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

[blitzcheer]

Ohhh follows Roland's explanation, a moment taken after for Tidus to think to himself that wait, don't all movies mostly follow the protagonist's perspective? A thought that doesn't go very far when he tries to do better by actually watching what's happening on the screen, the dialogue dramatic even when nothing is happening.

Unimpressive to Roland, while Tidus huffs in amusement.

"Isn't that how they talk in these things?" Mystery films with any type of detectives. Which speaking of- Tidus isn't expecting the reminder of another series of the same (or similar) nature, a small "hm?" escaping him when Roland first prompts him, but- oh yeah, he knows what he's talking about.

"You want me to ask him what he likes?" He folds his arms, frowning. "I should. Tell him he needs to make a list of his favourite things so we can buy stuff! Give him a bunch of presents! Alfredo too."

[adregem]

"That's right. It's a good start to any party. Plus, what kid wouldn't wanna get their favorites as gifts? It'll put a smile on their face, festivities aside."

If Roland were to be honest, the movie was losing a lot of its steam from the opening sequence. His assessment falls down to the lack of cohesiveness, and how the story seems to always shift from Lydi's narrative to someone else's. Whereas movies of his childhood, the great film noirs that he can probably still recite to this day, were able to balance character arcs among a series of compelling tales that led to a big showdown and reveal. Lydi is floating...and the plot is a pastiche of stereotypes. It wouldn't be a surprise if both of their bets ended up being true at the same time with the way every shot is being set-up. Now, a revelation; Lydi has powers that the man named Jakob seemed to mirror. Which meant that -

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me." Roland can't help the loud groan that passes his lips, the most he's expressed since watching the movie. "Where did that come from?"

His frustration is clear when the climax of the movie portrays Lydi and Jakob as long-lost twins, and that Jakob had indeed been in the explosion that destroyed her family home and turned her into an orphan. The drug deal was to suppress powers across the galaxy such that accidents like that never happened again...

...only to put Lydi back into the spotlight, as the woman who caused the explosion in the first place. Convenient amnesia, I see. Jakob was the man who took her in, but in secret, hiding his scars from her and raising her from the shadows. Hence the strange energy between them despite their familial connections, and the recognition beyond cybernetic facial features.

Roland groans a second time, arms already crossed in clear displeasure.

"Don't show this movie to the kids. Ever." He warns Tidus, comedically too serious for the discussion at hand. "This is terrible. I wouldn't watch this again."

[blitzcheer]

Lydi is floating. Why is she floating. And when did these powers even enter the equation!? What.

"I think you picked a bad one," Tidus remarks, just as Roland voices his own disbelief for whatever it is they're seeing on the screen. Tidus knows he hasn't been entirely focusing on this movie, but he wasn't that distracted, was he?

But by a point, Tidus isn't even watching any of it. He's hanging around just to see it through to the end, allowing the movie to continue to go over his head. Was he going to get a drink out of this? He really doesn't know anymore, and he figures not to bother reminding Roland about it, scoffing when he speaks up, raising up a brow.

"I'm not showing this to anyone." Seriously. "It's okay, I won't tell people you have weird taste."

[adregem]

"Me? Please. I've got great taste. But the cover title of this was misleading."

He'll die on this hill, thanks. But at the end of the movie, in which Roland only keeps watch of to get closure of a terrible B-rated noir film that doesn't hold a candle to the greats, Lydi and Jakob decide to keep in touch though it seems Jakob is more inclined to be a lone wolf so as not to hurt her. Typical. Lydi on the other hand, is still finding it in her heart to cling unto the guy as if he had all the answers when clearly, he might have made a couple of mistakes along the way...and then of course, there's the kicker which forces the most unpleasant expression out of Roland.

'No, why are you taking the payload? All alone? You're staying here?'

'Lydi...I have to. It can't be anyone else. Your guilt is already too great.'

'But last night you said-!'

'Last night I said a lot of things. And one of them is how you told me you could rely on me to do the thinking for us both and right now, this is the only thing I've got in my head. Get out of here, Lydi. This case is closed.'

Roland feels like this is straight out of another noir movie from his childhood, like the void just knows how to mess with what's familiar. He shakes his head and another flash of light distracts, fills the space of the car but is otherwise left unnoticed. He summoned something out of the Arms Band, but he isn't saying much about it, eyes back to the final scene.

'You know you'll regret it if you don't let me do this. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, one day down the line, you will. Don't make this mistake. Go.'

'But...But I just found you again. What about you and me, Jakob? What about us?'

'We'll always have The Pink Tulip.'

They definitely don't reveal anything else that seems important apart from lingering glances, and it's Lydi's weird powers that get her back to her spaceship and into the unknown void cosmos ahead...with Jakob staring at the fleeting dot of her ride growing more and more distant in the sky. Then, text on the screen that reads how Lydi will be back for another adventure in another distant planet. So too, will Jakob. They're setting it up for more movies. Roland sighs tiredly as the credits begin to crawl.

...

...

...

"I'm getting us both drinks."

He reaches for something to the side of the hammock, the weight heavy enough to dip into the net. But the rest of his body still obscures it. The back of Roland's hand nudges Tidus's knee for attention.

"As promised. Wanna see what this is here or do you wanna move to standard? I think that's enough movie watching for now."