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

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin smiled at Spark. "Then let's go to the kitchen and the kitchen storage and see what's in there." He turned and led the way the lower floor of the Stores Carriage, where there was a big industrial-sized freezer.

He pulled open the door and darted inside, and then came out with a container that still had some fish in it. "You're in luck, Spark! Let's go to the kitchen. Want your fish raw or fried?" He'd be perfectly happy to be the chef.

[death_from_above]

He followed, hopefully and was all but bouncing when he found fish. "FRIED!!!!" he said, eagerly.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin smiled to see Spark's eagerness. He got some cooking oil out of the storage area, and then he led the way to the kitchen and set the big container on the counter. Then he pulled a frying pan and a spatula out of the cupboard and turned on one of the stove burners. When it was hot, he oiled the pan and scooped some fish into it. The fish sizzled away and filled the air with the smell of delicious fried fish. He flipped it over with the spatula when one side was done.

"So, while the fish is frying, you can tell me how you've been lately," he said, inviting conversation.

[death_from_above]

He wiggled happily watching the fish fry, having jumped up to the counter top.

"Hungry, mostly. Did people bring back anything yummy from the mission?" he asked, most of his attention on the pan and its contents.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin smiled when Spark jumped up on the counter. He got a plate out of a cupboard and set it near the stove so that he could serve the fish up when it was done, which happened quickly. He put the fried fish on the plate and set it in front of Spark.

Then he started some drip coffee. He wasn't hungry himself, since he'd already eaten breakfast, but some caffeine would do nicely.

"I guess everybody was too busy fighting vines and trees and animals and strange cybernetic beings to look for yummy food. Maybe I should start ordering fish every month from the train store? I'll put in an order today, though it won't arrive until next platform. Do you have trouble finding food on the train that is edible?"

[death_from_above]

"Sounds yummy! You should do that. And less of the fighting thing on missions. Everything will be vine if you take time off for important things, like fishing," he assured him as he ate.

Spark COULD eat anything a human could eat, pretty much, but nothing was even half as good as fish.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin smiled. "I will do that, then. It would be fun if we could spend more time scrounging those worlds for interesting food and enjoyable experiences -- instead of fighting for our lives and the lives of others. And I do like to fish, but unfortunately, most of those mission worlds don't seem to have streams and rivers with fish in them. Better a fish than a vain wish." He was resorting to rhymes, since he couldn't think of a good pun at this moment. As had been his habit in other worlds.

His coffee was made, so he poured it into a cup and sat down by Spark.