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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Oh." He relaxed slightly and chuckled. "No, they're done." He commented. "He's gone from when I was from. Lea's here, he doesn't know about it." Demyx told him.

"It's just a nickname." Demyx shrugged, smiling. "Fine fine, what about Vex then?"

He was probably teasing.

"Ah. More time travel."

His tone suggested he was accepting that as a valid explanation. Not one he was particularly thrilled with, but...well, it was at least an assurance that the Keyblade War ended in their favor. Even though things were going well so far, he'd found it difficult not to worry.

"Vex makes me sound like an annoyance." He shook his head with a sigh. "Honestly...I don't know whether to say you've spent too much time with Xigbar, or if this is simply why he enjoyed your company."

Whatever he was expecting Vexen to say it wasn't a reference to Xigbar and he was a bit surprised to feel a little conflicted about how he felt about him. He'd liked Xigbar alright at the first time, but the second time around he hadn't so much as given him the time of day.

It was confusing.

"Anyway, yeah something about the time stuff, I dunno. It gives me a headache."

"I didn't have much of an opportunity to learn about the details involved, myself. I do wonder how they circumvented the issue of bodies not being able to travel through time, but that is a matter to be researched later."

Put that on the to-do list. So much for being free to choose his own projects once Namine was safely in her new body.

"You said Lea was here, and I had an...encounter with Xion, earlier. Are there any others we know?"

"I'm trying not to think about it." Demyx admitted openly. He didn't know what Vexen knew about his origins but the less he thought about that, the better.

"Two princesses." He reported easily enough. "Kairi and Rapunzel, but neither of them seem to know me. What that means, I couldn't tell you since I didn't really meet either one of them anyway. Also I don't have you know..." He waved his hand at Vexen's coat. "I came without it."

He frowned at that, and tugged lightly at the hood of his own coat, though he left it down.

"Do your current clothes at least protect against the darkness? This seems like a poor situation to be caught without such defense."

There was a definite tone of concern to his voice, though he turned his head so that he was looking at Demyx out of the corner of his eye rather than directly.

"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."

"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?!"

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."

"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."

He looked a bit more serious. "From what I've heard," Demyx interjected, meaning he had been listening to people, "no one knows. No one knows how much of anything works. There was this train question thing not long after I got here and people asked it a bunch of questions, and I don't know how helpful the answers are. There's a lot of smart people on the train. Mostly on the orange team, from what I've heard."

Yet, his own polo shirt was orange, how about that? He didn't know what the criteria was for having your team decided. He didn't think anyone knew.

"Yeah, well I've figured that much out after a month here. Everyone seems kind of caught in whatever cycle this is. And when they say mission, it seems like it varies. The last one wasn't much of anything. It was weird, but not much of anything and I've only been on one since I got here. Apparently the one before was disastrous where multiple people got hurt."

When Demyx started his report, Vexen actually went quiet and listened. Much what he suspected, of course...though, the part about the train answering questions was promising. He would have to find out what the questions were, and what answers were given.

"Is there an alchemy lab here? I have one elixir and a few hi-ethers with me, but it sounds as though we can't easily predict if or when they might be needed."

"No." Demyx shook his head. "A bunch of different cars, a lot of fun stuff you wouldn't enjoy." He smirked a little bit, that was a light tease.

"I've heard people talking about wanting one, though, there's some science types around. I don't know if they're all on the orange team but some of them are. Some people seem to like the train, or at least, they're trying to be nice to it, or talk to it. Last time we stopped like this someone was trying to talk to the train. Other people complain about it. I don't really get what the train is. Also there's these computers everywhere, and I don't really know what to make of them 'cause, I don't do computers." He should've asked Ienzo to show him, apparently.

"Are you calling me boring, boy?"

Though he huffed, there was no real edge to his words. He wouldn't admit it, but one of many things he'd realized on regaining his heart was just how much he'd enjoyed the familiar banter you only find with close friends.

"In my opinion, you're the one ignoring the fun things available. I'll have to see what I can make of this train for myself. If it's alive, surely it must possess a heart I can examine...and perhaps I can find some time in what's sure to be a busy schedule to help you learn how to use computers, as well."

"Yep." Demyx answered with a grin. Blunt and unapologetic. Sorry Vexen, he thinks you're boring.

"I've got no idea on that front." He shook his head. "But it can't hurt to try anyway." He tilted his head. "Well I did manage to order things on the screen. I should be able to pick them up. I got some accessories and things."

"Order? There's a shopping catalog onboard?"

He reached into his pockets, only to come up empty handed. Not that he'd had much munny on him beforehand, but it was aggravating nonetheless. The blunt accusation went pointedly ignored.

"I don't have my wallet with me. I hope they provide some way to earn a local currency, if they're expecting us to buy things?"

"It doesn't use munny." Demyx answered. "It's some kinda...points system." He waved his hand. "I just looked and I had points so I bought some things. I only had three when I got here though. There's a spider lady who will make you an outfit that doesn't look like halloween threw up on you."

"And isn't...this."

He gestured at the his coat with a look of distaste. As useful as it was, he didn't much care to wear the Organization's uniform...especially after Xion's reaction to him.

"What does she ask as payment?"

"I think she can make anything you want." Demyx smiled and shrugged. "A snack. Which costs three points. It was totally worth it!"

Vexen would not like to see what Demyx got, but he probably would later.

"Well, that does sound like a good trade. Thank you for the information, Demyx."

He pauses, as if thinking about something, then continues with a softened expression.

"And I've no idea if I've had a chance to say this to you by your time or not, but, thank you for helping me. Your actions have helped to save two lives already, one of which is very dear to me."

"Yeah, uh, sure." Demyx said when he thanked him for the information, as long as he didn't have to write some kind of report maybe, he hated those.

"Oh..." Demyx shifted uncomfortably and offered a nervous smile. "Don't worry about it. It's no biggie. I barely did anything."

"Your actions might have been brief, but they were significant. I won't budge on you being deserving of gratitude, so you may as well accept it."

He gave a faint smirk, but the way he crossed his arms gave a stubborn look to his posture.

"Uhhhh sure, sure." Whatever it took to get Demyx out of this conversation, it was kinda awkward, really. He didn't really think he'd done that much, he wasn't looking for gratitude. He wanted to keep his head down and not be noticed.

He raised an eyebrow, though the way he tilted his head almost seemed concerned.

"You act as though you've never been thanked in your life."

"I probably..." Demyx probably had been but what did he know about that.

"Oh well. Anyway, that's all I have to report for now. Music room's calling my name." He informed Vexen with a little smile. After he went to pick up his parcel first.

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