4th gear | video

[paishodown]

[Here's someone who hasn't been on the network so much lately. When Asami appears on the camera, anyone who hasn't seen her recently will notice that she looks a bit older.]

I finished it!

[Stepping away from the camera, she reveals a hotel courtyard with various tools and scraps scattered about. A metal contraption that appears to be some kind of battery sits a safe distance away at the center of the shot.]

At home, we employ lightningbenders to make our electricity. They shoot energy straight into batteries, and it can be stored efficiently without having to burn coal. I'm hoping I can get something to work similarly with Pokémon's electric attacks.

[She glances off camera.]

When you're ready, Supāku.

[A Flaafy shuffles onto the camera, winds up, and releases an electric attack at the metal conductors of Asami's invention. After several moments, an indicator meter on the device's facade turns to maximum, and the Flaafy stops.]

I think it worked!

[Asami trots over to the device with another 'Gear in hand (sorry Korra, she had to steal yours for science purposes) and plugs it in.]

It's charging!

[She turns back to the camera.]

I'm hoping I can continue working with this idea and eventually come up with something small enough for trainers to keep on their person while they're traveling. The technology here is evolved so much farther than at home, I think it might be possible.

Comments

[armoredsoul]

[Al grins widely, reminded a little bit of Winry.] Still, you took that idea and made it work! It's awesome!

Catching and storing electricity like that doesn't seem so 'basic' to me, but I'm more of a chemist than an engineer. Did I understand you right that people could control electricity where you're from?

[defyingfrigidity]

... Oh.

[The smile fades from her face, and something akin to sympathy replaces it. She can't... know exactly how that felt, because she still had her parents growing up, but even they kept their distance for a while. Being lonely like that... Elsa can understand that feeling, at the very least.]

I... I'm very sorry to hear that, Asami...

[paishodown]

No, it's fine. Sorry, I didn't mean to be a downer.

[She offers a little smile.]

It's just been a big couple of years, and now I finally have the time to sit back and reflect on it.

[Asami would be perfectly content to be done with excitement for a while.]

[paishodown]

It's a weird adjustment, but for the most part, people have a really good "all in this together" kind of attitude.

If you ever need anything, don't be afraid to ask!

[Asami's open to helping other people adjust to this world, especially the people who appear to be on the younger side.]

[shatterings]

I've noticed that... and the people from my world have helped me a lot.

Thank you, Asami.

[defyingfrigidity]

No no, you don't need to apologize! I was the one that asked, after all.

[Things Elsa still needs to learn how to stop doing: blaming herself for everything.]

Coming back here must be like a breath of fresh air, then.

[paishodown]

I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out once I get a better grasp for the technology, here. It's exciting, though! There's a lot to pick up on and inject with my own ideas that just weren't possible back home!

[bylight]

[She has no idea what an Avatar.... wait... like a god?]

I see. So our worlds work differently in that regard.

[codeforhope]

Ah...what did you do back home? Are you an engineer?

[paishodown]

Yes. Advanced firebenders can create and channel lightning, though it's much more dangerous than a Pokémon just using an electric attack. In a way, having a world filled with Pokémon is like having a constant, safe energy source!

[imperfectscientist]

Ah, I see. In that case, I can understand why technology like this would be daunting for you. We communicate through radio where I'm from as well--actually, my boyfriend is the local radio show host--but Night Vale is kind of an outlier when it comes to their interest in radio. Most places, no one listens to the radio much unless you're in a car.

[paishodown]

Something like that. The last thing I remember is leaving for a vacation alone with Korra, and that's pretty much what happened, even if it wasn't what we expected.

[That earns a little laugh from Asami.]

We both really needed a break.

[paishodown]

Yup! My specialties aren't really in electronics, but I've dabbled with a bit of everything, at this point.

[paishodown]

Mmm. It seems every world functions pretty differently, as far as natural properties go. I was pretty surprised when I learned how Pokémon were classified. Animals, ghosts, sapient household appliances...

[bylight]

Household appliances? That... doesn't sound right.

[codeforhope]

I'm a programmer, myself. My specialty is electronics.

[defyingfrigidity]

I'm sure coming back here wasn't exactly your planned idea for a break... but it's not the worst place you could've ended up, right?

[foolishwren]

Hey, even if they were, s'not like knockoff products can't exist. Anyway, I haven't seen anything like it around, so you're probably good to go.

I didn't know you were an inventor, that's pretty rad.

[armoredsoul]

Yeah, no doubt! And it hardly tires the Pokemon out, so there's no worries there. It actually seems really obvious, now that you've done it.

[capitald]

Ah, so a portable means for electricity. That would make travel a simpler affair.

[He strokes his chin. There's certainly room for innovation.]

Would it be used to power appliances? These devices seem to operate well enough on their own, but I've seen a great deal of machines here that require a larger power source.

[Many of which are still startling new to him, like microwave ovens.]

[paishodown]

I'm 99% sure I've seen a picture of a Pokémon that looks like a refrigerator.

[paishodown]

Oh, you work with computers? That's exciting! Programming here is like an entirely new science to me, it's amazing how it works.

[Not that she... actually knows how it works, but she's pretty impressed nonetheless.]

[paishodown]

Of course not! I got to talk to you again, that's reason enough!

[bylight]

Doesn't mean appliance is a type. It's probably a Pokémon who can either turn into one, or posseses it.

[That makes sense to Lightning at least.]

[codeforhope]

[Chihiro nods, smiling.]

There is almost no limit with what you can do with them, so I do enjoy it a lot. I'm hoping to create some new applications for the Gear soon, actually.