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

[bodyoftheseus]

"Maybe I'm a hot shot."

V still seemed unimpressed by the man. The pout does nothing to shift V's expression. He straightened up to his full height. It might be a little posturing.

"Would say maybe your talent's your tongue, but not so sure you got one."

[gentle_jim]

"Oh yeah?" Jack's eye twitches a little at how much taller this guy is, but he keeps his calm and leans an arm against the train. "Gonna hafta prove that to me sometime."

Jack's grin grows at that innuendo, to which he gives a rakish wink. "Oh, I've got one, cupcake. If you wanna see it in action though, I'd say we should get to know eachother a little more first."

[bodyoftheseus]

Some part of V is tickled by the way that Jack's eye twitches so he doesn't relax from this position but maintains it. V's brows come together at the name cupcake, but he does offer a small smile that could only be described as impish.

"I'll get sentimental if we get t'know each other. How'll I show you I'm a hot shot then?"

[gentle_jim]

Jack just laughs. "Easy, just don't let your gun get as soft as your heart. That's free advice, by the way."

His sharp gaze wanders over V's face. "You've got cybernetics, don'tchya?"

[bodyoftheseus]

At the mention that the advice is free V rolled his eyes and whatever good nature was on his face evaporated and was replaced with a critical and sharp expression, tension crawling into V's shoulders visible even under the hoodie.

"Yeah, I do." As if the cyberscars on his face or the synthetic eyes weren't enough, but he wasn't feeling it in him to be snarky about it. "I'd ask if you're lookin' to get some work done but I'd think 'bots wouldn't need it."

[gentle_jim]

Jack doesn't miss that tensing up, eyebrow lifting slightly. Was it something in what he said or had he been mistaken about the flirting?

"Nope, just got an interest in cybernetic mods. What're you packing exactly, by the way?"

[bodyoftheseus]

Jack was definitely not mistaken about the flirting, V just was on edge after everything that brought him here and luring someone over with a glance of iron held the possibility of being a poor turn of events.

"Pretty standard stuff: internals to better synchronize my systems and my body, the usual healing boosters, standard subdermal armor, titanium-infused bones." He says this as if it's perfectly normal. He felt the eye mods didn't need to be mentioned considering they were visibly obvious. "Got some grounding plating to avoid EMP, reinforced tendons for those hard to reach places..."

He wasn't about to go into his deck or the quickhacks he came with. Those were what were really dangerous against those with computer systems on board and he wasn't about to make it known he could make someone drop dead by looking at them. There were other goodies he had on board too, things that were more expensive and rare, but they didn’t need to be mentioned. His mantis blades were not exactly stealth given the metallic joints in his hands, but his arms were covered by the hoodie so there was a chance the man may not notice and ask.

“...All pretty standard for someone in my line of work.”

[gentle_jim]

To Jack, the list is perfectly normal and suspiciously non-lethal... indicating to him that perhaps there are hidden features not being mentioned here. Which is smart, but annoying because it means he'll have to find another way to discover what they are.

His eyes have drifted to the obvious port sticking out boldly from the stranger's neck, lingering there long enough that his interest is easily noticeable. His gaze flicks back to V's face finally when he speaks.

"Yeah? And what line of work would that be?"

[bodyoftheseus]

The stare lingering on his neural port was obvious and more than noted. It earned Jack some furrowed brows and a small frown. By default the port wouldn't be particularly useful to Jack, but anything could be hacked with enough persistence. V would have to make note and start developing new ICE, start refreshing keys.

"Contract work. Sometimes do some coding for a client, but mostly help 'em find some information or take care of a rat problem. Help track down lost items." With V's size, survival-focused cyberware, the rough way he speaks? He's a mercenary. No question about it. "Y'know. Odd jobs."

He examined Jack a little more closely. "'n what about you?"

[gentle_jim]

"Uh huh. Sounds like you got a lot of talents," Jack drawls, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. He knows a mercenary when he sees one. Interesting that this guy isn't prepared to admit it straight out yet.

He can't help but preen at the attention. "I'm a multi-talented guy myself. Coding, weapons design, running a multi-million dollar weapons manufacturing company. Y'know." Is he bragging? Hell yeah, he is.

[bodyoftheseus]

Oh, so this guy was corporate trash. Got it.

While V wasn't one to particularly hide he was a merc - he may not say it outright, but there were more subtle ways to dance around the subject - he was glad he kept his cyberware vague. A lot of V's mods came from robbing corporations - namely Aarasaka - of their latest and greatest. He'd gotten quite good at scrubbing serials off of them.

One of Jack's talents did catch V's ear.

"Coding, huh? That before or after you started makin' toys?" Some common ground. V could ask how a weapon's manufacturer ended up here without a gun but it seemed a little rude to rub his nose in it (even if he was corpo trash).

[gentle_jim]

"Waaay before. Been doing that shit since I was a kid." It's not usually the coding that people ask about or are impressed by. Jack tilts his head a little, trying to read V's expression. Is he interested because of all of his mods maybe?