confusion not entirely for Ripples’ benefit. “Really? I would have thought that would be the first on the agenda to be organised, given all other avenues of progress are stalled.”
“Stalled though they may be, Most Holy Iterator,” Ripples begins drily, “They have yet to be targeted by politics.”
Moon sighs, and she feels the rain cycle outside come abruptly early. “What has happened?”
“Your Head Administrator.”
Specks of Sand, Washed by Tides. Appointed several thousand cycles ago, when her Head Neural Engineer turned Head Administrator ascended, having lived a long and venerated life in a series of many reincarnations. Moon sighs again, and tries to ignore the distant sound of her vestigial rain alarm echoing a little louder.
Looks to the Moon does not dislike Tides the same way that she does not dislike her Council, the same way she does not dislike all her citizens. She does vaguely miss when he was not her Head Admin. More so now, that he has apparently decided to make himself an obstacle.
“He is fervently on the side of the Monks in this manner,” Ripples says, frustration not quite masked by formality. “He has taken to twisting the words of your original essay for his own purposes.”
Perhaps Moon should have written a second essay, to make her past declaration of neutrality more obvious. Or perhaps a third, to make her current declaration of non-interference pointedly well-known.
“Shall I attempt to sway him?” Moon offers wearily, feeling that she will likely have little success. Her relationship with Tides, contrary to her last Head Admin, is strictly professional and coolly distant.
“If you wish to waste the effort,” Ripples says bluntly. “The Council will have to step in at some point. They’ll take disciplinary action.”
“Perhaps I’ll stay my words,” Moon decides.
***
Some irritation simmers, when Tides does not stay his.
The pearl delivered to her chamber this time is a dull purple.
Archived message - 1024.53 - Specks of Sand, Washed by Tides, Head Administrator to Looks to the Moon, to the Council of Luna - Denouncement of the development of Iterator 0016-B
Moon skips past the lengthy, and frankly embellished, introductions.
On behalf of Our Divine Iterator, Looks to the Moon, (And by extension, all Iterators who may fall to this terrible Precedent) I insist that the 0016-B project be entirely Rethought! Our Iterator Herself has raised Her concerns for Her Safety, and as Her Head Administrator I do not believe the Councils (both Relevant parties) have considered this in full!
Moon supposes that in some respect the denouncement is cleverly written, for the sole reason that she has, technically, expressed these sentiments in some manner. Perhaps she truly should write a second, clarifying essay.
In spite of this, though, —and it is not often she allows such bitterness to grace her primary consciousness— she sincerely doubts that Tides has her best interests in mind.
She skims past all the twisting of her words, and reads through the most notably political segment of the denouncement.
Luna’s Culture (by Our Eternal Splendour) has been developed over the course of Eons, under the Watchful eye of Looks to the Moon Herself. Her city is one of the most Established, the most Renowned, and yet the Council and High Council wish to dissolve it! The development of a new city Cannot be treated Flippantly, and yet the Councils are happy to treat the division of the Houses and Administrators as an Afterthought!
Moon casts her mind to her database on all her citizens. She idly notes Tides is a prominent member of the House of Stars.
It should be reiterated that I am not Concerned with the Zealotry of the Monks— the Citadel is a local Symbol, yes, and it’s Loss would be one of 0016-B’s many Impositions on the Local Facility grounds. However, it is Looks to the Moon’s safety and the Inevitable social Turmoil of which I am most Concerned. (Of which the Citadel’s Loss would admittedly be included)
I reiterate (again!): The Councils Must reconsider their approval of 0016-B! Until it is done, I will Obstruct all attempts to Divide the current Administrators for Looks to the Moon.
The pearl gently drifts from Moon’s hands, as she assumes the important part is over.
It is likely (or rather, was likely, depending on the severity of disciplinary action headed his way) that Tides would remain her Head Administrator even following the construction of 0016-B. Her remaining Administrators would then be divided; an even split of experience between herself and the future Iterator, with new additions on both Administrative Boards to fill the empty ranks.
If Tides is insistent on being an obstruction, then perhaps Moon can dedicate herself to doing what ought to be his job.
