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

[sciencegirl]

"I've had people forget about me once or twice but that wasn't because I was a demon or a spirit or anything."

She turns in place, hair still moving and going about its tasks.

"If you come from another world with magic, that's great! I'm trying to find out as much as I can about what's going on elsewhere and see if there are any unifying dynamics."

[kabano]

She'd never thought of it as magic, but in a way, perhaps, it was. Humans didn't understand it, so it must have been magic, as far as they knew. Was that supposed to be her gauge for what magic was? As far as she knows, it's just her.

"What do you mean?"

[sciencegirl]

"I mean that there might be similarities in how people utilize abilities and the energy that powers those abilities. Someone with magic in one world can do similar things as people with magic from another. I want to know how that's possible."

And see where it goes from there.

[kabano]

"And if it isn't?" That's equally as likely, as far as she's concerned. It could be entirely different--she's got no experience with other worlds, or at least not like this. This is still...difficult for her to understand, though she's not likely to admit it.

[sciencegirl]

"Then I find out similar things are different but still formed based in some sort of convergent evolution, which would still suggest similar conditions! You learn even from disproving a hypothesis."

She sounds very excited by the idea of encountering more powers. More for her to learn.

[kabano]

Nothing is going to dampen her spirits, is it? She wishes she could be so naive herself, but she knows exactly the sort of thing that happens. She is an entire city, after all.

"You seem set on finding something. What if you don't?"

[sciencegirl]

"I've always found something, even when that something is nothing."

She's starting to notice that this person is pretty dead set on the idea of hopelessness. Which is something Entrapta has never actually encountered. There's always data. For theoretically being in a Void, she's found anything but while being here.

[kabano]

"Very well." Could be interesting to keep this one close, she seems to know quite a bit, or is at least capable of finding it.

"What data have you found?"

[sciencegirl]

"Well, I've been analyzing how abilities are generated through chi versus Etherian magic, and largely discovered that while the principle is the same, Etherian magic is much more engineered. At least when it comes to Princesses. I've also discovered a number of new technologies and I think that people with healing capacity might be able to produce a larger effect spread if they combine their abilities in certain ways. But that's still hypothetical. I'd need testing and that requires encountering an area with widespread biological damage."

She's been thinking about things A Lot.

[kabano]

"Princesses" seldom have a power like that, at least where she comes from, but the girl is so...focused that she says nothing about it and instead tries to parse out what she just said overall.

"Can you find an area like that?"

[sciencegirl]

"We might. Most of the missions have been reported as assistance missions, so if a planet is experiencing widespread biological damage, we may be able to coordinate an effort. I would have to consult with other healers, though."

[kabano]

Interesting. This could prove illuminating, if she could actually find something. Yurine doubts that it will be that easy, but someone is making an attempt.

"What else do you need?"

[sciencegirl]

"I'll probably have a better idea of physical items once I've gathered enough information from healers aboard the train. Do you know anyone capable of it?"

She has to ask.

[kabano]

"One, but we've only spoken once. Otoha introduced him as a friend. Ryo." She doesn't really know if he'll help or not, but from what she's been told, he would be a good place to start. Or maybe he'd know better who to talk to.

[sciencegirl]

She writes the name down in her notes, muttering it out loud as well.

"Ryo. Wait, with a y or an i? I'll go with y and change it if I have to."

Spelling between languages is strange, anyway, and the translators have a time. She'll check the list later.

"I don't think you gave me your name."

[kabano]

"You may call me Yurine." It's not really her name, but it's easier to explain. She knows to answer to it, if nothing else.