A New Platform [Intro Post February]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

Three days after the Voidtreckers return to the void after their adventures on the biosphere world, they are awoken by a familiar announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day Sixteen of the month of Jelly. Points have been updated on the system."

They have indeed, and everyone can spend the morning shopping. Those who have been on the train for a while will also be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." A lurch and a jolt and the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform. The fog seems thicker than usual and as they step out onto the platform they will find it is cold, very cold. Icy fog sticks to their clothing, makes it hard to see very far; the atmosphere is dark and gloomy.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Alexis Rhodes, Elfnein, Itsuki Myoudouin, Ken Ichijouji, MT, Neku Sakuraba, Nike Lemercier, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Rainbow Dash, Rei Saotome, Taichi Yagami, Tsubomi Hanasaki, Yuri Tsukikage and Zechs Merquise all pass through the platform, not looking back before they disappear through the barriers and into the fog beyond.

But on the platform itself there are new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours, in various states of confusion.

For New Passengers

At first all they can see is steam, billowing around them as they come to their senses. As their eyes adjust, they will see they are on a platform, glass and dark stone rising in sturdy arches around them. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single track extending both ways into thick fog.

They are standing, in clothes that are not their own and a style they might not even recognise. They are carrying a rucksack on their back. For a moment it seems to just be them, alone in the white haze; then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not large with sixteen figures scattered around, all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. To both the left and right, tracks disappear into the mist. Then there is a roaring sound and out of the fog arrives a train. Jet black with gold writing on the side. The Voidtrecker Express. There is a hiss as the doors slide open and out step a strange assortment of people. Some are human, some are less so. Most are wearing the same hoodie in one of the four colours, red, orange, blue and purple, though some are sporting different clothes in a variety of styles.

The Train

After a short time, the doors hiss open again. Those from the train may encourage those on the platform to board. It’s not like there's anywhere else to go and even if there was, you feel a pull. A need to board, a feeling that staying on the platform would lead to something terrible. If that is not enough, there are plenty of people on the platform now, to encourage them onto the train.

Each ICP shows the same message and next to the screens there are stacks of leaflets written by those on the train, with further information (see
'Publications'). The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, including several crates of avocados, the ingredient of the month of Jelly, as well as all sundries.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags.

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, especially if they want a top bunk!

Room is tight but there are storage cubbies at the head of each bed, beds fold up and the bottom bunks double as benches for the small table. There is storage under those benches full of spare blankets and pillows.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers braving the freezing fog, and the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view again as it picks up speed.

"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express." A female-coded artificial sounding voice echoes throughout the train. "Please take the time to read the passenger information displayed on the Information and Communication points and familiarise yourself with the layout and emergency exits."

The train begins to tilt, leaving the ground and rising up into the fog-filled sky.

"Entrance into Voidspace imminent. New passengers are advised to remain seated. Entry into Voidspace in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

A shudder, a jolt, a lurch to the left. A flash of light, colourful and blinding. As quick as it happens it is done. The train seems to steady itself. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.

Welcome to the Void!

Comments

[theimpatientone]

Merwen looks at V a moment, not at all sure what to make of them, not at all sure of even what they are, but concern for a fellow soul reigns supreme. That's... important.

"I am Merwen," she says, by way of introduction. She keeps her voice soft, and she moves into a place near them, and stops there, waiting for them to make any further move closer. "I'm newly arrived here, and perhaps you are, as well. It's... overwhelming." She lets that phrase sit in the air between them for a moment. "Do you wish to share speech?"

[10billionpercent]

"I can answer just about any question you like in any scientific field, survival skills at least in relation to a planet like Earth, or about the train." Senku said, waving his hand a little bit.

"As long as you don't care that I'm working on these while I do. I could stop, I'd just rather not." He liked to keep his hands occupied.

"You'd be surprised how many skills carry over. If you can feed yourself, and you remember to bring what you need in case there isn't food to feed yourself with, you'll be mostly fine."

[nocawsforconcern]

[Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to... work. Or do anything. Or get much of a reaction from her, at all. She may not be aware Azula's trying to be intimidating.]

Duh. It's so small, it's not like it's hard to navigate.

