1. Video

[awomanoutoftime]

[Well she managed to get the not pip-boy to work so that's a plus. Especially since it seems to have forms of communication.. Even....a video. Oh that's new. Hey wasteland, I mean pokemon world, have a women in glasses with some serious scarring on her face, wearing a coast guard hat and dressed in what looks like a detective's trench coat. Fashion of the future!]

Hello? I think I have this working. My name's Kim Nguyen and while whoever kidnapped me was nice enough to provide a little guide and weird mutated creature that I'm still not sure isn't some sort of sentient, jelly like, mutated food product, I still have a few questions.

Probably the obvious one but I'll start with that. Is there anyway to get back home? I'll take anything from directions, to vague rumours, to this is impossibly dangerous don't try it. I don't care. I have a kid back there and while he's probably as safe as you can be in the Commonwealth, being in one of the settlements. That's still not very safe in the grand  scheme of things. I need to go back.

Right, second question. Might sound stranger, since everything here looks ....alive and not wasteland-ish. Is anything irradiated here? Food, water, weather...animals? I'd check myself but apparently the people who kidnapped me also saw fit to steal and replace almost all my stuff so my pip-boy and its geiger counter are gone. And like I said, so is everything else I had in my own bag. So I don't have any rad-away if there is radiation. And I really, really don't want to get radiation sickness again. 

Comments

[video]

[paladinlost]

You've indeed successfully contacted the Pokégear's network. My name is Cecil Harvey, and it's a pleasure to welcome you to this world.

[Especially if hers is half as dangerous as it sounds.]

I'm sorry to say we cannot return home of our own will, but you've no need to worry about your son. Once you do get back, you'll be returned at the exact moment you were taken. If he was well at that time, he still will be.

As for that... 'radiation'? I'm not familiar with the concept, but you're unlikely to fall truly ill unless you attempt to eat the berries. Leave those for your new companion, it'll enjoy them greatly. Do you have any other questions?

[video]

[awomanoutoftime]

[She nods.]

Thanks for the welcome. Just...no offence, but how do people know that? Do people go and come back? And you said of our own will, is there someone whose will it is?

[Is it teleporting again?]

Radiation? It's basically a form of energy that has some nasty after effects on people, animals and the environment. I'm not a scientist but back home the scientists around the world used the energy to create these giant bombs ....and then they destroyed the world with them in a giant world war.

[She pauses.]

Well semi-destroyed. You'd be surprised what can grow in a wasteland. I certainly was. But anything before that time is considered Pre-war so that tells you how much of an impact it had on ....everything.

[And give her a moment.]

I might have a few if you don't mind me asking. Is it possible to get my things back? This place looks nice but I haven't travelled alone without a weapon in a long time and nice sometimes hides things behind it.

[video]

[paladinlost]

It happens, yes. Sometimes people are truly returned home but later taken again, sometimes their body falls in a coma in this world while their mind goes back temporarily. As for the cause... the Legendary Pokémon Arceus is most certainly involved, but there may be other factors we're not aware of.

[That explanation mahim frown. Why would anyone...?]

That... sounds like a terrible threat to any world, and I'm sorry yours was damaged by it. But rest assured that no such thing exists in this land that we know of. This is by far the most peaceful world I've ever seen.

[Ah. That question. Cecil's frown turns into annoyance.]

We sometimes receive items from home, but you can forget about your weapons. All we own is taken away when we arrive, and what we create is inefficient at best and leads to our arrest at worst. I've had to make do with a frying pan... but that's what Pokémon are for.

[video]

[awomanoutoftime]

Okay, is there a way to find him? I know you said time freezes but....this is my kid. I can't....I have to know I tried everything.

[She's already lost 'him' once, twice, god how many times. This was supposed to be a new start. Not the start of the same cycle of loss.]

Yeah, people were idiots. It wasn't a fun time...

[Her voice trails off for a moment. She hates Pre-War America, you have no idea. However she quickly seems to get back into questions. She wears masks and she wears them well.]

So I take it the no weapon rule means I don't have to worry about random groups of people or animals trying to kill me as I go around here?

And trust me, there's nothing I'd like more then to not have to carry a weapon or two around with me constantly. The world I grew up in was ....worse then the wasteland but at least we didn't have raiders or mutated creatures. It's a miracle I even survived as long as I did when I woke up there.

