voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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?!"

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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."

"Uh, I guess. I don't think I'm really good at other weapons than my sitar." He'd never trained with anything else, really. He relied on his magic, which relied on his sitar as a conduit to make it as strong as it was. Without the sitar, he could manage a much more limited range of magic.

"Maybe if you tried a sword, you'd remember something about that 'ancient Keyblade legacy' Xehanort was on about."

It wasn't a serious suggestion, and he waved a hand as he said it.

"I'm hardly an expert on weapons, though. I always left that sort of thing to Dilan and Aeleus. Even with my ice blade, I'd hardly say I wield it with anything resembling finesse."

Demyx snorted slightly and shook his head. "Pass." He chuckled. "I don't want to fight more really."

But he didn't know what he should do to keep himself protected.

"There's probably a lot of people who know about it though."

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject