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

[thawed_pride]

The sudden change of subject got him to sputter, which somewhat undercut his effort at giving the younger Nobody a stern look.

"Don't just change the subject!"

[melodiouspacifist]

"Gotta get back on the train before it leaves us behind!" Demyx responded, consider the subject changed and he did open a dark corridor to slip through and disappear to the luggage car.

It would remain on the platform for a few seconds like they all did before it began to close.

[thawed_pride]

The swirling portal of darkness might have deterred most people, but Vexen didn't even hesitate to walk through it as though chasing after someone who had just left the door ajar behind them.

"This conversation isn't over, Demyx!"

[melodiouspacifist]

Demyx let out a yelp of surprise as he was followed. They were all the way at the other end now, and surrounded by suitcases.

"Oh man." He groaned, who snuck into someone else's portal?

"Uh, what conversation." He said, playing dumb like he forgot, tapping his temple idly.

[thawed_pride]

Someone who didn't want to have to search for the someone else, that was who.

He gave an unimpressed look at Demyx's effort at playing dumb, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow.

"The one about why you act as though a simple 'thank you' is a foreign concept. I'm well aware that Xemnas was a demanding ingrate, but surely before that...?"

[melodiouspacifist]

He shrugged a little bit and glanced aside. "No idea." Demyx answered. "I don't remember much about my old life. Some things...but not that much."

[thawed_pride]

"Ah..."

His posture and expression softened, sudden understanding dawning on him.

"I had wondered how Xehanort managed to talk you into returning, when you quite clearly had no motivation to so much as pull your weight in the old Organization. It was simply that you had nowhere else to go, wasn't it?"

[melodiouspacifist]

Demyx looked like he was considering that for a moment and he turned instead to look through the packages.

"I guess, but I know he lied to us the first time. This time he said..." Demyx paused. Vexen was of the original six, he might know what Xemnas meant.

"He said that the four of us were chosen for something else." He looked over his shoulder at Vexen. "You know anything about an ancient Keyblade legacy? That's what he said. An ancient keyblade legacy slumbers within us."

[thawed_pride]

"I...know tales of the Keyblade war. Mind you, I didn't know what they were truly about when I first read about them, but legends describe a great war over the light, that led to darkness consuming the worlds."

He closed his eyes, thinking back to the stories as they were told in Radiant Garden. Stories that many had dismissed as works of fiction, but to those who knew about the greater World beyond the confines of their world, clearly held seeds of truth.

"In ancient times, you see, the barriers between worlds did not exist. Each world was aware of the others, and one look at the Keyblade Graveyard speaks as to how numerous the weapons were. When the worlds were blanketed in darkness, most simply vanished, but light was still present in the hearts of children and they rebuilt the worlds. As the true light still slept within the darkness, however, the new worlds were disconnected, and the restored residents held no memory of the greater World or the Keyblade War. Perhaps...that is the Keyblade legacy of which he spoke. You bear some manner of connection to those survivors, who almost certainly would have wielded Kebylades of their own, were their hearts so powerful."

[melodiouspacifist]

"I don't really know anything about that." Demyx said openly, because he didn't, and whatever he remembered, it wasn't that. Those survivors, did he know them?

"Maybe." He shrugged helplessly. "Either way, I can't do it now and if I could, I wouldn't. Too much darkness now for these...heroics."

Demyx found a bag with his name on it and held it up triumphantly, before looking inside.

[thawed_pride]

"Hmm. I rather suspect Riku might have said the same thing, when we first met."

He took a deep breath, as painful memories from Castle Oblivion came rising up. Not just his own final moments, but what he had done...the life he had created, then callously allowed to be reshaped against his will. He would never be able to get the poor Replica's look of terror and betrayal out of his mind...nor did he want to be the kind of person who could.

"We had taken to calling him the hero of darkness among ourselves...that is, Zexion, Lexaeus, and I."

[melodiouspacifist]

"I'm not a hero." Demyx repeated. He would hold onto that for the time being. Heroes were good people who did good things. He couldn't even say he did that. His motivations were selfish, weren't they?

He pulled out the cosmic belt, which Vexen might recognize, and started putting it through the loops of his pants. He'd gotten armor for his protection.

[thawed_pride]

This, he decided, would be a long-term battle. He remembered Demyx's habit of selling himself short, calling himself a coward despite his complete lack of fear of Larxene. He had to wonder, how much of that was an effort to avoid being taken advantage of, and how much was a genuine lack of confidence?

"Well, you're certainly not the coward you make yourself out to be. You're looking quite well prepared for danger."

[melodiouspacifist]

"Well yeah." Demyx chuckled softly. "I mean, I'm not totally dumb. It's better to have some things to protect myself just in case. There was fighting on the last mission. It wasn't too bad...it wasn't hard either."

[thawed_pride]

"And it was worthwhile, if you would rather prepare to face something similar than to flee."

He expected Demyx would have some sort of justification for how he didn't see a choice, rather than acknowledge the bravery of being ready to fight if needed. Still, it was worth note...and maybe it would get the young man thinking about it, in the long run.

"It sounds as though I should save my hi-ethers for an emergency, in that case. Until such a time as I can easily replenish my stock, I must assume that using them for convenience may leave me in a bind should I find my magic taxed in combat."

[melodiouspacifist]

"It's not like I went looking for a fight." Demyx said with a bit of a half shrug. "And it turned out fine, it's not like they had magic or anything." They hadn't been a challenge, but what if something did pose a challenge?

"Then I got sucked into this, I dunno, other world and didn't have my powers at all."

[thawed_pride]

The idea of getting stuck somewhere without his magic was terrifying, and it caused him to recoil with an expression of abject horror.

"How in all the worlds did you manage under those conditions?!"

[melodiouspacifist]

"I could still dodge, and I had magic, just not my magic. It was like throwing leaves or something, like my powers got crossed with Marly's." At that, Demyx snorted though. Marluxia.

[thawed_pride]

"Not to put too fine of a point on it, but I would rather do completely without."

He crossed his arms with an indignant huff.

[melodiouspacifist]

"Tell me about it." He said with a bit of a chuckle.

"I dunno, but that only lasted while we were fighting. After that, powers came back, everything's fine."

Demyx was still worried, without some kind of armour, hence the purchases.

[thawed_pride]

"But there's no guarantee we won't be forced into a similar situation, later."

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. The last thing he needed was to have to manage without his magic.

[melodiouspacifist]

"Not from what I can tell, but that was just my first mission." Demyx admitted. "I don't know how typical it was."

He understood that, he didn't want to be without his magic either.

[thawed_pride]

"Then we should hope it was unusual, but prepare for the chance that it may recur. In which case, I ought to get some sort of mundane weapon I can use to defend myself in the worst case scenario."

He made a displeased face at that. He'd have to be sure to never tell Dilan the man had been right to question his heavy reliance on his magic to protect him.

[melodiouspacifist]

"A mundane weapon? Like what?" Demyx is genuinely curious. He hadn't considered that. Sure, he considered getting himself things to make sure he was better protected, but he didn't really consider any weapon outside of his water manipulation and sitar.

[thawed_pride]

"I'm not sure yet. Some sort of light blade, at least. I doubt I could wield anything overly large without my powers..."

His ice blade was huge, but difficult to handle even with the higher strength that came from being a powerful Nobody. As a human, even something the size of Frozen Pride would be difficult to handle.

"Or possibly just a mundane shield weaponized similarly to Frozen Pride."