Imperfect Memories - Shadows

Posted on 30 Apr 2024 @ 9:39pm by Lieutenant JG Montgomery Vala

1,788 words; about a 9 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 and ten weeks after the previous log.

Green coated scientists briskly zig zagged across the vast cavern of the lab in a hive of activity. Experiments were being done, reports written, data collected. It was a whirlpool of motion, little ants scurrying around their vast network, with one or two occasionally being sucked into the middle, drawn there by the pull of Dr Ar'Vul and his exacting demands.

Rh'vaurekorn watched this from above, leaning against the viewing gallery window that took in the whole lab. It was a favourite haunt of his, somewhere that had some peace and quiet, somewhere that he could work without fear of mindless interruption.

Much had changed since he was dragged, barely conscious, out of the Variance Lab ten weeks ago. Dr. Ar'Vul had dubbed it 'the new season'. The lab had returned to its old self, a little water damaged and atrophied from being exposed to absolute zero, but intact nonetheless. New funding had arrived shortly thereafter and the team had significantly expanded. Equipment had been replaced with bleeding edge tech and delicate sensors previously unavailable were now installed on demand.

At the centre of it all was a spot of icy blue light, occasionally blinking on the dias. The once all consuming anomaly had stablised, and the great and the good of Rihannsu advanced science had coalesced around it.

Exposing a raw wound in the fabric of the universe was all it had taken.

The viewing gallery provided a respite from the organised chaos of below. People rarely went there without it being generally known in advance, and if one of the underlings needed him urgently, they would send him a prompt via dataslate. Ultimately, where Dr Ar'Vul thrived at the centre of things, Rh'vaurekorn found it easier to work alone.

His work for the day was not particularly taxing, checking calculations and calibrations, answering some of the messages received from different interested parties… Nothing so crucial that he could not take his time and appreciate both the view and some peace.

Some time passed. He tackled the messages first. The Variance Lab was a popular place to direct funds, equipment and personnel at the moment. Everything done here was meant to be confidential of course, state secrets, but the place had been forced to host a parade of members of the military, senators and dignitaries of various types. The true nature of the research being done was only really known by those who could understand it, and the objective of the project was known by fewer still. This didn't stop discussion of the Lab and the possibilities of what went on there being gossiped about thoroughly in the cafes and plazas of Ra'tleihfi.

He read several offers of support from interested parties, in this case it was mostly minor clans wishing to associate themselves with a successful endeavour. It was likely too late for them to contribute, Rh'vaurekorn mused, much bigger houses had already pledged their funds and spoken in the senate advocating for yet more of the Empire's resources to be dedicated to speculative sciences. He sighed and began a polite declination message.

It did not take particularly long, but just as he was preparing to send the response a soft, female voice broke the silence, "There is a sort of beauty in it," Rh'vaurekorn looked up sharply, his eyes searching for the origin of the words, and wondering how someone had entered without him knowing, "People working in concert, each having their own role. Individuals working ceaselessly towards the betterment of the whole." His eyes finally found the speaker standing in a shadow nearby.

He was ready to scold them for disturbing him but the admonishment died in his throat. A woman, dressed in a form fitting dark grey coat with burnished crescent iron insignia on her collar. Tal Shiar.

He blinked and slowly placed his data slate down, raising his fist and placing it across his chest in salute, "Major," his eye's glanced at her collar and remained averted as was considered respectful, "My apologies, I did not hear you enter."

"Be at ease doctor, people are not meant to hear me enter. If they do it is certain they are having a very bad day," she stepped forward, smiling, "I am Major Mnheia."

The light cascading through the viewing window illuminated her fully as she proceeded forwards. She was older than Rh'vaurekorn, though not significantly so, and quite short. She sported the traditional rounded haircut that was popular in the military, and wore it well. Her smile, as was often the case with such people, seemed to hide many secrets.

"Dr. i'Varul, rekkhai," he gave a respectful nod before continuing, "What brings you to the Variance Lab today?"

"Whispers, doctor," she paced a few more steps towards him, "It is always whispers." She paused and looked out of the large window, "When we last visited this lab was in a state of disarray. Its coordinator was brash and unhelpful. It was very… cold. We had a mind to, well, put a stop to it all," her eye's glinted, "But then we got the news that not only were problems resolved, but a type seven subspace fracture had been successfully stabilised. And now, well, the lab is the toast of Ch'Rihan."

