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

[yondu]

Well. If it came down to the arrow or the clothes? He'd rather have the arrow, so he won't sass about it too much more. He'll cross that bridge when he gets there.

"They got a guy in charge or do they just depend on y'all and their 'brochure' to settle people in?"

He's guessing 'no' but he's gotta check.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"There's no really 'one person' in charge, but each team does have people who've stepped up to be leads for it. Blue is Piccolo, I'm pretty sure. Green guy with antenna, keeps to himself a lot and doesn't speak much unless it's needed." A pause. "Most of us are pretty good about helping others settle in."

[yondu]

"So pretty much they're standin' back an' lettin' the labor mind it's own, huh? Seems accurate." His impression of whoever made the train isn't great so far, but why should it be? It might have saved his life but he didn't ask for it to.

Then a squint.

"Wait, I don't know no green races with antennas that ain't a bug of some kind."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"I'm pretty sure he's not a bug." Raven answered calmly. "I don't think we have any bug people on board. We do have at least one bird person, some cats that are more than just pets, an android, and a whale."

[yondu]

Yondu turns in place, finally getting a look around him. Sure there are a lotta Terrans or near-equivalents, but there is a large collection of shit he's plain ol' not familiar with.

"Holy shit."

It's striking him, really hitting him, that he's well outside of his range of travels and he's been around.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

Raven gives him a moment, since it's obvious this is sinking in now. She has a very clear impression that he is not someone used to being in this position. Even if he had expected to be dead.

[yondu]

It's not being abducted by the train that's strange. That's just annoying. It's not recognizing what damn part of the universe he's in.

Once he's done he turns back to her.

"When I get cash I'm puttin' a bet on this bein' a Celestial's doin'. What's your money on?"

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Exactly what we're being told. We're just not being told the whole story." Raven replied easily. "I'm not a gambler though, really." but there might've been some amusement in her dry tone. "I'm Raven."

[yondu]

"Eh, well. Guess the story happens when it happens. I'm Yondu."

He loosely points at her. "Hey uh... ever had someone come through sayin' they were crew on a ship called the Eclector?"

He's gotta check, see if any of his men that found a bad fate like him survived. It'd be nice to know maybe one or two of 'em had a chance.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Not to my knowledge. But apparently I was gone for a few months, but don't remember it."

[yondu]

Well, that figures he couldn't be that lucky. Being rescued on the verge of death is... well, maybe that's not even lucky. He's not got the best mentality right now. Maybe the train shoulda damn well left him.

"Right," the disappointment is there. He's got a face that's good at looking mean, but damn can every scar and crease help in looking sad, too.

"Guess I should figure out where the hell my room is at." He taps the ticket against his opposing palm before gathering up his bag properly. "I guess missin' whole months at a time is somethin' else strange this train does?"

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"I'm sorry it's not better news." Raven offered, with genuine sympathy. "And the missing months is because I apparently 'left the train' and then 'came back'. But for me, it's as if one moment I was in the middle of something, and then the next I was back on the platform like we are right now. Except that to everyone but me, a few months had passed."

[yondu]

"...I ain't heard of nothin' like that before. Some jump sickness, yeah, but that's a new one."

He's not doubting her, he's just flabberghasted by the conditional strangeness. Oh you can't die or anything, but you might just not exist for a few months. Seems like a plan.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"We don't know, but the popular theory is we go home." Raven offered, knowing it wouldn't help much. "The brochures are easy to find, unless you want me to show you?"

[yondu]

He just sprung back to life and now he's gotta review reading material. His thawing mind is not in the mood for such nonsense.

"Nah, I can take care of it. Feelin' pretty rough right now so I couldn't focus if I wanted to."

And he doesn't want to. He knows he'll have to, but this goddamn train can wait a minute as far as he is concerned.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"You expected to be dead...do you need a healer?" Raven asked, still calm and deadpan.

[yondu]

He feels his face, thinking of all these times he was hit in it. Just bruised up. It's hard to tell, they're just shades of green to his blue and a little hard to pick out. He rubs his lip, busted on the inside, and draws his thumb back to note that there's no more blackberry colored blood showing up there even if it's still tender. The creeping cold he'd felt, the air rushing out of his lungs, that's gone.

"Can y'all even treat Centaurians? I think all that's left is I'm just roughed up a little. What was happenin' before I showed up- All that don't seem to be a thing right now."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"I'm a healer, mostly via magic. I'm familiar with first aid too however." It was up to him.

[yondu]

He wonders how on par her magic is with what Krugarr's magic was. He could do some pretty interesting stuff.

"Let me get a good look at some technicals first."

He needs to make sure this fin is installed properly.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"You'll want to ask for Ichigo, for medical stuff. For technical stuff...I'm not sure who best to ask for now. Usually people on Team Orange are more technically inclined though."