(As ever, the processing power she usually divisions for the sake of the Great Problem is often wasted when used as such. Her newer problem, while she has poked and prodded and tugged at all its threads, has yet to unravel.)
First: who can fill the role of Head Administrator?
Her own Head Admin —her First, long ascended— doubled as her Head Neural Engineer during her construction. Twisting Oceans, Fathomless Depths; it is in his vision that her mind is structured. Her personality, her… heart, in the strictly metaphorical sense.
Oceans pioneered a new standard for the Neural Carving of an Iterator. Where the fifteen before her were all modelled off the minds of the Neural Engineers themselves, Oceans simply decided to take a trip to the local Memory Crypts, and took with him a record of someone’s life. A cascade of memories waiting to be reshaped into something coherent and singular.
It was a controversial decision. Some saw it as heresy, disrespect to the ascended— dragging a shadow of them back to the Cycle to live in eternal toil. Even to this day, the practice is only done at the Neural Engineer’s discretion, with judgement following their decision no matter which side of the fence they lie.
(“The memories I chose belonged to someone very dear to me,” Oceans had told her, once. “I don’t enjoy advertising it, as missing them is a heresy all its own.”
“And yet you’ve told me,” Moon had said, teasing. She used to be rather more flippant about these things.
“I have!” Oceans laughed anyway. “You’re as good a listener as she was, which I suppose means I did my job correctly. I decided: she could enjoy her oblivion, and I could keep something of her here while I remain bound. I suppose it truly is heretical, when I say it like that— but can you blame me? The cycles were lonelier, with her gone.”
And then Oceans bathed in void as well, and Looks to the Moon is left with very little of him to keep for herself.)
She wonders which avenue Thirteen Grains Piled High will take. Should he travel to the Memory Crypts attached to the Citadel and ply a lifetime free, it would be yet another uproar in a long list of them. Perhaps it will be mundane by that point.
He could become Head Administrator, she supposes. She doubts that will be the path he takes, however— she suspects he will join the new Council atop 0016-B, or perhaps remain as Head Neural Engineer, resigning himself to a life of debugging and neuron surgery. As tedious as she would find it personally, she gets the impression that Grains genuinely enjoyed his job when he still worked it.
If not him, then who?
There is Sinking Stones, Bellowing Endless Ripples. Moon finds their company most enjoyable, of all her Administrators. They are affable, respectful, and best of all: entirely on the same page as she is regarding their mutual distaste of politics and bureaucracy, though their own distaste is buried under layers of formality that Moon often has to pry free.
Moon, with little extra thought, and as silently as one can when already having a silent conversation with oneself, removes them from the list of candidates.
Who else?
…There is, she supposes, one final choice in the list of obvious choices, entirely dependant on his willingness to abandon his duties in the Council.
Looks to the Moon sends a ping to a citizen drone, as she rarely does.
The broadcast goes through nearly immediately. “Most Holy Iterator!” Falling Drops upon Gathering Leaves gasps, reverent and panicked. “To what do I Humbly owe the pleasure?”
“Be at ease, citizen,” Moon says, mildly amused, “You’re not in trouble.”
“Er— yes. That is to say— Excellent. Is there…?”
Moon ignores the fumbling. “I have a proposition for you, regarding your position in relation to 0016-B, once they are built.”
“…I am intrigued, Most Holy Iterator,” Leaves says cautiously. “I did not wish to jump to conclusions, but I believed I would continue my work in 0016-B’s Council, once it has formed.”
“It is to be expected, given you are the one who first approached the Council with the proposal in the first place,” Moon agrees. “Before that becomes set in stone, though, I have a suggestion that you are free to turn down.”
“I would give it the utmost Consideration before doing such a thing,” Leaves says, “But please, do continue.”
“How familiar are you with Administrative duties?”
There is a pause.
“Only Somewhat familiar,” Leaves admits, “I would, however, be very willing to learn.”
***
“What are the extent of Luna’s records on Iterator construction?”
Sixteen Insect Wings, Radial Swirls did not become a Council member to entertain guests. He also did not become a Council member to be wrapped up in the absurd.
“Of the Third Generation?” Swirls clarifies. “None. Construction of Unparalleled Innocence launched from No Significant Harassment’s can.”
The Engineers sent by the High Council to begin 0016-B’s development arrived this cycle. Swirls finds himself as the unwilling guide to Six Bricks of a Sturdy Foundation, current de facto Head Mechanical Engineer to 0016-B.
Swirls doesn’t know how he became such a notable face in the push for 0016-B’s approval. He shouldn’t have argued with Leaves so much. Perhaps then his reputation wouldn’t be on the line, nor would he be stuck playing host to curt Engineers.
“Expected, I suppose,” Bricks says. Her pace is brisk, but Swirls will be damned if he has to jog to keep up. “I will ask the High Council to send more Engineers.”
“Could you not just employ the many that live on Luna?”
“The High Council is not so eager to depart with the Knowledge required,” Bricks says.
Swirls is thankful that his mask can be used to obstruct many things. Such as rolling his eyes.
“At least employ some,” he says. “Besides, the Knowledge will hardly be a secret once 0016-B requires maintenance.”
“It is the construction that is the issue,” Bricks explains. “But nonetheless, Engineers will be required for 0016-B’s shell. I’ll survey Luna for that task.”
Swirls is sure the Venerated Engineers atop Looks to the Moon will be just delighted that they’ve been conscripted for grunt work. He does not argue. You don’t argue with the High Council.
“0016-B will be the proof of concept for several overhauled systems,” Bricks continues. “The last few Third Generation Iterators all have hybrid components, transitioning between the Neural Terminus to the General Systems Bus. 0016-B will do away with the vestigial Neural Terminus components altogether.”
“If the High Council wishes it so,” Swirls drones. He is not nearly well versed enough in engineering to make sense of the difference. The news that 0016-B will be experimental only serves to irk him further.
“There have been some developments in the Lymphatic Conduit systems as well,” Bricks says, her tone as close to polite as it’s gotten since Swirls was introduced to her. “That was a Primary factor in the High Council’s decision. It should allow for Highly efficient water flow through 0016-B’s most Vital systems.”
“I thought that the Council was averse to sharing Knowledge of an Iterator’s construction?” Swirls says drily.
“Those are not the important parts,” Bricks says, and does not elaborate. “Has a Head Neural Engineer been selected?”
“There has.” Swirls wonders again why he was selected for the task of Tour Guide. “Thirteen Grains Piled High, Count of one Living Block and current member of Luna’s Council.”
Bricks hums, no opinion forthcoming. “I’ll have to speak with him later,” she says. “The High Council has some stipulations regarding 0016-B.”
Again, Swirls is irked. He supposes he could not be so arrogant to expect the Void to release him from these particular struggles, nor fulfil the (he believes rather minor) wish that any part of 0016-B’s development should go smoothly.
“I’ll get you in contact,” Swirls says, and immediately regrets giving himself more work. “He is not a difficult man to find.” Assuming, of course, he has not buried himself in his new work.
***
Before he realises it, Thirteen Grains Piled High finds himself rather buried in his new work.
He is not unfamiliar with Neural Carving. He has studied it quite extensively, in fact. It has been a burgeoning ambition of his, buried and quietly tucked away, to be given this task. The highest of honours, to shape the very souls of the great gods beneath their feet.
Grains pauses in the middle of transcribing his initial ideas to a pearl, trying to remember which faction of Monks declared that considering Iterators to have souls was heretical. He can’t quite recall which House was the most vocal about it— several others have simply stuck up their nose. Iterators are unbound from the Cycle, regardless.
Most have decided the philosophical argument will not matter once an Iterator finds the Solution. Any day now has been the sentiment for at least one thousand years.
Any day now.
But not, Grains selfishly hopes, before he can finish his work. Perhaps 0016-B will be the one to find the solution!
(Any day now. The mantra is growing thin. Grains has felt a shift in public morale. He dutifully ignored it, and dedicated himself to more practical things.)
More practical things. Grains lists them as so:
An Iterator’s Source must be carefully considered. Grains could simply base 0016-B off of himself. It would be the less controversial choice, certainly— Void knows that the as-of-yet unnamed Iterator has suffered enough of it.
