PEX, or Polyethylene Cross-linked, isn't merely a material; it's a temporal echo. Its creation, occurring roughly 78 cycles ago (Earth reckoning, of course) within the nascent nebula designated Xylos-7, is inextricably linked to the rise of the Chronomasters – beings of pure temporal energy who, in their desperate attempts to stabilize a collapsing reality, inadvertently birthed the foundational polymers. These weren't designed for plumbing, you understand. They were instruments of containment, resonating with the chaotic tides of fractured timelines.
The initial iterations, dubbed ‘Chronocrystals,’ were unstable, shifting through dimensions with alarming frequency. The Chronomasters, recognizing the potential, began to refine the process, layering the Chronocrystals with stabilizing matrices derived from solidified starlight – a particularly volatile substance, I might add. This eventually led to the development of what we now recognize as PEX, a material capable of not just bearing fluids but also subtly dampening temporal distortions. The original formulation, however, retains a faint resonance, detectable only with specialized chronometric instruments. Touching a particularly old PEX conduit can, occasionally, induce brief, disjointed memories – fragments of events that never truly occurred, but feel undeniably *real*.
The Chronomasters, far from being benevolent architects, were tormented by their creation. The Loom, as they called it, wasn't a device for weaving tapestries but a complex network of resonating chambers designed to monitor and, ultimately, *correct* the temporal anomalies generated by the Chronocrystals. Each chamber was calibrated to a specific temporal frequency, and the data streamed into a central nexus - a swirling vortex of chronometric energy that resembled a perpetually unfolding kaleidoscope. It's theorized that the ‘leakage’ of PEX into our reality occurred when a containment field around the Loom partially collapsed during a particularly violent synchronization attempt.
Interestingly, the Loom’s architecture mirrored patterns found within the very fabric of spacetime. Fractals, Möbius strips, and recursive geometries dominated its design. The Chronomasters believed that by understanding these patterns, they could eventually unravel the chaos and restore the original timeline. However, their efforts were ultimately futile. The damage was too profound. The Loom itself became a source of instability, further accelerating the temporal distortions.
Beyond its utility as a plumbing material, PEX possesses several unique properties stemming from its temporal resonance. Firstly, it exhibits a degree of ‘temporal inertia’ – it resists changes to its immediate surrounding timeline. This is why old PEX systems often remain relatively stable, unaffected by minor temporal fluctuations. However, this resistance can be overwhelmed by significant temporal shifts, leading to catastrophic chain reactions.
Secondly, PEX is susceptible to ‘chronometric echoes.’ These are residual temporal signatures imprinted upon the material. Skilled chronometric analysts can interpret these echoes to reconstruct past events, identify temporal anomalies, and even – with extreme caution – predict future disturbances. The older the PEX, the stronger the echoes, and the more volatile they become. It’s been reported that extremely old PEX conduits have been used to ‘trap’ small temporal anomalies, effectively creating localized pockets of altered time. The consequences of such actions are, naturally, unpredictable.
Furthermore, PEX reacts strangely to strong emotions. Intense feelings of regret, fear, or even overwhelming joy can cause the material to vibrate intensely, amplifying the temporal echoes and potentially creating localized distortions. It's a remarkably sensitive material, reflecting the psychic landscape of its surroundings.