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

[blitzcheer]

"Isn't it doing what it wants?" he says after a moment, a light shrug in his shoulders. "That much I got out of it. It needs void heroes, people need saving, that's its job - it knows the tether's weak. But it's gotta do what it's gotta do, in its mind."

Or whatever one calls the train...presence...thing.

[unfavorableinstigation]

"Is it a want if it's also a purpose? Sometimes it's hard to make that distinction."

Take it from a workaholic, Tidus. Though in most cases people worried about Nita being that focused...

"Kind of sounds like it's handicapping itself - or like reality's going out of its way to make things difficult."

Having your world destroyed was one thing; having everyone else who could help you forget it existed was another.

"If it's possible, I'd just... I'd like to know why this train. Why Enrara, and all of System #1015?"

She sighs again, leaning her head back against the wall with a thunk.

"... Maybe I just need to vent more. Sorry 'bout that." Because that was what it felt like she was doing.

[blitzcheer]

...really, he's not the best kind of guy to follow this. But he can understand about needing to vent, which gives him some kind of grip of the frustration behind it than any real answer. Releasing a small breath, his voice resigned.

"Why anyone, right? Why us, why on anything that happens. It just does, doesn't it? Maybe you're overthinking it," he suggests. "Or... there's nothing you can do about that question right now, so you look somewhere else."

Speaking of, somewhat. "How did that talk session with the train go?"

[unfavorableinstigation]

"Hnn."

As much as she's a believer in 'no such thing as coincidence', overthinking is one possibility. Nita shifts one of her legs to stretch it out, upsetting the book's balance on her lap in the process.

"Not enough people, I think. We could tell we had to work uphill, too."

She could make a few remarks about gravity, but she hadn't the humor for it just then.

"Though I'm not sure it was so easy to tell there was a direction to it, before."

[blitzcheer]

"Hmmm, if it's gonna take a lot though, isn't there a way you could... give it power, or somethin'? If that's what you wanna try and do. Trying some big gathering just to try and talk to it, and it's already taking a lot of you - I mean, maybe there's better ways."

Not that he feels particularly interested anymore, even on the level he ever was, when it came with communicating with the train. That sailed a while back.

[unfavorableinstigation]

"... I suppose there, it's a question of if it'd accept it. At least if it came from me."

Nita's not looking at Tidus, but there's a sense of aversion in her voice, her body language.

He probably remembers what she's referring to, here.

"Not sure that thought's entirely rational, though."

[blitzcheer]

"How many people have tried to blow up this wall since then?" He knocks his head back lightly against the surface, a smirk drawing on his lips. Looking at her, even if she won't look back.

"If it isn't grumbling 'bout you trying to say hi, I don't see what's different about giving it a snack." Or the equivalent of. "Just uh, need to work out what void trains like to munch on."

[unfavorableinstigation]

"It hasn't even been a month yet; give it time."

Nita's not entirely being serious as she says that, though she doesn't look back quite yet.

"... Maybe you're right. Not sure if trying while it's moving is a good idea, but."

If it was a matter of opportunity, not just 'how many are participating', then why not now?

... She's not completely sold just yet, though she IS giving Tidus that chance.

[blitzcheer]

"You don't actually think it's charging up when it stops anyway, do you?" It's a reminder, back to another conversation prompted by the question of when and where to try this idea. Out on the platform, talking about the train Q&A.

"That's when it gets the stuff in for everyone, like the cars and the shopping. I mean, I don't know if it's getting a full charge, or - whatever makes it work. What charges a void train anyway?"

It's more a thought said at loud than a question directed at her. The train did get low on power, right? ...right? Void trains are weird.

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita's mood shifts; something calculating about her expression takes shape. Memory indicates something isn't quite adding up...

"I mean, I think so? It's when the train seemingly conducts repairs and changes itself, yeah. But - you weren't here then, but after that one time with the breach, it was able to repair itself. And I don't think we'd stopped at a void platform during that time."

Unless those platforms were a lot more frequently-situated than it first appeared.

[blitzcheer]

"A breach?" Now that has him curious. If there was anything close to sounding like that, that he knows about... "Was that when those ministry guys showed up?"

Or the void highway patrol, or- whatever they were. Tidus certainly hasn't heard about anything else - unless he just simply forgot.

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita shakes her head.

"Nope; that was a lot further back. The breach - something out of the void hit us, and everyone on the train fell asleep. Some of us shared dreams."

The recollection gives her cause (and pause) to collect herself, as well.

"That was what happened after my first platform. It was... also the first time we had any hint of those world eaters. Destroyers. Whatever they really are."

[blitzcheer]

There's a low, short 'ohh' as she explains, a previous discussion clicking with the mention of dreams. Inigo had talked about that, briefly - very briefly, when the discussion veered too close to a bitter reminder for their mutual pal.