....But when you say this is a peaceful place. ....I've seen more then a few places filled with totally "innocent" and wonderful, or at least well meaning people actually be a front for some ....horrific things. Sometimes you can't talk your way out of everything peacefully. So for the moment, I'll have to wait and see for myself what this world is like. No offence....I've just been through a lot in the past year or so.

[Small smile there. She's not outright convinced he's lying it's just ....hard to believe after seeing so many peaceful or just well meaning places turn out to be fronts for, hey lets kill everyone whose not like us. You lose trust.]

Huh, I could probably use a frying pan if I find one. But you said that's what pokemon are for, so ...is that yes or no to attacks?

video;

[schachmeister]

I'm afraid there isn't a way back. At least, not one we know of. Sometimes people get sent back to their homeworlds, but it is completely random and out of our control.

But, uhm, if it is any comfort, while we are here, time back home doesn't seem to... move. Or at least, when you go home, you are sent home to the exact same point in time you came from. So nothing can happen to the people you know back home.

[He looks apologetic at having to deliver that message to her.]

I'm not sure what you mean by irradiated though.

video;

[awomanoutoftime]

[She pauses and the nods.]

Well, you're the second person to tell me about the time ....freezing thing. That at least gives me a bit more hope that it's true. So thank you.

[It's honestly more then she could hope for given the circumstances.]

As for irradiated.... I'm not a scientist but in basic terms. it's from nuclear radiation. That's an energy source and where I'm from people used it as power source for almost everything. Only, long story short, the entire world was on the verge of war and actually in wars and they were all using this energy for some incredibly powerful bombs as well.

[She shrugs slightly.]

And then they all fired at once and destroyed most of civilization. Two hundred and ten years later we have a thriving nuclear wasteland where the left over radiation is everywhere. It's in the water, mutated the animals into monsters and even in the weather with rad storms.

If you get exposed to a lot, it can make you sick. If you get too much and you're lucky you'll turn into a ghoul. If you get too much and you're not lucky, you'll just die. Or turn into a feral ghoul. Hence, why having a geiger counter is something I've learnt to appreciate.

video;

[schachmeister]

[Armin listens to her story, his brows furrowing. In all honesty, he doesn't understand most of what she is saying, but he files away a few keywords --radiation, nuclear, exposure-- to look up later. It is what he does each time he comes across one of these unknown topics. And there have been many over time. It seems like every world is more advanced than their own.]

I... haven't ever heard about the things you mention, but I don't know of any place here that makes you sick from just being there. Or that gives you mutations.

video

[thumbsdown]

[Oh, hey. Someone from the same world as him, finally.]

There's no radiation here. Seems weird, huh? You can go anywhere and not worry about your hair falling out.

[Or, well. Boone shaves his head but still.]

You'll find this place is pretty different to what you're used to.

[If where she's from is anything like where he's from, anyway.]

video

[awomanoutoftime]

So I've been hearing. And yeah, it's strange to think about. I've had to explain radiation to two people here already.

[Even she'd known about the danger of radiation, waking up post war. But then again she had seen a giant nuke go off right before they went into the vault and grew up during a giant nuclear standoff.]

Hey, it's a long shot here. But since you know radiation. You wouldn't happen to be from the Boston area, or the Commonwealth, as they call it now would you? Or in the very least a world filled with vaults, super mutants and Deathclaws?

[Other worlds seem to be a thing so there's probably other places with radiation. But she might as well ask.]

[thumbsdown]

No, I'm from the Mojave. But I know all about vaults, super mutants and deathclaws.

[Too much about them, quite frankly.]

There's none of those here. Little something to be thankful for.

[hellablue]

Okay, so it sounds like all your other questions have been answered, so I'm coming in here five minutes late with Starmiebucks to give you a tidbit of info. Don't eat the berries unless you want some mad shits.

[A beat.]

Except persim berries, save those. You can smoke the zest and get high as fuck. It's great.

[awomanoutoftime]

Thanks, considering I'm from a place where foraging for food is pretty standard. That's really good to know.

Wait, you can make drugs from berries here? Not really my thing, but my friend Hancock, would be thrilled. Half the drugs back home you have to get high to avoid thinking about what they're made of.

[Like jet....just so glad she didn't do jet before discovering what it was made of. She'll just leave non-medical drugs to the professional users/aka: Hancock.]

[hellablue]

Yeah, I mean I didn't want to make any assumptions but it sounded pretty post-apocalyptic or some shit, so. I figured you'd probably try and do something like that.

