Fallen Empire

                                                                Fallen Empire                                                          By: Robert G. Shores I.           The Senate gathers for an emergency session. All 500 members appear from every province in the Empire, an unprecedented attendance, and the younger Senators are forced to stand along the gilded walls for lack of seats. The buzz of conversation, all spoken in Latin, reverberates off the high molded ceiling of the Curia, the traditional forum of the Senate. The researcher assigned to study the most important scientific discovery of the twenty-first century is scheduled to give a report and no one wants to miss it. The doors at the south end of the hall open and the Head Consul strides in closely followed by two ornamental guards in decorated armor carrying pikestaffs. The echoing cacophony dies down until the Head Consul is ceremoniously seated in a carved throne where great emperors once sat. His personal secretary hands him petitions to sign and the galleries of Senators begin humming once more. The secretary bows his way back out the doors and the guards take up their positions on each side of the throne.  The secretary reenters and shouts, “Doctor Faith, Alice, Vesuvia requests an audience from the esteemed Senate!” The Head Consul does not even look up from his petitions as he speaks the traditional reply, “Then let her enter and be heard.”           The secretary opens the wide golden doors and instructs the petitioner to approach. An athletic blonde haired woman of medium height steps into the huge hall amidst excited whispers and walks towards the speaking platform in the center. The spectators note her lack of toga and a speculative buzz rises; instead she wears beige pants and a closely fitted burgundy jacket. Her hair is down and her hazel eyes are wide. The secretary smirks as she reaches the podium and shuffles her notes nervously. She is not used to speaking in public and it shows. As she mounts the stand, the whispers from the audience are dying down, replaced with an air of expectation. Dr. Faith clears her throat and says, “I have come to report the results of the study of Chronogynics. Upon completion of my research, this is my conclusion: We should not exist...” A snort follows an irreverent chuckle that breaks the stunned silence. This repeats throughout the rows of distinguished Senators until the Head Consul calls for silence and recognizes the Senator from the Canadian Provinces, “How have you come to this conclusion, Dr. Faith?” “Three years ago, I took over my father’s lifetime study of the properties and possibilities of Time. He discovered that Time is an element, much like air and water, and travel through it is feasible. As we once believed that the Earth is flat, so have we also have believed that Time is a unidirectional line. We now know that Time travels in an ever-renewing circle around a central, timeless point called the Nexus, which is responsible for the circle’s continuous motion. The circle itself is not flat, as we originally expected, but is composed of endless tunnels of flowing energy, called Infinity-Tunnels. The method of travel through these tunnels that we have discovered is, in theory, quite simple. Using a combination of radio frequencies, we can open a gate into the Infinity-Tunnels and specify our destination point on the Time circle. We then step into the gate and instantly arrive at our chosen time. As I said, it is simple in theory, but more complicated in practice.” “So have you actually traveled through time, Dr. Faith?” the Senator from the Canadian Province asks “I myself have never experimented with the physical travel,” Dr. Faith admits. “But my father was accomplished at it.” The Senator smirks and sits down. It is common knowledge that the senior Dr. Faith has disappeared while performing experiments with the Senate’s latest interest and it is believed that he has run off with a woman of low society, but remarkable reputation, from the Pacific Island Provinces. It was with reluctance that the Senatorial Committee for Scientific Advancement granted continuation of the project to his only child, a brilliant scientist, but a woman. Dr. Faith resumes her speech, “...My father was not the only human to have traveled through Time. In the last year of his research, he found evidence of a previous successful attempt; as a result, we believe that ours is not the only method of travel. Extreme care must be taken while visiting another time. If the events of history are changed in any way the circle of Time will be interrupted and a hole will appear in the Infinity Tunnels. From this hole, an offshoot forms into a new Time circle, complete with a Nexus and Infinity-Tunnels, and will develop completely ignorant of its illegitimacy. She takes a breath and continues, “One of the elemental properties of Time is that there is only one True Time. If this element is disrupted, neither the new Time circle, nor True Time will regenerate, but will come full circle to the point of the disruption and end permanently. There is such an offshoot in existence. The other Chronogynist created it on March 15, 44 .B.C. The world that we know is a false Time circle, created with the alteration of history and we should not exist.” Dr. Faith finishes her speech and awaits a response from the stunned Senate. The Head Consul rises and addresses her, “We appreciate your informative and concise report. What action do you propose the Senate should take?” “I don’t know exactly what event in history was altered, my father did not return with that answer. I know that something in March 44.B.C. was changed and should be fixed to prevent the total destruction of Time. In order for True Time to continue, the hole would need to be patched, which means the false Time circle would be destroyed.”           