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

"Yes, and I admit I'm curious to see what these missions will bring." Merwen purses her lips. "There is plenty here, on this 'train,' that I feel is lacking. On the other hand, will the missions truly be better? I don't know."

She shakes her head.

"Either way, there is a lot to discover."

Alice nods.

And really, she'd be ready to let the other go at this point, but there's something about what the other says that she feels like she may be able to help out with. Or at least enlighten her a little, perhaps.

"Are you familiar with combat?"

It's a rather vague statement, but you know. Alice knows not everyone fights in the traditional way. This place has taught her as much.

"If not, the missions may not be much better for you."

Which is why Alice doesn't mind the missions herself. She's a pretty decent fighter, and fighting itself has never bothered her.

Her face goes blank, and under the purple, sort of ashy-pale.

"'Combat.' You mean violence. I am familiar with this sickness, to my sorrow. I will not share in it. I will never share in it. To share pain with my sisters..." Merwen trails off, for a moment not sure where to begin, for a moment not even sure where she is. "No," she says at last, firm. "I will not share that."

Out of all the answers she expected, this wasn't one of them. Sure, she expected a 'no', or an 'I can't fight', but this goes beyond that. The way the other goes so pale, like she's shocked by the very idea.

It's pretty extreme, especially considering Alice's own comfort with violence, so it leaves her staring at Merwen in confusion for a few moments before she manages to speak up again.

"Well.. That might be a problem then. There's quite a lot of fighting on these missions, since there usually are things attacking us in these other worlds."

Merwen takes a moment to collect herself before she speaks. She takes a deep breath, and as she concentrates, a set of pearly third eyelids slide sideways over her eyes before she blinks them back. Her words are even, her tone as calm as she can make it.

"Define 'things.' Do you mean creatures that seek prey because that is their nature? Or do you mean human sisters who seek violence because that is what they know?"

"Either, really."

It's not her avoiding the question. It's more just that the spectrum of things they have had to fight is so wide, that they have most definitely encountered both categories during the missions.

"It depends on the specific mission, but I've fought both already during the time I've been here."

"There is a difference between avoiding danger from an unthinking force," Merwen says, more philosophically than all-out lecturing, "and in hastening the death of a thinking being. One is survival, one is cutting short the life of something equal to yourself. In sharing violence, both are affected."

This girl seems so young to carry the seeds of sickness inside her... but then, Merwen knows they all do.

Alice isn't unused to this kind of talk.

But it still bugs her a little all the same - just as it did when the beings in Wonderland got all philosophical over things. Even when they weren't meant to be patronizing in any way, it definitely comes across like that to Alice's way too short fuse.

Still, she's learned a bit. She takes in a deep breath and then breathes out before speaking.

"You say that as if there's a choice. Often situations either require you to fight or die. And I'm not planning on dying just yet."

"I would prefer to die holding true to my principles than to sacrifice them and live," Merwen says, with a bit of a shrug. "I could never share pain with a thinking being, not knowingly. It is sharing, after all. What I inflict on others I inflict upon myself. If I am willing to hasten the death of someone who hastens death, then how can I say I am any better than she is?"

There's a sadness to her voice. This isn't theoretical for her. This is all too real, something tested and lived.

".. so I'm a bad person then."

It's not really what Merwen is saying. It's not even really what Alice is implying she's saying - it's more a natural conclusion that follows in her own mind after hearing those words.

And honestly, it's not like Alice would deny it. She doesn't think she's a good person.

"Well, I suppose there have to be some people in this world who have to dirty their hands in order to protect others. If that has to be me, then so be it. I am already damned either way."

Merwen shakes her head. "You are no more a bad person than I am," she says, firmly, with the weight of conviction behind her words. "I think -- and there are those of my sisters who would very hastily disagree with me -- I think that this is something human, something we all share. Some embrace it, and some don't."

Softer, she adds, "I don't mean to share judgement with you. I only know what I have seen and lived through, and I know that violence is a flame that consumes everything it touches, including those who wield it, no matter how pure their aim, and you seem to know it already, as young as you are. There is wisdom in that.

Alice slightly waves a hand. "It would've been fine either way. I've been called a lot worse than violent."

So even if the other had meant it badly, it wouldn't have been a huge deal to Alice. Nothing she'd get upset or angry because of, anyway.

"And I'm not sure if it could truly be called wisdom if I knew as much, but carried on with the violence either way."

Merwen smiles, sympathetically. "Sometimes we don't understand why we do what we do," she says. "I believe that's human, too."

She reaches over to pat Alice's arm reassuringly, to show she's not bothered. She is bothered, actually, but she also tries not to make a habit of blaming people for the sicknesses they suffer.

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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