Arriving 'here' implicated he hadn't gone to the Research Center first. It's possible he did arrive there, and was suddenly kicked here by looking at a screen, but wouldn't he be wearing all white, if that was the case? Jean was wearing the clothes he was wearing before appearing here, so logically that should be the same for Bert. Of course, it could just be the metaverse playing tricks.

"This place is called Ellipsa. Another world. People from different worlds appear here. This isn't even the only place like this; I've been to two others before this one. I haven't been 'home' for years, now." That's why he's almost Bert's height now. Almost. "This place in particular gives us Seasonal powers, based on what season was chosen for us. I'm Summer, so I can control fire along with other things."

He demonstrates by making a ball of fire and levitating it above is palm. It seems to come to him as easy as breathing by now.

"But this place we're in now is a different version of the world we're supposed to be in. It's kind of hard to explain, but it's a copy of it. Nothing here is real. Our actual bodies are probably sleeping back on the real world while our minds are currently trapped in here."