Ultra Wormhole: VeloJello

(( slowing this one a little since I know you have an inquisitive character that might not want to immediately jump into the action! :eyes: ))

NBP #1

Rain soaks Enigma Ruins, pitch black clouds dropping an impressive deluge upon the surrounding area. Fortunately, it's no more than that; no lightning graces the skies. Just rain, and only rain, almost to the point of being boring. Babbs sits--warm, dry, and snug--within the Ranger outpost, gazing out at the downpour. If there wasn't lightning, they weren't closing; there was just too high of a demand to stop wormhole entry for a rainstorm. It makes the old woman nervous. She's never been one to underestimate the Park's forces, and never will be. So she sits uneasily, with form hunched forward.

Even now, she can see the bright lights of the shuttle pulling up to the covered awning nested at the bottom of the portal. The monstrous thing arcs up into the sky like some brilliant cornucopia of light. Its brightness pierces through the rain. It's nothing short of a beacon in the dark. She heaves herself to her feet and hauls her massive beige hiker's pack--taller than herself--onto her shoulders, then steps out beneath the awning that the shuttle has pulled up to.

They were only able to spare the resources of a shuttle due to the rain. Otherwise, they'd have needed to find their own way. As people begin shuffling off of the transport, Rangers emerge about her to call names and gather their charges. She squints down in the dim lights that line the edges of the awning, reading the scrawl.

"Dammit," she grumbles as she struggles to make out the minuscule (well, for her) print. "They think I'm some spring chicken? I can't read this for baloney!" Eyes waver in and out of focus before finally honing in on the monotype-set name: Opal Rouleau. Well, she's heard stranger ones. At least this one looks pretty. Not even bothering trying to pronounce the last name, she begins calling out the first in raspy, ancient tones. "Opal? Lookin' for an Opal!"​

Encounter Stats:
none yet!​

Trainer Stats:

Spoiler

Opal Rouleau at the Ultra Wormhole!
Remaining Encounters: 5
Environment: Raining, but at least there are awnings. The Wormhole is bright.
Pokemon Encountered: none yet!
Pokemon Captured: none yet!

Items: Apricorn Box, Super Ball (x3), Hyper Ball (x2), Lava Cookie (x2), Pokedoll (x1), Energy Powder Plus, Calming Fragrance Plus

MCR: 0 characters
Total: 0 characters

Pokemon Stats:

Spoiler

Orville / Dragonite / Lax / M / Multiscale
EMs: BM Extreme Speed, MT Iron Head, TM Brick Break, TM Earthquake, HM Surf, SM Heal Bell


Avery / Empoleon / Hasty / F / Defiant
EMs: BM Icy Wind, TM Earthquake, TM Flash Cannon, TM Ice Beam, TM Stealth Rock, HM Surf

 

“Woah! Holy shit, is that the Ultra Wormhole!?”

"Gods, that was right in my ear."

“Miss, please sit back down...”

The timeworn tram rattles as it rolls over some sort of bump, throwing Opal gracelessly back into her seat. She cheerfully ignores the dirty looks of her fellow passengers, instead leaning over the railing to get a better look at the wormhole, heedless of the rain that proceeds to soak her head. It’s breathtaking, a pillar of light as tall as the sky itself, tilted at the end as though inviting humanity in to explore. As she watches, the geometric lines of light that trace out its sides flash even brighter, a pulse that travels down the wormhole before flashing brightly once at its end. It happens again and again as the shuttle approaches the Enigma Ruins, a steady rhythm.

“It’s so amazing,” Opal murmurs, her voice breathy with excitement. “How does it do that?”

The shuttle attendant, some sort of Park flunky who must not have made the cut for Rangers and who’s instead stuck dealing with loudmouthed dragon tamers with no regard for vehicular safety, gives Opal a pained smile. “Maybe your Ranger will be able to explain more to you?” The shuttle is already slowing down, prompting the man to call, “Alright, all for the Enigma Ruins stop, prepare to depart! Please keep all arms, legs, and heads inside the shuttle until it has come to a complete stop!”

Trying not to pout, Opal forces herself to tear her attention away from the wormhole and instead turns to her bag. She panics for a moment when she can’t find all of the supplies she was sure she'd brought, but everything’s there - though the Lava Cookies she packed are a little smushed by the weight of so many Park Pokeballs. With a sigh of relief, she shoulders her satchel, and practically bounds out of the shuttle as soon as it’s stopped.

The bustle of activity doesn’t bother Opal at all. She’s been informed that she’s been paired up with some Ranger named ‘Babbs’; besides ‘really old white lady’, Opal has no idea what to be looking for. However, after a few moments, she hears a scratchy voice calling her name.

“Oh!” Opal hurries over to the old woman, who’s standing under the shelter of an awning, like some sort of makeshift concert tent. She flashes the lady her best grin and wipes her hand on her shirt in a vain attempt to dry it before offering a handshake. “Hi! You must be Babbs, right? I’m Opal Rouleau,” she pronounces it like Roo-low, “and it’s so cool to meet you! Have you been in the Ultra Wormhole yet? It’s so beautiful; some people are scared of it, but people have come in and out of it and I’ve heard so many exciting things…” she trails off, out of a need for breath more than realization that she just might be coming on too strong. “I’ve got so many questions,” she finishes. “You’ve gotta know a bit about this thing, right? Anything good I should know?”