It is not an entirely narcissistic endeavour. Most Neural Engineers tinker with their mind’s base to the point of being unrecognisable. Grains has met Unparalleled Innocence’s Head Neural Engineer, and the difference between herself and the Iterator she shaped could not be larger.
And yet, there is something appealing to looking elsewhere. Grains envisions a version of himself, toiling for a solution with a bridge lodged in his side to someone he will never escape, and finds his imagination lacking.
He is not as oblivious as his peers to the opinions of Iterators. Only the wilfully ignorant among his chosen profession don’t see exactly how vast an Iterator’s senses are. Each microbe can be individually felt, if they wished to, and their roots of twisting pipes and filtrations mark a web. You will struggle to find a place in an Iterator’s facility grounds of which they are not physically aware.
To say: he wonders why Looks to the Moon is even remotely supportive of this endeavour.
He does not need to know why, he supposes. The fact is simply that she is. He still wonders if even the Iterator herself would know, if he asked.
And then there is 0016-B.
Looks to the Moon has conceded a portion of her body, but 0016-B has made no such concession. Cannot make a concession, obviously. 0016-B (and Grains should really come up with a name, soon) will be born with senses strained and a body always humming in their periphery. Grains grimly acknowledges that it is up to him how the Iterator will feel about the situation.
He himself would feel… stifled. Suffocated. Pausing again in his transcriptions, he decides, definitively, that he is a poor choice for a foundational source. Using himself as a base, only to remove all undesirable traits, would simply create an incoherent mess.
Grains places the now-finished pearl atop his desk. Perhaps it is time to take a trip to the Memory Crypts.
***
[…] Ascended in 309.34. Humbly, she leaves an itemised collection of her Memories for later perusal.
Early Childhood. The feeling of scraped knees. Early Childhood. Sweet Nectar from the now-extinct species of tree initially developed in Luna. Childhood. Pride, and fear, as her brother is born. Childhood. Excitement for her studies. Early Adolescence. [Qualia. View Attached File.] Early adolescence. Irritation and competitiveness as her studies make ground. Adolescence. […]
***
Entering the Memory Crypts is an ordeal, both as a member of Luna’s Council, and most certainly as 0016-B’s Head Neural Engineer.
Grains is (forcibly) accompanied by Mountain Ranges, Thirteen Dusted Peaks, a Monk of the True Anointed Citadel. By his speech alone, Grains wonders if Peaks was perhaps one of the writers on the original threat issued to the Council when 0016-B was leaked.
“Your arrogance will follow you, Engineer,” Peaks says as they meander through the Memory Crypts.
The great library is bathed in the light of the sun, hanging lower and lower in the sky. Grains grimaces. The cycle will likely end soon, and they’ll have to seek shelter. Most of the cycle was wasted trying to gain entry, which Grains assumes was by design.
Too bad for the Monks, Grains has cleared his schedule. He can bother the Monks for decacycles if he wishes.
“It tends to do that, Holy Monk,” Grains returns mildly. “I shall be careful to avoid it where I can.”
Peaks looks to be seriously considering bashing Grains’ head in with his staff. Grains finds himself grateful that the Monks are so dedicated to detaching themselves from the Karmic Urges.
Peaks hisses to himself as they both march along. “Truly, the number of insults against our Order on behalf of the Apostate Superstructure Abomination are staggering. Must you heap another upon us by rousing the long Ascended?”
“I’ll rouse no one,” Grains says. The superstition of heresy has always rung hollow to him. Iterators are never exact replicas of their Source, anyway.
“Lie to yourself as you wish,” Peaks snaps. He looks to the sky, as Looks to the Moon’s rain alarm begins to sound. “You will have to wrap this up quickly.”
Grains swipes three pearls out of storage to peruse during the rain. “I’ll have to ask you to guide me next cycle as well, Holy Monk.”
Peaks snarls, and they are both aware that he has little choice in the matter.
***
[…] Ascended in 675.84, after leaving his Great collection of Accomplishments as a guide for future Iterator projects. He leaves a record of his Memories for later perusal.
