Imperfect Memories - Entropy

Posted on 30 Nov 2023 @ 6:02am by Lieutenant JG Montgomery Vala

791 words; about a 4 minute read

Romulus - The Variance Lab, Romulan Academy for Science and Technology Annex, 4km from Ra'tleihfi city
2365 - 52 years prior to current timeline

The lights of the lab came on sequentially, each resounding with a dull thud as it cast pale light onto part of the room below. Twenty rhythmic shudders until the cavernous lab was fully illuminated. The sound was muffled though. People told him he was hearing things, that the acoustics were the same as ever, but Rh’vaurekorn had noticed the change subtly happen over the past two years.

And it certainly wasn't the only thing.

Equipment and machinery seemed to sparkle, the light dancing off the thick layer of frost they had become encased in. Flecks of snow and ice hung in the air, drifting slowly in an icy draught that no number of scientists, engineers or climate specialists could ascertain the origin of.

Each footfall landed with a strange echo as thin veins of ice shattered under Rh’vaurekorn's boots. It did not take long to reach his destination.

His desk had once held a wide array of papers and PADDs, but the environment had meant it was impossible to leave anything there for long without it deteriorating. He had moved much of it to his smaller office in the maze of corridors that branched off the lab. A few solitary pieces of parchment remained, frozen to the desk, his spidery writing covering every corner. He yanked at a draw, pulling it free on the second try, grabbing a chisel. He inserted it beneath the paper and lightly tapped in until it slid beneath in one movement, the sheet parting from the desk with a light crunch.

He picked it up and examined it. He should not have left it here, but he'd gotten caught up with… unrelated activities the night before. He squinted to examine the calculations. They were still legible at least. Nodding slightly, he gingerly slid the document into a folder.

A crackle of static came from the PA system, "Phase. Line. Six. 99th. Percentile," the soft, frequently pausing, computerised voice intoned, wreathed in interference.

Rh’vaurekorn swiveled around to observe the dias. A large sign about ten feet in front of him was emblazoned with the number six, icicles forming on its underside. He should really move further back. There was a chance, a small chance, that the probability he had just heard was miscalculated. But… well it was always too fascinating to run back to observation distance.

Grasping the folder he watched as the machinery on the dias hummed to life, "Gamma. Beta. Beta," The PA system recorded the iteration aloud amidst another burst of static. The hum began to rise in pitch as the machines began to work through the steps of their process.

"i'Varul," a rumbling voice cut through the hum, "You always get too close." Crunching footsteps indicated the presence of Dr. Ar’Vul behind him. He wanted to look back but every iteration enraptured him. The doctor arrived at his side, "What'll it be this time I wonder," he grunted, "Is it too much to ask for my lab back…"

"You never know, doctor." Rh’vaurekorn said lightly without looking away. The hum reached a high pitch then a series of flashes pealed across the room. Vala and Dr. Ar'Vul covered their eyes just before a blinding white flash filled the space.

Time slowed to a crawl. The light faded millisecond by millisecond. Slowly the hum began to soften.

Beyond the sign that denoted phase line six the frost abruptly stopped. Gone were the desks, machinery and equipment that had been their previously. Large crates and boxes now sat in their stead. The floor was polished and free of any ice. The dias loomed, unchanged and implacable as ever.

"Fvadt! Back to when we moved in!" Dr. Ar’Vul kicked the desk in frustration, the return to normal time almost slipping him up on the frosty floor, "Did you have any luck with the variances, i'Varul?" He asked through gritted teeth.

Rh’vaurekorn finally looked to his mentor and lifted up the folder, "That's why I'm here. I'll input them and see if it makes a difference, but doctor…"

"No, i'Varul. Stop suggesting it," the doctor intervened brusquely, "No ones been up there since omega, beta," he shook his head, "For good reason."

Ice and frost began to creep outwards from the dias. It was snowing beyond the sixth phase line.

Dr. Ar'Vul pulled a digital gauge from his pocket, "Come now, we must leave. It's already down five degrees," he swept around, "Entropy takes its price."

"Yes, doctor," Rh’vaurekorn sighed, glancing back at the dias and the freezing crates once more before following on.

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