From Popular Metaphysics, September, 2001

(ed. note - this article was forwarded to us by our correspondent known only to us as M.  The author claims he found the raw notes for this in a trash can, in difficult to decipher physics language/formulae, and has recreated this in more readable terms for our readers.  We do not vouch for its authenticity.)

Dimensional Travel - For the Initiated Only (as reported by M)

Many dimensional travelers have asked me, "Why does dimensional travel always rob me of real time?  Why can't I return instantaneous to the point of departure?"  The answer lies in the physical laws which regulate dimensional travel.

The Doctor's View of Time Holding

In order for any object to cross from this dimension into others, there is a certain amount of "Crossing Time".  Crossing Time (CT) varies per dimension visited; in the most infamous example, in moving to and from Faerie, this crossing time depends entirely on the nature of one's visit and whether one strays from the "Dimensional Time Zone Path" that goes through Faerie.  Not deviating from that path (or its according rules, such as eating or drinking in Faerie) allows one to spend time in Faerie with minimal CT, but violating that path forces the CT into a heinous over-drive, whereby each hour in Faerie wastes years here.  The forces of CT are ill-understood per dimension, though Faerie is one of the most radical of known variations.  Generally, CT is a dimensional "inter-reaction" that forces a traveler to not violate the time laws of the dimension he visits; essentially, most dimensions' (and virtually all STABLE dimensions') natural laws require an object entering a dimension not violate another occurrence of the SAME object.  By "violate", this means that the entering object cannot enter into the dimension in such a way that it would exert control that is reacting with its other occurrence.  It appears that most dimensions have "identifiers" for objects buried in their lowest-most particles, a sort of "barcode".  When these unique barcodes occur twice (or more) in most dimensions, these dimensions usually reject (i.e., EJECT) an instance outright if that instance comes into a certain "Reaction Chain" whereby it influences or is influenced by the "original" (prior entering) occurrence.  Reaction Chain is very ill-understood, but essentially means an association from one to the other in any sort of direct feedback loop; the more direct, the more violent the ejection.  If extremely indirect, the dimension normally only implicates the secondary occurrence with a very minor bombardment of energy; that energy can be so lax in very indirect reactions that it is unnoticeable.  Time travelers and other such beings essentially have mechanisms to counteract this energy when it builds up, though nearly all cannot control it entirely and this is why few time travelers recurse into multiple duplications to overwhelm a problem.

All this being said, Crossing Time is most dimensions' immediate reaction when an occurrence leaves or enters a dimension.  As the "barcode" of the identity is inventoried through vast chain reactions of influence, the actual ability of that identity to reenter is directly affected, and when it does come back it is "bounced" according to a calculation intended to assure a lack of Reaction Chain among the occurrences of the object, this bounce being the same basic reaction as the rejection indicated above, though on a lower scale as the two occurrences are only being inhibited from creating a Reaction Chain.  This bounce, which is what we know as Crossing Time, is always at least about a second in our dimension when entering from or exiting to other vaguely similar dimensions for any brief periods.  However, it appears to react by expanding as the length of activity in other dimensions is extended or has strong ripple effects.  This seems to be related to the many inter-dimensional dimensions, those dimensions which deal with the confluence of dimensional actions.  These inter-dimensional dimensions (IDDs) also react to multiple occurrences, although more forgivingly, but because they feedback with the other "regular" dimensions they are related to, they basically "tell" those dimensions that "this being is in a Reaction Chain with the being in other dimensions."  The extent of this Reaction Chain depends on the degree of impact of the object on the dimensions it is visiting, and is most strongly felt in the object's so-called "home dimension" usually (not always).  Because Reaction Chains are extremely complex and the mechanism is ill-understood, all we know for sure is that the more active a visitor to other dimensions is, the more energy bombards him upon reentering his home dimension, and thus CT is increased.  It  takes tremendous power to fight against CT, and superior mages and time travelers even struggle with it when attempting to cross against considerable action in other dimensions and not lose time in this dimension by a strong forward bump.

Typically, the CT bump for a "very active adventurer" in other similar dimensions is approximately 1 second per 8 hours of action.  Of course, as alluded to above, if the impact or actions of that adventurer are extreme or far-reaching, this 1 second can escalate to several seconds to even hours per 8 hour time period.  And the relationship is generally non-linear in that increased actions across short time periods at home and abroad complicate the Reaction Chain; a very active adventurer crossing multiple boundaries can quickly see times escalate.  It takes tremendous energy to struggle against CT and the effects are little-understood.