Khenumra

It was a common saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder. I didn't know if it was true, but abstinence certainly did make my dick grow harder.

Hard and aching. It had been so long, but the wait was more than worth it.

I could feel my cock throbbing in my hand.

The slow leisure strokes. Then fast rapid ones.

The view helped also. Archer, in his Elven form, bound and naked. His hands were bound at the level of his neck, and his legs were spread wide, showing his aching, hard member.

He watched me pleasure myself, and I watched him being denied. He spoke no words, the gag prevented that. Just desperate little grunts.

It was even sweeter, for the knowledge that I will cum, but he would not.

But this was more than just indulgence. That was a rite.

I focused on the play of light of naked muscles strained by the stress position he was bound in. The glitter of sweat on his skin.

His pupils widened in denied lust. His eyes were wholly focused on cock, hungry for my seed. But my essence was not for him. Not this time.

Faster. Faster. The pressure built in my balls, and then like a stroke of lighting, the cum splayed from my shaft staining my hand, and twin idols on the altar.

One male, a heavenly angel. One female, an earthly witch. 

It was tempting to relax into post-orgasmic bliss, but resisted and began chanting, "I copulated with my fist, I emitted semen into my shadow, I ejaculated into my own mouth."

Od circulated through my circuits, activating the proper spell in the Magic Crest. Like being drawn by invisible magnets, white droplets converged on the two idols and were absorbed. The idols did not move. They remained pristine and inviolate. But above them, the incense smoke figures of an angel and a witch began a mating dance.

Both were of me, purified to an extreme. Masculinity and femininity were refined to a pure, unnatural state. So that erotic smoke show could be called nothing but self-pleasure. A continuation of what I had already done with my hand.

I raised my cum covered hand to my lips and licked every last drop of salty liquid. The semen and blood, pouring from my nose, mixed into exquisite taste. It was almost as good as licking Archer back after I had whipped it bloody.

After the explosion in Missing Mile, he began to crave more severe punishments.

I shouldn't let my mind wander at this critical moment, regardless of my deep-seated concerns.

"I copulated with my fist, my heart came to me into my hand, the semen fell into my mouth," I chanted, initiating the next phase.

The mating dance in the smoke was done, but the consequences remained. Imaginary sex led to an imaginary pregnancy.

An unreal fetus needed nurturing before it could be born. It was nourished by thoughts, emotions, and memories, but mostly by magical energy.

I used my Od to guide mana from the air. The air was rich in mana in this part of the Otherworld, by design. I could set the atmospheric density of mana, and I had set it here to the highest level: the ley line nexus on A-class spiritual land. It was comparable to the air in the cave under the temple where the Greater Grail was situated.

This was delicate work. Nutrition had to be carefully managed. The artificial womb required constant attention. Development had to be meticulously monitored; erroneous parts were culled, and the right parts encouraged.

Such effort was required to produce a high-quality demon, unlike the quick work I employed to create that tracker.

The density of the Imaginary Sixth element had reached a critical threshold. The time for birth had come.

"My heart gives you purpose, my mind gives you form. I come with an empty hand offering nothing but chains. If you would abide by this contract, come forth and be born."

This was the first stage in the ritual where failure could be seen. The demon could be stillborn. All of the magical energy wasted. I awaited the result with bated breath.

The vaporous womb tore apart with a birth cry, an alien vibration, that was neither high nor low, but had frequency whose value needed more than one dimension to mathematically describe.

The world that denied it, it inhabited. The laws of nature that forbade it, it corrupted.

It was an unreal thing even in this eldritch place.

A success. But now came the dangerous part. The binding. I had promised it chains, and now I had to deliver.

Employing seven mystical Names, I secured anchors within the intangible flesh. From this foundation, I crafted chains of commands and dynamic prohibitions, intricately interwoven like an elaborate code. Drawing upon my expertise in AI design and the divine blessing, I constructed these chains with adaptable intelligence. Far from static, the chains possessed the capacity to learn and evolve.

Perhaps that was the reason for the form the demon took once bound: a radiant, solitary eye within a sphere, strikingly reminiscent of Aperture's Personality Cores. And yet, it was strangely attractive. Perhaps it was its colour or suggestive curves. But there was something about it...

"Before all, let the Oath be taken firmly as you rise from the altar from the black earth," I chanted, initiating the final phase of the ritual: containment. It was an additional step that served to preserve the demons for long-term use.

Amulets and rings were traditional. Other small containers, such as urns or lamps, were also used, though I have heard of a Magus employing a suitcase.

Some have even placed demons in prosthetics or false organs, but this required the removal of the original limb or organ first. People have always done terrible things for power. Magi simply had more options.

My family used remains, both human and animal, ranging from just the skull or hides to the entire corpse.

What was barren in the material world was fertile in the astral.

Thus, planting the unreal seed in dead soil.

The foundation of crumbling salt, and reflection of quicksilver, the alchemical marriage of (cold) flesh and (imaginary) spirit.

This was the union of that which ending was true, and that which beginning was false.

Although the process utilized dead bodies, it couldn't quite be labelled necromancy, at least not before my time.

I had worked diligently to integrate necromantic spells into the procedure. While some might argue it was unnecessary, given that demons could animate a corpse without added magic, I found that preserving the memories of the deceased provided a superior interface. However, this method also had its risks, bordering on possession. The static nature of dead records reduced, but didn't entirely eliminate, potential dangers.

It was in Arda that my necromantic research truly flourished. Once I was compelled to substitute Cid for a demon, I also had to further refine the process. The examples of Sauron's work proved to be immensely helpful.

My time as a ghost afforded me a deeper connection to the dead, not to mention the corpse puppets I crafted to guard anchor gates.

With a swift gesture, I plugged in this demon into Archer's gift. 

Some people receive flowers from their lovers; I received corpses from mine. Dead plants or dead people, the sentiment seemed similar enough. And it's not as if he was unaware of my tastes. That might come off wrong—I was a necromancer, not a necrophiliac. I could almost hear Archer quip, "Is there a difference?" Thankfully, he was gagged at the moment.

The cadaver he gifted to me was top-tier. It was the mummy of a famed warrior prince, Khenumra, who served under Pharaoh Amenhotep II during the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom period (circa 1427-1401 BC). This placed the mummy at an impressive age of around 3,400 years. Amenhotep II was celebrated for his military acumen and archery skills, with Khenumra playing a pivotal role in several victorious military ventures.

Khenumra was renowned for his striking beauty, formidable physical strength, and bravery on the battlefield. An adept horseman and chariot master, he often spearheaded the assault against adversarial forces. His valor and good looks garnered respect from allies and foes alike. This, at least, was the tale told on his tomb's walls.

Along with the mummy, the gift package included the sarcophagus, burial artifacts, and comprehensive documentation of the find, featuring photographs of the tomb and accompanying translations. The rogue archaeologist responsible for raiding the tomb was undeniably competent, even if they were a blight on their profession. I naturally assumed the archaeologist was male, given that all traces of their identity had been meticulously removed—unsurprisingly, given the illicit and unethical nature of their conduct.

Conversely, it was a bit hypocritical for me since I ended up as the owner of the illegal goods and had no intention of donating them to a museum.

As the demon descended into the sealed sarcophagus, phasing effortlessly through the black basalt lid, a sudden backlash hit me with the force of a truck. The sarcophagus's gold leaf ornamentation reflected the demon's glow in surreal hues.

However, I couldn't appreciate the spectacle, for my vision was clouded by tears brought on by a piercing migraine. A minor bleed from my nose soon turned torrential, dripping down to stain my bare chest. The blood carved winding routes across my collarbone, meandering down my abdomen, and eventually forming droplets that continued their slow descent down my legs.

"Chocolate," I ordered through clenched teeth, pained, "I need a chocolate bar."

"Here, sir," the voice of Azazel, one of my dedicated androids, resonated, promptly placing the bar in my mouth. The familiar sweetness and the unique warmth of consuming Aurum Vivum enveloped me. That was the appellation I chose for the ether variant present in the Stone Grail, the chocolate bars it produced, the enigmatic staves wielded by the soldier, and the assassin we had encountered in Missing Mile.

In Latin, it means 'living gold'. The name was inspired by the substance's appearance in its purest state: a radiant golden liquid. Indeed, this was the very liquid housed within the Stone Grail. However, since the grail was permanently integrated as an energy source for the Bounded Field—a critical component ensuring the security and functionality of the Enrichment Center—I sourced my samples by extracting them from the chocolate bars.

Immediately, the pain subsided, and the nosebleed stopped. Aurum Vivum was the most potent healing agent at my disposal. Regrettably, in the absence of the grail, utilizing it to power spells wasn't as straightforward. That research avenue was still under development.

"Bring me something to wipe off the blood," I instructed the android before striding over to where Archer was restrained.

"Did you enjoy the show?" I asked as I removed his gag.

"Oh, the show was decent, but I especially liked my seat," he retorted with a cheeky lift of his eyebrow.

It could be that my performance wasn't to his taste, or he was simply admiring my rope skills. It must have been the second one—after all, who could resist a steamy blend of black magic and masturbation?

"I could always include a blindfold next time if the view wasn't to your liking," I teased, briefly gesturing at my naked groin before swiftly returning to the task of removing the ropes. "Still, I have to say, your help was invaluable. Seeing you bound, naked, and desperate truly inspired me to nurture a first-class incubus."

"Happy to play my part," he retorted with a sly grin, "even if it meant defiling a corpse."

As I was kneeling to remove the ropes around his calf as he said that I blew lightly on his hard shaft. His whole body shuddered. I could almost taste it. The delectable dragon-aspected Od, with the spicy addition of the curse. I wanted to taste it. It was a sweet temptation. Just move my head a bit further and take in my mouth. But I managed to resist, somehow.

"Well, I prefer to think of it as creative recycling," I playfully defended my actions, unraveling the final strands of rope. Just then, Azazel returned, bearing a sponge and a bowl filled with water, ready to cleanse the blood from me. "Speaking of recycling, Azazel, don't throw away the bloody water once you finish cleaning me. I have a use for it later."

"I'll take care of it," Archer, now free, interjected with a hint of possessiveness, taking the sponge.

As he tenderly began to cleanse the blood from my naked body, the cool, wet sponge glided smoothly across my skin, sending shivers down my spine. Each delicate stroke of the sponge seemed to draw us closer, as our eyes met and a shared, unspoken desire simmered beneath the surface. And yet, that desire had to be denied. Until he had finished mastering the curse, there could be no relief for him.

"Be quick," I reminded him, my voice slightly breathless. "We don't have much time until it emerges. We have to be ready."

I hurriedly dressed, disregarding the lingering dampness on my skin.

"Ready for what?" he asked, quickly putting on his clothing.

"Well, in case of catastrophic failure, we'll have to confront the abomination I've just brought into existence," I said as I adjusted the settings on the Spellweaver. Amethyst bullets for use against spirits. It's a pity it had only one. My automated gem imbuer had exploded once again. Infusing gems with magical energy was a delicate process and susceptible to violent disruptions when executed improperly. Trying to take the Magus—me—out of the equation had some teething problems. I was sure I would manage it eventually.

The process worked better on gems of lesser quality, so I had a pile of those, but they wouldn't be helpful in this situation. Spells I could cast by sacrificing low-quality gems were unlikely to be effective against the first-rate incubus I had created.

"No, failure can teach as much as success, perhaps even more. Are you not going to use Niquis? It should be effective against a demon," I replied.

Niquis, meaning snowflake, was the name of his sword which had returned the day after the explosion.

Or rather, to be more accurate, the angel plushie, had been there at our bedside when we woke. I might have praised the scabbard too soon since the regeneration seemed to be a property of the sword itself. It was similar to that morgul blade that always seemed to find its way back to GLaDOS.

He stopped using Niquis afterward. I had mixed feelings about that. On one hand, I got to use a smartphone, even if it was a borrowed one. On the other hand, it was a sword I made for him. And the little angel did seem sad. Its wings fluttered with a melancholic grace.

