voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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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!

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Well she wasn't exactly wrong.

Azula regarded the girl, studying her carefully. Not a threat but there was something about her expression that irritated Azula. Was it pity? No but something there...she'd have to figure it out.

"Yes it seems this is more then just the spirit world playing tricks on me. Where does this train lead?"

Please don't say the afterlife. Please don't say the afterlife.

"I have no idea what the spirit world is, but I'm going to guess that is something from your world, which... worlds is where the train leads to. At least once a month we go to another world and go on missions."

So at least it wasn't the afterlife.

"We get to help those worlds and there is usually a fight for the most part."

It took Azula a moment to process the words the girl had said. She didn't appear to be misspeaking or trying to be poetic.

"As in another world other then this one? Other then the world that I have lived on all my life? There are more then just the world of the living and the spirit world?"

Azula considered herself a well read and intelligent young woman, she knew about the stars above while she didn't have a particularly good relationship with spirits she knew the spirit world existed.

But this was something much, much bigger then that.

"That is correct. It is a lot to take in. Believe me, it was a shock for me to know of other worlds outside my own." Which was mostly a tower because of not being able to go outside of it.

"But yeah, other worlds exist and we go to them to help. Each team gets assigned something different and you can go with the one you are assigned to which for example I'm Orange, or you can choose to go with another if what they are doing sounds more interesting."

It's only a small comfort to Azula knowing that other people were or are as confused as she is. After all she expects better of herself. She's not like other people she's a Princess!

Little does she realize there's more then one princess on this train.

"So this Train takes us to other worlds and we just...help them? Some altruistic deeds? A public service?" She considers the implications of this and studies Repunzel with an appraising and calculating stare.

"Are you some kind of criminal? Is this divine punishment for something?"

"Exactly, there is also usually a fight as well, something we have to deal with." She had been involved with at least two at best, one ended with her shorter hair, but she had to this point learned to accept things as they are even though she now lost something that could have been helpful.

At the mention of criminals, Rapunzel couldn't help but be shocked. "I don't think do. I don't even know how I could be...considering before here I never left home and only did just before... Maybe I guess that would count as a crime for my mother at least." Okay she may have started to mumble a tiny bit but she soon is back.

"I don't think the people here are criminals."

"Because of course there is." Azula sighed "Why would anything be handled without a fight?"

But in a sense that suited her just fine. Might made right as far as she was concerned. If she couldn't out think her opponent she was always happy to prove she was stronger then them physically as well.

Listening to Rapunzel try to justify herself though brought Azula to a new level of irritation. "You don't think? Or you know? This is an important thing to be clear about." Because if some of them were criminals she might be able to make thm seem worse then she was.

"And what was that about your Mother? Is she here too?"

"I don't know. I've never been able to see a mission handled without it..." if she thought there could be other ways she would at least try it herself, but it was not something she knew.

She soon found herself pausing. No, she knew full well she didn't know everyone on the train to say so with confidence, but from what she had seen there weren't a whole lot she would think were criminals or anything.

"Think, but after being on a train with a bunch of people for six months, if there was someone like that I think I would have known at this point." Or at least she wanted to see the good in people anyway.

But the mention of her mother she was quick to shake her head. "No, thankfully. Mother would get mad if she was and saw me."

Azula would for the time being have to trust this girls sense of people. After all if they were all here to be punished that meant everyone was more dangerous.

Best to be optimistic until given a reason not to in that department.

"Even though it's not your fault you're here? What would be the point of being mad at you?"

Rapunzel looked away briefly "Because I was always told to never...leave the tower. I'm here so of course I have, not by choice, but it wouldn't matter I'm sure. Plus she would notice my hair and then get will be even more unhappy about it."

Considering how much she tried to keep her inside because of what her hair was like before she knew the other probably wouldn't be happy to know it's no longer got the magic and is now brown.

Azula was piecing together a story as quickly as she could here and found much to her surprise to be sympathetic to this stranger.

"No. That simply will not do." She decided with a sort of confident denial in her voice that came from being able to simply make sweeping decisions.

"If the train gave you no choice to leave she cannot punish you for it. She can be as upset as she wants but you did nothing wrong. And as for your hair...well it's a bit short I suppose but I don't see why that's any of her concern either."

Rapunzel nodded slightly, she did at least understand that yes she shouldn't be punished for it, but Rapunzel knew her mother and at least now understood that what she did was not at all great either.

"The hair is because well before it got cut short it had magical properties. I was able to reverse the clock so to speak and heal various injuries or even make someone look younger. It was something precious and needed to be protected, but of course, it's now no longer here."

At least that she was aware of, but that wasn't the point right now. Rapunzel was instead going to focus on the person in front of her. "But since you are new to the train would you like to be shown around?"

Azula returned this explanation with a slow blink processing the concept of magic healing hair. Once she'd managed that she muttered "Well that's a ridiculous power but still more reasonable then the Duck who pilots airships."

Is she...ranking the crew by level of ridiculousness?

"Yes I could use a tour seeing as I'm apparently stuck here." She cast a glance back over her shoulder towards the fog as if giving once last thought towards making a break for it and trying to flee.

"I mean, yeah it is." She can't even argue about that. It was na odd thing and something people would question, more so considering she had to leave it growing or lose it which is what happened.

While it had it's positives at the time the negatives were also obvious. But she clapped her hands together.

"Are you talking about Della. I don't think I knew about her knowing how to pilot airships. That's pretty amazing." Rapunzel is easily impressed really.

"I mean yes you are stuck here. I know a lot of people wouldn't want that and you can at least try and leave just to be certain," she said leaning to the side for the moment. She could see the other looking over so she figured maybe she was making a plan for it. So best to let them.

That was a refreshing response given how the others had reacted to her obvious desire to leave.

"I've been told that an escape attempt would end poorly. While I'm not exactly one to simply believe what I'm told without proof...that fog does offer a sort of ominous finality to it."

And was returning home really her best option right now? What would she even do if she could find her way back to the Fire Nation?

"I'm not sure what I resent more, the lack of freedom to make this choice or the lack of information."

"You could resent both, maybe? Like I can understand not liking the lack of freedom and information. The latter being rather annoying."

For her this was actually a lot more freedom than what she got back home, so her resentment was more toward the lack of information or ways she could help more than being taken here against her will, even if that was mildly annoying.

"Yes, I would hope you could." She mused trying to sort out her next choice. It was so much harder now with so many threats lurking just out of the corner of her eye. Every stranger was a possible betrayal. Even this seemingly cheerful woman.

"But for how reasonable it is no one here seems miserable. Not even angry. How long does it take to just accept this is your life now?"

"It could just be a case of hiding it really well in case of others." She couldn't say the same for herself honestly.

"For me, it didn't take long though. Being trapped in a place is just normal for me. The ony,k difference is every now and again I can go outside of the train and help out."

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A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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