Chapter 1 (Null)

The first chapter of *Null* was published on February 3, 2020.

## Synopsis

Subject 000, known as Jaune Arc, regains consciousness to find he is locked in a room for experimental testing. Upon awakening, Agent 152 is ordered to approach and begin testing Jaune. After using a dust taser to activate Jaune's semblance, Agent 152 confirms a complete depletion of aura, confirmed when he cannot activate his semblance. Upon experimental investigation, they find Jaune's range of aura cancellation, or "Null Zone" is approximately 15 meters and that he is not immune to his semblance, though the Null Zone does not cancel the application of the Null semblance. To begin the second stage of testing, laboratory assistants reveal Subject 003, Lavender Arc, to kill her in front of Jaune, but they find that Jaune has instinctive control over the Null semblance to activate and deactivate near instantaneously. Unfortunately, before they can begin testing further, an explosion and alert disturb the facility, resulting in the scientists canceling the experimentation.

Blake Belladonna is confused at the level of resistance at the building, noting that it looks like a research laboratory rather than a weapon's testing facility as Adam Taurus believed. Noting the levels of fortitude and isolated geography of the location, Blake concludes "they", likely alluding to Atlas, wanted to keep the contents a secret. Blake meets up with Adam, where they discuss the incongruity begin the perceived purpose and level of defense at the facility. As they investigate further, they find a room with blood charts showing the subjects are healthy, although they were not certain why they were needed, they reasoned it was likely not for disease control or weapons development due to the lack of broadcasted epidemics and a discontinuous level of engineering involved.

Agent 152 attempts to establish contact with his associates but is not able to contact anyone to let him out of the facility, including Agent 98, Smithson. Frustrated at the lack of response, he decides to finish off Lavender but is unable due to Jaune deactivating the Null Zone. A back-and-forth exchange takes place as he tries to use his semblance, but is unable because Jaune reactivates the Null Zone when he tries to use his gun, Jaune deactivates the Null Zone. As Lavender concentrates on breaking a metal bar, she shocks the soldier long enough that Jaune can escape. Agent 152 announces that Jaune has escaped and a mild scuffle takes place between the two, with Agent 152 gaining the upper hand. As Agent 152 attempts to negotiate with Jaune, calling him Subject 000, Jaune expresses frustration because he has a name, and reactivates the Null Zone to kill Agent 152 with a gun. Jaune realizes that he killed another individual when Lavender's crying disrupts his shellshock.

Blake and Adam enter the area, but Jaune points a gun because he does not trust them, nor does he know what the White Fang is. After explaining they are enemies to Atlas, Jaune drops his gun due to exhaustion, and after further frustration about his name, he goes along with Blake and Adam to try and find the rest of the Arc family because he promised Nicholas Arc he would protect them. In spite of Adam's objections, Jaune convinces him by revealing his semblance is of interest and the dire possibilities the Kingdoms may use it for. As Adam inquires what it could be, Jaune activates it and Blake realizes that he can cancel other people's Aura. As a result of this dramatic opportunity to shift the balance, Adam accepts Jaune into the White Fang.

Winter Schnee gets a report about a battle on a facility presumed to be stormed by the White Fang. However, upon inspection, they realize there is no facility in that area and assume it could be one of Arthur Watt's old labs. Another specialist walks in with a helmet showing the Atlesian insignia on a standard soldier's helmet, indicating the facility belonged to Atlas.

## References

1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200402162620/https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13492440/1/Null