initial recovered audio
“-This on? Oh, okay. Good. Check one two three four.
“Alright, entry log A001, Project Wardrobe, Dr. Harold Schaffer recording. Mark entry for March 6th, 2004, 1352 hours.
“This is the first entry in the documentation of MKRD Project Wardrobe, the first-ever manned expedition to travel inside of a recently discovered Class-III level microreality fold. Or pocket dimension, as the boys upstairs like to call it.”
someone speaks outside of range of microphone pickup at this point
“Yeah, sorry, I’ll stop calling it that. The microreality fold was discovered on October 23rd, 2003, in Balashov, Russia. Since then MKRD has quarantined the entire area in a five-mile radius from the fold point.
“This particular fold, aptly labeled Madeleine, is the largest the MRKD has ever discovered, with an opening diameter of 1.74 meters. This measurement has not fluctuated once since discovery. In comparison, the second largest currently known fold point measures in at just 6.8 centimeters in diameter.
“Visually, the fold is identical to all others. A perfectly circular void, like a hole cut out of the air around it. It is pitch-black in appearance, absorbing all light particles that come into contact with it, although it has no measurable pull or applied force of particles, light or otherwise. The fold point stands at an exact 90 degree angle from the ground, the bottom edge of the opening raised 5 centimeters above the ground, and has no measurable thickness; instead, when standing directly to either side of the fold, it disappears from sight. These qualities apply to both visible sides of the fold point.
“In addition, the atmosphere and gravitational pull inside the fold appears to be of the exact same measurement and makeup of our own. Attempts to seal the fold point in a vacuum have proven unsuccessful, as the atmosphere travels freely between the inside and outside of the fold, and replaces the removed atmosphere on our side.
“There appears to be no immediate physical affects of passing through the fold point in both biological and non-biological objects. Materials of various different chemical makeups have been transported through the fold point and have shown no signs of unnatural molecular degradation upon examination. Flora and fauna have both survived passing though the fold point and experienced no changes or complications, physically or mentally.”
clicking noises appear to be subject putting on protective suit for entry
“There is, however, one key difference between our reality and that which exists inside of the fold. When measuring materials retrieved from inside of the fold, we discovered through carbon-dating that these materials had all decayed at 1/40th of the normal rate of decay for these elements. Living subjects aged at the same reduced rate. To confirm our suspicions, an atomic clock was placed inside the fold, and left inside for exactly 720 hours, or 30 days. Sure enough, upon removal, the clock had only registered 18 hours as having passed.
“Scientists have failed to explain why this time-delay occurs, as it has not been shown to occur at any other know fold point site. Our best guess is that the microreality fold is some form of quantum field that is expanding at a slower rate then the rate our reality (and therefore universe) is expanding at, and therefore a “time dilation” is observed. Please see the papers on the Manfred Space-Time Theory for a better explanation.
“Attempts to collect visual footage of the inside of the fold have proven mixed. Due to the time dissonance and EMF absorption of the fold point, digital readings and footage of the fold’s interior cannot be live-streamed from the outside, and video footage recorded and stored inside the fold plays back at 1.5 frames per second when reviewed. Although the fold point absorbs all electromagnetic radiation it comes into contact with, there is no natural visible light recorded inside of the fold. While LED lights do function inside of the fold, we cannot visibly see them from the outside. The video footage of the fold interior we do have shows that the light produced does not collide or reflect off of any sort of physical object or barrier and travels in all directions unimpeded, fading at a normal rate. While there appears to be a solid floor to the fold, it is not recorded as being visible and attempts to remotely collect samples of its composition have proven unsuccessful.
“Which brings us to today. The MKRD has authorized the first human voyage into microreality fold Madeleine, and I have been graciously selected as the candidate for the project. I will be spending the next 1920 earth-hours, or 48 fold-hours, recording my observations as the first documented human to enter a microreality fold. I hope to make my organization, my country, and humanity proud, as well as make a positive impact on the future of science.”
