Stein's Gate WG Story - Chapter 01

 “All things in order strive towards a state of disorder.”

“This is the universal chaos theory.”

“Regardless of this, however, all things are rapidly expanding along with our universe.”

“This is the universal expansion theory.”

Hououin Kyouma’s mind whirled with grand plans, never once thinking of what might happen if he were ever to succeed. There was something fundamental he was missing here, a cornerstone to the scientific realm which he had dedicated the short 18 years of his existence to solving.

“The universe has no beginning, but no end and is therefore infinite.”

He could feel it; the itch within a mind so very close to that final breakthrough. It was the sole purpose he had assembled his team of devout researchers. It was where he would take down the organization who sought to stop him. Within the four walls of his grand laboratory he would ascend the stage to even further greatness if only he could solve but a single unifying factor.

“How could this possibly be incorporated into the finite events which occur within a certain span of time?”

Time had a beginning and an end. Even at a base concept as a unit of measure invented by mankind, it held within it tremendous power. To capture that power for himself would surely give him the advantage he had been looking for and develop something without compare in the known scientific world. He would show those who looked down upon him, those who said that his future gadget inventions were without merit and he would do it in the only way he knew how.

He would invent a time machine.

“Hey Okabe-“

The maniacal cackle he had been building in his throat stopped short. It was precisely these sorts of interruptions which had been stalling his progress so far and derailing his train of thought. The would-be-mad-scientist sighed heavily, adjusted his lab coat and turned with a flourish so dramatic he might have been mistaken for a magician on a stage. This would have been far more impressive had he not also resembled the kind of magician you’d find at children’s birthday parties; unsuccessful, unshaven and looking quite dishevelled overall.    

“Christina, how many times must I remind you that it’s ‘Hououin Kyouma’! Okabe Rintaro is just my cover name! We can’t have the scientific community trembling before such genius without a suitable declaration.”

Unlike the founding member of ‘Future Gadget Labs,’ Makise ‘Christina’ Kurisu was the real deal. A prodigy beyond compare at the tender age of 18, she had already tendered countless landmark papers and had made notable contributions to the advancement of the scientific community. Her sheer brain power seemed to extend its way onto her teenage form as her slim, youthful body found itself more at home in an office shirt and tie with black shorts and tights as opposed to any of the short skirts and crop tops more accustomed to girls her age.

“Again, with the weird delusions. Your lab is a tiny little run-down apartment in the backstreets of Akihabara, situated above a shop run by a guy who gets no business for his CRT TV repairs and seems to hate you. it’s no wonder you’re such a slacker…It’s 2010 and time waits for no man, have you ever considered applying for a real job? Perhaps returning to do some study at the university? I have an opening for a junior research assistant at my lab over in-”

Her helpful suggestion was met only with an upturned palm stopping mere inches from her nose; Okabe’s palm. He tapped his forehead with his freehand as though it would make his point any more valid.

“And abandon my wonderful set-up with all of my loyal and willing lab members?! Sure, there’s just a handful of us, and we lack the appropriate funding, and Mr Braun downstairs charges us a killing for the rent of our office space, but this is where we truly belong! Why serve in heaven, when you can rule it!”

“I believe the correct phrase is ‘Tis better to rule in Hell than to serve in Heaven’ – a quote from Paradise Lost,” corrected Kurisu. “If you’re going to try and rule the world with your inventions, you should at least try to make your mad scientist speeches more profound by getting the references accurate at least.”

“Ah but you see, if my calculations are correct, then what has been said in the past will have very little meaning once I am able to take full control of it! That is to say…after I manage to try and solve how these two concepts are so interlinked…”

Kurisu wandered over to Okabe’s side with her hands in her jacket pockets, her long red hair flowing behind her like smouldering embers as they caught the last rays of the afternoon light. She adjusted her tie and peered down at the messy scrawl which Okabe had been attempting to make sense of and followed it all the way down to the final, heavily underlined words.

“You…want to make a time machine?”

