Type: Null Line
Morphs [Oak Catalog #]
- Type: Null [772]
- Silvally [773]
Physical Description
Type: Null is an artificial Pokémon created by the Aether Foundation in an attempt to create a widely versatile weapon that could combat Ultra Beasts in any terrain and conditions. Sporting a quadrupedal, mammalian body with thin black fur for maximum stability and agility, it is a chimeric creature constructed from the DNA of Pokémon of every single type in order to cover every possibility while fighting the Ultra Beasts, as data on them was very limited at the time so the engineers behind the project opted to cover as many bases as possible with its design.The most notable features of Type: Null's physiology are the insectoid pincers replacing its forelegs, allowing it to perform devastating slashing and stabbing attacks as well as grasp objects without obstructing its mouth, which it uses for both the typical biting and "Fang" techniques as well as firing many of its "special" attacks. Also present are a fish-like finned tail, designed to maximize its mobility in the water as it can angle it to easily direct its motion while swimming, and purple scales on its hind legs as a result of the Dragon-type DNA incorporated into it, serving no practical purpose. Despite its myriad of type-specific traits, they all end up cancelling each other out and Type: Null is a Normal-type by default.
Most immediately obvious, however, is the large brown helmet affixed to its head. Initially conceived as "Type: Full", Type: Null was intended to be able to change types at will using a feature called the RKS System, inspired by the myths found in Canalave City's library in Sinnoh. However, its body rejected the foreign machinery and it was overwhelmed by the power whenever it was activated, causing it to go berserk and attack everything in sight. The project was deemed a failure and the specimens were outfitted with restraining helmets and cryogenically frozen in order to minimize the risk they posed to others.
This helmet is incredibly restrictive for the Pokémon, weighing 20 kilograms and causing it to move significantly more sluggishly, preferring to move its head as little as possible and instead turning its whole body to look around. It has a heavy mouth guard that prevents its powerful jaws from posing any sort of danger, blocking biting and beam attacks alike, and the green cross-shaped devices on either side of it contain a special electrical numbing gel that blocks the RKS System from activating, preventing Type: Null from going berserk at the cost of heavily reducing its overall power. (As a side effect, the helmet covers its weak points by concealing the delicate machinery, preventing it from being affected by "critical hits" that would aim to strike these spots.) From inside the helmet, a mane-like ruff of several large gray feathers cascades down from the neck hole, while the top of its head bears a large blade-like crest that is likewise being restrained by the helmet, clamped down by a brick-shaped latch attached to the main body of the helmet at a corner.
However, if Type: Null trusts someone to control its wild temperament (in the few examples of this seen so far, only skilled Trainers can command this level of respect), it will destroy its own helmet, starting by tearing out the numbing gel pads and reactivating the RKS System. From there, it uses its reclaimed power to smash the rest of the helmet to pieces with energy blasts until it can shake off the remaining wreckage, revealing a mostly canine head with erect ears and a blunt, metallic snout capped by a triangular sensory membrane designed to resemble the noses of other canine Pokémon while being unable to be obstructed or blocked by most means. The feathers on its head and the membrane on its tail lighten from their previous dark gray to a bright silver color, and its crest, no longer restricted by the helmet, has folded open to reveal three white, stiff feathers that jut out backwards, splayed out at a variance of about 45 degrees between the bottommost and topmost feathers.
It was debated for some time whether this change counts as a traditional evolution or a form change, but it was eventually decided to be an evolution mostly due to the fact that Type: Null reacts to an Eviolite in the same way as other unevolved Pokémon, but also due to its radical change in temperament and the reactivation of the RKS System granting it several new forms of its own after the helmet's removal. This new morph was named "Silvally" by its discoverer, Gladion ***, who published many files and reports relating to it after being named the Aether Foundation's acting president following President Lusamine's departure to Kanto to look for a cure for the Nihilego toxins she was heavily exposed to during her tenure leading the Foundation.
Notable Biology
Beyond the physical characteristics noted above, the line's body also has several properties evocative of types not immediately visible on the surface. In their throats are well-developed pyro-sacs, cryo-sacs, poison glands, and clusters of electrochemical cells that allow them to unleash powerful elemental attacks; notably, they do not have an omni-sac, as it was decided it was better to have several more specialized organs than one that does multiple jobs less efficiently. Their cells contain chloroplasts (but they use too much energy to make photosynthesis an effective method of regaining it) and have several different types of minerals bound to them in a similar manner to fossil Pokémon, affording them powerful defenses, but they don't have much access to Grass, Ground, and Rock-type moves due to these not being an active part of their physiology. Their muscles are tremendously strong, able to tear through a steel plate five inches thick with a single slash of its foreleg claws.Their brains are very advanced, able to easily comprehend human speech and orders, even understanding instructions as abstract as describing an object only by its shape and color. They also have a near-photographic memory, able to recognize people and things it's only seen once before months or years ago. This makes the line surprisingly easy to train, especially when combined with Silvally's intense loyalty to its Trainer. They even have limited access to several supernatural abilities, able to utilize the Psychic-type "Heal Block" and "Block" techniques naturally and sense the emotions of their trainers much like several Fairy-type Pokémon, as well as harnessing spiritual energy to perform the "Shadow Ball" and "Shadow Claw" attacks.
Of course, the crux of the line's abilities is the RKS System, built into the screw-like caps on either side of Silvally's head. A total of 17 small disk-like drives dubbed Memories were created to work with this system, each containing extensive data on every known type except Normal gathered from both Pokémon embodying them and their elemental attacks. Silvally can loosen the cap on the left side of its head at will to allow insertion and removal of Memories, but it also can be unscrewed manually in the event that it is unconscious or otherwise unable or unwilling to manipulate the drive itself.
Upon insertion, the RKS System reads the Memory and uses the data contained within to create activator molecules that are distributed through Silvally's body through its circulatory system, causing its cells to undergo a change related to that type; for instance, the Fire Memory causes its body temperature to rise drastically and boosts its pyro-sac's production, while the Flying Memory makes it produce hydrogen gas from its water stores that fills its body cavities, reducing its weight significantly. This process is designed to be as modular as possible in the event that new types are discovered, which is why instructions for each type are stored on the Memories instead of being completely internal, and takes about a minute to completely convert. However, changing types is quite draining on Silvally's energy, so it's recommended to give it plenty of time before and after changing Memories to recover and never change them during a battle, as the stress of having to undo the previous type, apply the new type, and continue fighting all at once may well knock Silvally out right then and there.
Habitat
As an artificial Pokémon, the closest thing Type: Null and Silvally have to a habitat is the soulless, sterile laboratories they were born in. As a result, observed specimens have been shown to prefer natural, wide-open areas such as open fields, and are noticeably uncomfortable in close quarters. There have never been any wild specimens to observe their actual habitat preferences, but based on their physiology, one could safely assume they would be most comfortable in forested or urban areas similar to other mammalian quadruped Pokémon of comparable stature.Only three Type: Null specimens were created by the Aether Foundation, two of which are in the possession of President Gladion and the Alolan Pokémon League's current Champion. The third remains in cryo-storage, but Gladion has stated he is actively searching for a promising Trainer to bestow it upon. However, a fourth has recently been sighted in the Galar region under the ownership of its own League's Champion, who claims to have received it from an employee of the League. This has raised concerns about a theft of the Foundation's research used to create it, possibly by the Galar League's parent company Macro Cosmos; President Gladion has thus far declined to comment on the matter.
Diet
Designed as omnivores, Type: Null and Silvally can chew and digest nearly anything, even raw metal and rock, thanks to their razor-sharp metallic teeth and a mechanical stomach that functions more like a generator, burning its food to extract as much energy as possible with nearly zero waste in order to prevent food poisoning and scavenge from the alien landscapes it may find itself in while battling Ultra Beasts, again covering as many bases as possible. Specific nutritional needs are irrelevant to the line, as they are instead outfitted with several molecular synthesizers to produce the necessary amino acids, fats, vitamins, and water required to live.As for the individuals' actual preferences, the two specimens observed thus far both seem to prefer fatty and sugary foodstuffs, such as prime meats, gravy, dairy products, and various fruits and candies. The Galar League Champion's Silvally has also been noted to enjoy sweet curries, especially those made with savory ingredients such as meats, eggs, or fried food. Conversely, they dislike food with little caloric value, such as more vitamin-rich foods including leafy vegetables, nuts, and seeds, and will only eat them if repeatedly prompted to or if exceedingly hungry. Their dietary preferences appear to overall be based on how much energy they would gain from eating rather than taste or any other factors, aligning with its engineered nature as a scavenger to gather as much energy as possible to aid it in overpowering its otherworldly opponents.
