Imperfect Memories - The Eye of the Storm (Part 1)

Posted on 26 Jan 2024 @ 2:56am by Lieutenant JG Montgomery Vala

1,168 words; about a 6 minute read

Romulus - The Variance Lab, Romulan Academy for Science and Technology Annex, 4km from Ra'tleihfi city
2366 - 51 years prior to current timeline

A shimmer seemed to pervade the air of the Variance Lab. Crystals of ice glinted and sparkled as they were buoyed by drafts and breezes of unknown origin. It gave the whole scene a mysterious, ethereal quality.

It had been six months since Rh'vaurekorn had seen his desk. The 6th Phase Line was now very much amidst the depths of the growing anomaly. Only a small section of the Main Lab itself was safe to enter, and even then protective equipment was required. Temperatures had, on several occasions, reached close to absolute zero.

Screeching static coursed over the PA system, the barely audible computerised voice announcing the minimum safe distance, "Pha–. L-ne. T–nty fou-. -9th. –rcentile." Then silence for a beat. Two beats. Then distant, grinding machinery and a bright flash.

The flash illuminated Rh'vaurekorn, creating a dramatic tableau. He stood in front of a large glass window which looked down upon the Main Lab. Its corners marbled with long present kaleidoscopic ice and frost.

As the light died he glanced down into the cavernous room. The most recent variance calculations had not had much impact. The room had returned to an early state of being. Pristine desks and polished floors were rapidly being overtaken once more by frost and snow. A glance at the thermometer indicated that absolute zero had been achieved for milliseconds close to the heart of the anomaly. Particles had been wrested from their time and entropy was once again screaming to maintain the laws of physics in the room.

He tapped the dataslate he was carrying, bringing up fresh sensor data. The extent of the anomaly had spread another few centimeters. He exhaled sharply and tapped his foot.

Something had to be done.

He pivoted on his heel, his deep green lab coat fluttering as he strode purposefully towards the lift. "Havraha, Gielo. Report to decontamination at once," his outer world accent still pierced through as he spoke the Rihannsu tongue, "I will meet you there."

The lift slid swiftly down to the main floor of the lab complex. Rh'vaurekorn strode out of it with purpose, taking the shortest route to the entrance to the cavernous main laboratory. This area had long since been reassigned as decontamination - no one was allowed to enter the lab proper without protective equipment, and a vigorous purging of particles going in or out. Dr. Ar'Vul was keen not to pollute whatever timeline with anything foreign, and vice versa.

Thick green doors now blocked the corridor, signaling the first phase of decontamination. He walked through them with confidence, his ID providing the appropriate authorisation. He clasped a crimson isolation suit from the rack and began to put it on.

"Dr. i'Varul?" A voice echoed through the room a minute or so later.

Rh'vaurekorn looked around at the sound of his name, elbow deep in one of the suits bulky gloves. It was Havraha, Gielo skulking behind him. "Suit up. Quickly." He said with a terse tone.

The duo did not move. "Dr. Ar'Vul commanded that no one enter the anomaly," Havraha said nervously, glancing behind him for backup. Gielo simply nodded, affirming his colleagues words.

"Dr. Ar'Vul is not here." Rh'vaurekorn's tone was short. He had no patience for either of them. "I am in charge in his absence and you will follow my directives." He gave an imperious look, "Unless you wish for a less than exemplary recommendation when your tenure is complete."”

The two Rihannsu looked at each other, wordlessly agreeing that Dr. i'Varul was a mongrel bastard and the threat to their recommendation was likely sincere. They rushed forward and grabbed suits of their own, hastily pulling them on.

"You will obey my instructions to the letter," Rh'vaurekorn said, fully kitted out and holding his helmet under his arm, "If I tell you to move, you move. If I tell you to return here, you return. Is this understood." He glared at them.

"Y-Yes Dr. i'Varul," they both responded in tandem.

Rh'vaurekorn grunted and put his helmet on, gesturing for them to follow him through the next set of doors.

The trio progressed through several different decontamination routines - detergent foam, sonic waves and finally acid. Rh'vaurekorn knew the others hated the final step, but he was always glad to know the suit had no perforations. The acid stage tended to reveal any imperfections in the suits rather quickly.

After several minutes they stood in front of the final doors. Raspy static coursed through Rh'vaurekorn's helmet com unit, "Main laboratory heating … -static- … have fifteen … -static- … caution." He shook his head. Despite innovations in computer technology, the sheer cold of the lab had heavily compromised many of the systems. If heating fans had actually activated he would consider it a miracle. Repairs were impossible these days.

The large doors slid slowly open, ice crystals tumbling to the ground and shattering like glass on the icy floor.

Rh'vaurekorn began stepping forward. "There are no surges predicted for the next hour," he said, "You are both to follow me as far as the tenth phase line." His voice was very muffled, even coming from the suits built in PA system.

Two echoing replies in the affirmative came from behind him, three sets of feet crunched through the frost.

Progress was fairly slow. The isolation suits were unwieldy to say the least, and while they had boots with sharp spiky grips one had to be careful when treading to not slip and fall. The group struck a steady pace, and reached the fifteenth phase marker in about twenty minutes.

The faintly glowing dias was visible in the distance, ominous in its resistance to the frost and snow that surrounded it.

Finally the tenth phase line loomed, its sign completely encased in ice. At this juncture, Rh'vaurekorn turned to his subordinates. "You will remain here and observe. Each take a copy of any readings that may occur. If I do not return in ten minutes: leave." The two stood in silence, "Do I have your understanding," Rh'vaurekorn's sharp tone pierced the icy air.

Two affirmatives echoed around the lab. Dr. Ar'Vul had forbidden anyone going further, just as he had forbidden entering the lab at all. But as Dr. i'Varul had stated, Dr. Ar'Vul was not there. Mnhei’sahe dictated that they should obey the one presently in command.

With a slight grunt of approval at their lack of protest, Rh'vaurekorn continued forward. One foot in front of the other. His desk at the sixth phase line was given a nostalgic glance, but it was not his target. While his respect for Dr. Ar'Vul was immense, his elderly mentor was too risk adverse.

Rh'vaurekorn had one goal, and one goal only in mind. He intended to put an end to this anomaly once and for all.

To be continued…

RSS Feed