There is an outcry of disbelief from the Senate and shouts of accusations being thrown about. This grows louder until the Head Consul calls for order. A hand is raised by the Senator from the Northern European Province and he is acknowledged, “Why should we bother to find this unknown historical event, if it only serves to remove us from existence?” Without skipping a beat Dr. Faith responds, “It is our burden and our responsibility to preserve Life at all costs. Our lifetime is a very short presence in the vastness of the Time circle that is rapidly drawing to a close. We have been given the opportunity to give future generations a Time of their own.  I propose to travel back in time to March 44. B.C. and fix the rift before it’s beyond our ability.” No one wants to speak after this remark and an uncomfortable silence ensues. The Head Consul stands and addresses her, “Thank you, Dr. Faith for your insight, leave us to deliberate, wait outside for our conclusion.” The guards escort her through the golden doors. The instant the door slides shut the Head Consul says, “The floor is now open for deliberation.” Some of the younger Senators raise their hands excited to chime in on what could be a historical landmark event, while the older and more seasoned senators know that this open floor is a trap to find the politicians whose strings need to be pulled. This democracy is an illusion that is so well hidden even a Senator can be fooled into thinking his voice carries some weight.           A Senator from the Pacific Island province raised his hand and is acknowledged “I do not believe we can just ignore what she has discovered. This threat to time itself should be examined or at the very least explored to see what options we have.”           The Head Consul replies, “You are inexperienced and naive. This threat is a work of fiction. Our Empire reigns supreme and any alleged time lines that say otherwise is an act of treason.”           The Senator from the Canadian province nods his head in agreement. “It is a shame to loose such an important and valuable asset as Chronogynics however the Head Consul is correct and our Empire is too great to be unraveled before it can even reach its potential.”           The Head Consul looks over the room and says, “The Senate will now vote to decide their response to Dr. Faith’s report. All in favor of Dr. Faith’s proposal to repair Time raise your hands.”           Not one hand raises, “All in favor of discontinuing the study of Chronogynics raise your hands” Every hand in the Senate leaps up enthusiastically. He presses a button on his throne to call the guards back in with the good Doctor. She returns to the stand she spoke from earlier and awaits the decree. “Dr. Faith Alice Vesuvia, you are hereby ordered by Senatorial Decree to destroy the findings of your study of Chronogynics; to cease and desist all travel through Time; and to report to the Senatorial Committee for Scientific Advancement for a new assignment. You are dismissed.” Dr. Faith bows to the Head Consul and the Senate and is escorted out of the golden doors by the secretary. She proceeds through the entry hall, where several others wait for their turn before the Senate. They watch her furiously storm off, her bearing left no doubt it was an inflammatory hearing and those waiting did not wish to follow. A side door opens and Senator Vesuvius Albinus Drusis from the Province of Rome steps out and looks around. He sees Dr. Faith retreating down the front steps, he hurries after her. “Alice!” She turns and catches a glimpse of her grandfather approaching. Rather than the warm greeting she would usually have for him she says in an agitated tone, “I suppose you are quite happy about the Senate’s decision. You never wanted me to pursue Father’s study!” “Calm yourself, Alice.” The older man takes her by the arm and leads her behind one of the giant columns that supports the Curia roof, “I supported this project from the start, even suggested giving the assignment to your father; though, Gods know, I would have rather he had given my daughter a more stable home. He was constantly consumed by his research, involving you in it until you were also consumed by it. Considering the other inventions that you and your father have provided the Empire, like your rocket packs for our Cerberions, I thought it best to approve his monthly reports, hoping the end result of his research would improve the lives of all.” “If you did not want me to be involved, why did you approve continuation of the project and suggest that I take over?” “There was not another scientist in our Empire who was more qualified or familiar with Chronogynics than you. This project had so much promise I could not stand to see it die.” The Senator shifts his white toga with the official purple border of the Senate. It is too hot to be outside, especially wrapped in yards of the traditional heavy wool material. “If you were so enthusiastic about this project, why did you let it die in there? Did you even protest?” Alice asks assuming the answer is no. He hesitates, lowers his eyes and admits, “No.” “Why not?” Her grandfather sighs, “It was your mother. She came to my house yesterday and asked me not to vote for continuation. She is worried about you Alice. You are her only child and this project has already claimed her husband.” “I have been cautious, I have not traveled myself, and I was not going to unless the Senate approved a trip and gave me a partner.” “I am thankful that you are wiser than your father, I trust you will respect the Senate’s decision and take on the next project we have in mind I know you have always fantasized about the space program; I could, of course, insist that you be put in charge I just need to hear it from you, what do you want to do?” Alice looks out over the bustling crowds in the square around the Curia, then back at the Senator, “I will do what is right.” Senator Vesuvius pats her on the cheek, “I know you will. Now, I must go back inside for the Committee meeting.” Alice smiles as her grandfather walks towards the golden doors