[…] Early Adulthood. The applause as his studies are recognised, and he is accepted into the local University. Early Adulthood. The praise of his teachers as he makes great strides in Engineering despite still being a student. Adulthood. The festivities of the graduation ceremony in 211.23. Adulthood. The uncertainty of his chosen specialisation. Adulthood. The monotony of his work.
[…] Adulthood. The excitement as strides are made in Neural Engineering. Adulthood. The applause of the Council as he is [data corrupted for three lines]
[…] Adulthood. [Qualia. View Attached File.] Adulthood. [Qualia. View Attached File.] Adulthood. [Qualia. View Attached File.] Adulthood. [Qualia. View Attached File.] […]
***
Reading the memories of the long ascended is fascinating, and somewhat morbid, Grains discovers. The writings and qualia within build a rather complete image of each person. A retroactive musing on all the paths they took.
And yet, Grains finds his inspiration still lacking.
He returns to the Memory Crypts over the course of several cycles. Despite the wealth of lives that have been lived, he remains entirely uncertain of the mind he wishes to build.
Directionless! Perhaps he should ask Peaks for advice. He doesn’t, as he wishes to leave the Citadel with his body intact.
Several cycles pass, and Grains’ aimless work is interrupted.
“Engineer.” Peaks enters his temporary chambers without knocking. “You have a visitor.”
Grains frowns, and quickly places his mask on his face. “Oh? What for? I have already informed the Council I would be pausing my duties there.”
“The Council conversely informed me you were an easy man to find.” A woman steps from behind Peaks, shortly bowing her head. “My name is Six Bricks of a Sturdy Foundation, Duchess of seven Living Blocks atop Settling Dust, and Foremost Mechanical Engineer for the High Council.”
Grains blinks. He stands, and gives a short bow of his own. “A pleasure to meet you, Honoured Engineer. I’ll spare you my own introductions, as you appear to already know me.”
“I have heard of you well enough, yes.” Bricks nods. “Ordinarily, the High Council would leave you to your own devices— however, they have a request, in this instance.”
“For 0016-B?” Grains clarifies.
“Would that the request be that he cease his work,” Peaks mutters. They both ignore him.
“For 0016-B’s development, yes,” Bricks confirms. “I see you have chosen to Source the Iterator’s personality separately from your own.”
“I have,” Grains says.
Bricks offers no indication for her opinion on the matter, simply nodding. “Have you chosen a selection of memories yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Then this will not set you back,” Bricks says. “The High Council asks that 0016-B’s personality adhere to several parameters.”
Even Peaks seems surprised by this. “That’s unprecedented,” he says.
“What parameters?” Grains asks warily.
“The High Council believes that the Iterator Project at large needs a… push.” Bricks folds her arms. “Several Iterators have expressed distaste for their Work, stalling progress on finding the Solution.”
“There are thousands of Iterators.” Grains frowns behind his mask. “Is this issue truly so widespread?”
(It is an open secret among most of Looks to the Moon’s Neural Engineers that the Iterator herself has been experiencing a lack of motivation. Experiments are still run, ideas tested and simulated, enough so that juggling her work and her city have become an impossibility.
She tries, and tries, and tries, as every Iterator does, and yet it is not difficult to tell exactly how little she cares. Grains wonders if she would admit it, if pressed.)
“It is present,” is Bricks’ non-answer. “The Council does not wish for 0016-B to become another of this number.”
“The local group already has its slacker, I suppose.” Peaks snorts. “If the Apostate Superstructure Abomination were to become a carbon copy of No Significant Harassment, it would be an utter embarrassment for Luna’s Council.”
Ah, another open secret. “No Significant Harassment has contributed much to the development of purposed organisms,” Grains says diplomatically.
“While neglecting his true purpose.”
“Nevertheless,” Bricks interrupts. “The High Council demands that 0016-B, in spite of whichever Source you may choose, will be uniquely dedicated to their task.”
The facade of a request was abandoned quite quickly, Grains thinks with some amusement.
The conversation is functionally over. If the High Council demands something, there is little one can do but comply.
Grains still asks: “And how does the High Council expect me to achieve this? Iterators can be shaped, not controlled.”
