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]

Blink pops up to the sphere, grabs it, and then dangles from Glen's hand.

[intricate_engineer]

Glen gently lowers her down and enthusiastically says, "Good job!"
"How much should she be able to understand?" Glen asks Bella. "That was quite a lot more than I was expecting."

[the_very_best]

"Maybe you got a really smart one! She's not off the charts what you've got her doing, though, she can follow your tone and gaze and stuff."

[intricate_engineer]

"Hmm. She's already past what a lot of well trained earth animals can do."
"Can you jump please Blink?"

[the_very_best]

That Blink doesn't seem to understand. She is inspecting the metal sphere. She tries biting it again.

[intricate_engineer]

Glen holds out her hand for the sphere.

[the_very_best]

Blink looks at her hand, and then gives the sphere back.

[intricate_engineer]

"Thank you," Glen says. She tucks the sphere away.
She jumps.
"Now you."

[the_very_best]

Blink jumps.

"FYI, Abra need a lot of sleep, she'll run out of steam soon," Bella says.

[intricate_engineer]

"Thanks, that's good to know."
Glen jumps again and says, "Jump."

"Now jump Blink and go there."
Glen points.

[the_very_best]

Blink jumps and then teleports where Glen pointed.

[intricate_engineer]

"Alright, that might be a bit too complicated for now. I'm really impressed though. She's crazy smart."
Glen kneels down and looks at Blink.
"You did a really good job," she says warmly. "Thank you."

[the_very_best]

"Abra," says Blink.

[intricate_engineer]

Glen grins.
She takes out the ball and holds it up where Blink can see.
"In?" she moves it forward, "Or out?" She moves as if to put it back.

[the_very_best]

"Aaaab," says Blink informatively.

[intricate_engineer]

Glen sets the ball down and looks to see if Blink seems concerned by it.

[the_very_best]

Nope. She's placidly meditating-or-something sitting on the ground.

[intricate_engineer]

Glen reaches out her hand towards Blink to see if she minds being touched.

[the_very_best]

Blink reaches for Glen's fingertips. Boop!

[intricate_engineer]

Glen laughs, delighted.
She gently scratches Blink's head.

[the_very_best]

"Raaaa."

[intricate_engineer]

Glen lets Blink be and turns to see what the Zigzagoon is up to.

[the_very_best]

The Zigzagoon, having been ignored, is industriously digging a hole in the field.

[intricate_engineer]

Glen walks over to it and crouches down to look at the hole.

[the_very_best]

"Goon," says the Zigzagoon. The hole is about a foot deep now.