Hazards
Needless to say, the line can be incredibly dangerous in the wrong hands. While Type: Null's fierce temperament and the dangers of the RKS System are nullified by the restraining helmet, it's heavy and pointy enough to be usable as a weapon in its own right; an aggressive or even overly affectionate Type: Null could easily crack a few ribs with a headbutt at speed. Silvally, on the other hand, was deemed a failure and frozen away for a good reason; if one was to fall into the hands of an inexperienced trainer that couldn't handle its wild nature, its massive physical strength and varied elemental attacks mean there's no end to the havoc it could wreak. Under proper care, however, it will follow its trainer's every word, essentially nullifying its threat as long as it respects its trainer. However, the observed specimens do not appear to be fully aware of their own size and strength, often leading to various minor injuries as they attempt to display affection, usually knocking their trainers over by coming in for a nuzzle or scratching them with the sharp claws on its forelegs.In extreme circumstances, Silvally may have the restraining helmet reapplied to it, reverting it to a Type: Null and disabling the RKS System once more to calm its temperament. However, it's speculated that the betrayal of its trust as Silvally expects its trainer to be able to control its temperament would cause it enough anguish to withdraw even more, rendering it much harder to near-impossible to coax it to evolve once more. This procedure should be reserved only for a last resort, and thankfully has shown no signs of needing to be undertaken in the cases of the three known active Silvally.
Courting and Childrearing
As an artificial Pokémon created as a weapon, the line was not designed with sustainability as a species in mind; as such, it has no reproductive system and cannot breed, and does not court or have a estrous cycle of any description. However, it does possess a pair of ovary-like organs designed to produce high levels of estrogen, suppressing its body's natural testosterone production and supposedly reducing aggression. (As such, it wouldn't be incorrect to refer to the specimens as female if one were so inclined.)Social Structure
While the social structure of the line in the wild is obviously impossible to observe, some insight into these aspects of their behaviour can nonetheless be gained through the interactions between the three Type: Null specimens during their time under development in the Aether labs and the two freed Silvally. In the lab, the first created specimen (the one later freed by Gladion) appeared to be the leader of the "pack", acting more aggressively to both the Aether staff and the other two Type: Null, who in turn were more subservient and didn't act on their own without prompting from the scientists or "alpha" nearly as much. Given the small sample size, though, it's impossible to tell whether this was an actual pack dynamic or simply differences in personality between the individuals allowing one to become dominant.In regards to the two freed Silvally, they seem much more inclined to treat each other as equals (possibly due to their trainers instead acting as an "alpha" to their respective packs), excitedly greeting and playing with each other whenever they meet, though Gladion's Silvally does still appear to be the dominant one between the two. In addition, Gladion and the Alolan Champion have both noted that their Silvally take on an almost parental role to the weaker members of their team, instinctively protecting them from larger and stronger Pokémon that appear to pose a threat to them and often play-sparring with them (although this is usually broken up by their trainers for the safety of both parties as the Silvally still don't know their own strength yet).
In Popular Culture
Despite its fairly recent "discovery", Silvally has garnered quite a lot of attention from both the scientifically-minded and fans of exotic Pokémon. As the most advanced artificial Pokémon in the world (except possibly Magearna, but the methods behind its creation have been lost to time), far surpassing the digital Porygon, cell-like Castform, and even the unruly Mewtwo and Genesect as an obedient, easily-controllable cybernetically enhanced complex organism with a wide array of abilities specially engineered for any situation, it's become a sort of mascot for a new age of technology marked by mankind harnessing and manipulating forces of nature to their own ends. Other examples of this paradigm shift include the Dynamax Band, DNA Splicers, and N-Solarizer and Lunarizer, all purely technological devices able to utilize and bend the immense powers of a legendary Pokémon in a way usable by humans with no drawbacks or harm to the Pokémon involved.On the other side of the spectrum, Silvally also has plenty of fans who simply appreciate its aesthetics. Its sleek form and regal yet bestial bearing along with its fiercely loyal temperament have made it a fast favorite, and it's especially popular among the younger generations due to the mysterious power it holds and its troubled history. In amateur writing and art, it is usually depicted as an "edgy" character that acts as sort of personification of today's troubled teenage minds, lashing out at those who wronged it in the past now that it has the power to hold its own against them.
Written by bubbyboytoo.