"No," he said sharply, his jaw clenched, and eyes narrowed. As he brought forth iron in the shape of two swords, his stance shifted: one foot slightly behind the other, weight balanced, and swords raised in a guarded position. The tension in his shoulders and the tight grip on the sword hilts hinted at the pain he was determined to hide. "I can manage without it."

I was about to comment on that matter, but there was no more time.

The heavy stone lid slid easily open, and a figure emerged from the open sarcophagus. Khenumra, the legendary warrior prince, stood tall and proud, his bronzed skin seemingly untouched by the passage of time. Or rather, his body did. There were several praise songs among the documents that extolled his beauty, admiring his chiseled features and striking countenance. However, none did him justice. But that could be due to the union with the incubus.

His dark eyes held an otherworldly, dreamlike quality, betraying the demon within as they scanned the room with an unsettling mixture of curiosity and determination. His presence exuded an ethereal aura, beautiful yet slightly unnerving, as though he were a dream made flesh.

His powerful, muscular form radiated strength and vitality, his linen garments lost in the process, leaving him naked save for the gold jewelry adorning his wrists and neck. A few loose bandages clung to his body, remnants of his mummification. The jewelry shimmered in the torchlight, imbuing him with an aura of regal authority that was both awe-inspiring and surreal.

Taking his first steps into this new world, Khenumra gracefully descended from the sarcophagus, the sound of his bare feet hitting the concrete floor echoing strangely through the Otherworld. As he approached me, his movements were fluid and purposeful, a testament to the warrior he once was.

Upon reaching me, Khenumra knelt before me, his head bowed in a gesture of respect and submission, the air around him vibrating with a powerful yet dreamlike energy.

In a solemn, ritualistic tone, I inquired, "I ask this of you, do you know yourself?"

"I remember being Khenumra. I remember Khemet, the land of the golden sands and the magnificent Nile. But I remember dying, and this is not the Duat. It all feels like a dream, a memory of someone else. Am I really Khenumra, the exalted Prince of the Two Lands, the Scion of the Sun?"

"No, that is not your name. However, it will be one by which you will be called. Like cold flesh, it is but a mask upon your true self. A nameless dream." Once more, in a solemn, ritualistic tone, I inquired, "I ask this of you, do you know me?"

"Indeed, you are my master," Khenumra replied, his voice unwavering and filled with conviction.

I then commanded, my voice resonating with authority, "Engrave these words into your heart: Fear nothing. Fear nothing. Fear nothing. For I am the void in which your fears dissolve. Love nothing. Love nothing. Love nothing. For I am the emptiness that consumes your love. Desire nothing. Desire nothing. Desire nothing. For I am the abyss that swallows your desires. Obey me in all things, for I am the guiding hand that shapes your destiny."

Khenumra's eyes gleamed with unwavering determination as he responded, his voice resonating with absolute loyalty, "Your words are engraved upon my heart, master. I shall fear nothing, love nothing, and desire nothing but to obey your will in all things. I am yours to command, and I shall follow your guidance, for you are the architect of my destiny."

My lips parted in a satisfied smile. I felt the Karmic bond settle. "Then let it be known that the one who is to be called Khenumra is a member of my household. To him, I bestow full authority to command all of my servants and soldiers. Pass it to others, Azazel."

"It is done, sir. Cid has been informed," the android replied.

"Good boy," I praised, and the pale artificial skin lit up with a blush. The personal androids responded well to such praise. "Now take Khenumra to where clothing and weapons are stored. Once he is kitted out, bring him to the portals leading to the Aperture Science Data Collection and Human Suffering Enablement Chamber. Khenumra, you may choose whatever equipment you want. You will know best what you can use."

"Finally," Archer said as the two of them, the robot and the demon-possessed corpse, left. "We have delayed enough."

"October 31 is the best date for this kind of ritual," I replied. It was Halloween, a night shrouded in mystic energy when the boundary between the realms of the living and the dead is believed to be at its most permeable.

As a magus, it's an opportune moment for invoking spirits and executing otherworldly rites. Even now, children were running around in costumes, begging for sweets.

