"Natural Phenomenon"
I N T O T H E D A R K O
Rated M
(For Mature)
The Phenomenon
We live in the PRIMARY UNIVERSE. There are many natural phenomenons, most of them as harmless as the Aurora Borealis. But there is one phenomenon that does much more than make pretty lights. Every now and then, a time rift is created in the universe, and this rift creates a TANGENT UNIVERSE. Think of the Primary Universe as a circle, and the Tangent Universe as a line segment. The Primary Universe, like a circle, has neither beginning nor end. The Tangent universe has a definite beginning and an end, like a line segment. As any tangent does, the Tangent Universe touches the Primary Universe at one point. When the two touch, a portal opens, allowing people to transverse the two. However, it is not recommended you do so, because at the end of the Tangent's lifespan, it will collapse on itself and create a BLACK HOLE. The Black Hole is a huge space of extreme gravitational pull. This Black Hole will completely erase the Tangent Universe, when its time comes. This is the barebones of our understanding.
Normally, a Tangent Universe has no direct effect on the Primary Universe, as its destruction happens when the two are too far apart to affect each other. But, some times its different. There are screw ups in the duplication process. An ARTIFACT (usually made of metal) may be created. And Artifact is an item that has been duplicated, but both the dupe and the original are sent to the Tangent Universe. For example, a toaster is sent twice, so there are two toasters in the Tangent Universe, breaking the Law of Conservation of Mass. The Tangent Universe then becomes unstable, and collapses prematurely. If this happens, the two universes would be too close together, and the resulting black hole will destroy the Primary Universe as well. Obviously, this is not ideal. When an Artifact is created, a HERO (or rather, heroic team) is chosen to expel the Artifact from the Tangent Universe, and send it back to the Primary Universe. The hero will be able to traverse to the Tangent Universe and assume control of their TANGENT HALF. The Artifact will be sent back to the Primary Universe by the hero; this delays the destruction of the Tangent and allows enough time to pass to allow the Primary Universe to be out of range of the Black Hole. Your TANGENT HALF will be destroyed with the rest of the Tangent Universe. Once your Tangent Half is destroyed, your primary half will have conscience again, and you will wake up the moment your consciousness entered the Tangent Universe. Also, you, as the hero, will remember everything from the Tangent Universe. Anyone else will simply have dreams about it, without realizing it actually happened.