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

"Oh," Merwen says, with a faint discomfort, "hierarchy. I know this word but it's no Sharer word. I am tired of hierarchy."

A Valan thing. A thing of sickness and stupidity, as far as she's concerned. She'd rather change the subject.

"We've shared this much speech, and yet we haven't shared names," she points out. "My name is Merwen the Impatient One."

Yeah, Persephone can get being tired of hierarchy. It's starting to ruin her life, piece by piece, at home. So she takes the subject change in stride. She takes in the title with a little surprise.

"Wha--I mean. I'm Persephone. Um, Goddess of Spring. Is that your title at home? The impatient one?"

"It's my selfname. Sharers take a selfname of their greatest weakness when we're ready to be seen as sisters, equals in the community rather than children. It shows we know ourselves." She's already getting the impression she's going to have to explain this a lot. But that's fine.

"Oh--oh that's so..." Strange, interesting. Knowing yourself enough to share what is your weakness. It brings to mind her own weaknesses, what she might choose.

"Different. Intriguing, honestly. Isn't it difficult to find your greatest weakness, to chose to say it in front of everyone?" She's vaguely aware that she's probably asking far too many questions, but the concept it so unique, "Do people ever chose a less intense weakness out of shame or fear or something like that?"

"It can be," Merwen says, honestly. "It's hard to share your weaknesses, sometimes. That you're willing to be honest about who you are is what allows you to share at the Gathering. I'm sure there have been some who hide their true weakness and take a false selfname, though no one I've known. Honestly, I think most would know the truth anyway."

"I suppose if you know it's coming your whole life, you can be more honest with yourself. I'd feel put on the spot, vulnerable, but if you know it's expected, I imagine you can get used to the idea."

Maybe? Or maybe it's just as nerve-wracking. Her world must be far more close knit, for others to know your weaknesses. Are there no secrets? Or is a weakness far more pervasive, obvious, part of your everyday life and not who you are by yourself, with just those close. Persephone shuts down the whirlwind of thoughts with a visible lift of her shoulders.

"Being an adult is just a matter of age for us. Though, I suppose there's gradients in that too."

"It's a point of pride among us," Merwen says with a shrug. "Most of us look forward to the day we declare our selfname and be able to speak at a Gathering. My lovesharer is Usha the Inconsiderate One. The daughter of my womb is Lystra the Intemperate One. Our other children are Wellen the Screamer and Weia Who Spits Up Her Food."

A funny, slightly pained expression passes over her face. "I am proud of them, but it is... not usual for children so young to take selfnames."

"...I think Weia is going to find that's not such a big weakness when she gets older." She laughs, "Are they very young, to have selfnames like that? Or do selfnames stick, no matter how you change?"

"They tend to stick," Merwen says. "It's rare for a sister to change her name. Weia, though." She gives a sigh, and with her manner suddenly quite a bit more serious, she looks Persephone in the eyes. "The story of how my youngest daughters took selfnames so young is a... complicated story, and not a happy one, though I am proud of them for having done it. I will share it with you if you wish."

Persephone takes it just as seriously, clasping her hands in her lap and hesitating before she speaks.

"Only if you want to. I'm curious about how you live, because I've never heard of anything like it. But you don't have to tell me your life story just because I'm curious. Or anyone else's life stories for that matter."

Merwen purses her lips a moment.

"Suffice to say that in an attempt to share hurt, our children were taken from us, and as our children tried to decide what they should do without their mothers, they concluded they needed to create a Gathering as they had seen their mothers and mother-sisters do when faced with a problem. And they knew a sister needed a selfname to speak at a Gathering, so they gave themselves selfnames." She shakes her head. "I don't know what all of them will do as they grow. Some may choose other names. Still, it remains a scar on them all, and I suspect many will keep these names."

It takes a little parsing, 'share hurt' and 'mother sister' being ones she has to struggle to place into context. She'd thought before that lovesharer was just a lovely quirk but it's beginning to feel like a fixture of the language, sharing. The idea, the gist of all of it, is alien but yet not. A group of children were forced to grow up too fast.

"I'm sorry. That they were taken from you and that they were hurt." What else do you say to that sort of thing.

Merwen bows her head for a moment. "The most important thing is that they were returned to us, and they can heal. We can all share healing together."

Or that was the case, until she ended up here.

"Some were young enough they may not remember much. I think that may be a blessing."

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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