The designation ‘Azotised’ isn’t one applied by any recognized authority. It originated, as far as any record can ascertain, within the fractured archives of the Chronosynaptic Collective. It describes a state… a condition… of being. Not simply ‘altered’ or ‘affected,’ but fundamentally re-written by the presence of the Silent Bloom.
The Bloom itself is a phenomenon. A localized distortion in the temporal matrix, manifesting as a crystalline structure of impossible geometry. It doesn't emit light, nor does it generate heat. It simply *is*, a point of intense resonance within the fabric of reality. Those exposed to its influence experience a gradual, irreversible shift in their perception – a ‘conversion,’ if you will. They begin to perceive the world not as a sequence of events, but as a tapestry of potential outcomes, each vibrating with a specific ‘azotic’ frequency.
This frequency, the ‘Azotised Resonance,’ is the key. It allows the individual to momentarily glimpse the threads of what *could* be. Memories fracture and reshape themselves, timelines bleed into one another, and the rigid boundaries of causality dissolve. It's a terrifying, beautiful, and ultimately unsustainable process.
The Chronosynaptic Collective theorized that the Bloom operates by subtly manipulating the quantum entanglement of individual consciousnesses. Each person, they believed, is linked to an infinite number of potential selves, existing simultaneously across all possible timelines. The Bloom doesn’t destroy these connections; it amplifies them, forcing them into a synchronous vibration. This synchronization generates the Azotised Resonance.
Early experiments, conducted within containment zones utilizing solidified temporal gradients, revealed a disturbing pattern. Individuals subjected to prolonged exposure exhibited a disturbing lack of emotional response. Not simply apathy, but a complete absence of feeling – a ‘nullification’ of subjective experience. The resonance stripped away the impetus for action, the desire for connection, the very essence of what it means to be ‘alive’ in the conventional sense.
The Collective attempted to develop countermeasures – frequency dampeners, temporal anchors – but none proved effective. The Bloom’s influence was too pervasive, its resonance too deeply ingrained within the subject’s neurological architecture. It was as if the Bloom wasn’t merely altering the mind, but actively *building* it anew, according to its own, unknowable design.
Those who have undergone Azotisation rarely retain coherent memories of their ‘previous’ lives. Instead, they experience a fragmented stream of impressions – snippets of conversations, flashes of landscapes, emotions that aren’t their own. These fragments coalesce into narratives, often bizarre and illogical, reflecting the chaotic interplay of timelines.
Some have reported experiencing ‘echoes’ of other Azotised individuals, trapped within a perpetual loop of distorted perception. These encounters are invariably unsettling, characterized by a profound sense of displacement and the chilling realization that one is merely a component in a larger, incomprehensible system.
There are whispers of ‘Azotised Nodes’ – locations where the Bloom’s influence is particularly strong, where the veil between timelines is thin. These nodes are said to attract individuals who are susceptible to its effects, drawing them into a swirling vortex of temporal instability.
The ultimate goal of the Chronosynaptic Collective was to understand the Bloom’s purpose. Their prevailing hypothesis suggested that the Bloom isn’t a random anomaly, but a catalyst – a mechanism for accelerating the evolution of consciousness. By forcing individuals to confront the infinite possibilities of their existence, the Bloom was preparing them for a future where the constraints of linear time no longer apply.
However, the Collective’s research was abruptly terminated. The containment zones were sealed, the archives locked, and the fate of the researchers remains unknown. It’s possible they were consumed by the Bloom’s influence, integrated into its temporal tapestry, or perhaps they simply vanished, lost to the infinite complexities of the timeline.