milliways_bar | (no subject)

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"Ahrem... Testing, 1...2...3..."

At one of the tables in the bar, the scene was thus... Picture a mostly-green blobby-slug-thing - as in, a null - 'sitting' at the middle of the table, making decidedly vocal noises, as though he were about to sing.

"Me-me-me-meme-meeeee!"

Correction, he was just testing his voice. This apparent null was, in fact, Professor Welman Matrix, of Mainframe. While possessing his intelligence these days, the null of science is become...curious about his null-form. What can it do? How does it differ from that of a normal Sprite's existence? These are the things that intrigue him. This vocal-test was to fully self-examine the range of null 'voice'-tones. For instance, as the null appeared to raise its 'head' a little...

"- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -!"

The sound you have just not heard is audible to all canines, be they from Mainframe or not.

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"...Dad? ...what are you doing?"

Ever seen a null give that 'hand-in-the-cookie-jar' expression? It's sort of a flinch and a look of supposed innocence up at the observing party...though how a null actually sees has yet to be determined. Still...

"Well, ummm... I've noticed that nulls perceive sound differently, and on a more varied range, so I decided to test the vocal range of my current state. The results are fairly-interesting. I do believe I could call Frisket from quite a distance."

"Daaaaaad..." Dot faceplams. "This might be a very good time to mention some of the sentient patrons are canine in nature."

Edited 2008-01-23 06:53 (UTC)

"Ah..."

Now he seemed slightly embarrassed. This was one of those scientific 'whoopsees' that cropped up due to a slip of the facts or a lack of information. Still, he should've probably guessed...

"Well, fortunately, there were none in the vicinity, so I suppose there's no harm done."

It's true that null-theory wasn't necessarily his field, but the scientist in him couldn't help but wonder sometimes.

"I'm guessing that my examination isn't what brought you here. What's on your mind, Dot?"

An inquisitive father to the end.

"Well I have some good news for you," Dot smiles "What would you say to becoming a grandfather in an hour or so?"

Just for an instant, the possibility that she was speaking hypothetically crossed his mind and failed soon after. His daughter dealt in facts. Theory was more his style. So, Welman's response was filled with as much fatherly joy as a null could have.

"I'd say congratulations, Princess. When did you find out?"

"A few cycles ago, Bob said he sensed something odd in my energy flow...and we got independant confirmation from Phong the same cycle."

Well, the Guardian was certainly full of talent, now wasn't he?

"Does anybody else know?"

What he actually meant was...has somebody told EVERYBODY yet, or was that yet to happen? Either way, he seemed a positively elated null right now.

"Phong, Enzo, and Mouse know currently, I'm hoping we'll keep it close and not let the word get out to the staff, or to the rest of Mainframe."

Dot has a pretty good idea of what would happen.

Of course, it is entirely possible that if Phong's mood got the better of him, he might anonymously make it public knowledge...or possibly Enzo would. But these things were so up in the air that who could tell?

"I can understand the need for careful words at this stage, though I suspect that one or few voices will still leak out. My lips are sealed, however."

Oh, good one, doc. Very clever.

"I understand, but I just wanted to deliver you the good news in person, Dad." Dot smiles down at him. "Now I just have to tell Matrix and AndrAIa the good news so they're not left out of the loop."

And give Enzo a reason to blab.

What you hear next is so damn audible it scares people.

Shujaa has heard it and is now roaring with displeasure.

Oh dear. Oh dear dear dear...

Find the source of the noise before the lion decides to eat it to shut it up.

You ever seen a null flinch? In Welman's case, the look of it is reminiscent of a cartoon who had just heard a loud crash. Suffice to say, Welman halts his experiment and looks around and...

Was that a large large and decidedly feral feline?

"I think it's times like this I wish Frisket were here."

Strength is busy hushing Shujaa up.

Poor thing he doesn't like loud noises any more than real animals do.

"I don't know about this Frisket but I think things are fine now. I've quieted him, assured him. You're not in—" Pause. "Where are you?"

Being nullified has its ups and downs. On the upside, the lion did not spot him. On the down...neither did the one calming it. Ah well.

"Here, on the table."

A minor pseudopod that more or less equates to an arm extends slightly from Welman's body and sort of waves to gain Strength's attain.

"I do apologize for the disturbance. I was just experimenting a little."

Problem with declaring that you're "here, on the table" is...

...Milliways has a lot of them.

And that compounds things.

Fortunately, a lion can tell where a sound's coming from, and that's relayed to Strength.

"Hello there," she says, eying the technicolour slug. "What sorts of experiments?"

"Well, it's a bit of a long story, but to make it brief, I have this body because of an accident some time ago."

Of course, time-wise, it's not as long as you'd think in human terms, and the accident kinda' disfigured an entire city.

"It's what we in Mainframe refer to as a Null. So, while I have this form to get use to living in, I may as well learn all I can about it, and what nulls actually go through. My first test was with their vocal and auditory range..."

My, but he does go on. Must be a scientist. You can tell because the null-body is sort of making gestures like a professor does during a lecture.

It's not unlike dealing with Logic when she gets on her roll.

"That had to be unfortunate to lose your old self, but you seem to be adjusting to the new, and it hasn't dampered your curiosity at all."

Pause.

"After all, you had to have had it before you became a null."

"Quite so. And in fact, it HAS given me more of it. Mostly, however, I am seeking a method to return from it to my usual self. I understand some of the Users here are quite capable, including with morphic abilities. I know I'd understand it more if I just spoke to one..."

"Alas I know no Users, or I would bring you to see—you can see?—one." Pause. "What did you look like before?"

Upon hearing the question, the talking null waggled its 'head' back and forth a bit, thinking it over. It was always this Q&A business that got him... Then, as he looked up.

"I can see, to a degree. Null-sight is, however, weaker than normal vision. As for what I looked like... Pretty average, actually. A bit tall, maybe. Black hair, wearing glasses, and a healthy shade of green, like my kids."

Hey, don't look at him like that. This is normal for Mainframe.

Hearing him say he was green gets a "whut?" look from Strength.

No one she ever met was green, save for when they were sick.

Wheel notwithstanding. You never can tell what Wheel's going to look like next.

"How have the efforts to restore yourself gone?"

Welman missed the look.

"Well...that's a bit complicated. You see, there are two going theories on the possibility of de-nullifying someone. The first was proposed in Mainframe, in which a sprite or binome that has been nullified may have the process reversed of taken to the very thing which caused their present condition: A Game Cube. More specifically..."

Here we go again. To summarize, Welman basically explains that these Game Cubes may contain the precise stored energy that was taken from the victim in question. Re-introducing those forces may cause a reversal.

"Of course, in my case, it was no game that caused this, so I must find either other means... I believe that Ray mentioned a...Garion?...who might be of some help."

"What caused it then?"

Boy. Does someone need the Cliffs Notes Guide to ReBoot!

"I'm afraid I don't know any Garions any more than I know any Users."

Finding herself unable to help someone in need of it—even if it's not the sort of help she traditionally gives—is not something she finds sits well with her.

This is what happens in Milliways. In any case, Welman is pretty much overlooking the glaring fact that not everybody understands Mainframe. Call it a scientific blindspot.

"Not to worry. I'm sure to run into him at some point. In any case..."

This was a point where he seemed to become a bit more serious and less lecture-crazy. Well...he still had a story to tell.

"It was a virus, you see. They live in my world as terrible creatures, usually. I was testing my portal to open a path to another world when it happened. I don't remember everything from the time...but apparently I opened a path to the Supercomputer and transported a virus right into the main hall. The virus overloaded the portal and exploded. And...that's how I came to be nullified."

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