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

This just happens to be the room where the spiders like to hand out-the giant actual Spider and the kid that's basically part spider. It's the slight Jasmine smell-they both love it.

"Doing what?" He asks before glancing up at the ceiling. "Oh! that! Uh-it's kinda a long story but it's just something I can do-stick to things." He rambles quickly. "There are a lot of enhanced people on board-most of them are nice though so you know, don't worry about it too much."

"Yes...consider all my worries soothed immediately." She responded as dryly as possible. There wasn't much room to move without getting too close to a mirror or a spider web but she felt compelled to study him closer.

"I've met some of the others who have powers and abilities. So what is the nature of yours? Another qi technique? Or some kind of soul magic like that shadowy dragon?"

"Uh... genetic mutation, actually." Peter admits honestly. "Well. Radioactive genetic mutation. Caused by a Spider bite, hence the.. sticking to things." He gestures at the ceiling.

"I know it's a lot to get used to, but I've actually-well, not counting like two months, I've been on the train since pretty much the beginning so if you need something you can find me in 2E."

"A...mutant." Ok she could wrap her head around this.

"I don't know what radiation is but I think I can gather what you mean. Because the spider bit you, your body adapted and became like a spider to survive?" A guess based purely on what biology she had learned in the Royal Fire Academy for girls.

"Uh... yeah. Basically." Peter shrugs because that's basically what happened. He doesn't know all the science involved because he doesn't exactly have access to the notes on the spider but he knows enough.

"But anyways, there's not really much passed here-the luggage car is beyond here but that's the last car-It usually smells like cigarettes so you're not missing much."

Basic would have to do for now, at least till she found some proper books to study.

"The luggage car which occasionally has living beings inside the suitcases. Horrific I'm sure." She wasn't sure if she wanted to check it out but the last word confused her. Normally she would only ask questions that she knew were important but today felt like nothing should be beneath her notice.

"And cigarettes. They would smell like what exactly?"

"Y-yeah, that one." He admits with a small nod. It is a little horrific and the waiting in between with someone disappears and returns is also horrific because there are no guarantees.

"Um... uh. Disgusting? Like uh... burnt tobacco, I guess?." He makes a face because come to think of it-he's never really thought to describe the smell. He just knew it was bad. "I'm guessing your world doesn't have cigarettes then-um. what about cigars? They're like little tiny cigars and they're really bad for you-like they can cause irreparable damage to your lung and if you have something like a pre-existing condition that-that just makes it worse."

"We have tobacco." She clarifies thinking about wrinkly old men and their smelly pipes. Sometimes it was tobacco, sometimes it was something stronger but she never did care for the smell.

"Usually it's just smoked in pipes, I never tried it myself." The last part seemed confusing to her. "If it's really that damaging why would anyone bother? It can't feel that good can it?"

Peter just shrugs in true sixteen year old fashion. Someone just thought it was a good idea, probably.

"Ya got me." He answers casually. "Limited information and research, People thought it made them look cool, and hey, Nicotine is highly addictive. As far as to why they do it? Idk man, I've never looked at a plant and thought 'you, know what? I'm gonna wrap that into a pieces of paper and smoke it.' People be weird, yo." You are accustomed to gen-z slang, aren't you Azula?

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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