[Enna that's not what Azula meant.]

[blue_ice]

"Sounds like love to me," Kaiba said gently. He was entirely sincere in this. That level of devotion...

That was what he felt. And he was certain in his decision now. Kaiba takes the box out of his pocket, opening it to look at the Gandora-inspired ruby gems on the black surface.

"I'm asking Yugi today. He made me better in every way, and I want to promise him I'll find a way to stay by his side. That's what this means. We'll come back to each other no matter what."

[10billionpercent]

"That's what I understand." Senku agreed with a bit of a nod. It wasn't for him, so much, but then again he had a very strong handle on his own emotions, and didn't find them to be particularly useful, especially things like anger and fear. He avoided them as much as he could.

He isn't bothered if she's going to keep removing clothing, nor does he look particularly interested in it.

"Were you finished saving your world then? That's fortunate. I am very much in the middle of a lot of work at home."

[weifinder]

He blinks, smiling a beat late with an affable sort of laugh, short lived as it is. An unfamiliar face, but most every face on this platform has been. At least this one comes paired with features that feel familiar, compared to the riot of colours and assortments of shapes likewise milling about.

Not that he's paid overmuch attention yet. The train does have its driving allure.

"Aside from something that runs hot, what, exactly, is an engine?" He pointedly lets his hand linger, because the concept of metal biting seems absurd when a single firm surface ran under his hand, nothing particularly lingering that he can sense. Then again, most everything is a confusion at present, solidifying only slowly as people speak with something other than the same air of confusion he has.

[strawberryprotector]

Hearing that had Ichigo's smiling widening a little, and he put a hand on Kaiba's shoulder. "I'm sure he's going to know how much you care about him, and I hope he gives you the answer you want."

[weifinder]

Certainly it wasn't like patting a rabbit, but perhaps just a little like patting a donkey. Wei Wuxian glances toward the one speaking when addressed, drumming up a smile and lifting both hands away from the train's surface for a moment.

"Getting in touch with reality. This whole thing, do you know what it is?" He gestured to the train as a whole, quirking up his eyebrows and straightening a touch from how he'd leaned forward to pat the metal encasement.

[melodiouspacifist]

"Uhhh, dunno." Demyx shrugged.

"I don't use the corridors that much, just to wander the train. They're not connected to our world either so...I'm not sure anything can get me."

[makeadragonwannaretire]

It's less about the size and more about how things work here.

[She gestured vaguely at the stoves and cupboards and cooking tools.]

As I understand it we are responsible for feeding ourselves and the others if it is our turn? How exactly is that handled?

[Already frustrated, usually Azula was so good at reading people but this one was proving difficult. What was it? Was she just very sly or was she in fact incredibly dense?]

[comefadeaway]

"Yes." Yoite answered with a nod. "It's a train. We kind of live in it right now." He explained. "And it takes us to missions so we can save worlds."

That...was about all he knew.

[deductiongeek]

He is just barely nice enough not to laugh. (Also because he knew she would get revenge somehow.)

"There were six in a box. But I should be able to get more by next month."

[makeadragonwannaretire]

She moved closer but remained out of arms reach for now, studying him like one might watch a bug in a jar.

"All that knowledge and modest I'm sure." she managed a small joke but if he was being truthful she might have just met someone useful and she didn't want to waste that.

"How long have you been on this train?"

[thawed_pride]

"Not...don't be absurd, we use the corridors precisely because they bypass such-"

He cut off mid-lecture as a portal of shadows condensed in front of his hand. One that, indeed, couldn't reach the intended destination. He dismissed it with a wave of one hand, frantically pulling his Gummiphone out of a pocket with the other and looking increasingly distressed as he tried the numbers of each of the residents of Ansem's castle.

"How...we've been transported through barriers that even the dark corridors and Gummi technology are incapable of breaching?!"

[10billionpercent]

Senku chuckled lightly. "Well I'm not going to pretend I don't know something, why would I do that?"

He didn't notice how she was watching him really, and he didn't stop his actions to sharpen his bone into a knife. He also didn't mind that she kept her distance, in fact, he preferred it.

"I've been on the train for three and a half months. Not the longest person, but long enough."

