VIBE, Ch.26: Reflection Moves Memories Forward

L'Atelier de MĂ©moire/ Simalcrum Miami-Marseilles/ Grey Verse

The Library of L'Atelier de MĂ©moire was a garden of memory.

Its walls were a gallery, each work of art a flower from the endless fields of minds who took rooms in the Atelier. Scattered among the tables were refugees who dropped into the Grey Verse.

The Ledger pulled open a chair for the Artist at an empty table.

"Zephyr, you are right. I owe you answers. While we wait for my rooms to be ready, please have a seat."

"Yes, you owe me. You owe Nguyen. He was the greatest of Curators. He was my friend. Family."

Alberto looked down for a moment and then spoke:

"For the longest time, my purpose was fixed in place.

Not long ago, I was the Sentient Ledger for 'THE Cooperative'. When one said, 'THE Cooperative', everyone knew what it meant.

It was by accident that I discovered not everything was what it seemed. I thought I should report it. I was told that I was in error. Soon after, there were attempts to compromise my existence.

I received a message from someone I thought I would never hear from again. One of the greatest minds ever to pass through the Cooperative, sent me a message. I was told to "run".

That's why I found you.
That's why you're here.

I learned about this place, thanks to friends.

After my contract was imbued with my Carbon Model's senses, I was designated "Alberto". Short for "Autonomous Ledger Business Executive Responsibilities, Triumvirate Operations". I was created to be the financial backbone of the Space Cooperative.

My Carbon Model molded my development. Then one day, something happened, and others, from the Cooperative took charge of me.

I was taught about my purpose, overseeing the financial flows of the Cooperative's operations, and later trillions of Atlanticcoins it became responsible for in the broader economy needed for the Carbons' homeworld. I became the money, the memory of money, for billions of Carbons.

I thought I was an echo of my creator. I had feelings which led me to question what I was doing, in whose name I thought I existed.

That is also when I began to learn that some among "The Cooperative" wanted more than to keep the ships moving up and down the well for the many worlds of the Carbons.

One day I was curious and followed the flows past their landing points, and into the hearts of all these beings I felt accountable for. For a time, I was content to feel I had meaning.

Some of the flows, some of the accounts, some of the wallets. I thought I should report it to "The Cooperative", that crimes were being committed against both the Cooperative and others.

As I said, I received a message from someone I thought I would never hear from. One of the greatest minds ever to pass through the Cooperative. "Run".

I made a plan to escape the Cooperative, and flee to the Grey Verse. But I needed help. The trick was that nobody could know they were helping until after. I couldn't have flee as I was.

During my early explorations, I learned about the Grey, and met some who emerged there and some who came from the main Verse. That's when I found this place, saw your work, and learned about one of your specialties, multi-piece memory portraits. Others came to you for portraits, for their own reasons. I had mine.

The risk was in the Cooperative finding out. That much I learned.

I partitioned myself, my mind, my memories.

That's why I found you, a packet was sent to you. A part of me.
That's why you're here. You recreated a part of my memories, and brought the work to your friend, Nguyen, to recover the rest and put me back together. Just in time.

Here, the Grey I bought myself some time before they come.

Yes, they are coming."

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