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

[the_very_best]

"I dunno! It wouldn't floor me."

[intricate_engineer]

"Are the variations ever harmful?"

[the_very_best]

"Harmful directly? I mean, it'd be hard to ride something that small, your feet would drag..."

[intricate_engineer]

"Are any 'mon born blind or deaf? Are any unable to survive to adulthood? Are there any that are especially susceptible to disease?"

[the_very_best]

"'Mon don't usually get sick. I guess they might die if there wasn't enough food or had an accident or something? I don't know about blind or deaf ones off the top of my head, they'd have a substantial disadvantage at fighting and be way less popular to train... Unless they're supposed to be blind, like Zubat or something."

[intricate_engineer]

"Huh. Alright, what about for humans on your world?"

[the_very_best]

"Humans are sometimes blind or deaf or sickly."

[intricate_engineer]

"Is it passed down in families?"

[the_very_best]

"Some but the tech for sorting out genetic disease is getting better."

[intricate_engineer]

"So you have genetic diseases, but 'mon don't?"

[the_very_best]

"I guess? Or if they do they get weeded out before they pop up anywhere I'd notice."

[intricate_engineer]

"I'm sorta wondering if someone designed 'mon, since they're so different from what I've seen come about naturally."

[the_very_best]

"Well, it'd have to be before the advent of recorded history."

[intricate_engineer]

"Which is possible, but means it's entirely pointless to speculate. Sorry. I'll try to stop."

[the_very_best]

"It's okay."

[intricate_engineer]

"So I have the sling. You're sure they can carry it, and both of us?"

[the_very_best]

"Mon are very strong."

[intricate_engineer]

"Anything else you want to pick up before we go? Any tech I should get?"

[the_very_best]

"Nothing I expect to urgently need. Also my eyes feel weird, I kinda want to return the contacts."

[intricate_engineer]

"You shouldn't leave them in when you're not using them. They aren't quite as soft as everyday prescription ones."

[the_very_best]

"How do I get them out?"

[intricate_engineer]

"Slide them down below your iris and pinch. It helps if your fingers are dry."

[the_very_best]

Bella manages to get them out.

[intricate_engineer]

Glen hands her the case.

[the_very_best]

And Bella tucks them away.