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

[irrationally]

Pattern? Something about that word makes Alice raise an eyebrow. After all, thinking about things logically usually isn't the way she approaches anything, so it seems odd to her.

For a moment, anyway. Since she does at least answer.

"Not as far as I can tell. It just seems to bring us to any place it can find that's in trouble somehow. No matter whether that trouble is caused by a meteor or a hostile invasion." She shrugs a little as she says it.

[thawed_pride]

"Then, general purpose assistance, rather than focusing on a singular problem."

He reaches into a pocket for his notebook, and flips it open to a page with a creature hastily sketched on it. There are words written above and below the sketch, but the handwriting is practically illegible.

"Have you encountered any creatures such as these, in any of the endangered worlds?"

[irrationally]

Alice's reaction is very telling. Before she even says anything, she's staring at the picture, and her eyes go wide the moment she sees the creature. Sure, it's not a perfect rendition of the creatures she's used to, but considering how terrible illegible the handwriting is, she figures that maybe he or whoever drew it wasn't exactly the best artist around.

".. not in any of the worlds we travelled to here." So that's not the reason for her surprise. Alice shakes her head, starting to frown a little. "But I have-- back home. In Wonderland."

[thawed_pride]

"Ah, Wonderland...yes, I was aware the Heartless have been making themselves a nuisance there for some time."

He avoided visiting Wonderland himself, but he was aware that Luxord had been many a time.

"I apologize for whatever trouble they may have caused you, but it is a relief to hear that they haven't reached every world quite yet."

[irrationally]

Wait, the Heartless? Alice is starting to feel like they may be having a slight misunderstanding here about what those creatures are - or rather, she's mistaking them for the actual things that wandered around back in Wonderland.

But that is completely buried by the rest of what Vexen says, making the young woman's eyes grow a little wider with curiosity and surprise.

"You know of Wonderland?"

It's not a total shock anymore, since he isn't the first person here to have heard of it before, but it's still not common enough for it to not be surprising at all.

[thawed_pride]

"I am experienced in traveling between worlds, and know of many. I can hardly say Wonderland is my favorite..."

An understatement that was. The nonsensical world was nothing but a frustration to him, and he was happy to leave dealings there to others.

"But I have passed through, on occasion."

[irrationally]

The bridge of Alice's nose wrinkles slightly. As if she's near-pouting, though the young woman would never call it that. It's too embarrassing.

"Excuse me? As someone who has been to Wonderland very often, I would say it's much better than other places." .. Even though she had to fight her way through whole armies there. You'd think Alice could figure out why some others might not like it as much, but alas..

"Have you ever been to London? That place is so, so much worse. At least Wonderland is interesting."

[thawed_pride]

"Not personally, there is, as you say, little of interest there. But at least the physics are consistent. Wonderland seems to actively delight in flouting the few natural laws that are otherwise consistent between worlds."

He was almost surprised to find out that the Heartless did appear there as normal.

[irrationally]

"That's exactly why that place is so delightful."

Maybe Alice wasn't able to appreciate it right away as she was younger, but she sure grew into it. Once reality starts being too gloomy, of course you would latch on to anything that's different. Anything that's interesting.

"Nothing there is ever boring, because nothing is expected. I wonder if anyone is still visiting that place while I'm stuck here."