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

[irrationally]

Alice nods.

"You will see many more of those beings here. Although there certainly are people who don't have any special powers aboard this train, I'm fairly sure the majority of people does possess at least one power others would deem 'strange'."

Look, she may be one of said strange power people herself, but Alice grew up in a normal enough world that she's pretty sure what kind of powers would be considered strange by normal standards.

"So it would be fair to assume most people you end up speaking to here can do something out of the ordinary."

[marvelous_murderbot]

"A logical assumption," she agreed, "and better to presume it to be possible than otherwise."

"In my universe, I have seen what I believe you would term extra-sensory perception, telekinesis, and have heard of far more besides. In the form of...well, warrior-monks, I suppose would be an adequate translation for the moment."

[irrationally]

Warrior-monks. It's certainly not a combination Alice has heard of before, but it's also far from the strangest things she's ever heard either. So the girl just takes in the information with a nod, like it's just normal. Natural.

"I see. Have you ever heard of something like this, then?"

And Alice wastes no time in starting the demonstration. Not that there's much to said demonstration. It's just the girl standing there, her hand held out, and a moment later there's a rather ornate-looking and pretty big knife in said hand. And with the way her hand is angled, it looks impossible for her to have pulled it out of the sleeve of her hoodie - as if it just appeared in her hand out of the blue.

[marvelous_murderbot]

She watches with intense curiosity, shifting her position to see it from a few different angles.

"No, that is entirely new to my knowledge. It is fascinating. Is there a finite amount you can do? I mean, surely it must drain at you, somewhat?"

[irrationally]

She shakes her head. "Not really. It's only happened once, on a world we visited."

So it feels more like an anomaly - especially since it was just that one world. She never had as much trouble on any of the other worlds they visited, did she?

"Otherwise this is very easy for me." And, as if to prove that, she makes the knife disappear and then reappear in her hand a few times. It's all very casual, like this is nothing she minds showing off in the least. "I mean, the finite aspect to it is more that there are only a few specific things I can take out like this."

[marvelous_murderbot]

"It is very interesting," she said, watching carefully.

"This is already very intriguing, for a kidnapping."