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

[makeadragonwannaretire]

She's finding this simpleton more and more irritating the more information she tries to get out of him. How can he not understand how something like this works? It would be like someone firebending without ever even bothering to study.

Not unheard of, just dangerous and foolish.

"Yes well, I should hope I can manage some basic flames. But you'll have to excuse me, I am...very lost."

In more ways then one. What even was that sparkling creature whinnying at her? She suspected a spirit creature, perhaps another part of his soul?

"Let's start with something basic, something even you can answer for me. Where is this train going?"

[luckydragonsfoot]

"Ah yeah, tha's fair." Actually on that end. "Guessin' th's 's normal where you came from though? Mos' folks can't uh...do anything like that, where I was from. I mean a pokemon might, but that wasn't my world either, more a stop b'tween..."

Oi oi- "...'Even you'...geeze, y' sound jus' like- Righ', trainstops 'r unknown other than th' platforms- 's a rescue team goin' through space an' such, y' just got recruited t' it."

The pony is now spitting sparkles.

"Oi, cut tha' out, yer not a fire-type."

"Nihihiiii!"

[makeadragonwannaretire]

"A...rescue team." She repeated in disbelief and then burst out laughing, a rude and harsh sounding sort of laugh.

"Oh...oh no. I do not rescue people. There's clearly been some kind of mistake here." She couldn't even rescue herself when things started falling apart in the end. And before that when things were going great she never would have considered what she was doing rescuing.

"What happens if we fail this rescue mission?"

[luckydragonsfoot]

A big shrug is the reply. "Hey, join th' party- a whole bunch here figure they ain't meant for it. But they are meant f'r fightin' stuff, which as it turns out, is what a lot 'f rescue shit involves. Team assignment's part 'f tha'- red's normally fightin' a bunch, blue's normally like...protectin' an' fightin'...Orange handles tech shit, an' Purple's all th' people work."

That aside. "Hmm...train keeps goin'? It's not a great feelin' t' fail a mission though I'm hearin'- las' time, they all got evacuated b'fore they could even start. I wasn' around f'r it, but whatever caused tha' one t' end is..." He gives a shudder. "Er. Well, it ate a few planets. So tha's not great."

[makeadragonwannaretire]

"I beg your pardon, it ATE a planet? Planets? Multiple worlds? What could even manage that?"

Azula was barely wrapping her head around the idea of multiple worlds and now there was something large enough out there to destroy them? No amount of fire could solve a problem that large could it?

[luckydragonsfoot]

"...Yep." Yep.... "Dunno th' exact number, but we got proof it's hit at leas' two. Weirder bit is tha' no one off th' train other than anyone from th' one place even r'members it existin'! Or even th' people tha' lived there! 's spooky as hell!" But...hmm. "I dunno 'f tha's one thing, or two differen' things though- wasn' here for th' attack tha's on our records, an' th' only reason we know abou' th' other one is b'cause we got t' talk t' someone from tha' firs' planet b'fore they kicked th' bucket."

Assuming Azula has ever even heard that particular way of saying 'they died'.

"...So uh, anyway, train's been avoidin' it, best we can tell. I get th' feelin it wants us t' figure out how t' stop it, but yeesh, that's way outta our range righ' now if y' ask me... ...I'll stick t' punchin' robots, thanks."

[makeadragonwannaretire]

Thankfully she had, so she wasn't too distracted by the horror story that was being pitched to her.

"I should hope so. There must be some way of either avoiding it or destroying it. Even if we can't now imagine being the sort of hero to figure out how to punch something like a planet eater out of existence."

[luckydragonsfoot]

"Righ'!? I mean, I've mouthed off gods, but th's thing eats planets!!"

Somehow this might seem backward.

[makeadragonwannaretire]

It is not lost on Azula who gives him a very dry look.

"What kind of gods and why were you mouthing off to them?"

Priorities said she needed to know just how insane this person was before she trusted him in the field.

jou you cant just say these things to an alta, YOURE *BLOND*

[luckydragonsfoot]

"Sun god. W's bein' a prick, picked th' side 'f th' guy who could fin'sh 's prayers faster."

Because that makes sense.

Katsuya grins. "Didn' seem t' mind, much as it still sucks when a god thinks yer neat! Ev'n let me call 'm over a few times m'self!"

wow...............

[makeadragonwannaretire]

Azula returned this revelation with a slow, disbelieving blink.

"I'm sorry I think I'll have to draw a line somewhere and this is apparently it. To think of someone like you, mouthing off to a god is one thing, but being able to summon one? And the sun god? Do you realize how important the sun is to my people?" She shook her head.

"There's obviously no way to prove you're just making up stories but I simply can't believe it. Not even with all of...this." She gestures to the shadow dragon, the pastel unicorn nightmare creature and the magic space train in the background.

[luckydragonsfoot]

"Hahaha, I mean, wouldn't have been th' one from yer place!" Well. "We're from 'ntirely differen' realities, I'd guarantee it! Makes sense there'd be differences like tha'..! Anyway, I wouldn' call it an easy thing, if tha' helps it feel less uh...I guess insultin'?"

He is trying. "More like gettin' permission t' pull out th' big guns agains' a threat, 'f it makes sense. But 's like y' said, I ain't got a way t' prove it! So if y' believe it 'r don't, tha's all either of us h've got, right?"

[makeadragonwannaretire]

"I'll have to accept it for what it is."

That his inferior sun god was clearly a pathetic servant of the people rather then the mighty force of power that her sun was for the Firebenders.

"I suppose the next time we meet a god on this journey you'll just have to prove to me your...persuasiveness and get them to serve you instead."

[luckydragonsfoot]

Katsuya is just shrugging. "Hey, t' be fair, I didn' ask t' be giv'n permission, he jus' kinda went 'hey, do this' an' I said 'sure'. But I guess we'll see 'f it happens twice huh?"

[makeadragonwannaretire]

"At this point can you claim it's any more ridiculous sounding then what I'm looking at right now?" She gestured to him, the dragon, the unicorn-thing and the rest of the rabble currently moving towards the train doors.

Azula took one last look over her shoulder at the fog and sighed. She really hated the lack of options she had in this moment.

"And you're positive there's no way out of this?"

[luckydragonsfoot]

Once again....a big shrug.

But hey. "Pr'tty much. Ain't th' worst place t' be stuck though wouldn't y' say? Place ev'n got a spa carriage, hot tub 'n sauna 'n everythin'."

[makeadragonwannaretire]

"A spa." She repeated, even with all her privilege no ship or major mode of transportation she'd been on ever came with a spa.

"And the attendants there know what they are doing? There are professionals on board?" She hadn't been to the spa in so long just the word itself was enough to get her moving towards the doors. Slowly but...progress.

i'm so glad that's the icon omg

[luckydragonsfoot]

"Yup!" Ah- Oh dear though. He follows after, wincing. "...er, 'no' t' the attendants though. Place 's self-serve. Which works fine 'nough, since th' importan' stuff like heatin' an' such is automatic, but we ain't gettin anyone t' massage our backs unless someone volunteers. An' at tha' point, I'm worried about 'professional'." It's not really hard to see that Katsuya's standards are typically low.

A shrug. "Eh, can't say I really got tha' kinda treatment at home anyway though. Nice 'nough t' just be able t' hit th' tub an' sauna withou' havin' to really travel, y'know?" It's a thing Azula might actually be able to relate to, sort of. While attendants and luxury are certainly a thing she probably got, a spa is still going to be some distance from the palace bedroom compared to the carriages on the train.

For that matter, they definitely didn't have automation.