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

[xue_yang]

He smirks slightly, "An experiment." He did a lot of those. On his own world and on this one. Xue Yang had often been encouraged to get creative while under the direction of the Jin sect. And on the train he has had to adapt and figure out how to be useful on worlds that would normally be outside what he is used to dealing with.

"I've already had the pleasure. Died on the field of battle as I took down an enemy as well. Of course, I also tested it on someone else as well. How surprising it was to see them pop up the next day like nothing happened. I do wonder how many times it would take before it actually sticks."

And Xue Yang has certainly been tempted to try that on certain individuals. He still has a dangerous curiosity that doesn't often get to be satisfied in this place because of certain rules.

[weifinder]

"By all means," Wei Wuxian drawls, "Stick to experimenting on just yourself in the future." Unsettling as it is hearing that death here is more like a bad night's painful, dreamless rest, as much as that utterly undermines everything he knows to be factually true elsewhere. He supposes a vessel like this, and the present situation of talking with the dead in a manner wholly unlike the kind of sort of more or less usually does, means he can take it as possible—and confirm with others, not trusting any one word to be whole.

Particularly not with Xue Yang's particular enthusiasms, though at the very least, here he doesn't suspect he's lying.

"Just this whole... what battlefield was it that you stood on? How long did it take you to come back, same as this other person? Do you remember anything from it?"

Callous, perhaps, but also genuinely curious, which is the damnable thing really.

[xue_yang]

"That is a lot of questions so early in the day." Xue Yang likes being the one with the upper hand. He has the answers and he can give whatever ones he sees fit.

"We got on missions. That is part of being on this train. Once in awhile they let us off to fight against things." It was one of the most exciting and enjoyable battles Xue Yang has been able to have in awhile. And he got to test out his new swords.

"Died on the field. Woke up in a box. There is no memories in between. Don't even notice the passage of time."

[weifinder]

Seems like Xue Yang's experience with death was even less informative than his own non-experience with the same. He doesn't bother disguising his sigh or the mild look of disappointment: it would have been fascinating to know anything not from someone left as spiritual energy clinging to simplified concepts of the life they once had lived.

"Huh." A pause. "Well, let me know how it goes next time, if there is a next time. Thank you for the information!" He smiles, offering a cheery wave, before turning to sidle away—vaguely curious if Xue Yang would leave well enough alone and do his own non-murderous thing out here, as the doors of the train finally pull open again. If Xue Yang does follow him as he steps on board the train of missions, he'll resume speaking; if not, he already has enough to sort through he needs to verify with other, more trustworthy persons.