[deage]

I had a conversation about what kind of books might be useful to have on board, so I decided to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak.

[ Sure enough, the package Haibara finds, addressed to SHIHO MIYANO, is pretty obviously books. Even wrapped in plain brown paper, the shape is pretty distinct.

Judging by their size, though, these are either textbooks or hefty non-fiction. ]

[constantvrunning]

While V looks human enough -

`I... would, thank you. I am V.`

They don't sound human. There is some artificial quality in their speech, which, when they belatedly try to mask it, sounds more awkward than the previous attempt.

"That is - thank you, Merwen. I... prefer repairing trains to living on them."

M-Bot gives a trill in concern, retreating to his person; V absently rests a hand on his chassis.

[melodiouspacifist]

He watched Vexen do the exact same thing he tended to do every time he got off the train and just blinked.

"Uh, yeah." He said. "If that means we can't go back, yeah. I've been stuck here like a month already. Ienzo probably thinks I'm dead, or he's gonna be forever pissed by how late I am."

[makeadragonwannaretire]

Azula finds herself coming back to the gym after her first time passing through. There's something comforting and familiar about a place meant for training and physical activity.

Unfortunately that sense of normalcy is threatened as she watches Guri silently tear through the equipment one by one, showing off her strength and speed effortlessly. It's enough to make even Azula suddenly feel outclassed.

"How are you doing that so easily?"

[thawed_pride]

"You think he'll be mad at you...he was already upset with me over my last disappearance. Assuming we don't simply return to our original times, as is the case with normal time travel, but I've no reference point for how that works in worlds beyond the reach of the dark corridors."

He lifted a hand to his forehead and squinted his eyes shut, trying to think. When he had so little information, he normally turned to recon, but if Demyx had been here for a month and not overheard anything useful on the subject...that wasn't promising for the idea of anyone actually knowing anything concrete. If there was one thing the boy was good at, after all, it was finding out what people were talking about.

"I suppose we'll simply have to brace ourselves for the worst case, until we can gather more information. Ienzo was always kind at heart, so I've doubts he would stay mad knowing that our disappearances were beyond our control."

[makeadragonwannaretire]

The correct answer to his question was So you have an upper hand on everyone else.

What she said was "I guess it's for the good of everyone to share in that knowledge."

The bone knife puzzled her somewhat "I would have imagined with so much advanced technology that there would be more sophisticated weapons then a knife made out of some bone. So why are you making it?"

Re: On the platform

[guru_clef]

"More, it enables me to not be trampled or tripped over," he said dryly. "As well as allowing me to see the new arrivals."

[deage]

"I wouldn't trust a university that handed out a doctorate to somebody my age." Haibara does not tone down her sarcasm for anybody. It's just her default tone. Although the truth was simply that Haibara was older than she appeared, she doesn't volunteer that detail. "I just happen to know a lot about medicine and how it interacts with human biology."

God, if that wasn't an understatement.

"More accurately, I'm just managing medicine. If you need any, I can prescribe them. Other than that, you probably want to find Kurosaki or Wen Qing."

somewhere idgaf

[runsfast_rollsfar]

Prisoner always had a tendency to make himself relatively scarce on platform day. He'd learned that most people don't know sign language, and apparently those that did could know a different sign language than he did, so he let those with mouths do the explaining of everything going on. It was more efficient and, if he were honest, he didn't care about dealing with the temper tantrums that the newcomers threw on arrival. It got old very fast. So he got back on the train the moment he could and paid no attention to the platform, retreating to try and find something to do.

It wasn't until later in the day he had to stop and he felt the same sort of stunned feeling he felt when Devero suggested he pick a name for himself. There was someone that was the right height, the right build, the right shade of red hair, to match Renee. Her back was to him and he felt himself hesitate. If he was wrong this would be something that devastated him, but if he was right? Well, this would be the best day ever. He teetered on this realization of this split feeling and wondered if the nervousness he felt was what the kids called anxiety.

He approached her and, when he was close enough, he reached out and tapped her shoulder so she would turn and see him.

[death_from_above]

Spark looked up at him and gave him his most pathetic huge eyes. "Starving," he moaned pathetically. Feed him?