The Intergalactic Network went ping. It shouldn't be able to do this in the soundless vacuum of space, but it decided that the laws of physics be damned—it needed and wanted to go "ping" so it certainly would.
A buzz wasn't out of the question either. Yes, sometimes it was in the mood for a buzz. Buzzing was nice. Buzzing was relaxing and calming. Buzzing soothed the soul and brought harmonious bliss.
This was no time for a buzz.
Ping. Ping ping. Ping. Ping ping ping ping ping.
Silence.
Several billion messages were sent across the Intergalactic Network, but still no ping cameforth.
Entities became nervous—"where was the ping?" they thought.
A student hacked the network and sent the following message to everyone: "ping"
This failed to comfort.
One particularly gifted being managed to cause a "Pring" to resound in his immediate area. The planet was so relieved that it spontaneously exploded.
The explosion adamantly adhered to the laws of physics, so it was heard by no one.
A monk residing in an out-of-the-way abnormal galaxy sent the following message out: "The ping is gone, the end is near. Repent now."
With this message the Intergalactic Network resumed its defiance of physical laws and went ping.
"or maybe not—so no need to repent."
Ping.
All entities became relaxed and calm now that the pings had returned; they soon forgot the
momentary lapse of pings. Momentarily, that is, for precisely 24 Earth minutes and 26.7 Earth
seconds.
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