Thanks to my efforts, a surprising number of them, especially among the children of Aperture employees, were dressed as 'Emiya Shirou: The Superhero Edition.' Officially, it was to promote Trevor's comic – after all, he was the protagonist – but unofficially, I was abusing my position to bully Archer.

It was his own fault for having such thin skin on that particular subject. Actually, I was doing him a favor—a bit of exposure therapy. "I had to put in my best effort, for such a nice gift. It may be a little late, but I have to ask, what was the occasion?"

"Waited until I can't take it back, I see," he teased, then in a more serious tone, "It was a little sign of appreciation for your hard work in Missing Mile."

"And I thought it was: 'Sorry I blew up that artifact you wanted'," I teased back, sighed, and added once again, "You really should stop torturing yourself about that. It's not like you planned to blow up a small rural town."

"That only makes it worse," he replied firmly, "If only I had done something else…"

"You acted with the information you had," I replied, "There was no way to know that the explosion would be of such magnitude."

"Then I shouldn't have used the self-destruct, not without being certain of all the details," he argued, "That's why we mustn't leave unknowns here."

"You know," I began, raising a hand to my chin thoughtfully, "I've delved into some 'what-ifs' using True Magic. The spell has limitations at my current skill level." I paused for a moment, sighing. "First, I can only base differences on my own actions, and second, the chain of events must culminate in a similar enough situation for me."

I glanced at Archer before continuing, "I saw what would have transpired if I had borrowed your sword before venturing to Missing Mile or if I hadn't summoned the Toxic Slime. The outcomes weren't favorable." I shook my head, my tone taking on a somber note. "Without your sword, you perished in both of those timelines. And without the Toxic Slime, Two perished in one timeline, while both Two, Trevor, and Didi died in another, one where I also had borrowed your sword, forcing me to retreat, rather than continue fighting both soldier and assassin."

With a raised eyebrow, I leaned closer and asked, "That encounter with the Old Man of the Mountain was much closer than you depicted it to me, wasn't it?"

"I had to eliminate a large number of soldiers before I was ambushed," Archer admitted. "My head was already ringing when he attacked me. It was my own fault; I was reckless. I could have dealt with the soldiers without using magecraft. And my life isn't worth the casualties."

"I strongly disagree," I countered. "Even disregarding how important you are to me. Think strategically. If the invasion happens, all those who perished in Missing Mile would amount to less than a rounding error."

"Strategically…sacrifice one to save ten?" Archer pondered. "But where does it end?"

"Ends? It never ends. You should know that better than most. But we cannot linger on every mistake. We can learn from them, but not obsess."

"For the good of all, except those who are dead," Archer quoted the unofficial Aperture Science motto. "You've adapted to Aperture culture a little too well."

"You say that as if it's a bad thing," I retorted. "I make no excuses. I will always sacrifice ten strangers to save one of my people. That's a practical decision, not one of sentiment. The reach of just one person is limited. But if you want others to help your cause, whatever it may be, they must be assured that you will put them first. Because being saved by a stranger may be beautiful, but it's not something one can rely on."

"That's not the core of this matter," Archer said, shaking his head. "It was both of our arrogance. We were too unprepared for what we encountered, and others have paid the price."

"Overcaution could be worse. At least we now know more," I countered, raising an eyebrow. "Let's put this argument aside for now and talk about something else. Tell me, where did you find that mummy you gifted to me?"

Archer let out a tired sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly. We had been having this argument in several variations several times after the incident. It wasn't finished, but I felt that we were making some progress, helping him feel a bit less guilty and self-destructive. The whipping also helped. I planned to continue doing it until his morale had improved.

He nodded in agreement. "While I was searching for the elusive Crown of Midnight, I stumbled upon an underground auction dealing in stolen archaeological artifacts. The mummy of Khenumra was the star attraction, and I knew I had to secure it for you."

"Did you seize it by force?" I asked.

"Actually, I just bought it," Archer replied nonchalantly.

"That must have been expensive," I commented, slightly taken aback.

"It was. Two million dollars," he confirmed.

"What did you do to get the money?" I inquired further.

"I was born. It was part of my Hutter inheritance. Now it's your turn to be the kept man," he teased with a smirk.

