[Fateverse Side Story: NC Bundle] Non Troppo
The Ringmaster: Chapter 7 of 13
In music, to proceed Non Troppo is to approach one’s directives with a relaxed attitude.
Warnings: Crossovers, fateverse, sci-fi, experimentation on prisoners, brief swearing.
Disclaimer: Recognizeable characters belong to DC/Marvel.
Timeline: About a week after Scherzo.
It is edifying, but not completely necessary, to have read the Dark Nights: Metal event.
Visit The Fateverse Glossary for important terms, concepts, and people.
Notes: See postscript; linked footnotes may open in a new tab.
Non Troppo
Theorist 905 is waiting.
His heart is racing, his hands are shaking.
This will be the most important moment of his career, and feels even more crucial on a personal level than his wedding day (some sixty years past, now) or the day he was made a widower (forty-one years ago)
or the day he closed the loop (forty years, eight months, two weeks, two days, sixteen hours, five minutes,
ten seconds
eleven
twelve
t h i r t e e n
missed by inches
fate on repeat
splat
“If anyone ever tampers with the device, I sanitize the place,” warns the Savant. “If it ever malfunctions or you have reason to believe it’s been tampered with, contact me immediately. If I ever suspect you of tampering with the device or being otherwise irresponsible with the aggregated subject, he will be erased and you will never get him back. Rag, analyze the distributed subject wavelength in this room.”
~Subject wavelength identified and catalogued,~ the dark Node dutifully reports.
“Subject designate: Joker. Ethical profile summary: high-drive mastermind, high research response, selective low hesitation response, predisposition to megalomania. Codependent hound-type. Subject type: aggregate consciousness Node.”
~Node 251 entry established in Central Database. Choose Node designation.~
The Savant looks at Bruce and raises his eyebrows.
the beginning
is the end is
the beginning
“Jormungandr,[ 1]” Bruce says.
“Huh. Thought you’d go with something sappy like ‘the composer.’”
He did think of it, briefly, but it felt like a flowery lie, cloying and fragile. “I know what he is.”
“Sure you do. You heard the man, Ragnarok: Node 251 Jormungandr.”
~Node designation established. Associated to subject designate Joker NC001. Assign Keeper?~
“Bruce Wayne DCA088-Omega,” says the Savant.
~Keeper 193 assigned. Warning: Node is not transmitting to Network.~
“Node 251 will run in standalone mode. It should never make contact with the Network except by remote observation.”
~Acknowledged. Would you like to set an alarm to warn of attempted contact?~
“Yes. Alert the Sysadmin and the Warder department that there should never be any transmissions originating from this lab or from Node 251 Jormungandr. Activate standard signal-blocking measures for the lab.”
~Complete. Only encrypted conduit transmission inbound, zero outbound.~
The Savant puts the dark Node away and crouches to press his thumb to the device. “It’s bio-locked, among other things,” he tells Bruce. “Like I said, I am your tech support. Send an urgent comm any time. I’d rather be inconvenienced than have to clean up. If everything’s running smoothly in six weeks, the Anubis shards can come off.[ 2] Enjoy your new partner, and don’t fuck up.”
Bruce flinches from the glare of the exterior lights as the Savant leaves the lab.
~He’s a cheery one.~
Bruce grins. This is his favorite part of their endeavor, despite the Savant’s doomsaying: being able to interact with Jay the way he can in Four’s libraries, and having Jay able to remember it. “Good afternoon. I’ve got exciting news.”
~Don’t keep me in suspense, dearest!~
“We’re going to be partners in a very important job-and as long as we do well, we can be together forever.”
The Circus mumbles and giggles.
~Well, now! That is exciting!~
“I have so much to tell you, Jay.”
~I’m all ears, my love.~
.End.
Notes:
1 Jormungandr, the World Serpent, is the famous ouroboros of Norse myth. Allegedly, the monstrous snake (one of Loki's assorted scandalous offspring) encircles the world, and his writhing churns the oceans to create the waves.
2 Now that the clowns have a permanent home and a hefty security setup, they'll be able to take Anubis out of proximity. That means first and foremost that the Anubis shards can be returned to their usual uses, and also that the phase solidification effect within the lab is significantly lower (a safer prospect for the staff, who could stub their toes and end up scarring a dozen versions of themselves).
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