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“It all had a beginning in the original cosmic explosion, whatever that was, and it'll all have an end when all the stars run down. Some run down faster than others. Hell, the giants won't last a hundred million years. The sun will last ten billion years and maybe the dwarfs will last two hundred billion for all the good they are. But just give us a trillion years and everything will be dark. Entropy has to increase to maximum, that's all.”

Lupov ponders the ephemeral nature of the universe as he discusses entropy with his colleague, Alexander Adell. Lupov's observation of the stars' inevitable decline enables readers to engage with the concept of entropy. As Lupov argues, no matter how long their lifespans, stars are bound to one day reach their end, signaling the expiration of the universe. Entropy is therefore presented as irreversible.

"We both know entropy can't be reversed. You can't turn smoke and ash back into a tree."

VJ-23X ruminates on the reversibility of entropy as he converses with fellow analyst MQ-17J. He uses the tree analogy to explain that the resources used to power humanity's existence cannot be returned to their original form, just as the universe cannot revert to its original state. Entropy is therefore an inalterable conclusion for the universe and all life that exists there.

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