"Feel free to spoil me as much as you like," I responded, playing along with a grin. "But I thought that you inherited just the house in Hawkins?"

"There was also a Broadway theater. It's quite profitable, and I do not have to do any work," he explained.

Our conversation continued as we made our way to our destination. Finally, we arrived at the entrance to what Cid had named the Aperture Science Data Collection and Human Suffering Enablement Chamber. The three portals were situated in a small open space amidst towering metal shelves that stretched almost a hundred meters upward until they reached the canopy of even taller primordial trees. Although it was difficult to measure, everything here twisted at unnatural angles.

The portals hovered in the air, serving as transparent windows to the other side. Through the left portal, one could see something resembling the chamber where GLaDOS was housed. The middle portal opened to a bare metal chamber, and the third portal revealed a massive room, of which we could only see a part. The opposite wall was covered with metal and glass cylinders that resembled coffins.

"Are you certain we should open this Pandora's box?" I inquired for the last time. I did not fear danger here, but rather temptation. But it was something I would not say.

Archer's confidence was unwavering. I envied that. Even shaken by recent events, he boldly strode forward. "Absolutely. If it's dangerous, we must be aware. If it's useful, we need that knowledge too," he replied. "I've shown patience, waiting until you created a suitable combat familiar. However, we can't afford to delay any further. Speaking of which, how long until he arrives?"

I could sense his approach. "Not much longer, I can feel him drawing near," I answered. "I do have an unrelated suggestion while we wait. If you have extra money and are in the mood for some charity, you could start a foundation for getting AIDS detection kits to people at risk."

"I thought they were selling well?"

"Yes, selling. The FDA has been dragging it out, so they are still not part of any medical insurance. And until that is resolved, hospitals and clinics aren't buying either. Some wealthier people at risk have bought them, but I would like for them to reach more vulnerable parts of the population. The government could help, but with how the election is going, I don't think it will."

"Just because Reagan won in our timeline, it doesn't mean that he will in this one."

"It's not that. I have been practicing lithomancy lately. The crystals speak to me, so it would be polite to properly listen. It belongs to the same Foundation as my family's Jewel Magecraft, so it was relatively easy to add to my arsenal. The readings are ambiguous; Reagan is either a strong and transformative leader, or a serpent who wants to devour the world. Either way, he's going to win. It wouldn't be a disaster for us. He's likely to increase the military budget once elected, and Aperture will try to get a piece of the pie. But our anti-ADS program could use a little push."

"The serpent who would devour the world has me worried. Should we do something about him?"

"What? Assassination? That would create greater chaos. Manipulate the election? I would have to think about it. And as I said, the reading was ambiguous."

It wasn't long before Khenumra emerged, donning modern military fatigues with a K-bar securely fastened at his belt. As he strode into view, I couldn't help but notice his strikingly handsome features. He possessed an otherworldly charm, his chiseled jawline, and piercing eyes drawing attention to his face. His gait was confident, regal even, like a lion stalking its prey. With each step, he exuded an air of authority that demanded respect.

"No gun?" I asked. I knew that there were several stored, both cheap ones I bought and some Aperture prototypes.

"I don't know how to use those weapons, master," the false prince replied.

"No matter. You are dangerous enough even without any weapon. And I plan to convert your grave goods into proper Mystic Codes for your use."

"Thank you, master. I would like to drive my chariot again," the false prince said.

"A chariot driven by a pair of Nightmares. Now we just need to find a pair of dead horses," I mused mostly to myself. "Go through the left portal and examine it for any hidden dangers."

"I hear and obey, master," the false prince said, and boldly marched through the portal. Those fatigues were sure tight in all of the right places.

"Why do you keep making that face, Archer?" I asked as my familiar left.

"I don't like anyone else calling you master."

Hearing him say that was strangely pleasing.

As Khenumra completed his examination of the chamber, he called out, "All is secure, master," his voice resonating with regal authority.