“Mark 30 second to entry.”
“30 second to fold point entry. This recording will be the first of the expedition and the next you will hear from me will be recorded from inside the fold.”
“Entry in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…”
“Mark entry for March 6th, 2004, 1400 hours. Close entry.”
slight static in the recording
“Entry log A002, Project Wardrobe, Dr. Harold Schaffer recording. Mark entry for March 6th, 2004, 1401 hours.
“I just… I… just wow. I don’t even know what to say. It’s insane in here. You really can’t see anything. Not even the floor. It’s like I’m standing on nothing, even though you can clearly feel something there. But it’s invisible, the light passes right through it. The whole place is like this, it’s just empty dimness in every direction. It’s like being in outer space without the weightlessness. The only way to tell where the fold point is on this side is because it appears to exhibit the same light-absorbing properties inside the fold as well, so it sticks out in here as the same pitch-black hole that it does on the outside, albeit less visible since without a source of light the entire area would be just as dark. I’ve placed one of the LED torches in front of it and turned it on so that I don’t lose its location.
“The readings inside the fold are as expected; all changes or differences from earth’s reality, whether in atmosphere, radiation, or gravity, are nominal. No traces of foreign elements are detectable. I am currently enclosed in a pressurized suit and equipped with three days’ worth oxygen supply, but I have been authorized to remove my helmet should the initial testing provide positive results. Under no circumstances am I allowed to remove any other part of my suit, however.
“I will now be taking off my helmet. I will resume the recordings once I know for sure that everything is okay.
“Mark entry for March 6th, 2004, 1403 hours. Close entry.”
“Entry log A003, Project Wardrobe, Dr. Harold Schaffer recording. Mark entry for March 6th, 2004, 1427 hours.
“Everything is fine. No noticeable difference with the helmet on or off, my vitals are reading as normal and I feel fine. The temperature currently reads at 15 degrees Celsius, or 59 degrees Fahrenheit. All changes nominal.
“The lack of- well, anything here, whether it be people, objects, or even sounds, is a little creepy, but so far so good. The sounds my equipment or I make travel through the air normally, and there is no identifiable echo. Also, trying to produce noise by hitting the “ground” with my hand, foot, or any of the equipment does not result in any noise being produced. I will need to examine the area’s ground surface more closely.
“The weirdest thing to think about is how, while I’ve only spent 27 minutes inside of here, 45 hours- nearly two days- have already gone by outside this fold. Since electrical fields are absorbed by the fold point, there is no way for the MKRD to monitor me or any of the information I have collected. Once 24 hours have passed inside of here, I’m supposed to throw a flash drive through the fold point with my readings so far. However, I have to make sure no part of my body passes through the fold point again until the 48 hours are up.
“I think I’m gonna walk around for a bit, see if I can find anything at all in here. I’ll report back in a couple hours.
“Mark entry for March 6th, 2004, 1429 hours. Close entry.”
“Entry log A004, Project Wardrobe, Dr. Harold Schaffer recording. Mark entry for March 6th, 2004, 1702 hours.
“Okay so there is no end to this place as far as I can tell. I’ve walked for close to five miles now, lighting LED torches every mile to mark a straight path and help me find the way back, and I still have not encountered anything. What’s interesting is that this fold’s ground appears to reside on a completely horizontally level plane. I cannot detect any sort of curvature or horizon point.
“Honestly I’m beginning to think that the- what the heck?!?”
loud beeping can be heard, most likely from equipment
“My radiation readings just went off the charts, I’m getting an upwards of 200 rads here, this is insane. I need to move and get my helmet back on right now before I risk radiation sickness. I’m also getting an atmospheric pressure drop to roughly 1001.5 hPa and-”
beeping stops
“And… it’s all back to normal. Rads dropped back to safe background levels, pressure is back up to 1013.2 hPa, all readings are fine. What… what just happened?