"Huh." His brow dips together. "You mean...the thing that hit the train was that? You sure?"

This was the first he was ever hearing a connection between the world eating thing and...anything else before that one botched mission, actually.

[unfavorableinstigation]

"Honestly? No one knows what hit the train. I wasn't in the carriage that got hit, but the effect spread out from the... Games carriage, that one."

Nita taps her leg, remembering.

"But those shadows in the dream - maybe it was a memory? - were the same as the ones that destroyed the kingdom of Biq and system #1015."

[blitzcheer]

Oh, dreams. That makes a little more sense, once Tidus pieces together what she means. He hums a small note, but there's nothing else he has to really add about that. Those weird world destroying things... he hasn't got any idea about what they are.

"Well... it probably still takes power to repair - the same it's using to travel through the void. So it must've done it 'cause it had to. You can't go around with a dent or hole or whatever in you."

Right? So, makes sense it would wanna fix up whatever busted it.

"But usually it saves all those jobs 'til we hit a platform." And if that was the case... he breathes out audibly, doubt in him as he suggests, perhaps unhelpfully:

"Are you sure it wants to talk to us? Even if it got more energy, or you did a bigger talk circle - what do you want to ask it? What if talking's not important to it?"

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita adjusts herself again, cradling her head in her hands.

"Exactly. Maybe it uses the 'down time' that we're asleep, for certain repairs?"

And

"You'd think honest communication would be a higher priority, but if it's tied up in the whole energy deal... kind of a catch-22, I guess?"

As for 'what to ask', she lets that sit, because right this second? She's not sure where even to start.

"And if the answer to if it wants to talk is 'no' now, but it becomes a potential 'yes' later... would we check again? Would we know to check again?"

[blitzcheer]

"...Wouldn't it just do it? It's done it once now with the Q&A. If you wanna let it know it can talk to you or us, then- just ask people to tell it to do it." He tips his head, then shrugs. "Probably easier just to ask people you know than the whole train."

Even if the ICP route seemed quicker.

"But, I dunno... I admit," he says with a small sigh, "I don't see the point in trying to talk to it. Even when it does talk, it doesn't change the fact we're here, and it's the one bringing us in."

[unfavorableinstigation]

"I think-"

Nita stops, a complete halt, before frowning and forcing herself to finish the thought.

"If it's worth doing, if it's worth going through with, there needs to be more than just a placeholder, a platitude. And if there's something in the way-

"Gimme a minute, here."

She's not going to say, let alone think, that something is impeding the rationality of the Voidtrecker Express, but that unnamed worry is in the back of her mind as she leans back against the wall.

This time, she thinks clearly at the train, saying:

Hey. Is it safe if I - or Bobo, for that matter - lend you any energy, over there? Yes or no? And... all of the energy you have available is getting used, right? There's no subsystem causing a drain?

Just to clear the air on that count.

[voidtreckermods]

She feels the connection snap into place as she normally does. The presence is there, distant as usual, listening but making no reply. It's not pushing her away though, the connection remains open as long as she wishes it so.

[blitzcheer]

Tidus says nothing as Nita's attentions go to the engine room, the train, whichever it is (if they can't be called the same), looking back off to the rest of the store carriage. Waiting for whatever it is that'll come.

Nothing is what Tidus suspects (when has it ever been anything else in these communication attempts?), but he's not sitting there playing guessing games. Remembering the chill of the platform, the people who left earlier that day.

[unfavorableinstigation]

Externally, there's not much to see; Nita's focus is inward for this conversation-of-sorts.

But it's puzzling, since the train isn't blocking her out this time, or moving on to something else.

That's not a no, then? This isn't something I'd like to interpret backwards or anything.

Because if it is a yes, Nita might just go for a trial run or something...

[voidtreckermods]

Still no answer, nothing at all. Indeed though there is listening, as she focuses she might get the feeling she is not really being understood.

But the connection stays open.

Oh no, this is adorable. XD

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita does her best to shift past her own confusion, her annoyance.

Okay, maybe this would work better with an example...?

Power transfer is far from unusual for her; making an offer of a small, isolated piece of energy, and 'pushing' it partway down the link, is a bit more unusual.

Not a show of force, not a threat, it just... sits there, inasmuch as a parcel of energy freely given by a wizard can sit.

Is there anything you can do with this?

[voidtreckermods]

The energy moves in, sitting half way down the link and staying there. There is a moment and then the presence she has come to understand as the train withdraws, the link closing like a door being gently closed.

Not a threat either, but the offer remains untaken.

[unfavorableinstigation]

Shaking her head, Nita waits a moment before retreating from the connection herself, letting the energy dissipate as well.

Sighing aloud, she focuses back in on Tidus.

"It's a no on the taking-energy, looks like. No idea if it could have used it, but it didn't come across as offended or anything either."