My Work is Frustrated

The smell of smoke wakes me from my daydream.

I look down at my new prototype arm, partially disassembled. Specifically, my gaze rests on a tiny, brushed motor that has been running nonstop for the last…thirty minutes with too much load, and now it's burning out.

Pulling power, I yank out the motor and toss it into the pile with all of the other broken parts. I struggle not to sigh in defeat.

In my bedroom, I sit, working at my desk on a new arm to replace my old one. Before I can even begin to work on the A.I for it, I need to have a working model. I've even been working on an augmented processor to help me with the computing power for it. So far, it just helps me go on my mind rants without missing a beat. Mirrored off of my right arm, the left arm looks like a metal ribcage wrapped around a steel pole, and unlike the Octillery Arms, I don't have the luxury of just adding more space to it if there's a feature I want to accommodate.

For example, articulate fingers. The Octillery Arms are somewhat articulate, but I want to be able to write in cursive with this arm. Eventually, I want it to function practically indistinguishably from a real arm.

Again, I have size constraints.

"Agh… screw it!" I shout in frustration, jumping from my chair and throwing myself onto my bed face first. I messed up yesterday…hard. After coming back to this world, I froze up on seeing Serena. I didn't know what to say to her, or if I should have said anything. Under the pressure, I ran out of there, not looking back.

I still don't know if I did the right thing. For all the intelligence I possess, none of it helps when it comes to romance. What even is my relationship with Serena? Friends? Do I even see her as a real person if I lust after others? Are my feelings even real, or do I just objectify her as a conquest; something to be mine? Do I even think about her as a real person with thoughts, feelings, aspirations? Instead, sometimes I feel like I treat her like a- a-

"Ra?" Gwen pulls me from my thoughts as I see her head barely peek over the edge of my bed. Not even her eyes, just the tip of her spike…thing. She jumps, albeit not efficiently, grappling for my covers.

I roll my eyes with a smirk as I pull her up onto my bed. She runs at me, knocking me back down into my pillow with a hug. Ralts are an emotionally sensitive type of pokémon, and she must have been feeling my emotional turmoil.

"Aww, I'm sorry. Did I worry you?" I squeeze her tighter, feeling her stubby little arms struggle to reciprocate.

Another thought flashes through my mind. Do I treat my relationships with my pokémon better than I do with actual human relationships?

Oh, Arceus. I hope not…

I think there's a Pokémon Showcase happening soon, and Aria was supposed to make an appearance. Maybe I can…acquire some tickets and take her to see it? She does seem to be one for showmanship and performance.

*Bzzz* *Bzzz* *Bzzz*

I pause my date ideas to look at the caller ID on my phone. Actually, it's one of the numbers that Sycamore gave me! Sitting up, I clear my throat and answer. "Hello? This is Nicole."

Anticipation grows as I hear no response for 5.3 seconds. "Good evening, Nicole," a feminine voice responds. A few things fly through my mind as I look at the early-morning light from my window, such as how much I'll be billed for an inter-regional phone call. "My name is Lusamine, and I represent the Aether Foundation as the current president."

I eyes slowly look to my right at the wall full of posters and magazines of all the female celebrities I had periodic crushes on over the years, not that any really dissolved, and they lock onto a cutout of a magazine from last year with Lusamine at the forefront, along with Wicke and Faba.

I remember a small article that someone shoved in there with more possible speculations on Lusamine's husband, Mohn, since his disappearance many years ago. The Aether Foundation themselves gave no official stance on it, but some suspected foul play…

Disabling the augmented processor in my neck, I tune back into the conversation without missing a beat. "Ehrm… Yes. I've…heard of your foundation before. If I'm correct, aren't you one…one of the founders?"

I hear a light chuckle on the other side and something deep within me burns. I forcefully smother it though as I already have Serena and Courtney to worry about. "Yes, I am. Nicole, Augustus informed me that you recently found a previously thought extinct Alpha pokémon, and not from a fossil, but from an egg."

The pokémon is question, curls up in my lap, and I begin petting her head as I continue my phone call. "Uh, y-yeah. That's true. I have an Alpha Ralts with me right now." Gwen peeks up at me, hearing me mention her, and I give her a reassuring smile. She tucks herself back into my lap.

"Well, Nicole, I think you'll be pleased to hear my offer. We at the Aether Foundation make it our primary mission to care for pokémon of all types, preserving nature, and curing pokémon that are hurt. We would love to invite you to Alola, so that you can help us further our research and you can have your Ralts be given the best medical care possible."

That's…certainly an offer, but something about it seems…off. Fishy, so to say, not that I mean anything by that Primrose. "I'm sorry, but I think I'll have to decline at the moment. I'm currently doing the league challenge" —yesterday's interdimensional events pop into my mind— "among other things… 

"That's fine." I hear a click as the line goes dead. After I pull the phone away from my ear, I stare at the number, listlessly typing in the true name for it.

"I need to find Courtney and discuss this," I mumble. Where did she go, anyway? I haven't seen her in a bit. Just a random note to say she was checking out a café…of which there are fifteen in the city.