[center][h1][color=9e0b0f][u]Meanwhile[/u][/color][/h1][/center]

[color=9e0b0f]"Uhuhu! Yes, yes, yes!”[/color]

Rising to his full, not-so-glorious height, the gentleman scientist wiped some sweat from his forehead and beamed at his finished creations! The corners of his lips threw fits before spreading into a freakishly large grin! Ear-to-ear and all teeth!

Right in front of him sat a huge doorway made of wood, metal scraps, and chunks of marble! And hooked up to it was a good ol’ bolt-shaped lightning rod in all of its golden glory! After months of bleeding, sweating, and crying -- all those days of listening to the other survivors’ lacking beliefs and jeers -- He, Wilson P. Higgsbury, had finally made the gateway! [i]Their gateway to freedom![/i] Oh, if only the others could see it! Right here and now! He… He probably should’ve built these closer to camp instead of tucking it a tad far away, deep within a dark forest…

[color=9e0b0f]“I could’ve taken a bit more of their ridiculing,”[/color] The scientist sighed to himself while slipping his bag back on. [color=9e0b0f]“Would’ve saved me from the blasted trip back to fetch them.”[/color] Wilson then gave the door’s frame a light pat-pat-pat as his grin softened. [color=9e0b0f]“Can’t fix that now, can we, Mr. Wayout~?”[/color] Tittering to himself, he’d swivel on his heels and began to stroll towards his camp. [color=9e0b0f]“I’ll be right back! We need Ms. Wickerbottom’s help to power you up and--”[/color]

Before he could even finish, there came a flash of light, accompanied by crackles and rumbles… Both of which were quickly followed by some soft buzzing. Wilson froze mid-step, his hidden eyes opening wide behind their goggles. He’d turn ever-so-slowly, with his look of shock eventually morphing into that of delight! [color=9e0b0f]“S-stars and atoms,”[/color] He whispered while clasping his hands together and trembling with glee.

It was a miracle! Lightning had struck out of the blue, without a single hint of foul weather, snatched by the rod and… That’s when the door slowly opened, revealing a glorious swirling portal within. I-it’s working! [i][b]It’s working![/b][/i]

The forest’s peace was no more, immediately disturbed by the scientist’s sharp cackles and excited cries!

He’d jump! He’d twirl! He’d circle his special door like a bubbly dog bouncing around its favorite toy! This would’ve carried on for a while longer if the clumsy oaf hadn’t tripped… [i]And toppled right into the damn portal[/i].

[hr]

Murmurs, honking, things rushing by… Wilson twitched where he laid, his gloved fingers gently scraping at the ground. W-wait! [i]What happened to the grass!?[/i] With that thought, he’d slowly reopen his eyes, shifting just enough to see whatever’s above him and…

[i]Oh, he definitely wasn’t in The Constant anymore[/i]… Or maybe he was? In a much more populated space? Damn it, he couldn’t see anything passed the [s]giants[/s] folks gawking down at him!

[color=9e0b0f]“Wh-where am I?”[/color] His voice was raspy and soft, barely audible over the concern of a gathering crowd. How could they not be worried or curious after witnessing a little elf-sized man falling from the sky, surviving with only a few scrapes and lopsided goggles? Thank the stars above that he hadn’t fallen on anyone too!