voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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!

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Obviously. I said I would do it.

[She takes the time to move closer and start inspecting the cooking tools along the walls picking up something unfamiliar and studying it to avoid eye contact.]

In my country everyone is expected to serve in the military at some point. I'm actually something of a war hero, so the train chose well when requesting my aid.

[She sounds vaguely nostalgic and a little resentful.]

Have you been on many missions already? Can you tell me about one?

"I do sometimes buy things for myself. I bought a harp a few platforms ago, and before that, I ordered my own sword from my own world. But there really aren't that many things I want or need. Mostly I buy things for others, and since I seem to acquire a lot of points and not everybody does, it seems only fair. Really, I'll buy something for you if there is something you want."

“Most people don’t take me seriously because of my age. My team does, but...” No one else, usually. “Even though I know a lot more stuff than some people might think. ... I don’t really talk to many people anymore. They always treat me like I’m stupid. I might have missed two years of school but I’m not dumb.”

... Whoops. That was a little bit of a rant. “It’s just... not what I’m used to from most people...”

There was a moment of suspicion, then acceptance.

A smile, if only for a moment.

"Well that might be because I'm skilled in many types of weapons. But I prefer my natural firebending."

She expected him to be curious, most people she'd mentioned it to on the train so far didn't know what it was so she made a backhanded swing causing a trail of blue flames to follow her fingertips.

"Well at least we're compensated. And something tells me it would be miserable to remain on the train all the time without getting off on other worlds."

Steve blinks. He blinks, and takes a breath, and then can't remember how to breathe.

In the span of those few seconds between the hitch of his chest and lungs forgetting how to work, he's cataloging what's different about the other man. Longer hair, yes. Actual clothing instead of that horrific battle uniform. (Yes, he's got one too, but it's different.) Bucky might have even put on a few pounds.

All that flashes through his head, most of it tucked away in the analytical part of his brain. The rest of his head is still wrapping itself around the—

"... Bucky."

Slowly, the word pitched almost like a question. Like he isn't sure if this is an illusion. Or if he's even awake.

"I'm not sure what your age has to do with anything." Senku mused thoughtfully.

"Then again, that might've been true in the world I grew up in, but my world has changed so drastically that none of those things matter. I'm not sure they ever would've mattered to me, but they definitely don't now." It was hard to imagine how he would've reacted so long ago but it didn't matter since the present was the present.

"A lack of education doesn't make one dumb, and people who are inherently dumb usually have some different skill that sets them apart. Everyone is good at something."

"If you watched it you'd find out," she grumbled. Alas, there were two wolves inside a-Qing. One wanted him to be quiet so she could listen to the two characters discussing some kind of valuable, lost treasure - could she order it? Was this a real story? The other wolf was jumping at the chance to show off everything she'd learned to an elder.

The second wolf won in a landslide. The first wolf twitched feebly on the metaphorical floor as she turned in her seat to face him.

"It's a car. It's like brother says, a cart, but it doesn't need anyone to pull it. An archaeologist..." She bit her lip. She wasn't sure about that one. Not that she'd let it stop her. "Obviously he's a famous hero! With his reputation, wouldn't people be envious?"

"Yes, ma'am."

If Steve sounds a little startled, that's because he is. Nevermind that wandering around the train in order to create a mental map is probably a weird hobby, he just didn't actually expect anyone to be around. In his head. While he was making the plan. Oh, well.

He leans forward a little, to get a better look at her pan. "Snack or meal?"

"I do not know what a Celestial is, so I'm going to go with what I know and say actual goddess. Immortal and all that."

She keeps a note of the name of the planet, not that she could actually get one. But it's tempting. Maybe she could talk him into buying one for her some day, in exchange for something. It'd be a nice addition to the greenhouse, a fist sized bee. Okay, it would be a nice addition for her.

"Ah--you would need pollinators of some sort. And butterflies are notoriously picky, bees less so."

They have definitely put on weight, though it's hard to tell for sure under the layers. A year and a half of mostly eating at their actual caloric requirements does a lot for filling a body out. (And also for their mood. Easy to be less cranky when one isn't starving and not knowing why.) There's also a lantern that looks straight out of the war hanging from a braided strap over one shoulder, except for the two little charms hanging from it and the metal shutters welded on to hide the light.

The name early a tiny little flinch, but it's-- it's okay, they're used to it by now.

They can't even bring themselves to correct him. Christ. It's fucking Steve. "Yeah. That. Yeah. How are you--" They take a couple steps closer, not within touching range, but-- closer. Looking him over a little desperately. "You're not dead. Are you dead?"

It's not eaten him yet. Pretty chill little animal.

"Scratch won't heal up right. An' it's got a pocket dimension in it. Open up its mouth wide an' if you see deep down in there or if tentacles come out, then it's not a Flerken."

He's keeping his distance, pulling a gold stick out of his pants pocket and tapping the blunt end with a glowing ruby against his palm. He's just uh, just gonna hold onto this. "I dunno. Maybe they look like Flerkens the way us Centaurans look like Kree. Or Terrans."

He gestures at V. He thinks he's Terran anyway? Maybe? That's a lot more work done on him than he sees on a lot of Terrans.

"That's a useful skill." Senku agreed and he did glance at her movement. "Huh." He actually didn't look all that curious. "I met someone before who explained to me what that is. It seemed very interesting."

He nodded at her assessment. "I don't know how I'm earning points, but I do earn quite a bit of them so I try and make sure I keep some aside in case I need them for something later. Outside of that, personally, I try not to get things I can make myself. Not that I'm telling you how to spend your points, they're personalized and you can't trade them."