“Not just any sort either!” Okabe huffed mightily. “My theory stretches beyond simple manipulation of information. No, what I intend to do is travel back into the past so that my achievements are those found within the annals of history! Think of it more as a time ‘replacer’ rather than a teleporter which is what a more traditional time machine is capable of.”

The female scientist looked less than impressed. She folded up her arms and began to pace methodically.

“This has bad news written all over it. First of all, such a concept is absolutely ludicrous. Secondly, you stand to disrupt the fabric of space time itself. If so much as one foot is set out of place, or an event should fail to happen or be superseded by another, there’s no telling what sort of damage you would do. Thirdly, did I mention it was absolutely ludicrous?”

“As long as the original content is more or less the same and the events still flow as ordered, and as long as I get the credit, nothing should be terribly disrupted,” Okabe countered. “It is our duty as Future Gadget Laboratory Members to fight the evil organization and prevent them from consolidating their powers!”

“Right…I forgot that ‘The Organization’ was in on this as usual…and here you are the lone mad scientist trying to stop them and get the world to bend to your will while you’re at it.”

No matter how many times she heard it, she could never quite understand what was going through Okabe’s mind. While certainly far from any sort of genius, he had at least the heart of a scientist even if he did lack the mind of one. He intrigued her and that was the only reason why she had decided to stay on with his team, that and his admittedly ALMOST plausible theories.

“Anyway, when you’re feeling like discussing some REAL science, I’ll tell you exactly why this is an absurd idea,” Kirusu shrugged as she made her way over to the small bar fridge they kept at the back of the room. “It’s boiling hot outside today and I could use a drink before starting another lecture.”

For as much junk as the laboratory tended to accumulate, this was one piece of equipment which they had managed to salvage and repair to the point of improving it beyond its original specifications. It could chill any drinks placed within it at room temperature down to a cool and frosty treat in less than 3 minutes and had a working ice-maker installed into the back via a USB cable. More importantly, it also housed both Okabe’s and her own favourite beverage in the entire world, the intellectual experience which was ‘Dr Pepper.’

At least it would have, if it weren’t’ already empty.

“There’s nothing but those gross gel bananas in here again!” Kirusu exclaimed. “Alright, Mr ‘Hoouuinnn Kyouuumaa,’ where the hell is it!?”

“Where’s what?”

“You know damn well what. I was saving that Dr Pepper for a day like today!”

Okabe scratched his chin as his eyes drifted across the room and away from her gaze. Losing himself in thought was doing nothing to deter her fixed, laser-like stare.

“Oh right, that…well, I was out of them on my part of the fridge and you still had one left on your side and I had this really brilliant idea but I couldn’t get it quite right, so I thought if I drank some I could ease my troubled mind and come up with the solution to the time machine problem as I contemplated the inevitable heat death of the universe! It’s all quite simple actually—”

“I believe an apology is in order,” Kirusu interrupted, the fridge door shutting with a slam.

“You can thank me later for saving you from those empty calories. I know that Dr Pepper is the drink of intellectuals but you cannot deny that I am an integral part of keeping your lovely, slender figure the way it is!”

He felt himself being forcefully yanked down by a good six inches to Kirusu’s height. Her crimson eyes narrowed as she spoke slowly and carefully in her completely normal tone. The lack of change of delivery only made her more frightening.

“It’s hot outside. I’m tired and I’m thirsty. If you want me to help you on this, you’re going to have to make it up to me.”

“B-but It’s like a million degrees outside…” Okabe began.

“Better use some sunscreen.”

“And I left my wallet at home so I don’t have any money…”

“Check Daru’s pants. That fat pervert is always leaving some loose change in there.”

“B-but he dumped all the clothing underneath his underwear and he hasn’t washed them in weeks!”

He could feel the anger radiating off her as she pulled him even closer. For a woman so small and slim, she had quite a grip. The twisting of his collar around his throat only strengthened her argument.

“I would suggest you should wear some gloves and hold your breath.”