“Something very strange is going on here. I would’ve guessed some sort of sensor malfunction if not for the fact that I felt that pressure drop for a second. That was real. Somehow my entire surroundings changed its environment for second, then readjusted back to normal. Before I even had time to move. I’m definitely going to have to investigate this area further, who knows what clues it may hold to the nature of this fold.
“I think I’m going to set up camp for the night here, I’m exhausted and I need to study more before the first 24 hours are up.
“I’m setting my alarms for 2200 hours, I will resume recording at that point. Goodnight.
“Mark entry for March 6th, 2004, 1710 hours. Close entry.”
several voices are heard. all are muffled and distorted, none are believed to have been the doctor. exact time recorded unknown
“Entry log A005, Project- screw it. Mark entry for what I’m assuming is March 6th, 2004.
“Something happened. I don’t even know what happened. Oh man, I am screwed.
“I have no idea how long I was asleep for. My alarm didn’t go off and it’s possible I’ve been asleep for longer than five hours. But that’s not the worst of it.
“I woke up to find that all of the LED torches I’ve placed are gone. Missing. I know this for sure because I placed one of them at the five mile marker, which was less then a hundred feet from where I camped for the evening. And it’s gone, I checked. They’re all gone. The entire area is pitch black as far as the eye can see, and the only light I have left is the one attached to my helmet. All of my sensors are dead, along with my heads-up display and computer systems. This audio recorder and the light appear to be my only remaining functional equipment.
“I have no idea which way the fold point is. There’s no GPS signal in here or magnetic poles, no way to trace my steps back. I’m five miles away from the exit and I have no idea of which direction to head. I’m completely lost.
“The hopeful news is that the MKRD is expecting my initial report in roughly 20 earth days, give or take. Which is 12 hours for me. When they don’t receive that, they’ll likely engage a rescue operation of some sort. At the very least, at the 80-day mark, they will be forced to. Which means in the worst-case scenario, I will be waiting a day and a half to be rescued from here. It’s not optimal but I have enough rations to last me until then. No point in moving anywhere, I can’t collect readings and I could just end up moving further away from the fold point.
“I’m going to wait it out. I will update if the estimated window passes for my first report and I don’t here anything. Until then, it’s gonna be a long night.
“Mark entry for March 6th, 2004, time unknown. Close entry.”
“Entry log A006, recording. Mark entry for March 7th, 2004, time unknown.
“It has to have been at least twelve hours by now. I still haven’t seen or heard anything, save for the sound of my own breath. And my heartbeat. Why do I have such a loud heartbeat?
“Anyways, looks like it’s gonna be another day. Which sucks because this microreality is the most boring place ever, and that would still be true even if I had internet access.
“Gonna hop off here. Hopefully this is the last recording.
“Mark entry for March 7th, 2004, time unknown. Close entry.”
“Entry log A007, recording. Assuming entry for March 8th, 2004, time unknown.
“What’s wrong? It has been at least 24 hours now and there is still no sign of anyone or anything else. I’m starting to think that something worse must have happened. Maybe when I encountered the momentary atmospheric shift earlier on.
“It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I have to get out of here, and soon. Every hour I spend here is almost two days back home. I’m gonna have to start walking and pray to whatever God is out there that I find my way back to the fold point.
“Mark entry for March 8th, 2004, time unknown. Close entry.”
“Entry log A008. Date and time unknown.
“It’s been days in here now, It feels like at least three but I have no idea for sure. No sign of the fold point.
“It’s just emptiness. Everywhere. It’s so dark that my helmet light hurts my eyes when I turn it on, it’s too bright.
“Am I gonna die in here? I don’t want to die.
“I don’t want to die.
“Close entry.”
“Entry log A009. Date and time unknown.
“I’m out of rations. And I’m still hungry.
sounds of a foil wrapper crinkling
“Close entry.”
“I think I did it again, I made you believe we’re more than just friends oh baby da da da da da…
“Da da hmm da da da…
“I’m so cold.
