Tevun-Krus #43 - ClockPunk

Smith & Jones

 Kris was perturbed, and that was most definitely a feeling to which she was unaccustomed.

And it was not the fact she appeared to be balancing upon the little hand of an enormous clock face that was bothering her, nor was it the fact the clock face seemed to be floating in space.

No, the reason was one that she was quite unable to put her finger on. Entirely, she suspected, because she'd had her memory wiped.

Now there are several ways in which one can tell one's memory has been wiped, but for the purposes of this exercise we're only going to go into the one that applies for you see, Kris was a reasonably logical individual and logical individuals, whether they're able to recall any information or not, are always acutely aware of one thing.

Shit don't happen for no reason or y'know, potentially a slightly less vulgar derivation thereof that same sentiment.

And because Kris was a reasonably logical individual and was, therefore, all-too aware that things did not simply happen, as far as she was concerned it stood to reason that the only reason she could not remember anything was because someone or something had wiped her memory.

Of course, to say that she could remember nothing at all would not be entirely true. She could, for example, remember her name although she could not recall with any clarity why she insisted on the 'K.' She could also remember she had followed Lagwagon on tour for six months in 1999, though which members of the band she did not sleep with whilst doing so eluded her.

Oddly, she could quite clearly remember being there when fire was invented and it was at that point, as that memory that really had no place being in her noggin came to the forefront of her mind, that she realised at least some of the relatively few things she could remember were not her memories at all though of course that in itself presented one very pertinent question, indeed: If they were not her memories, whose were they?

They're mine.

"Oh, erm..."

Yes. I can read minds.

"I figured that. Pretty sure I didn't need any kinda' clarification," she replied, shaking her head. "What I do wanna' know though, is who the fuck are you and why the fuck am I experiencing your memories?"

I'm the Universe...

"Nice."

....and you're experiencing my memories because someone has to. And as you're the last being in existence, that someone has to be you.

"I see..."

You do? You're not at all worried by what I just said?

"Is there anything I can do about it?" she asked. "That I'm the last being in existence?"

There is nothing you can do about it, no.

"But you can?"

Of course... I'm the effing Universe. All I need to do is wind back the clock...

"Well then be a dear and do so 'til I'm enveloped in a bright, blinding white light." That was something else Kris could remember, but there were very few occasions upon which she could remember actually wanting to see the light.

You're not going to stick around? Only, I made crumpets...

"Crumpets?" she asked, her eyebrow raised.

With butter...

"You're not the Universe. You're H'Ver."

No, I'm afraid I actually am the Universe. Although I will admit I knew H'ver. Considered him a friend, actually, until he eventually died. I thought I was going to be al...

"Look, fine, you're the Universe, but I really don't have time to stick around so if you'd..."

Sigh...

And the clock wound back. Kris peered through the darkness until, eventually, she saw and was enveloped by that bright, blinding white light.