“Then shape accordingly, Thirteen Grains Piled High,” Bricks says. “Iterators are purposed organisms, are they not? Remind yourself of this as you Carve 0016-B’s mind.”
Grains supposes he was looking for direction. It leaves a bitter taste in his mouth as he nods his agreements.
He sees a few golden yellow overseers flit through the room, as they occasionally tend to do, and wonders if Looks to the Moon is watching.
***
[…] Ascended in 865.23. Humbly, he offers all his possessions for the construction of the latest Iterator project (Unparalleled Innocence) and leaves this record of Memories before his Ascension via Void Bath.
[…] Adolescence. The feeling of the sun atop Chasing Wind’s can. Adolescence. The inflection of his sister’s voice when she is irritated with him. Early Adulthood. The placating voices of the judges as he is denied scholarship for the local University. Early Adulthood. [Qualia. View Attached File.]
[…] Adulthood. The inflection of his sister’s voice when she is proud of him. Adulthood. The feeling of aimlessness. Adulthood. The snide remarks of his peers.
[…] Elder. The wind that passes through the Memory Crypts. Elder. The impression of blue and gold atop a spire in Luna. Elder. [Image attached. Contents: five small stones arranged along one of the beaches south of Looks to the Moon’s structure.]
***
Grains has no interest in extending his stay in the Citadel any further. With a direction having been chosen for him, his list of potential Source candidates narrows significantly.
Eventually, he settles.
“That pearl will have to be returned,” Peaks demands.
“Can it not be copied?” Grains frowns. “Not only for the sake of preservation, but these memories are about to become of great significance.”
“I do wonder,” Peaks sneers, “If your chosen victim will feel the disturbance from beyond the Void Sea.”
“I doubt he shall be feeling much at all,” Grains remarks drily. “Can it be copied or not?”
“You will be returning the original.”
“I’ll copy one for my own purposes, then.”
“The Council of Luna has already proven it cares little for Our wishes,” Peaks snaps. “Do as you wish, I suppose.”
“Then I shall,” Grains says, rather tired of all this. “I will return in a few cycles, pearl in tow.”
“I should hope so,” Peaks sniffs. “Remind me the name of the Ascended, so I may note the pearl’s temporary absence?”
“Dappling Light across Shaded Pillars,” Grains recites. “Ascended in 865.23.”
Peaks nods. “Do return it quickly.”
***
Grains is quick to copy the pearl containing the memories of Dappling Light across Shaded Pillars back on Luna, with his own machines once again at his disposal.
His citizen drone pings, receiving a message.
[LIVE [CITIZEN] BROADCAST] LTTM_ROOT, LTTM_COMM — Second Sunrise atop Dense Canopies, Thirteen Grains Piled High
SSaDC: I hear you’ve returned from your vacation. (May your stay in the Citadel have been Tolerable)
SSaDC: Development has made some strides.
TGPH: I’m glad to hear so. I (Humbly) hope my absence hasn’t been too disruptive.
SSaDC: Humbly! By your grace, Grains, you did not contribute much before 0016-B.
TGPH: …I am glad I was not missed.
SSaDC: Do not mistake my words. Your presence would have been appreciated in recent Hearings. Leaves is running himself ragged. If you have encountered our Guest Engineers like I’ve been told, you will understand why.
SSaDC: Looks to the Moon herself has nominated him Head Administrator for 0016-B.
TGPH: I shall be sure to send him my Congratulations.
TGPH: And yes, I have encountered just one of the Engineers. The Head Mechanical Engineer, specifically.
SSaDC: Ah, her. I will not speak further.
SSaDC: That aside, this reaches you because I have a question.
SSaDC: Have you yet decided on a Source? Assuming you have not caved and picked yourself?
TGPH: I have decided. It is not myself.
SSaDC: By your own Wisdom.
SSaDC: My second question: have you picked a name? There is only so long we can all tolerate calling this Iterator ‘0016-B’.
Grains huffs a small laugh as his citizen drone projects the conversation. Sunrise is lucky she did not contact him any earlier, or he wouldn’t have an answer for her.
TGPH: I have, actually.
TGPH: For his eternal splendour, the Iterator will be named Five Pebbles.