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

"We were trying to help the people evacuate. We seemed to know about it before them since at first they were unconcerned. But after a few hours, dark clouds rolled in and there were giant shapes moving within the clouds. We didn't see much more as the train recalled us."

Okay, he's heard of things along those lines, but not seen it. Those had usually been a world-eater of some sort.

Even if you heard of such things, it's still creepy.

"I hate it when people start that 'master planner' shit and then don't fill anyone in on 90% of what the idea is. Like I get keepin' some things to yourself, but come the hell on. Your crew needs to know what the hell they're workin' with."

Since they hadn't had much information, it was quite possible that it had been a world eater. It would have at least explained why they had been trying to convince people who had no issues to leave and then suddenly departing as soon as it made itself known.

"That is very true. If we had known what we were up against, we might have been able to make a better case for them to leave if there was no option to fight."

"Okay, so... we got any crew from these worlds? Or that knew about the train beforehand? Anything? Or is it only pickin' people who didn't know anything?"

He gestures around the room, though he's meaning all the sleeper cabins and the people that reside within.

"As far I know, no one on this train had any previous knowledge of the train or any of the planets we visited. It's all people who had no connection to it at all."

"Alright. Workin' off next to no info, got it."

He attempts then to lay down in the bunk. But there's one problem.

For decades now the fin he's had installed has been shorter. The prototype has a larger range, but it's a good six inches taller than the other fin. And as he lays back, he manages to bang it against the bunk above him.

"Ow! Shit-" he grumbles, winces, making protective motions around his head as he ducks under to straighten himself out properly. He probably should have thought this shit through before commissioning the design. The hoods on the hoodies are pretty much useless, too.

"I see you over there you little furry bastard, makin' yourself comfortable," he half-heartedly mocks the rabbit.

"Essentially. We know what the train tells us until we figure out more information."

He blinked in surprise as he leaned back and smacked against the other bunk.

"Are you well?"

At the comment, he glanced back over at his rabbit with a slight smile, taking practically the whole bed to himself with his building of a blanket nest. The rabbit wiggled its nose as it looked out at them before suddenly leaping out and beginning to bounce around on the bed.

"Little Radish, it is not polite to show off or gloat," WangJi said as though scolding the rabbit as though it was purposely showing off all the space it had. He wasn't really. It was a rabbit and didn't know better.

After bouncing around for a moment, Little Radish dove back into the burrow, turning around to look out into the room again.

"I'm six inches taller than I was yesterday." He taps the fin, indicating it's new, and he's only just now facing the consequences of making the damn thing so tall. Should have gotten another short one, maybe.

It did its job like it was meant to.

"Ah I see. Then it will take some getting used to. I have never seen something quite like that before."

As might be obvious by his own attire.

Not all spacers live the gritty life Yondu does. Some of them live well and live in finery.

"It's a fin. This one's cybernetic, but we got 'em naturally, too. And the one I had before-" he feels the top of that one, trying to gauge its distance from the bunk wall. He hates it. He did this to himself. "-Was shorter. Like just yay much bigger. But this one works better."

Long justification for inconveniencing himself. But he'd put off putting it on for that reason. Good thing he did.

"I see. Yes, I suppose it will take some getting used to. May I ask what it does?"

"Reads the room. I know the whole layout of this car right now." He makes a gesture in air, a round and round one.

He doesn't mention it also connects that arrow he just fetched.

"Right now it's only readin' single cars. Get me outside the train, and it works on a lot bigger scale."

"That is very useful. It could certainly help us on missions."

Little Radish watched as Yondu gestured in the air, his head clearly bobbing around as he watched.

"Well I couldn't tell you specific items. I could tell ya what's open space, what's hollow, where someone's standin' 'cause I can recognize the shape of a person. But I couldn't locate a specific key or a particular lyin' on a table. That kind of thing. It's still been useful."

It does what he needs it to. Being without it is like losing a whole sense now.

"That is better than I can do without searching. It would be very useful."

In a way, he can understand. When he had to lock his powers in order to protect WuXian, it was not exactly the most pleasant of feelings.

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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