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

"It's only a moving carriage, why should I—"

Aaaand there he goes, tossed in a heap, big poofy fox tail somehow managing to bristle even larger in his surprise.

Did he fall on her? If he did it's still gonna take a second or two before he can hurriedly throw himself off again, sorry.

No, he did not fall on her--if only because she caught him in a practiced gesture--as if she's rather used to catching people. Renee sets him on his feet with a brief dusting-off motion, but then leans back against the seat she'd taken.

"That, really. I had a rude awakening my first time, too. Only reason there's not a piece of seat railing with my finger marks in it is because I think Tony Stark tore it up and used it to make something before he left."

Her tone isn't overly mocking, though, more sympathetic. Once upon a time she might have laughed at someone not heeding the warning. Not any more, though.

Oh. Well. He doesn't struggle against the help, though he does blush slightly with embarrassment, stepping back a bit and placing his hand on a nearby seat once he's standing properly again.

"...I suppose that means it lurches like that every time it starts." What kind of beast is this, bouncing people worse than a horse cart! The young fox's gaze wanders to the window, then stays glued to it, his unease mostly hidden behind a disinterested mask, though the ears and tail once again betray him. "Have you seen many places with this train? You sound quite used with it."

"It does, yeah. And not to try and boss you or anything, but you can get a serious headache if you stare into the void too long..." Renee noticed how his gaze tracked there, and really, she'd spare him that. She's dealt with those headaches once or twice, and she doubts anyone else really wants that.

"I was here once before. I'm not sure how long ago it was, but I promise, I wasn't expecting to be back." She lets out a little, gruff chuckle at that, and shrugs. "Guess it wasn't done with me, though, so here I am. It's not all bad, you get to see weird places and have adventures. It could definitely be worse."

Renee's not exactly sure how, but she figures she's not wrong.

Oh, so he can't even look out the windows now? That's great. Fantastic. He turns away as suggested, but clearly looks disappointed.

"I've had more than my fill of adventures recently - though I suppose at least I can have a real bed for once, this time." Oh how he missed you, creature comforts....not stopping him from pouting, though.

"Does it often bring people back, or would you call yourself a special case?" He asks, still holding onto that random seat he grabbed for the balance he probably no longer needs.

Renee did think about that for a moment, but eventually she shakes her head. "Nah, I'm not special. There've been other people who left and came back. A couple of friends of mine--one's gone now, but you'd know the other one--he's got a fireball for a head. That's Prisoner, he's my best friend. Can't talk, but he's an okay guy for all of that."

Renee will sadly fail to mention that Prisoner is also a walking corpse...

"Pete Parker and Raven Roth, too. They left and came back. I really don't know what the criteria the train has is for bringing people back. Or sending them off, either. If I did, though, I wouldn't keep it a secret."

Because that sucked.

Is his name seriously Prisoner--he doesn't ask. There's enough weird things going on, the stranger with the weird name can be pushed aside for later.

"In other words, it's unpredictable." Sure, why not, it's not like his life's had any sense of regularity in it these past few months. Shen Qingqiu suppresses a sigh, still trying to look at least somewhat composed despite having already been bowled over in her presence. "I appreciate the honesty, at least...though it seems as if we have no choice but to submit to the whims of this contraption." Which he hates.

"So the conclusion here is that - we cannot choose when we come or go, we've been assigned uniforms in arbitrary colors, our destination is beyond our control, as are our rooms...does our ride enforce a curfew too, while we're at it?"

"Yeah, for sleeping, so good luck if you're a member of Club Insomniac," Renee says. "Six AM train time, and bloop, you're back in your bed, if you want to sleep or if you don't want to sleep."

She'd had that happen to her often enough. Annoyingly enough. She wasn't an official member of the Insomnia Club--the one that actually played games and crap--but she didn't sleep all that much, either. Too many nightmares. Not that she was about to complain about that, either.

"It does feed us, at least. Though sometimes we actually have to cook stuff, too." Renee was only a functional cook, though--no fancy dinners out of her!

Six AM....means nothing to him, but he gets the idea, anyway. At least he gets a bed to himself, or this would be no better than the Abyss he just came from. (That's a pretty big exaggeration, but he always was a little dramatic.)

He glances at the window again, just for a moment, before turning back to her. "The train feeds us? It isn't alive, is it?"

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

departure

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