Video

[almosthandsome]

[A confused and alarmingly familiar but not quite the same face pops up on the network. That is indeed Jack (later to be known as Handsome) but looking like he's in his thirties or early forties and without the trademark face stapled to his face.]

So...this isn't a simulation, is it?

[There's a weak chuckle and Jack runs a hand through his hair, eyes darting to the side as though there's something just off camera he's not thrilled to be seeing.]

Cuz I was thinking it was at first, some kinda I dunno, immersive experience or virtual vacation or something...but that's not the deal, is it? I mean even for a really good simulation, top of the line, this is way too lifelike and real! Our...our simulation design people aren't that good! I don't think? Honestly I don't pay that much attention to them...

But! Here's the thing....whatever tear in space and time or hidden alien door I stumbled through, it's not working for me. Kind of in the middle of something really important, I mean we're talking whole lotta lives depending on it, not even exaggerating about that. So....anybody wanna adopt a sad alien bug and point me in the right direction to whatever series of difficult steps I gotta take to get outta here?

Seriously, the bug is sad. I think maybe it's made of sadness? Of course I probably would be too if I was called Wimpo or something, which I guess is what they're called. Been calling him Beefo instead, try to give him some self esteem, pump him up a little... I dunno if it's working...but hey, it leaks stinky poison, so its got that going for it!

So yeah! Long story short, gotta find somebody to take sad wimp bug and give me directions so I can get back to saving the moon and getting my job back!

Comments

[braveloyalhugs]

That's a much better way of putting it!

[Scorpia beams.]

Yeah, Buttercup and Sunny are kinda sleepy and sluggish now that it's gotten pretty cold. I think type has something to do with it, and since Beefo looks like a bug type to me, that'd make sense.

[Then she rubs the back of her head.]

Uhh, sorry. I'm in Goldenrod, and I don't have my flying license yet. I was actually thinking about heading on over to Violet to see about getting it, and maybe making friends with one of those steel birds, because they can get big enough to carry people around!

[almosthandsome]

I don't know anything about them, honestly.

Damn. It's just I'm kinda on my own here, in a strange place, it's freezing...and you're the friendliest person I've run into so far!

[braveloyalhugs]

[Poor guy. Scorpia feels bad for him.]

I wish there was something I could do, but I totally didn't know about the warps until after I got to Goldenrod, so I'd have to walk or fly.

Or I could ride Spring, but she eats through the leaves on her back, and I'd feel bad about sitting on them, you know? And I think riding would probably still take a few days. Hmm. Maybe someone who's been here longer knows.

[almosthandsome]

Warps?

Yeah that sounds like maybe don't ride that thing. It's fine, don't worry about it. I'm Jack! I survived a bloodthirsty invasion all by myself, I can make it to the next town.

[braveloyalhugs]

Yeah. You can get to places really fast! But you've gotta stop in and activate them in each town before you can use them. So right now, I can go from Goldenrod to Ecruteak and back, because I remembered to activate those two, but I can't get to Violet, or Cherrygrove, which are the two places you'd run into first on the road.

[Scorpia grins and pumps her fist.]

That's the spirit! Yes you sure can! And you'll make so many friends on the way too. It'll be so fun you won't care about the cold.

[almosthandsome]

Oh like Fast Travel, ya gotta scan in your signature before you can use'em. Yeah, we got that where I came from.

Well we'll see about that, but I'm gonna make it to the next town at least.

[braveloyalhugs]

Yeah, like that! And it gets easier once you've started. Getting more friends is great too, because they can do lots of things to help out.

[almosthandsome]

Yeah looks like everybody's got a bunch of'em! How do I get more? Do they have like Pokemon stores?

[braveloyalhugs]

You got a nifty little backpack, right? There should be some of these in there.

[Scorpia makes a gesture and one of her Pokemon hands a red-and-white ball to her.]

Just about everything here but the humans are kinds of Pokemon, so if you spot one you like, you can throw these at 'em and get a new friend! It works better if you either convince your new friend to want to come with you, or if you have one of your Pokemon fight them first. If Beefo's got poison, poison works really well to make the balls work better.

[She bites her lip]

Pokemon really like to fight and be strong, you see, so they like you better if you prove your friends are strong first! Isn't always that way though! Mr. Huggles met Ms. Huggles when I was traveling, and since they fell in love, Ms. Huggles joined up with me!