She looked back to Rh'vaurekorn, "Naturally a great deal of interest has been whipped up, so I felt that a visit would be in our best interests."

Rh'vaurekorn knew that 'our' in this case certainly did not include him, "Indeed Major, all has been going fairly smoothly of late." He did not want to speak more than he had to. It was known that words painted a picture, or in this case rope to hang oneself with.

"Smoothly, yes," she nodded, still smiling sweetly, "More funding, equipment… why you have some pieces here even we find difficult to acquire!" she laughed lightly for a moment before returning to her oddly serene expression. "Such an exciting time to be in the field, I am sure you must be thrilled, doctor."

He nodded, maintaining composure as his heart thudded in his chest.

"To be at the centre of all this," she smoothly gestured out of the window, "Dr Ar'Vul's right hand man, we hear. Like a son to him." She fixed Rh'vaurekorn with a blank stare, "It is most impressive," she bared her teeth, "for a mongrel bastard such as yourself, doctor," she took a step closer to him, "It amazes me that the Academy have such lax requirements, you know. We have long advocated for your type to be forced into more fitting, suitably menial work."

Rh'vaurekorn took a step backwards, his back softly pressing against the glass.

"A half-breed in charge of true Rihannsu," she spat on the ground, her visage growing increasingly ugly, "If it were up to me such things would not be allowed to stand."

She was close to him now, uncomfortably close.

"You are fortunate the light of the twin suns shines down upon you right now, doctor. My superiors seem to think there is some," she grimaced, "value in your work. That you have some unique insight into this anomaly that may bring the Empire some sort of boon." She shook her head, "I very much doubt their perspective, but mhei’sahe compels me to consider the possibility."

Rh'vaurekorn remained silent, physically constraining his breathing to appear as calm as possible. He felt adrenaline coursing through his veins.

Several moments of silence passed, then Major Mnheia's face fell back into its previous serenity, "We shall see I suppose." She broke eye contact with Rh'vaurekorn and looked back out across the lab.

"I heard a curious tale, doctor," she began lightly after a while, "I am sure it must be a fabrication because it was such… an unusual thing to hear," she looked back to Rh'vaurekorn, piercing him with her gaze, "It was the tale of a scientist, dragging themselves through the cold, against orders and better judgement, in order to reach the centre of a particularly vicious spatial disturbance."

He met her gaze, but remained frozen like a Travit in the running lights of a landing shuttle.

"This scientist managed to find their way there, but they were consumed by the anomaly," she raised an eyebrow, "Then, amazingly, everything went back to how it should have been to begin with." She continued to fix him with her gaze, "Stability reigned and prosperity followed. And what is even more… unusual is that the scientist was said to have reappeared days later."

Rh'vaurekorn swallowed hard, but maintained his silence.

"Do you know of this story?" She asked sweetly, her eyes boring into his.

He cleared his throat and pressed himself back a little more into the glass - anything for a small amount more space from her. "It is… uhm… not a story I have heard, Major." He spoke cautiously. It was true at least in the sense that he'd not heard the telling.

"Most strange," her voice was almost lyrical, "Few seem to have heard it. Or if they have, they don't seem to know who the scientist might have been, obscured as they were in an isolation suit." Silence fell for a time. The anomaly flashed a little more brightly through the window, glinting in her eyes, "A pity. I am told that anyone entering that anomaly might have had certain… experiences. We are most interesting in hearing about them."

He continued to moderate his breathing, and matched her gaze.

She took a step back, the tension in the room immediately uncoiling a little, "Well doctor I should not keep you from your very important work any longer," she glanced at the data slate lying on the floor, "We will be in touch about ways our organisation can… contribute to the Variance Lab. I am sure our proposals and funding will be most welcome."

"M-Most welcome, indeed Major," Rh'vaurekorn spoke quickly, the relief that the conversation was almost over was palpable.

"Very well," she nodded, "I shall return if I hear any more... tales." She fixed him with a cold stare for a moment, then turned about and neatly left the room.

Rh'vaurekorn closed his eyes for several moments and allowed his full weight to press against the glass. Finally he allowed the adrenaline to take hold, his breath became uneven and almost laboured, he began to shake. Slowly he slid to the floor, cradling his head in his hands.

If he never saw that grey uniform again, it would be too soon.

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