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

Devero startles a little, turning quick to face her-- oh. A stranger. Not that he would mind being asked even by someone he knew already, but the fact that she's probably a new passenger inclines him to helpfulness.

"Candy and crisps," he says, holding up first one blank foil package and then the other. "Although apparently I don't get to know exactly what kind of candy and crisps until I open them. The train pulls bullsh-- er, crap like this all the time, unfortunately."

"So apparently Artificial beings can have a sense of humor as well?" She wondered out loud moving closer to inspect the screen he had used.

"I'm learning more every minute. Do you suppose they have fire Flakes? Or some Mochi? Just how much are these machines capable of?"

"That's a charitable way to think about it," he says with a deep rumble laugh. He steps aside so she can have a look. "I figure it has more to do with practical limitations of some kind."

--Which is why he grimaces a little answering her next questions. "Unless fire flakes are a potato crisp flavor, probably not." He reaches out and navigates through the shop menu and back to the snacks and the whopping four choices there. "I wish this thing sold mochi now, thanks, but the only options we have here are candy, different candy, crisps, and a couple of drinks, and that's about it."

"How very...vague. And unsatisfying." She concluded looking a little irritated at the lack of user friendly options. Instead she turned her attention back to him.

"I'll save my points for something worthwhile then. But don't let me stop you from discovering what prize you've earned. I'm curious now."

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you'll find a lot of things around here have only vague and unsatisfying answers," he says with a wry twist of his lips.

"Hah, so am I! Let's see..." He sticks the packet of crisps in the pocket of his purple hoodie and carefully unwraps the foil around the chocolate bar. The confection revealed is dark, dark chocolate, and his eyes light up when he sees it.

He doesn't waste an instant breaking off the first pair of squares, snapping the piece of heavy chocolate in half and popping one of the squares into his mouth.

The other he offers to Azula.

"People who say that usually love to share bad news." Azula muttered, because she usually was that sort of person. Thankfully they had the snacks to distract them.

She watched him unwrap the bar and seemed a bit nonplussed at first. This was a treat? It didn't look like much. But she accepted it suddenly realizing she hadn't had anything to eat for maybe an entire day.

She accepts it and delicately puts the square into her mouth, her eyebrows arching at the taste and her body going rigid.

"What...is this?" She has to cover her mouth while it's full or else swallow the chocolate right away and she doesn't want to lose the flavor that quickly. Clearly this is the greatest thing that's happened to her all day.

Her reaction is unexpected, and makes Devero grin widely. "Have you never had chocolate before?" he asks, absolutely delighted to be the one who gets to introduce her to it. "That's what it's called, it's chocolate-- there's a lot of different kinds. This one's dark chocolate."

She shakes her head to confirm she's never tasted something like this before. Chewing slowly till the flavor is all but a memory. Then she swallows so she can answer again.

"In my country we have many delicacies, the finest cuisine in the world but that was new. And I'll have to try the other kinds. What are they?" She's already pushing past him to the machine trying to figure out how it works.

Lucky for her that his ticket's still in the ICP, now isn't it? And that Devero doesn't mind spending a few points to make someone else happy. "The train has white and milk chocolate available as well," he says, "and there's lots of specialty chocolates where I come from-- oh, here, let me show you."

Trying not to loom or crowd her too much, Devero leans over her shoulder once she's pushed past him. With deliberately slow motions, he accesses the train shop and then the snacks menu. He orders 2 more bars of chocolate, which thump down into the dispensing slot a moment later.

He steps back and gestures, grinning widely. "Go ahead. Let's see what you got."

It's good that he's moving so slowly because only in this moment does she realize the excitement of discovery had made her lower her guard. She hesitates looking him over for signs of deception before taking the chocolate from the machine.

She doesn't open them though she just looks at them. The weight, the sound the wrapper makes. Something tugging at her suspicious mind.

"Thank you." She finally manages before unwrapping on of the bars. It's white this time and she brings it closer for inspection.

"If you're expecting something in return I don't have much to offer." she began "Though I'm sure you already guessed that given how obviously new I am."

There's not a deceptive bone in this big guy's body. He even knows enough to back off and give her some space once she's retrieved her chocolate, perhaps picking up on the wary tension that's come into her.

He cocks his head quizzically. "I'm not expecting anything," he protests gently. "Just taking an opportunity to share something nice from my world with-- yeah, with someone new to the train."

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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