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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Yugi was taking some time to wonder for a bit and one of his stops was the library. While he never brought any books it never hurt to see just how much people buy for this thing, which in his mind should have really come with enough books to fill ti when it first came.

But when he saw the other he stopped.

"Oh hey, I guess we both had the idea to come here"

He looked up from his work, slightly perplexed. "I... am here nearly all day and night every day and night," he said simply. "That way people who need me know where I can be found."

That way he had access to books at all hours.

"That doesn't sound at all healthy." He gets people want to learn things and such, but nearly all day and night and by the sounds of it doesn't really do all that much else doesn't seem healthy.

But also says the person who plays a lot of games, but he knows to do other things in between.

"Do you at least leave to get the sustenance that you need?"

"Just because you look vaguely like my son," it was the hair and bearing, "does not mean it is your place to lecture me," he said simply. Not angry, just... stating it. "I eat plenty and there is nothing wrong with spending my time in study."

"I wasn't lecturing. It was more out of concern, but if it sounded as such I will at least apologize for that." More so since they did say they eat plenty which was, for the most part, his main concern.

"Nothing wrong, but studying alone also means you don't form bonds or connections because it's a one person thing unless it's a group study thing, I suppose... Then that's another factor." Yugi was one who thinks having friends help people in various ways at least.

"But I assume you'll say to me you never get lonely, right?"

He nodded a bit at the apology and relented "My son is forever trying to convince me that studying is deadly," he said dryly. "That I should stop reading and stop trying to teach him to read and enjoy the outdoors instead. I do think that while he would love to help on the worlds we are brought to... he would hate the train itself. Nowhere to ride his horse and more than me to stop him from playing with bombs as though they were toys." he sighed. He missed Link. He did. But he had to admit... Link being here would probably be more for Zelda and himself than for his boy's sake. He just did wish that they could be together.

"I work on projects with others from time to time, and those who wish to study with me know where to find me, rather than having to search for me. In fact, one of them is due here soon so that we can work on a project together. This is for that, actually," he said, nodding to the mostly completed laptop floating beside himself. "This way I have access to the testing environment without having to borrow or risk Kaiba's laptop whenever I wish to make a change to the code."

"As for getting lonely, as I have said, those who wish to study or work together know where to find me. I do get lonely for the company of specific people, but that can hardly be helped when we have so little say as to who is on the train or when they are from."

Yugi sat down and listened, though the thought of someone playing with bombs on a train was not one he ever imagined could happen but wouldn't have also been surprised about it either. More so if it was for experimenting mixtures to make such things and making sure they worked or something.

But as he listened he was starting to at least get some understanding of everything. Everyone just had a different way of spending time with friends. In his case it's studying and projects. So those he becomes friends with would be perfectly okay with doing that all the time.

"What kind of projects have you done so far?" he knew some people were always doing something, Kaiba being on of them so he couldn't help but have moments of being curious.

"I have worked with Nita on the crafting of a gauntlet, as one example," he said. Mostly to avoid having to think of another. He was sure there were some, there had to have been, but at the moment he was drawing a bit of a blank for projects he had finished with others. There had been more... communal study. Like the study on the self that he and Zelda.... well no, that was hardly finished either. "Besides," he finally said, "the best projects are never quite finished." There. That worked.

"A gauntlet?" He guesses he meant a case of what he thought it meant. But for all he knew in another world, it could mean something else completely.

"By never quite you mean because there is always something to work on or improve?"

"As in armor for her hand that has other qualities as well as protective ones, yes."

He nodded. "Exactly. There are always ways that we can improve upon anything that we have made or worked on." Sometimes there were diminishing returns that made it so that he wouldn't go back to one, but it was a nice excuse to not have things to list as having finished, while also being completely true.

He nodded, he seemed to understand to an extent what he meant and well that was a good thing either way. There were ways they could improve upon anything which included themselves.

"Yeah like there is always something...Which does kinda remind me, I do need to improve myself. I was going to do a run later to improve stamina."

"You would do better to improve yourself in here," he said, gesturing to the shelves.

"Unfortunately considering what books we have currently, I'm not sure what I could learn. But I assume you know all of the books here so would know what there actually is. I just remember some were fiction." So he wouldn't be sure what he could improve that would be useful in missions from a book at the moment.

"As of now there are a few that are not, and we are adding to the collection at every platform. You are, of course, welcome to do the same and add to the current pool of knowledge. I will make you the same offer that I have made to everyone else. Bring me a scholarly tome and I will make a copy so that you can keep your original and the library will have a copy as well." And he'll make one for himself. "In the time between now and the next platform, however, there is a text on pharle's work that would be of use, as the more people who can craft proper armor, the safer everyone will be on missions."

"Wait... there is a book about how to craft armour? I mean I get that is very useful, but we'd also need various items to actually be able to craft it to, right?"

Okay he didn't know everything that would be needed, but he guessed he could at least give it a read.

"Some of us do, for the rarer materials, but a number of us," one is a number though there had to be SOMEONE else here who could craft as he could, can make most of it ourselves." Besides, if anyone took him up on those magic lessons he offered at the meeting, they in time would also be able learn how to craft much of this themselves. Bending made it easier, but his magic originated in Ceiphro, so it had always been possible.

"That's pretty impressive." Yugi really didn't know much but hey if one could without having to use things to melt metal and all that for it, it's still impressive.

"I'm not sure I could honestly do that myself. At least making armour without some items that would be needed." Just a normal human here after all.

"Well, you could learn from the books and learn from that what you need to spend points on, and what you can trade for," he said, simply. He had no clue that Yugi thought that metal was a common ingredient for armor. Then again, Yugi probably had no idea that Clef's odd looking, but still seemingly cloth, clothes probably could stop more damage from hitting him than a full Arthurian suit of armor could. Ah, magic.

"Then I guess I'll do something like that now." It will at least, either way, pass the time.

So with that Yugi at least was starting to look over what was around.

"Very well. Let me know if you wish me to fetch the pharle book for you."

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A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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