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

"... Sorry." He looks away, pulling back into his red hoodie. "... It's been a rough day." It's not an excuse, he had no reason to get aggressive, but he did. He feels guilt churn vaguely in his gut. "... I'm also not usually up this late. And yes, I know it's still day. ... That's late for me."

"It's okay." They shake their head a little, and turn to their own stovetop with their bowl of ingredients. "I sleep weird, too. In two pieces, one at night and one in the afternoon." They might have skipped the afternoon sleep today, in lieu of dealing with feeding new passengers and goods, but that's okay. There's time to catch up on it later, and it's better to feel needed.

"What's your name?"

"... I'm Ken." Hm. Two sleeping pieces. "I mostly... move around at night. And the group that I'm with fights monsters at night, so it's easier to sleep during the day. ... And it's quieter to walk Koromaru, too."

It's okay to talk about those kinds of things, right? It's not like anyone is here from his world - he checked the roster and didn't recognize any of the faces. And magic is... normal here, as far as he's been told.

"Monsters?" Soldat doesn't frown, but it's a careful not frown, focused on setting out butter and eggs and bread. A kid living on the streets didn't have a choice of how to defend themselves, but it's still pretty awful. "What kind of monsters?"

"... They're called Shadows. They come out in the hour that's... when the clock strikes midnight, most people have coffins form around them and the sky goes green and blood appears on the streets and the high school turns into a huge tower. The people that are awake have to deal with the Shadows wandering around... they look kind of like black puddles at first? But they come in a lot of different shapes."

He's quiet for a bit. "If all twelve of the Arcana Shadows get defeated then... I think the Dark Hour might end? Or the world might. I don't have all of the information. But the Dark Hour is how I survived. Electronics shut down, so if you know how to wiggle open the door of a 24 hour store you can get in easily. ... I didn't like stealing, but..." What else was he supposed to do?

Okay what. What the hell. Soldat has been through a lot of weird shit, but that is weirder than even spirits and World Eaters and HYDRA. "Coffins. Okay. I. Don't think every world has that." Surely HYDRA at least would know about it. Done science at it. Found some way to use it to send their Asset to kill people during that hour.

They shake away the contemplation of that. "I'm glad it meant you got to eat, though."

"... Yeah." He's not thrilled at what the others do with their revenge website, but it means that he gets to eat way better now than he has in a while. "The group I'm with ran away from some... bad people... so they found me after a while. We found Koromaru, too. He's a dog, but he can fight like we can."

Well, no revenge website or stealing required here. There's plenty of food for everybody. "You know what. After magic coffins nobody knows about. I'm not gonna be surprised about a monster-fighting dog," Soldat says with a small smile. "We have a couple talking cats here on the train, too. You might like them."

Well, Saash anyway. Saash is pretty great.

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject