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The emerging science fiction futuristic story, 200 odd years from now, of life based on the trajectory of the current madness.
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Rule of Twelve, Double Take - Ch6 (Passage 5/5)

(… continuing)

Teacher continued.

Teacher continued.

“Eventually some of these evolved creatures noticed their cup and tried to fill them. After even more time, some ventured onto the mountain. It was rocky and steep. There were many perils. A wrongly placed foot or hand and the creature would topple down the path and even fall from the mountain entirely. Many died on the mountain as on the plain. Never reaching the top or realising their purpose.

“Those that didn't die on the way up the mountain, extracted learning. When that happened, they observed that their thimble sized cup got slightly bigger. They found it could hold more of the droplets. The creatures also found they could help others up the paths, and that that act of sacrifice also increased the size of the cup. This all gave them the incentive to keep trying.

“Over time paths were added. And then interlinking ladders and ropes for support. And they eventually got to the top.

“Once at the top they realised and completed their purpose, in the same moment. They saw both the meaning of the toil on the plain and the toil of the climb. As life left them, they merged the contents of their cup into the orb. In that final moment they also saw all that the orb contained, all the wisdom of the universe. They fulfilled their purpose.

“As time passed and to move things along, the creator left further treasure, or mysteries. These were miniscule, well-hidden, and only discoverable by those who had devoted a lifetime to climbing the mountain. The mysteries opened a creature’s eyes to the design. This would cause them to delay their final ascent. Instead, they would choose to stay on the mountain a little longer, sharing the knowledge of this treasure, helping others make the climb and ensuring their cup was completely full before they reached the top and completed their purpose.

“Climbing the mountain was not only a risky business, but it was something that had to be done over and over again. Creatures still had to maintain their bodies. They still had to return to the plain to work and toil. This enabled them to create the means for which they could nourish their bodies and then return to the climb, day after day.

“The creatures also discovered that there were no shortcuts. Only those that walk the path themselves ever made it to the top. Only those that climbed the mountain under their own steam, got to touch the orb and obtain the riches.

“Many felt the climb was too hard compared to the comforts on the plain. These creatures chose to embrace the plain and entertain themselves to pass their time.
Some felt cheated by those who were making the climb. They would block their path. Spread lies. Do what they could to prevent others from filling their cups.
At times, the number of detractors would swell, and they would wreak havoc on the mountain’s paths. Tearing down the ropes and ladders and slaughtering the helpers on the mountains. These black spots in the course of time would eventually correct as sufficient believers stood up and fought back.

“Some tried to cheat the system. They built great structures using other creatures. They used the resources on the plain to reenforce the structures. They used the structures to propel themselves high into the sky so they could reach the orb. It never worked. Eventually the structures would collapse. As the structures grew in height and the prize appeared near, those close to the top would jostle for position. As they did that, they put more and more weight and pressure on those below. The resulting instability would bring the structures down before any creature got close enough to the orb.”

Teacher paused for a moment, looking at both Marr and Luna.

Then she continued, “for those that turn their back on the climb, life becomes a meaningless toil, even with comforts to distract them. For these a different end awaits. At the last moment, when their time is up, they will see the design and realise the folly of their choices. Their cup will shatter as their body is no more, and anything contained within the cup is recycled back into the sky to rain down again.

“For those creatures that embrace the responsibility gifted to them by the Creator, riches await. Their choice to toil both on the plain and on the mountain, is rewarded. In engaging in the Creator’s Experiment, they earn the right to know all the wisdom of the universe.”

With the story shared, Teacher closed her eyes. Moments later Teachers’ head dropped forward, and she started to snore gently.
Marr and Luna, looked at each other briefly, nodded, got up and left quietly.

(to be continued...in the next chapter)

[Rule of Twelve, Double Take, Chapter 6 - Saying goodbye (Passage 5 of 5)]

All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2021 BJ Allen

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Rule of Twelve books to be narrated with the help of A.I.

I am investing in A.I. driven narration to bring the Rule of Twelve books to life.

It will be more than just narration in the traditional audio book sense. The A.I. will enable me to bring dialogue to life with character specific voices. This will create a rich and engaging narration.

Over the coming months I will be in catch-up mode, building the narration for already published material. Eventually, the aim will be to concurrently release chapters in both written and rich narrative form.

The narration will eventually make it to audiobook form for platforms like Audible and Spotify. However, to get it sooner, you will need a Locals subscription. The Locals App works just like your favourite audiobook app. So, you can listen on the go. Becoming a subscriber also helps keep this whole show on the road.

I look forward to sharing the journey with you.

Bradley.

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Rule of Twelve, Book 2, Convergence

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Psychological Safety is a trojan horse

Marr nodded with a wink as she put her hands on the back of Luna’s chair and started to speak.

   “Emeelie, what if I have a room with a single door and I put you in it. The door isn’t locked, and you can leave at any time. The room represents a life experience. Now what if I dropped a lion into the room. What would happen?”

   “All things being equal, eventually the lion would get hungry and want to eat me.”

   “What are your options?”

   “Obviously I would leave via the door, immediately,” Emeelie answered.

   The others laughed.

   “Sure, and every other time a lion is dropped into the room you are in, you’d leave too?”

   “Yes,” Emeelie said with a hint of hesitation.

    “What if there was a possibility that a lion might be dropped into every room, from that moment on. How would your experience of life pan out?”

   “Dreadful. Limited. I wouldn’t be able to stay or even enter any room.”

   “Right. You’d spend your time running out of every room and miss every potential experience.”

   “Ok.”

   “What if I put a chain on the lion and anchor it to the wall?”

   “That would work. I would be able to enter the room again.”

   “Right. So, the lion would need to be chained down for every room you may enter.”

   “Great.”

   “This is the trojan horse.”

   “How?”

   “If I am controlling the lion with chains, I am controlling you.”

   “What! How?”

   “I can choose to use chains or not. I can determine which room you can enter and which you cannot. Your potential for life experiences is controlled by me. You allow yourself to be the victim.”

   “Of the lion’s hunger?”

   “No, my will. You are allowing me to depower you.”

   “Oh.”

   “Yes, oh. Your safety becomes dependent on me or somebody else putting chains on every lion.”

   “Not good.”

   “No. What else could you do that leaves you empowered, but not eaten.”

   “I could learn to defend myself against the lion.”

   “Yes, or even tame it. Put chains on it yourself, so to speak. That way you could go into any room you like, regardless of whether there is a lion in there or not. You’d be safe without anyone else’s intervention. You’d stay empowered. You would experience life to its fullest.”

   “So psychological safety is a trojan horse. It puts my safety in the hands of a third party. It depowers. It turns people into victims.”

    Marr nodded and smiled.

 

-------

Excerpt from Rule of Twelve, Book 3 - Regeneration, Chapter 17

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Rule of Twelve, Book 3, Chapter 13
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Dukk opened his eyes. It was dark.

   “A dream. It must have been a dream,” he muttered as he tried to fathom where he was. He tried to digest the pre-dawn excursion with Craig.

   He swung himself out of bed. Marr was gone.

   He checked the time. Mid-afternoon.

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Rule of Twelve, Book 3, Chapter 12
Regeneration - New ground

 

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“What in the world is going on?” Craig demanded as the doors to the south banqueting hall, closed behind them.

   Dukk, Marr and Emeelie stood before him. Beyond was the atrium bathed in orange light from the setting sun.

   On the opposite side of the atrium the doors to the north banqueting hall were open. Music and chatter could be heard from within.

   The noise from the others disguised the deathly silence that engulfed the four.

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