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

[kabano]

She steps forward, almost daintily to get a good look at the man, or such that she can from her position on the ground and rather small at the moment. She isn't really sure what she's looking at, but the name at least she remembers Otoha mentioning.

After a moment, though, she drops the cat-shape altogether--easier to talk that way--and reappears in her red clothing. Somehow with those goggles still on her head.

"One of the friends. He told me about you."

[worthallthis]

For a beat, all Soldat can think is whether the people who had Otoha fucked him up even more than they thought because that is a cat-- they don't even have time to process that there are in fact two talking cats on this train already-- but then she shape-shifts and holy shit, okay, that is not fucking okay. The shock or the fury or the fear of handler has Soldat frozen, but not the Asset, who promptly takes over.

Two rapid steps has the Asset between Otoha and Yurine, a knife in each hand and metal arm whirring threateningly, facing Yurine and expression flatly angry. "No."

[bakegarasu]

Otoha has never seen Soldat like this. There's a cold intent there, one he's not used to seeing or dealing with - not even when fighting. He shifts around, pulling Yurine back, and looks the other in the eye.

"Yes." It's all he can think to say for a moment. "She didn't pick to be taken from the city. Do you really think that someone like her would willingly leave where she belongs? If you threaten her... I..."

He falters for a moment. He doesn't want to hurt one of the few friends he has. Still... he has his duty. "I'm sworn to protect her."

[kabano]

She doesn't move until Otoha pulls her back, just watching--even glaring at--the other man. What had Otoha told him about her that made him attack at just her name?

From behind him, she continues to stare at the man defiantly, unafraid but wary. There's no force on earth that could separate her from her Karas now--not after what happened--but then, they aren't on Earth anymore, are they?

"Otoha." Her voice hasn't changed in tone by so much as one hesitant flutter. This is hardly the worst she's faced down. "Is this a friend?"

[worthallthis]

The Asset comes out very, very rarely. Three times since his first appearance, over a year ago now. Now it watches with narrowed eyes as its target is protected by an ally.

The Asset has a memory. Stepping between a cage full of threats and a handler. It knows about that kind of programming. That kind of programming makes it angry now. (Don't hurt him. It's not. It's not his fault.)

"No handlers," the Asset says, and doesn't put away the knives, but doesn't attack, either. It even rustles up a full sentence or two. "She will not take from you again. We will stop it."

[bakegarasu]

“... if she hadn’t protected me I would be dead twice over and we wouldn’t have met. Yes, he’s a friend. He’s just... dropped into a fighting mode.”

Hopefully that’s all this is. He’s not good at defusing situations, only escalating them. “No one is taking me from anything. You... you’d protect your home with everything you had. You protected someone else’s a few days ago. She’s the embodiment of mine.”

‘Stand down’ is what he almost says, but that’s too commanding. “Stop. ... Please.” There’s an almost desperate note in his voice, one neither of them have heard before. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the paper crane Soldat showed him how to make. He unfolds it and holds the sheet out.

“... Show me how to make it, again?”

[kabano]

"Otoha. He isn't listening." He's still there, weapons out, ready to destroy her for simply existing, for doing the one thing she was born to do. Otoha says he's a friend but... it's difficult to see that now. She'd turn and leave, but she's certain that the moment she leaves Otoha's side, she'll have lost any protection he is granting her right now. He's probably the only reason she hasn't been impaled yet.

But...he'd been right about Nue, when she'd demanded he kill him, and he refused. There must be something there that Otoha trusts or senses or...something.

"What are you going to do?"

[worthallthis]

The look the Asset gives the origami is something along the lines of "are you fucking kidding me". (You got no taste, pal. Come on, stand the fuck down. Handler. It took me almost a year to stop having handlers. ... Inspector. Yeah.) They're still gutted about losing him, even after he'd stopped being their handler.

The Asset gives the goddamn fucking handler a final glare, then puts the knives away. "No taking his memories again," it states firmly.

It'll let Soldat back out in a second. Just has to make that one thing very clear.

[bakegarasu]

Incredulous is better than murderous, so he'll consider that a win.

"I don't think that's something she meant to do. She said I had the option of becoming human again if I wanted to. ... But I want to protect people." It's easier with someone giving him orders, yes, but it's also easier when he has some kind of support system. He hears Yurine's question, but doesn't respond verbally.

He's going to be here for both of them. A bridge between human and something else. He's not moving. "... Deep breath, Soldat. Tell me what you're making." Just... distract. Distract and deflect, try to snap him out of it.

[kabano]

Her saying anything is probably just going to make it worse, but she can't help herself. She's almost offended by the thought that she was doing anything to harm Otoha. Or that she'd had the choice of doing it or not.

"He isn't owned. If he wants to leave, he can leave." He doesn't, and she knows that, but he could go back to being mortal if he truly wanted. And maybe her saying that out loud would only make this...Soldat distrust her even more, but judging from his first reaction, she's not so certain that she cares if he does. Probably he never quite will. And she's just accustomed to that.

