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

Library

[10billionpercent]

Senku happened to see Selenay, and while he didn't know the significance of her dress at all, he wanted to check in with her for a moment.

"So." He asked with a smirk. "Did you happen to check out the cinema yet?"

He hadn't forgotten their last conversation no matter how long it was since they'd had it.

Re: Library

[herarrows]

...damn. She'd forgotten entirely, and she blushes a little sheepishly as she lowers her book. She needs to start writing these things down....

"I admit, my Lord, it slipped my mind entirely. Perhaps I need a keeper to take me."

[10billionpercent]

Senku chuckled lightly, less at her forgetting, but at the title.

"Between you and Roland my title keeps getting an upgrade." He looked amused.

"Not to worry, it's just you'd said you were interested so I wondered if you did. My offer still stands to answer your questions if you want to watch a movie with me sometime."

[herarrows]

"A promotion must be coming, then." Ha ha. She could have promoted him but that would give her away, and seeing as it wouldn't matter here anyway...

Instead, though, she laughs at herself and shakes her head.

"Perhaps I'd better go now since I've been reminded. If you've other business to attend to I can write my questions down."

[10billionpercent]

He let out an amused snort at that. "Yeah, sure, maybe." Senku grinned.

"Sure, I don't mind. I'm not really doing anything pressing at the moment." He probably would drop any projects if he was preparing for a mission, but if he was going to work on something simple, or read, that could wait until later.

[herarrows]

"That was easier than I thought. Eager to get me alone?" She jokes, really, and she stands and stretches, then puts the book away before she heads toward the door.

"Shall we, then?"

[10billionpercent]

"Yeah, sure, that's it." Senku huffed lightly, still terribly amused. If he thought she was serious, it would be a different matter.

"Come with me then." He agreed and moved to lead her towards the cinema car. "What kind of stories do you like? They only have fiction."

[herarrows]

"I knew it. Trying to ruin my honor." As if she or any Herald cared about that.

She has to pause and think about that, though, as she's not really had much time for that sort of thing until, well, now. Eventually she just has to conclude that she doesn't know as she follows behind him.

"Surprise me."

[10billionpercent]

"Alright. Well, in my experience a lot of people aren't that fond of science fiction, so I'll look for something on the lighthearted end of things."

Senku just shook his head in amusement and when they went into the cinema car, he went over to poke around at the selection.

"They don't carry documentaries, I can tell you that much."

[herarrows]

"How disappointing?" She guesses? Maybe she should have brought something to write with, if only so she could use all these new words correctly and not sound like an idiot.

"I don't even know enough to know what to ask for."

[10billionpercent]

"Only for me probably, since I always prefer to learn something new." Senku selected some kind of comedy that was likely to be kind of insipid and full of nonsense, but it was fine.

"This one's supposed to be funny. I haven't seen it so."

He moved back to where she was and took a seat.

[herarrows]

"As do I, but I suppose if it doesn't exist, we'll have to make do." Or something. She settles into her own seat, a little incredulous, but still curious.

"So I shouldn't ask questions right away, then?"

[10billionpercent]

Senku shook his head, waving his hand. "No, go ahead. I mean it's a piece of fiction we're watching. As opposed to documentaries which are non-fiction. It doesn't mean you can't pester me with questions."

[herarrows]

"You're going to regret that, I'm sure." He has vastly underestimated the amount of questions she can come up with.

"First of all, why do these even exist?"

[10billionpercent]

"We'll just see about that." He chuckled.

"It exists the same way a play, or a fictional book does, it's a means to keep people entertained for a period of time."

[herarrows]

"Interesting." Convenient, too, but she still can't really grasp why someone would prefer this to seeing an actual performance.

"I suppose that does make sense, but I feel like there's something...missing in this experience."

[10billionpercent]

"In the modern world this was the common way to see stories. There are countless movies. The difference is probably that an actor can perform in several movies a year instead of performing night after night in a play. I've never seen a play though." Senku admitted. "And aside from movies, they had tv shows which were shorter and meant for entertainment in your own home."

[herarrows]

"Goddess, do these people have nothing else to do? I'm already far too busy spend all this time watching these things." She can't even imagine a world where people had time for this, but then she hadn't even had a chance to breathe until she'd been dragged here.

[10billionpercent]

Senku chuckled at that. "The modern world has a lot of modern conveniences which gave people a lot of time to pursue leisure activities."

"But I agree with you. I don't think anyone would be trying to get me to sit down to watch a bunch of TV every night, I'm way too busy for that."

[herarrows]

"At least we agree on something." It's a joke, certainly, but she is also relieved that she's not the only one who doesn't understand the appeal of sitting around doing nothing. She'd feel guilty the entire time that there was something she'd overlooked, something important that she'd missed.

"I suppose I can see the appeal, if you've truly nothing else to do."

[10billionpercent]

"Never got the appeal." Senku chuckled. "I can't stand to sit around and do nothing. Even when I was three, I couldn't sit still and do nothing. Watching TV is too much like doing nothing. That's why I always liked documentaries the best, because then I was still learning something, which made it kind of worth it."

He sighed lightly. "But my dad made me play, so I get the principles. Most people had some period of time in the evenings free, and even full days once or twice a week. Really, the amount of time you had off depended on the job you had."

[herarrows]

"Are you sure you're not a Herald? You sound more and more like one." Really, with each conversation it seemed more and more like he could be one, even if he's from the wrong place. Ah well.

"What sorts of jobs would allow for that much time? Mine certainly doesn't."

[10billionpercent]

"I don't really know what a Herald is, so I'll say no." He chuckled lightly.

"Mine neither, but in the modern world a lot of people's did. My dad's was like that. I just don't like relaxing."

[herarrows]

"A fair point, but you certainly sound like one." A lot of people sounded like Heralds on this damn train, and she half wonders what it would be like to have so many of them.

"What sort of job has that much time?"

[10billionpercent]

"Well he had the time when he was a professor. So he only worked some days at the university, he taught a couple of classes, and had office hours, but otherwise he worked on whatever he was researching at the time, and looked after me." Senku explained. "After he became an astronaut, he was far away training and that's more of an all consuming thing."