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

[kumoko]

Her human eyes are up here, you know..! But since said human eyes are currently staring at her own hands as she starts to fidget, she'll excuse the choice.

She'll excuse even more when he starts doing her job for her, guessing everything straight away. Great! What a great guy! Any dialogue skipped is a blessing! She jumps in belatedly, nodding enough that she bobs up and down.

"Right, right. Full marks. The Void's suuuuper dangerous, but it's like---" shit, does he know what space is? Quick, downgrade--- "Er, like an ocean, with millions and millions of islands. And we're from the boonies, so we didn't know about it before we ended up here. Get it?"

[weifinder]

Human eyes are nice! Still weird, because she's... a lot to handle! So much to handle! He thinks he's processing more of this, but in that estranged from reality way that dreams, hallucinations, and illusions are good at stirring into motion.

Oh, and she nods, and it's a full body nod. That's weirdly fascinating to watch.

He blinks, space conceptually the heavens, but he understands her chosen metaphor of oceans and islands. Enough to build on it, with a slow nod and, "Then this vessel is what moves us from island to island? I don't suppose we ever know which island we're navigating toward, do we?"

[kumoko]

"Nope. ... 'wherever there's trouble', I guess? Oh, and we're its replacement crew, because the originals vanished in a big, mysterious accident...!"

Hmm, maybe infodumping on the new guy isn't the best idea, but it's easy to get carried away.

[weifinder]

"..." He ends up laughing when she says that, holding a hand up to his head and rubbing at his temple. "If that doesn't get better... so we're the second crew, because the first crew went missing. In some mysterious way. Just how many mysteries are involved with us being here?"

[kumoko]

She doesn't even bother to count, but that's mostly because she's trying not to actively flinch at his laughter. It's fine! People don't laugh at you! Just with you! It's fine.

And also because, geez, who knows how many mysteries there are?

"Well, we're being hunted down by the government because they have no idea who we are...?" Hmm. "Oh, and there are creepy shadows that destroy worlds, and if they show up we just have to run. Those're probably what took out the first crew."

Is that all? She squints. "You getting all this?"