I find myself in a pleasant room with white grooved walls and couches, art hanging on the walls and an unlit fireplace on one side. The mantle is covered in several pictures of unfamiliar people, and while there are two doorways adjacent to each other, I can't see through either of them, a veil of perfect darkness covering them. There's gentle music playing from somewhere, though I can't identify the source.

Bringing myself to my feet, I ask Joule, [What's going on?]

She doesn't respond. Looking around cautiously, I wonder what exactly I'm doing here and how I got here to start with.

"Hello, Null. Noah's told me a lot about you."

I spin around to find a middle-aged woman with long, straight brown hair and a faintly wrinkled smile looking at me. She's wearing a cream-colored sweater and loose jeans, and pink fluffy slippers. For some reason, I can't look her directly in the eye. She's sitting in a white armchair.

[What's going on?]

She indicates the room, chuckling quietly. Her voice is remarkably relaxing despite the odd circumstances. "Well, you passed out from the Xylphys hot dog. It's not an uncommon occurrence, really."

[So how did I get here? And where is here?]

She shrugs gently. "I pulled your soul here. This is Universe Zero, the nonexistent universe where the Cosmic family resides."

I recall my previous experience here and shrink slightly. [I'm not going to die again, am I?]

Shaking her head, she says lightly, "No, of course not. They-" she indicates you with a polite nod "-wouldn't like it very much. As a result, this conversation isn't really private."

I sit down, my underside scraping the floor gently. [What am I doing here?]

She's suddenly holding a small mug of brown liquid and takes a sip of it appreciatively. "Oh, that. Well, Noah's been talking about you a lot recently, and I wanted to make sure that you were a healthy project and not anything like Universe Eleven."

I think about it for a moment. I still don't understand the Cosmics at all, but it doesn't make any sense to me that his mother would be worried about him. Mine would have demanded I give my life for her.

[Okay... so what do I call you?]

She laughs quietly, the sound reverberating in the still room. "I can't tell you that, I'm afraid. You simply wouldn't be able to handle it. I suppose you can call me Love for now."

[...All right.]

Love takes a sip of her drink again, and I wait for something to happen.

It's several moments, but I'm patient to wait. She smiles, the area under her eyes wrinkling. I still can't see her eyes directly, so I'm focusing my attention on the lower half of her face. "What do you think of my son?"

I consider the question carefully. I have a distinct feeling that lying would be an extremely bad, if not fatal, decision to make, so I respond honestly. [He's very strange and very dangerous, but I don't think he means any harm to those he considers innocent.]

She nods, indicating me to continue. So I do.

[His power is incredible, from what I've heard about it. He apologized when he realized that I had wanted to stay with my colony, and gave me a Favor which I have yet to use. From that, it seems as though he doesn't really use his power for...]

Love supplies the word for me. "Evil? No, he certainly isn't. I raised him well."

I'm not sure what to say. [So, is there anything else?]

She considers the question. "Well, yes, but I'd rather it be more private. I don't exactly want Noah to read this, and they-" she glances at you again. "-can't keep a secret very well. At least not here."

I tilt my head. [You're Noah's mom. Can't you do something about it?]

She smiles. "I certainly can."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I think about the information she'd just revealed, still not really noticing you. [A lot of things make more sense now.]

She nods pleasantly. "I thought you would say that. I don't suppose there's anything else you want to talk about?"

I pause. [Who are you, really?]

She thinks about it for a moment, before responding. "I'm before and after. I exist and I don't. I am every universe and every atom. I am the most powerful and the most gentle, I am kindness, I am protection, I am simply Love."

She smiles pleasantly. "Good luck, Null. I think I might like you."

And I'm back in my body, in a wooden room I don't recognize.