MERT
| Multi-Environment Real-Time | |
| |
| Character Information | |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Multi-Environment Real-Time |
| Other Names | MERT, DMERT, Unix-RTR |
| Human Name(s) | Myrtle Bell |
| Faction | Linux Unix Consortium |
| Lineage | Bell Labs Research Unix |
| Rival(s) | Various DEC-tans, Unices |
| Appearance | |
| Height | Low 5' range |
| Hair Color | Light blue |
| Eye Color | Bright blue |
| Weapon(s) | Time-bending, altering the size of objects, phreaking |
| Design | |
| First Appearance | August 2010 |
| Technical Information | |
| System Personified | Multi-Environment Real-Time |
| Developer(s) | Bell Labs, ATT |
| Debut | Circa 1970s |
| Latest release | Latest known release, 1982 |
Technical details
Multi-Environment Real-Time was developed in the 1970s at Bell Labs. It was originally created on the PDP-11, but was later ported to AT&T's proprietary 3B series computers and used for telephone switching operations. It was one of the first OSes to implement what would later be called a micro-kernel.
Character details
General
Physically, MERT-tan is a young, soft-spoken woman with short/medium length hair. She typically wears a cardigan, camisole and khaki pants a with tanker boots, as well as her (expired) Bell Labs ID and rotary dial locket. She carries a train schedule with her at all times, and is usually covered in bandages, scrapes and bruises.
Despite being gentle, honest and extremely brave, MERT isn't liked by either side of her "family" - the Unixes perceive her as inferior and the DECs don't trust her because of her heritage. She is often accused of treason by both sides and punished for her perceived misdeeds. However, she still loves her family, and stays with them in spite of the physical harm they enact on her; one exception is Bell Labs Unix, whom she tries to avoid at all costs for fear of being killed.
MERT works as a telephone switchboard operator, a job she finds very fulfilling. She has the power to control the flow of time, modify the size of objects at will, and can make payphone calls without paying, but she rarely puts these powers to use.
Family and relationships
Unix
Bell Labs Unix has historically been antagonistic and abusive toward MERT-tan, perhaps to the point of attempted murder.
PDP-11
OSX Leopard
Outside of story canon, it has been speculated that Leopard-tan and MERT-tan met and started a friendship during one of Leopard's trips into the past. Under this theory, Leopard acts as something of a protective sister-figure to MERT, with Leopard fending off would-be abusers and attempting to instill a fighting spirit in MERT.