“And I think I’m hearing voices.
“Hello? can you hear me?”
“Entry log A something something, so tired.
“I think it’s been a month, at least. I’m so hungry and thirsty and tired but somehow my body hasn’t given out yet. I know it’s not scientifically possible but I think we’re beyond what’s scientifically accurate now.
“And I can hear voices. I think they’re speaking German but they’re coming from somewhere in here, I just have to find them. I have to find them.
“Close entry.”
“You’re my friend, right? My friend. You listen to my voice. You record my voice.
“I can trust you friend.”
“Door.
“Need to find a door.
“Find a door and go home.
“Door door door doordoordoordoor.”
“So tired, I just wanna sleep.
“Why won’t you LET ME SLEEP?!?!”
“Purple, was it purple?
“That’s what they said, purple.
“Onions.”
“Log zero zero zero zero zero log zero zero log log zero.
“I’m going crazy, aren’t I..?
“I keep seeing things. Through other eyes. My wife, where is my wife? I need to see her. I need to see my wife.
“Why can’t I close my eyes? I can’t feel my feet anymore. No more feet. It just hurts, everything hurts.
“I’m so hungry, I can’t remember what foods taste like. I can’t remember things, I keep remembering other things. Those aren’t my things, I don’t want to remember them.”
“I saw my wife. She was happy.”
“Oops I did it again oops again I did it again did oops again.
unsure what the scraping sound in the background is
“Oh hi friend.”
“AHHH WHY IS EVERYTHING WHITE IT’S TOO BRIGHT TURN IT OFF, IT HURTS PLEASE TURN IT OFF IT HURTS PLEASE TOO BRIGHT TURN IT OFF OFF TURN OFF THE WHITE PLEASE TURN OFF!!!”
“Why… why am I still alive…”
sounds of running water and birds chirping for roughly 12 seconds
“One two unter tage four five six seven.
“One two three four five six seven.
“Offnen three four five six seven.
“Please no more.”
“Kill me friend. You know the pain. Too much pain.
“Just kill me please I’m begging you.”
“Sleep.
“Sleep.
“Sleep.
“Sleep.
“Sleep.
“Hungry.
“Sleep.”
sounds of dr. schaffer screaming for nearly two hours straight before the screaming finally dies out.
“Dark. It’s so dark.
“Friend, my eyes are gone. I took them out so I wouldn’t have to see the dark, but it’s still dark.
“Friend, why won’t you answer me? Why won’t you answer me? ANSWER ME!!!
“I’m sorry friend. I tried to die but I won’t die. It won’t let me die.”
“Hello, what is your name?
“Goodnight”
last recording on device is similar in sound to a large sheet of paper tearing, then silence.
Wardrobe.wav file footnotes: Audio device was retrieved from the fold point 20 minutes after Dr. Schaffer first entered. On March 6th, 2004, 1420 hours, a high-pitch screech was emitted from the fold point itself. An emergency MKRD response team entered the fold to find the device laying on the ground less than two meters inside. The device and the area around it was covered in copious amounts of blood, later identified to match the DNA of Dr. Schaffer. However, no body or tissue was found by the team.
The metadata on the individual audio files on the device range wildly, with timestamps dating back as early as August 27th, 1913, to as far forward as May 11th, 2706. There is no explanation as to the other voices or ambient noises heard on the recordings, although the current hypothesis is that the rate of the microreality fold’s expansion started fluctuating unexpectedly, causing the relativity between realities to rapidly shift; perhaps the noises were other realities colliding with the fold. In any case, carbon dating of the blood samples collected dated them as old as 15,000 years old. Project Wardrobe has since been terminated.
Additional footnote: Dr. Schaffer was never married. Discuss quantum memory entaglement?
Additional footnote: March 30th, 2004, 1908 hours: Microreality fold Madeleine destroyed as per MKRD doc. 12283, archiving incident.
ctrl.alt.dystopia 