[Chloe Price, saving newbs from the porcelain throne 2018-2018.]

And as far as I know, it's only persims that you can actually smoke- or put in tea, I guess, if you're bougie enough. So where are you from, anyway? Sounds like hell... no offense.

video;

[notvaljean]

Oh, did you get a Ditto?

[What other Pokemon could be described as a sentient, jelly-like, mutated food product? If there are others, Jean wants to know.]

It's not a problem now if you've only got the one, but be careful once you get more Pokemon. Dittos are pretty... friendly, and if you're not keeping an eye on them, you'll end up with a ton of eggs.

video;

[awomanoutoftime]

Yup. Deacon Jr. Apparently not the purple mutated, sentient version of a weird food paste I saw back home. Though it's eerily similar, I have to say.

[She pulls up the ditto who turns back from another rock into a blob again.]

......yeah I got that warning already, but thanks for the tip.

So everything really comes from an egg here? I didn't major in biology or anything but ....that seems impossible.

video;

[notvaljean]

[Jean's own Ditto, DittHo, happens to be around at the time, and when it hears about another Ditto, it blobs its way up onto Jean's shoulder to get a look, then waves cheerfully at the other Ditto. Hello there, handsome! Aren't you a fine specimen of Dittokind?]

Yeah, all Pokemon come from eggs. Even the ghosts. Nobody understands it, and the locals don't really want to talk about it.

[Jean lowers his voice.]

Maybe they come from eggs too.

[Video]

[hauntpadour]

[Egon is still pretty new and figuring out this network, but he's getting the hang of it.]

From what I've been told, there's no way to return home. I'm sorry that you've been separated from your son.

I don't believe anything here is irradiated, but I've only seen limited parts of this world so far. I've been told losing all your things and receiving a companion 'pokemon' and a travel kit is the standard for arrival.

[Video]

[awomanoutoftime]

Thanks, and yeah that seems to be the general consensus. I mean it's not going to stop my from trying if I find out anything, but I'm stubborn like that.

So far people have been saying no to the radiation. I've even had to explain what it is to a few people.

....Being from a post apocalyptic wasteland, it's kind of hard to believe but I guess I'll see for myself when I explore the area. .....still wish I had that geiger counter, just in case though.

[Video]

[hauntpadour]

I would definitely be happy to learn if you find any solutions.

I worked quite a bit with radiation, as it was what powered the tools and containment unit my partner and I designed. I may not be in the most ideal health because of it, but I am familiar with the feeling and necessary precautions. So far I've seen none of that here.

[Video]

[foolishwren]

_{[Heather doesn't know what HALF of what this lady is talking about even IS but the mention of radiation gets one hell of a brow-raise.]}

Whoa.

You must come from one hell of a world.

Uh-- good news is NOOOOO radiation here.

I mean.

Maybe a really long time ago, that would explain some things about the wildlife, bu-uuuuut....

[Video]

[awomanoutoftime]

Yup. Good o'l post apocalyptic USA or what remains of it. Some of the locals have no idea what America even is anymore. I'm from the Boston area, or the Commonwealth as it's called.

You'd be amazed at what you can get used to though.

Everyone coming back saying radiation isn't a thing here is something of a relief at least. And apparently the wildlife is a lot less bloodthirsty then the stuff back home from what I've heard.

[Video]

[foolishwren]

Boston, huh?

I'm just north of there. From Portland originally. No radiation in my world either though.

_{[She can at least be thankful for that.]}

Anyway, yeah. I mean, each Pokemon is different and some have nastier personalities than others... _{[Lookin' at you, boxed Scolipede that is never being let out.]} ... but overall this place is way safer than like.

Most worlds.

[keep_surviving]

I'm pretty sure there's no radiation here. If there is it's at least not enough to be why the creatures here are so weird.

They're just normally like that. Not like the mutated stuff back home.

[Those were a lot grosser and scarier. The teen pulls a face at the memory of some of the things that lived back in The Fallout Alley Youth Zone.]

[awomanoutoftime]

You have mutated stuff back home too?

Does your world have vaults, deathclaws and super mutants in it by any chance?

[It's a good mix of random stuff from her world. It made her realize she and Boone were from the same world.]

[keep_surviving]

Um, no? I mean, I dunno if we have lots of vaults. Or what a super mutant is unless it means people with powers.

Never heard of a deathclaw which I'm good with not adding to the list honestly.

But our area had no one over the age of 16 so I don't think it's the same place.