Searching Far and Wide

[intricate_engineer]

Glen was creating a prototype for a new gate design. It was meant to be affordable and provide quick transport between individual homes. She tests several objects and a rat and everything seems to be working.

She steps through. Instead of finding herself in the room next door, she finds herself standing on a sidewalk in an empty city. The buildings are tall and perfect, colorless with doorways far too tall for any human. The roads have no straight lines and twist in on themselves. There is no life or sound.
Glen tries to stay calm. She begins to walk along the road, randomly opening doors and exploring buildings that are as silent as the rest of the world.

She opens a door that she hopes will lead onto a roof and is instead met with warmth, and soft noise, and color.

Comments

[intricate_engineer]

"I'm sorry. If I can get back to the Organization, I bet somewhere there can help."

[the_very_best]

"It's not a huge deal, I just ride when I can."

[intricate_engineer]

"Riding does look fun. I've done it a handful of times, but it was always the hang on for dear life variety."

[the_very_best]

"D'you want to borrow Branch? Probably not right now because the center's around the corner but later. Fireflower's harder to loan out, she might burn you."

[intricate_engineer]

"I'd love to! How do you tell them where to go?"

[the_very_best]

"With my knees, although Branch you can also steer by the antlers at low speeds!"

[intricate_engineer]

"Cool."
Glen stops in front of the doors of the Pokécenter.
"Can I just go in? I don't need a license do I?"

[the_very_best]

"You only need a license to have 'mon if you're under twelve."

[intricate_engineer]

"Do you think I'll pass?"

[the_very_best]

"Yeah, I think you're good."

[intricate_engineer]

Glen steps inside and moves towards what looks like the front desk.

[the_very_best]

And a nurse accepts the Pokéballs and runs them through a machine and hands them back, smiling. "There you go!"

[intricate_engineer]

"Thanks! Do you happen to have any empty closets?"

[the_very_best]

"...Beg pardon?" says the nurse.

[intricate_engineer]

"I'm looking for somewhere to store a valuable piece of equipment. It acts like teleportation, but it doesn't just work on Pokémon. I've rented a storage unit, but it's hard to use it while it's inside. I'm willing to rent a space if you have one?"

[the_very_best]

"Oh, uh, I'm not sure this would be the best place..."

[intricate_engineer]

"Sorry. I'm new to the area. It's pretty sturdy. I'm not worried about it breaking. I just don't want to appear inside of a locked room I can't get out of."

[the_very_best]

"You can't keep it at home?"

[intricate_engineer]

"My home is a long ways away from here."

[the_very_best]

"We have hostel rooms for traveling trainers but nothing intended for long-term."

[intricate_engineer]

"Well, I thought I'd ask. Thanks for taking the time."

[the_very_best]

"You're welcome," says the nurse.

Bella runs her 'mon through the machine as long as she's there and then out they go.

[intricate_engineer]

"I should build a backup soon."

[the_very_best]

"Be reassuring. Pity it's so huge - is it sturdy enough that if Rachis picked it up in her claws she could fly it to one of my parents' houses...?"

[intricate_engineer]

"Not yet, but I'd just need to build a sturdier frame. How accurate are your weather forecasts?"