1ST GEAR | VIDEO

[gearshifting]

[Richie is excited but nervous, unsure what to expect from this new world and all of the people in it. But mostly excited. He’s never gotten to dimension hop before! And people say that Virgil gets all the fun. Not that it doesn't completely suck that all of his tech is back home. Couldn't they have brought him when he was in costume? Of course not that would be too easy.

So he’s putting his best foot forward and trying to look as cheery as possible—while also trying to get as much data from the network as he can.]

Yo, man, this place is off the chain, but I’m pretty sure my mom is against me traveling out of town on my own, let alone to an alternate universe. I hope I get a note to take home that says “We apologize for taking your son on an interdimensional field trip without prior permission. Next time make sure to pack a lunch.” [He holds out his hand a bit like he’s reading something on it but then turns his eyes back to the screen.]

I’m sure the Justice League would have been all over this. Saving universes is their thing. Me? I have a math final to study for. But I’m here, so who else is a world-hopping newbie? I can’t be the only one around.

Comments

[notyourfathersosborn]

[Normie hugs the creature a bit in response to Richie's reaction, which the creature itself seems oblivious to.]

His name is Deuce, and he's a Stickerslime. A few months ago there was a swear in where we got to pick a robotic monster from about 10 or so choices, called imPocreats, and let them fight in holographic battles. If you won two battles you got to keep yours, and seeing as I didn't want Deuce to get decommissioned or anything after the ceremony, I made sure we won 2.

[Deuce nuzzles up against Normie, happy for the attention. He doesn't seem like much of a fighter.

After a moment a thought occurs to Normie, which he mutters.]

Of course, last swear in there were other, evil, imPocreats trying to destroy Philadelphia, but Deuce has nothing to do with that.

[gearshifting]

[Richie is both fascinated--hard not to be, when it's basically a robo-bug, not that he would ever build a robo-bug--and disturbed because bug. Bu ROBOT. Robots are automatically interesting.

And it kind of makes him miss Backpack, more than he already does.]

I'm sure those would sell like chili cheese fries if they didn't look like something people call Orkin over.

[notyourfathersosborn]

[Normie's eyes narrow a bit. Watch your tongue about his adorable stickerslime.]

There were other types of "animals" that I could have chosen. I picked Deuce.

[gearshifting]

[Oops. Richie holds up his hands placatingly.] Sorry man, but I prefer my bugs less...buggy. You do you, not my thing. It's cool that you got to keep him. It's a waste of tech and a funky pet to just get rid of them when the game's over.

[notyourfathersosborn]

[Normie scratches the underside of Deuce's chin.]

Fair enough. I'm a little touchy because he was pretty overlooked at the swear-in as well.

[gearshifting]

[Oh now he kind of feels bad. It might be ugly, but even ugly robo-pets deserve a home, he guesses.]

Maybe it's because he looks too...friendly.

[notyourfathersosborn]

I think it was more because there was a badass-looking purple tiger.

[gearshifting]

[Richie laughs then.] See, I would have preferred something more like a bomb-looking spider or scorpion.

[notyourfathersosborn]

Your choices would have been earth gazelle, electric sheep, fire shrimp, icicle tiger, water axolotl, spoopy ghost, and red gymbro.

Or Deuce here.

[Normie scratches under the Stickerslime's chin again.]

[gearshifting]

[Richie can't help the snicker that comes out of his mouth.] Electric sheep? Rub their fur a bit too much and get a shock?

[Yes, he is probably more amused by this than the average person would be.] Geez too bad I missed it. I have a friend back home who would have loved to see that.

[No, Virgil would have been so offended.]

[notyourfathersosborn]

You'd think, but their powers were actually hologram-based, so you wouldn't have actually been zapped.

[gearshifting]

Holograms? That could be totally lame or seriously awesome. Were they hard light constructs or intangible?

[notyourfathersosborn]

Intangible. They wanted to make sure that no one actually got hurt, including the robots. They were really lifelike though, oh man.