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

Platform

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin steps out of the doors of the train onto the platform and looks around for new Orange Team members. He's wearing his usual outfit, black jeans, black laceup boots, and black jean jacket. He has his orange hoodie tied around his waist by its sleeves, which will make it easy for anybody to identify him as Team Orange.

When Olivia screams, he stops and speaks. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm Curufin Fëanorion. I can answer any questions you may have."

[stopstaring]

Olivia's been admittedly of a one-track mind since the realisation that this is not at all what she's accustomed to, but she has enough observation to put two and two together when it comes to their orange... garb. She can't help wondering what that actually means.

When he offers to answer her questions like a true welcome wagon committee, Olivia doesn't even know where to begin and as she begins to teach herself to speak again, she imagines that will be transparent.

"...Er. Ah. I'm... not really sure where to b-begin. Can... you maybe tell me what you would have wanted to know when you were in my position?"

[so_dark_a_road]

"Of course!" he answers. "You're on a platform somewhere in the Void, which is the Dark Between the Worlds, that is, the space between different universes in the multiverse. That over there. . . " He jerks a thumb toward the train. "That's the Voidtrecker Express, a Void Train. It is a sentient entity that travels the multiverse and sends its passengers to help worlds that are in trouble. We're Void Warriors. Regrettably, the train doesn't ask anyone's permission before collecting them and setting them on the monthly platforms. Nor does it offer training to the newbies. It also leaves it mostly up to the old passengers to explain things to the new passengers."

He smiles at her. "The train will be sounding the summons to board fairly soon, but we have time to talk before that happens. Is any of what I just said making sense? There's more, but do you have any questions so far?"

He'll explain the team colors if she asks.

[stopstaring]

When he gestures, her pink gaze in likeness with her hair, moves to follow. Someone else has something similar to the same, solidifying that it's not some joke played on her. It is, in fact, very real. She almost wishes it was a joke, honestly. At least then she could nervously laugh it off and move on.

On the other hand, rumours of a certain shy dancer's son have her interested, if not a little impatient to track him down.

"Someone else told me the train picks people specifically based on their s-skills. Is that part true? Is it possible to... t-talk to the train?"

It sounds like such a stupid question in retrospect, but if it's sentient, then maybe that means it can talk, too. There's no way to know without trying.

[so_dark_a_road]

"As far as we've been able to discover, the train does choose on the basis of skills. But there may be more to the choice than merely the skills. Some of the people I've known on the train don't have any particular skills that they use on missions, and yet they contribute by being there for the rest of us. My mother Nerdanel was here for a while, and she had no fighting skills or magical skills that could obviously be used for mission goals. And yet, she was one of the most loved passengers ever. And that was because she was highly empathetic and a very good listener." He smiled. "Also, she baked cookies for us."

And as for that matter of talking to the train. . . "You can use the communication devices known as ICPS to talk to the train. There's one in every carriage, and there is a feedback and suggestions post that allows this. However, the train will only record and thank you for your feedback. It won't comment on it. Sometimes it will act on the suggestions. The only time it made a post that allowed us to ask questions and get actual answers was months ago. I'm hoping it will do that again, maybe even on a regular basis. And if you have telepathic skills, you might find yourself aware of the train entity's presence at times, though it probably won't talk to you in that fashion."

[stopstaring]

She nodded slowly as he explained, thinking his mother and her probably had things in common. Olivia wouldn't have considered herself much of a combatant at all, but she could help in other ways and she knew that. The Shepherds had certainly reassured her more than once when she thought she wasn't able to contribute the way the others did.

"Oh... So it doesn't really... a-answer questions, then. Usually, anyway." Her disappointment was palpable. Transparent. But that was Olivia, often wearing her feelings right on the proverbial sleeve.

Shaking her head, she continued. "I don't have any abilities like that. I guess I won't really be asking it any questions then. Was your mother able to... f-fit in well here?" Tapping at her chin, Olivia once more found herself wondering how well she'd acclimate. If she ever would at all.

[so_dark_a_road]

Everybody contributes in some way!

"No, I'm afraid the train doesn't usually answer questions. But when it announced that it would answer questions for a limited time, everybody jumped on that post and asked their allotted three questions, including me. We didn't get very detailed answers, but we did get some information that we hadn't had before. That's why I'm hoping the train will do that again."

"My mother did fit in well here, mainly because she paid so much attention to others, and she took the opportunity to give whatever she could, whenever there was an event that required food or artistic decorations. And she responded when other posted their problems, giving encouragement and good ideas. People really liked her. I never heard a single word of criticism regarding her, and I keep my ears open." He smiled.

He thought that Olivia would probably find her place as well.

[stopstaring]

Olivia found herself listening intently, still disappointed that she had missed what appeared to be such a crucial moment. But surely among the number of people also on the same train, a part of... whatever this all was, surely there were others who asked questions she would have.

Surely there was a way to reach out to them all. At some point. She realised rather easily she was in no hurry to address the masses, as it were, considering she couldn't consider herself particularly good with conversation.

"Hum... I s-see," she replied quietly. "She sounds like she was wonderful." Olivia could resonate with the similarities, but... It would have been easier to deny that and simply to say she didn't have any redeeming or special qualities about herself. At least until she wasn't allowed to say that kind of thing anymore. And if the people here were anything like the Shepherds, they likely would not tolerate that talk from the shy dancer for too long.

"Th-thanks for your help. I really a-appreciate it!"

[so_dark_a_road]

And of course there was a way to reach out to those who had asked questions of the train and received answers. A network post would probably work very well.

He smiled when she complimented his mother. "She was wonderful, and she will be missed." He could understand Olivia's not wanting to put herself forward, as many talented and kindly people were also shy. He respected that.

"You're welcome, and if there is anything else you'd like to know right now, go ahead and ask."

I know you're on hiatus, so no worries, mate.

[stopstaring]

Olivia wondered what more she could ask that she hadn't already passed to another. Most of her questions hadn't rewarded her with much information, as it were. Many things on the train and about it had seemed intentionally vague or enigmatic. Olivia decided that anything worth having probably wasn't easy to get, including information.

Or actual sustainable answers.

"Uhm... I think... y-you've answered my immediate thoughts," she began somewhat uncertainly. "Thank you for your help. Maybe you can point me... to... where I'm staying?" Because she was sure she'd need some help a few times in getting back to it until she remembered the way.