Tucked away in a less reputable corner of the city, a district buzzing with street vendors and the dispossessed, there lay a shop that was a beacon for those in search of obscure or obsolete technology. This place was a veritable Aladdin's cave for the discerning tech collector and the frantic seeker of cheap deals. Nord, whose financial resources were modest, understood that securing the right device would necessitate cleverness over cash because she was looking for the impossible.

Jimmy, from her tattoo parlour, had pointed her to this peculiar store renowned for its motley assortment of affordable gadgets, predominantly of Asian origin. Nord's mission was clear: to find a device versatile enough to function across various worlds.

Stepping into the shop, Nord was enveloped by the robust scent of curry. This olfactory surprise lent the place an air of... misleading.

"Hi, how can I help you?" The clerk's voice snapped her back to her quest.

"Hi there, I'm in search of a phone... but not one that depends on... regular phone signals," Nord clarified, resting against the counter. Her request seemed to befuddle the young clerk.

"A walkie-talkie?" he suggested tentatively.

"No, I need everything a phone can do – substantial storage, possibly a camera – but without the calling or texting functions. I need an anti-social phone..."

"Wifi?" he probed, trying to untangle her unconventional needs.

"No, I said anti-social phone... Think of it as a memory brick," she said, a hint of frustration in her voice. "That's what I'm after."

The clerk pondered for a moment. "Are you looking for a phone or a laptop?"

"A PC would be too bulky!" she responded, her tone laced with irritation.

With that, the clerk vanished, without a word, into the depths of the store, leaving Nord amidst an ocean of out-of-date technology. Surrounded by these whiffs, she felt somewhat adrift, her goals challenging the very essence of the shop's old-fashioned inventory.

As she browsed the shelves laden with gadgets from a bygone era when David Hasselhoff and his beach shorts were still a thing, the clerk reappeared, bearing a stout, durable-looking device. "Perhaps this will meet your needs," he offered, presenting the device. "It's a high-capacity storage unit with a camera and file management interface, designed for fieldwork in isolated areas, thus independent of normal network requirements."

Nord scrutinised the device, recognising its potential. "Can it endure extreme environments?" she inquired, her mind racing through possible scenarios. After all, she was about to jump into a portal. Or maybe fall, she had a hard time visualising how it would be.

"Certainly. It's shockproof and waterproof, but the battery life is somewhat limited. It supports USB transfers and wireless connectivity and can be recharged via USB," the clerk replied, a note of pride in his salesmanship talent.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I doubt a USB charger will be doable," she added. "What about alternative energy sources? Solar, wind, water?" she mused, half-jokingly adding, "or even hoccus-poccus magic?"

The clerk raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her specifications. "You'll be without electricity?"

"It seems likely," Nord replied matter-of-factly, underscoring her unique predicament.

"One moment, please," the clerk said, disappearing once more into the trove of technological wonders. Nord paced the small space, her anticipation growing. Maybe it was impossible to contain all her memories in one place, much less a device that might be broken when she landed. Maybe paper would be the best solution, but Baal's words didn't reassure her that it would work. And it is not like she could call him and ask for a second opinion. He would be against it.

In a few moments, the clerk reappeared, interrupting her mental turmoil, cradling a device that exuded a sense of ruggedness surpassing its predecessor. "Here," he announced, setting it down with a measure of ceremony, "is a device akin to the earlier one, yet it boasts a unique feature – it accommodates alternative charging methods."

He then unveiled a small, foldable solar panel adjoined to the device. "It harnesses solar energy for charging. Additionally, look here," he said, indicating a discreet, foldable crank on its side. "Cranking this for two days can accumulate enough power for a few basic operations, say about five minutes' worth."

Nord inspected the device, her expression stoic.

"It's a model frequently used by journalists in conflict zones or harsh terrains. Durability is one of its hallmarks," the clerk added, sensing her hesitation.

Nord fiddled with the device, powering it on. "It operates on Windows?" she inquired.

The clerk replied with a knowing smile, "We adhere to the adage, 'If it isn't broken, don't fix it'."

As Nord contemplated the device, her phone vibrated in her purse, an unexpected interruption. She retrieved her phone, noting South's name on the screen. "Hey, Sweetie, is everything alright?" she asked, signalling to the clerk that she would be taking both the phone call and the solar-powered device.

"Yeah, just calling you back about that favour you asked," South replied.

"Did you manage to get it?" Nord inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"Yeah, but I had to spin a tale to Mom about needing it for a family tree project for school. I'm sixteen, but she bought it; convincing her was tougher than I thought. Now, I guess I actually have to make one, thanks to you," South said, her tone a mix of amusement and mild annoyance.

"You know I love you too," Nord responded with a grin.

"Yeah, yeah," South continued, "Anyway, I don't get why you couldn't just call him yourself, but you've got a meeting set up for tomorrow. I'll send the details by text."

"Did you remember to ask for..." Nord trailed off, hinting at an additional request.

"You're so weird, Nord. Why do you need a translator? And the strangest part is he seemed to expect it; he speaks English perfectly! I don't know what kind of relationship you had with your dad. Still, no wonder mom chose to re-marry," South commented, a hint of bewilderment in her voice, "At least I know where your weirdness comes from."

"I'll see for myself soon enough," Nord replied.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" South offered, "I don't like the idea of you alone with this stranger even if..."

"No, you've got your hands full with that family tree project now," Nord quipped, her voice laced with humour.

"Ha-ha, very funny. It's going to take me hours," South retorted, her voice tinged with mock resentment. "I'm going to choose your worst picture!"

Ending the call, Nord shifted her focus back to the clerk, an apologetic smile on her face. "Sorry about that," she said, ready to finalize her purchase.

The clerk regarded her with a quizzical expression, his eyes narrowing playfully. "Are you a spy?" he asked, half-jokingly, "You can tell the truth; I am really good at keeping secrets."

Caught off guard by the question, Nord responded with a severe stoic tone, "No, I'm a warlock that kills unicorns," she retorted.

"Nice."