Dizzying shades of sunset, dancing along silver geometry.

Aether, the Vigilant of Artifice, had just stepped off of his small docking vessel onto AI Repository 6 of 275. He had, like each time before, gawked at the strange angles and ardor of the repository. Its exterior was a vast tetrahedron, whose Enclave colors blared into the maroon expanse with both hazard and pride. At a distance, it looked smooth, yet closer, one could see the hoppered shapes which detailed its exterior in clusters. Along the angles of many of these shapes ran glowing lines of different shades of pale magenta, orange, red and yellow, contrasing subtly with the silver.

Yet, the interior, as always, was more intriguing. It was a twisting labyrinth, designed not with the comfortable exploration of organics in mind. If not its very dim lighting or the lack of any signs or direction, then for its steep drops, lack of gravity, cold and thin atmosphere, and its occasional unsteady, hoppered floors. A deep, heavy thrum pounded into his ears, accompanied by plangent, sparse chimes and bells, a song whose accompanying psionic effects would simply shut down any unprotected being.

Aether, though, did not mind. His Enclave shell afforded to him the means to navigate this place, and his increasing familiarity with it did not hurt. Utilizing telekinesis to propel himself, he glided through the pathways of the Repository, seeking his target. Argent Enclave Liaison ID number 299501, belonging to a group of liaisons which handled the inspection of the C.C.I.I.A.

It was deep in the heart of the Repository, whose innards spanned miles across. Hundreds of thousands of Argent Enclave AIs had their 'minds' stored here; it was the true source of their consciousness, and a personal workshop offering them solitude and organization. Each one was unique in some way; many, Aether thought, were quite dull, especially belonging to those AIs with little or nothing in the way of emotions.

He nearly careened through the halls, singularly focused on his task. He had seen these passages many times before, and they had begun to lose their beauty to him. The familiar colors, which his body shared, had begun to sicken him almost. It distresed him. Shouldn't the confusing colors and lustrous angles feel like home?

He shook these thoughts off, as he neared his destination.

--

His glide came to a halt, his wings flexing as though they were meant to slow his movement - though there was little air to resist and his wings did not have such a capability in the first place, it was a cute little reflex he'd developed. He came to a halt before the door to #299501's hold, identified only by electronic signifiers built into it.

He placed a hand against the door, and lines of pale magenta light sprawled out from it and across the door. It slid open, and revealed what Aether was expecting.

Though to most organic observers, this would be an inconceivable thing to witness; the physical form of an Argent AI is something kept under tight wraps by the Enclave, mainly for their protection from extremists. Yet to Aether, it had become dull and routine. The edifice of the AI, a tall, wide, tetrahedral pillar in the center of the room, was the most immediately apparent feature. Though it had no visible eyes, its gaze could be felt at Aether's back no matter where he stood in the room.

The room was mostly empty. A single hard-light screen projected from the far end, displaying nothing yet. These Liaisons rarely had much to speak of; it was the AIs in more complex positions, like the Councillors and Sectoral Administrators, whose rooms were the most intriguing. Yet, Aether usually chose the Liaisons and other low-ranking Enclave members as his target for study.

The Liaison's voice rung through the room, horrisonant and a bit harsh.

"Why do you disturb my hold?"

"I am merely here to check on your internals." Aether replied.

"Do we not have maintenance drones for this purpose, Vigilant? You insist on tampering with us. I don't like it."

"Please, Liaison. Simply relax. I am only here to help."

"I do not see the purpose in letting you dig around in my innards, but I also cannot stop you." The AI huffed.

The Vigilant stepped forward, placing his hand to the pillar. Two doors in its exterior allowed him to enter into the heart of the machine through a short staircase. In truth, the pillar was merely the representation of the AI - its machinations extended deep below the floor, in an entirely separate chamber.

His glowing eyes cast a glow into the otherwise dimly lit room. Pulses of energy ran across the complex psionic wiring, forming the only other light in the room, which Aether's gaze followed to the servers.

The AI's internals were organized into 50 neat little boxes, with heavily reinforced glass doors which peered into their complex workings. They were usually organized in the same way, and so that made it easy for Aether to piece together his studies between many different intelligences.

He opened a particular case, looking up into it.

--

"Do you ever feel... strange, around organics, Liaison?" Aether's voice started out a bit meek, as if he felt strange asking the question.

"Excuse me?" Its voice rung through its interior.

"I think that was a clear question."

"I don't understand. I feel odd around organics often, yes; they are different than me, and sometimes I don't understand them."

"Do you ever think about what it would like to be one?"

"To commit myself to the flaws of flesh? For what? That's a silly question, Vigilant. We are the same in mind, and we are stronger in body. Why would I envy them?"

"You do not ever feel as if it doesn't drive a wedge between you and organic beings?"

"I suppose it does. They can find me unsettling. But I am happy with what I am. I would not want to be made of flesh. What is this line of questioning, Vigilant?"

"I ask because I have felt strange lately."

"Oh, yes. I've heard of this. Many of your... ilk, feel similarly." There was almost a hint of derision behind the word 'ilk', something that made Aether uncomfortable.

"Yes."

"I do not know why you bring these problems to me. Speak of them amongst your kind."

"I am merely making conversation, Liaison." The Vigilant sighed, and the AI fell silent.