With that assurance, Archer and I exchanged glances and proceeded to enter the chamber through the left portal. As we stepped through, we were met by a vast space that seemed to stretch into infinity. The walls were adorned with intricate and complex machinery, while the ceiling loomed high above us, casting an eerie glow upon the room. The floor was a gleaming expanse of polished metal, reflecting the light in a mesmerizing dance.

In the center of the chamber, where GLaDOS would have been situated in a similar yet less advanced room, a computer console descended from the ceiling. At my eye level, there was a single monitor and keyboard, though I could see mechanisms for adjusting the height. Turning my gaze upward, the pillar expanded, becoming wide enough to house several large monitors, which displayed the barren metal room from different perspectives. The walls were also covered in monitors, each showing the same images.

As I approached the podium, Cid's mechanical voice echoed from all directions, "You are using the Aperture Science Data Collection and Human Suffering Enablement Chamber for the first time. Would you like a tutorial?"

"Yes," I naturally answered. Cid's tutorials had already proven very useful. Not only for understanding how to use the new addition to the Otherworld, but also for integrating my various abilities with it. Strangely, I couldn't yet find the patterns; there were tutorials for some things, like all of the family magecraft, but for others, like how to properly hook up the electric forge I bought, there were none.

"Certainly," Cid's voice echoed through the chamber. "Let's begin the tutorial for the Aperture Science Data Collection and Human Suffering Enablement Chamber. This facility is designed for a wide range of scientific and weapons testing, as well as the creation and management of test subjects."

"First, let's familiarize you with the control console. The primary monitor and keyboard can be used to navigate through various menus and options, allowing you to customize and control the test chambers, manage test subjects, and review data collected during testing."

"You can create up to 30 continuous test chambers using registered Aperture technologies, which will automatically update as needed. To design a test chamber, access the 'Test Chamber Design' option on the main menu."

As I followed Cid's instructions, the control console displayed a user-friendly interface, allowing me to create a new test chamber from scratch. The screen showed a three-dimensional representation of the chamber, which I could manipulate using the tools provided.

"First, adjust the chamber's shape and size to your preference," Cid instructed. With each adjustment I made, robotic arms hidden within the chamber's walls sprang to life, punching out panels and reconfiguring the room's shape and size.

"Now, let's incorporate some Aperture technologies," Cid continued. "Try adding a thermal discouragement beam emitter to one wall."

Following his guidance, I placed an emitter on one wall and watched as the robotic arms swiftly installed it. A bright red beam of energy shot across the chamber, only to be stopped by a panel I placed on the opposite side, serving as a receptor.

"Great job," Cid praised. "Next, experiment with repulsion gel. Designate a section of the floor to be coated with the substance."

I did as instructed, and almost instantly, a nozzle appeared from a concealed compartment and sprayed the designated area with the bouncy blue gel. Cid seemed pleased with my progress.

"Finally, incorporate an aerial faith plate into your design," Cid suggested. As I placed it on the floor, the robotic arms assembled the mechanism in a matter of seconds. Once completed, the plate glowed with a faint blue light, indicating that it was active and ready to launch any object or test subject that stepped on it.

For now, it seemed great, but I was still wary. I could see many uses for a private place for testing. I did have some experiments that I wouldn't run in the main labs at the Enrichment Center, and this was also much cheaper. But, I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. It did have "Human Suffering Enablement" in its name. And I didn't think that it just referred to automated BDSM equipment, like the robotic spanking bench that appeared among the registered devices that could be included.

As Cid continued the tutorial, he guided me through the camera operations. "The wall of monitors surrounding the console provides a live view of all active test chambers, allowing you to monitor ongoing tests in real-time," he explained.

I followed his instructions, experimenting with the various camera options. I could switch between different cameras for each chamber, ensuring that I had a comprehensive view of the entire testing environment. The interface was intuitive, allowing me to zoom in and out, pan across the chamber, and even toggle between various perspectives.

Cid then showed me the different camera modes available. "In addition to the standard view, you have access to infrared, ultraviolet, magnetoscope, x-ray, 3D visualization, thermal imaging, motion tracking, night vision, augmented reality, time-lapse, and spectral analysis modes," he said. I cycled through these modes, marveling at the unique insights they provided into the test chambers. Infrared highlighted temperature differences, ultraviolet revealed hidden markings, magnetoscope displayed magnetic fields, x-ray offered a glimpse into the internal structure of objects, and the other modes provided even more detailed information.

"Lastly, you also have the option to enable slow-motion playback," Cid added. I tried this feature and watched as the recorded footage played back at a reduced speed, allowing for a detailed analysis of even the most fleeting moments in the test chamber. It was clear that this setup was designed to facilitate thorough observation and analysis of any test subjects and experimental conditions, even though there were no test subjects in the chamber at the moment.

"Now that you've skillfully prepared the chamber for testing, it's time to introduce a test subject to the chamber," Cid said.

"Your state-of-the-art facility includes a cryo-preservation chamber housing thousands of humans, all primed and ready for thawing. To create new test subjects tailored to your needs, you can use the cutting-edge flash-cloning machine. To access the cryo-preservation chamber and cloning machine, simply step through the third portal."

As Cid spoke, a mixture of horror and fascination washed over me. The thought of an entire facility filled with test subjects waiting in cryo-preservation was overwhelming. I couldn't help but wonder how to free them and where to house them. Perhaps they could be relocated to a base on Io. Children could use some company.

"But remember," Cid warned, "test subjects cannot exit the tests through the portals and enter the storage area. The same goes for any technology from the test chambers, due to the risk of cross-universal contamination."

Cid began outlining the steps to thaw the first test subject. Feeling uneasy about the implications, I abruptly ordered, "Stop the tutorial!"

"I am required to add one last disclaimer before ending the tutorial. The Enrichment Center does not recommend the consumption of test subjects to fuel dark rituals, vile machinery, or other such devices which require a soul. While it would be a supreme breach of ethics to clone a perfect representative sample of humanity and freeze it for testing, Aperture Science is legally obligated to inform you that there is a nonzero chance of this phenomenon occurring in nature. Should your batch of test subjects turn out to be a freezer of soulless clones, we cannot be held liable for damages including, but not limited to; death, true death, undeath, lowered efficiency standards, the wrath of an infinite hellscape that yet hungers for souls, and spiritual indigestion."

"Are you happy now?" I asked Archer with a frustrated tone. "We're caught in a perfect ethical dilemma."

I began to lay out the available options and their respective ethical implications. "On one hand, we could leave the test subjects frozen, consigning them to an eternal prison. On the other hand, we could free them all, only to trap them in the limited space of the 30 test chambers. And finally, we could use them as test subjects, which, while still not ideal, would at least give them some purpose."

Archer looked pensive, clearly sharing my concerns about the morality of our choices. "At least now we know about the situation and can make an informed decision, instead of blindly going with the default option of leaving them frozen," he pointed out. "We must carefully consider our options and choose the one that minimizes the harm done to these people while still achieving our goals."

"Isn't it obvious? Sooner or later, unless we choose to ignore the test subjects and leave them frozen forever, we will need to unfreeze some. We'll probably have to work out some sort of schedule, to both keep it fair and deal with limited space. Then comes the question of what to do with them. We can't keep them like fish in an aquarium. People need a purpose; eventually, we have to find some use for them. And one is obvious. As long as we're careful, it doesn't have to be unethical. And step by step, our morals erode. That's why it's a trap," I ranted.

"You're being paranoid," Archer commented.

"Am I?" I said. "This is why I didn't want to deal with it."

"Ignoring problems doesn't make them go away. Choosing not to look is also a choice. You are quite emotional about this."

"And you're being quite calm. I expected more of a reaction. After all, there are people who need saving, and there is no way to save them."

"They're not in immediate danger. We have time to properly plan what to do about them."

"I'll leave that in your hands. Anyway, I don't have any pending experiments that require human test subjects. So, do with them what you will. I'll expect some time to use the test chambers, but we can schedule that."

"What?!"

"I have too many things on my plate. Call it a delegation. But one additional thing worries me. If this was meant for temptation, you and I are somewhat the wrong audience. For GLaDOS, this would have taught all the wrong lessons. With the use of this, she could make staggering advances, with zero cost. So, I will need to test her by exposing her to the police box."