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

[miseris_socios]

"And what makes you so special?" He shuffles through his cards. "Do you have any aces?"

[agathokakological]

Crowley shrugs, "I'm nothing special. Plenty of people on-board aren't human. But I might be the only one of my kind here. Anyway, unlike most humans, I have nothing to prove."

That, and 'intimidating' is one of the last words anyone who knew them well would use to describe them.

Crowley shakes their head, "Afraid not. Go fish."

[miseris_socios]

"What are you?" He picks up a card and frowns. Man, his luck... well. After today, he can't really be surprised. "... I have to prove things. Most adults don't take me seriously."

[agathokakological]

"The answer to that question really depends on how your world works. It wouldn’t make sense to you if it didn't work like mine." Crowley replies, wincing slightly in reply. "Well that's stupid. You should be taken as seriously as anyone else."

[miseris_socios]

He puts the cards down and just looks them in the - well, in the sunglasses. "... Try me."

[agathokakological]

"Yeah, sure," they reply, putting their cards down also. "Now, how I explain this depends entirely on how religion or creation theory works in your world." they say, "There are some on this train that have no concept of things like me, and some who do, others who know me by name, but their concept is entirely different. So let's start there."

Tilting their head curiously, they return the stare, "Where I am from, there is one God who created all. Do you understand concepts like heaven and hell?"

[miseris_socios]

"That's not as popular in the same way where I'm from, but I understand those things." He's aware of Christianity and the general concepts, but he's never studied them.

[agathokakological]

"Alright. " they sigh, it's better than nothing. "I'm a demon, a fallen angel, I'm not like most adults because I'm not made of the same stock, and I'm much older." Crowley explains, "From my experience, human adults think they know everything. They don't. I don't. I tend to find most children a lot brighter... they're at least more open to learning."

[miseris_socios]

He thinks on that for a minute. It sounds stupid and ridiculous, but so does summoning part of yourself to fight, or being dragged to an interdimensional train.

“... Okay.” He’s not fully convinced, but he’s not super doubtful either. “Fff o you think you know more than both adults and children?”

[agathokakological]

"I don't think I know anything." Crowley scoffs, shrugging their shoulders, their hand fiddling with their cards on the table. "I know that when I think I have answers, I'm wrong. I know that God doesn't talk to me, no matter how much I beg Her to..."

Crowley trails off then, sighing. "It doesn't matter. Tell me more about your world."

[miseris_socios]

"Uh. Well, there's a period at night that most people aren't awake for... it's called the Dark Hour. The sky goes green, water turns into blood, monsters called Shadows appear, and most people end up in coffins right where they were when midnight hits. Electronics don't work, either."

He shuffles his cards in his hands a little awkwardly. "It's really dangerous to be awake during the Dark Hour... the only people who can do it that I know of are people with the potential to summon a part of themselves to fight called a Persona."

[agathokakological]

Crowley squints, their face making a twisted expression as they try to follow the narrative. "That's..." they trail off, "A lot. Like something out of a sci-fi/horror film."

Blinking a few times, Crowley takes a deep breath, "So are you one of them? The Persona-people."

[miseris_socios]

"Yeah, I know. And I am. I... I hang around with a group of people like me... people that basically live in the Dark Hour, since we're all kind of... none of us have real documentation or the ability to get real jobs."

Homeless. They're homeless.

[agathokakological]

"You have all the documentation you need to live here," Crowley offers as a sort of silver lining. "Not that we have dark hours or what not. And there are other downsides, but, ehhh."