Senku groaned a little bit. "Yes. The train is excessively boring, at least to me, but there are things people consider to be fun around to entertain yourself with. I just hope the next world isn't as boring as the last one."

Curufin nods. "That seems a good description, that hearts and souls can cross seemingly impossible boundaries. You have that ability, too? Wonderful. I've never before met anybody else who has done it. But this particular Void is somehow impassible to you? I wonder why? Actually, I didn't find it difficult at all. But truthfully, that was the only time I did it. When I passed from my world to the world we called Arda Marred, I didn't do it on purpose. The God of that world grabbed me out of my original world, and I don't remember the passage at all. And when I left Arda Marred, I left on purpose, but I saw very little of the Void before I was snatched by yet another set of gods and ended up in Hadriel. I don't remember that voyage, either."

He thinks. "The only other time I dipped into the Void on my own was after my death in my own world, which is simply called Arda. The Barrier of that world is called the Wall of Night, and it is known to all Elves that were born on the continent of Aman, where I am from. I died on the other continent, though, Middle-earth. Once I was in spirit form, I went wandering, and I found the Wall of Night and leaped across it to see what the Void was like. It was pretty much the same as the Void anywhere. But I didn't launch off on a journey to another world at that point, I came back over the Wall and stayed in Middle-earth for another couple of hundred years, until I was suddenly transported to Arda Marred. I don't remember that passage either."

Edited 2021-02-03 19:08 (UTC)

Caww... That sounds terrible. War and military. They're bad.

[Enna's chopping slows a bit as she thinks.]

Caw. My first one was supposed to be a vacation, apparently. Lots of swimming. Beach. I liked it. I found lots and lots of shiny things there. But not a lot happened.

There was another mission later that I didn't like. We had to put up... 'shields'? Around a world. And fight people who were trying to destroy that world. They had a bunch of robots. Fighting them was hard. I didn't like it. But that world also had cute animals. Rolly pandas.

[The chopping picks up again, and then stops.]

The past missions don't really give you any idea of what's coming in the future, though. Missions can be anything. They don't always involve fighting. Which is good. I don't wanna have to stop more people from killing people.

Hell, maybe he should have went and found himself a Terran woman. He could have been hitched decades ago, if this is their standards. Pick up Quill, find him a wife that likes aliens? Would have been win win.

"Sounds like I got the better hair at least," he observes, running his hand over his complete lack of hair on his scalp, dodging around the fin.

"Your youngin's are lucky to have you. Seems like there's a lot of kids runnin' around here."

[ Being from a cartoon comedic series, of course Della hears the warning... all too late. ]

Huh? Watch out for wh-

[ BONK. Della fumbles backwards, rubbing her sore beak, but then she laughs it off. ]

My bad! Ha ha ha!

Considering the last Celestial he met wasn't too personable... and in fact, was very much needing of death? That's good to hear. He doesn't always take someone that says they're a 'Goddess' just at their word. But he's had a long day.

"I thought you was Krylorian at first. You look about the same color. So you're saying this train... has somehow gone so far as to pick up cybernetic supersoldiers, a goddess, an' some messed up children?

"Whoever wrote the hunting algorithm ought to be shot in the head." He grumps. "Whatever it uses to decide, anyway. How's all this workin' out for ya?"

Her mouth quirks at his address, and the tone of surprise.

"Meal," she confirms, "Or part of one." A recipe card for crispy chicken tortillas is leaning against a half-empty bottle of wine vinegar, and she jerks her chin towards it. "Won't feed everyone, but platform days are a mess anyway... Someone'll want it."

[Azula stiffened at that confused, glancing back at Enna.]

War is only bad for the ones who lose. A strong military is important to any nation that wants to protect their citizens.

[The more this girl talked the more it was clear to Azula she wasn't a warrior, she was a child.]

So why don't you just hide on the train then if you're too cowardly to fight?

"Aren't we all?"

Persephone leans in to take a better look, fascinated. It'd be rude to touch, probably, but the urge is there. It seems so much more tame than insects she's met. Sure, she attracts butterflies, but not ones that act like pets.

"How--how interesting! Um--but what's lifeshaping? Like--breeding them to do this?" What is breeding animals to do certain things except shaping a life?

That was enough to make her blood run cold. Was there someone else here from her world?

"Who was it? Did you get a name? Were they a firebender as well?"

She seemed to realize how desperate that sounded and dialed it back down but the damage was already done.

"What was the last world like if it was so dull? What sort of task did you have?"

[Ironically, Enna's actually likely a bit older than Azula... Not that you can tell from how she carries herself.

She shrugs a bit, giving Azula a surprisingly appraising look.]

Nope. War's bad for everyone. Fighting, hurting people, being hurt.

You're being really rude. Don't do that.

"His name was Zuko." Senku answered. "He was showing me something that looked like a blend of tai chi and fire magic. He left quite awhile ago, though."

He'd been there, but he was gone. Senku just didn't forget people he spoke to though. He didn't really register desperation, he wasn't going to ask her why.

"The area I was in had no proper path so it was like walking an obstacle course for days." Senku sighed. "We were meant to repair broken pipes, and some of the robots came over to hit you when they were broken, so we were meant to be fixing them too. But the world was under construction so it didn't have anything of interest to gather, and somehow I ended up in combat. Could've been better."

"Just one box so far. Enough for those of us here and a few allies." He shrugs. "That ones for you. I thought it might be useful for us to have a way to communicate outside of the train's communication systems."

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A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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