[worthallthis]

"Not Soldat," the Asset corrects flatly, and with actual venom in their growl, they finish, "And handlers. Lie." But it does finally release its iron hold on the body, leaving Soldat blinking a moment, shoulders dropping their battle-ready tension and spine loosening up enough to let them lean back against the counter. Sag, almost, actually. The Asset comes out so rarely, it always leaves them off-balance and exhausted.

"Christ. I. Sorry." Yurine only gets a sidelong wary look rather than an assassin's angry stare, and Otoha a flickered, worried kind of glance. Eye contact is no longer a thing anyone is going to get. None of what the Asset said was a lie-- they're pretty sure it's not actually capable of lying-- but that was... not how they would have said any of it, given more of a choice.

[bakegarasu]

"But y -" He doesn't finish the sentence, and instead just moves forward to Soldat. He doesn't touch him, but sort of just hovers anxiously. "Hey. It's okay. You... we can talk about this. Or... we can talk about it later. Do you need me to get you anything?"

He's not sure what to do. He isn't sure what just happened. At least Yurine isn't threatened anymore, but... "I'm here. ... You're still my friend. ... Right?"

[kabano]

She doesn't speak, but doesn't move from her spot either, watching and ready to flee if she needs to. She still doesn't trust him and especially not after that...outburst. But at least there aren't weapons pointed at her any longer.

[worthallthis]

"Otoha. Of course I'm still your friend." How much did the Asset just fuck this up? Jesus. (No. No, I understand. It's okay. But Otoha is as touchy as we were, I think. Are, still, pal.)

Soldat scrubs both hands over their face. They should apologize to the cat-girl, specifically. ... they can't make themselves do it. "I'll explain later. Okay? But I'm not gonna. Snap and kill anyone. Promise." (Handler. We'll keep an eye on her, okay? But no leapin' up and stabbing, got it? No. We can't get into a fight with Otoha, Asset.) "That was purely protective. In defense of you."

[bakegarasu]

"Okay." He leaves the origami paper on the counter, taking a step back to be less interjecting and more conversational. "... I -" He looks at Yurine and can't help a surprised chuckle.

"I've never had someone defending me. I appreciate it." He rests a hand on Yurine's shoulder. It's okay. The situation has calmed down. "I'm pretty sure she knows how to cook even less than I do, so try to be a little understanding on that front."

Jokes are still good, yeah?

[kabano]

She's still wary, but steps forward regardless. She trusts Otoha, but not this stranger. She's half concerned that the man is going to lash out again once she's closer to him, but she's not going to let him know that. She doesn't show weakness.

"I never needed to."

[worthallthis]

Like that's a big surprise. Handlers never think their assets require defending. Or anything at all but orders and maintenance. They may not even be considering she's talking about cooking, here.

Their voice is carefully neutral. "It's okay. I'll handle the cooking for you both. There's some finished sandwiches in the dining car if you're hungry, miss. Or if you wait a little, I can finish up a couple of omelets."

[bakegarasu]

He squeezes her shoulder carefully. It's okay. Otoha nods in response to Soldat. "Let me know if I can help. I think you might need to eat here... and either way food tastes good." He doesn't eat a ton, but he does like eating. Tasty food is tasty food, okay?

"... If you want to go to the dining car it's okay. I can hang around here for a bit. ... We'll be fine." It's not an order, or even a request - it's just a choice.

[kabano]

She's hesitant about leaving those two alone together--granted she hadn't known that man for long, but just judging from the reaction she'd received he was dangerous. Otoha could take care of himself, but if he's supposedly a friend, she can't even say whether he'd actually try.

After a moment of looking back and forth between the two of them, she finally nods and steps back. He said they'll be fine so they will, right?

"I expect you to be."

[worthallthis]

Soldat holds up both hands peaceably, not looking at Yurine, then picks up their bowl of eggs to get back to whisking. Nothing dangerous about that, right? (Handler. Shut up, Asset. Quit growling, please, Asset. It's going to give me even more of a headache.)

[bakegarasu]

He nods and waits for her to leave the car before looking at Soldat again.

"... Are you okay?" Let's just... establish that first. Yurine can handle herself, or he can handle things for her, but Soldat...

[worthallthis]

"Yeah, I'm okay." They look around the kitchen car, glad nobody else was in here to witness that. Or to listen in to this explanation. (No. You can't pop out like that and not let me explain, Asset. No. He's just grouchy, go ahead, pal.)

"So." They set the eggs down again and lean on the counter, both hands. "I'm not. Alone. In my head. There's three others in here. That was the Asset. It. Doesn't come out much, so it took me by surprise, there. Almost as much as it took you."

[bakegarasu]

... He's heard of this. Hasn't he? Some sort of show. ... Which probably doesn't mean anything, like how what he knew had no relation to Rich's reality, so he stays quiet for a few moment, trying to process.

"... Are they okay? And my friends?"

[worthallthis]

God, how do you even describe what friendship is like for the Asset? "The Asset is. I'm not sure it understands the concept of friendship, but it wanted to protect you from your handler, so that may be the closest it can come. The Bottomless Pit just wants to eat, they don't care about people. Sarge likes you fine."

[bakegarasu]

"... Two out of four ain't bad." It's two more than he'd have ever thought he'd have two weeks ago, honestly.