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

Dairine scowls, not really liking the teacher voice much better than the raised one.

"Look, I'm not dissing on the value of books. I'm as big of a bookworm as my sister." Well, really Nita was the bigger bibliophile of the two, Dairine having since focused on technology for her reading when she could. "But learning skills takes time, often more than one months' worth. And those skills won't mean much without the resources to implement them! Given it's our lives on the line here, wouldn't it be faster to focus on tools and weapons first?"

She wasn't softening her stance much, even if he was Neet's friend. Dair was stubborn and thus very good at hitting other people's nerves.

"Hm. Must be nice," she comments. However, there is a shortness to her response that at least hints her opinion on it is not so simple. Dair just doesn't want to pick another fight.

"The longer you put off learning, the longer before you have learned. And you still need to learn the skill that goes with the tool or weapon. If you put someone who has never seen a computer at a computer, they will probably break it. Give someone who has never held a sword a sword, and they are likely to harm themselves and others. So even focusing on weapons and tools, you still need to learn the skills that go with them. And if you dedicate yourself to learning a weapon... if you then lose that weapon then what you have learned comes to far less. And each weapon and each tool if it is not mass produced has its own peculiarities. It is far easier to learn to use A sword than to use any sword. My son can pick up any sword and be capable. More than capable. But he has spent most of his life training with various swords."

No, a month is not sufficient to learn any specific skill, but if you are going to spend the time to learn any skill, why wouldn't you choose one independent of a physical thing that could be stolen, broken, or misplaced?"

Dairine makes a sour face. "Has it occurred to you that the other passengers are already skilled? We didn't get brought here for no reason. Someone saw potential in the people here, and in many cases, they already know how to survive against the odds! By tooling up, we can use those strengths to save lives here and now!"

"I bought a computer because I know them like the back of my hand. Yes, someone could break it, but they'd have to go through me first. Meanwhile, we have information storage that can be shared and passed down to further passengers."

"Besides, not every skill can be learned from books." She gives a pointed look. "You can read up on as many blades as you want, but the only thing that'll bring real skill is experience and practice." Yes, it sucks. Dairine had been rather put out to find that reading up on archery hadn't cut back the awkward learning period a bit. She's just lucky to be a fast learner.

"And now you sound like my son," he said with a bit of a huff. "I was not putting down any of the skills already had. But that does not negate learning new skills. And not all useful skills need be martial. And even if they were, books are useful alongside the physical practicing."

"Hang on, you have a son?"

Dairine could keep arguing, but that little detail seems more important right now. And rather unbelievable, considering that despite his hundreds of years Clef looks like he's seven.

He blinked at the topic change, then smiled. He was always happy to talk about his boy. "Yes, his name is Link. And much to my annoyance he is taller than me at current," he added with a hint of a chuckle. There was warmth there. Love. He missed his son so much, though he was sure the boy would hate this place.

This is an odd side to see of Clef. Nice, but odd. Dairine could certainly understand the longing to see others from other pocket worlds, even while knowing they would be better off staying home.

"That's not exactly hard," she says without thinking.

He huffed again and crossed hit tiny little arms. "Where I'm from this appearance is an indicator of my power and wisdom, thank ya very much!"

She grins, vaguely reminded of Conan's indignation. Perhaps that's what inspires her to be just a little more bratty. As a treat.

"Maybe it does, but you're still short."

"And you're still young!" snapped back.

He had vowed to be nicer to the Magic Knights if he met them again, to appologize. And she reminded him a lot of Umi. And yet... his temper which he had been fighting so hard to control was rising again.

"Uh, yes? What of it?" she asks, clearly suspicious but not angry (yet).

If he was expecting her to be outright offended by the implication that she is young, he was gonna be disappointed. Youth is what made new wizards more powerful. And while Dairine might not have the power boost of a brand new wizard, she still had the quick wit and fire of youth to find ways around it.

That said, he might not have to work much harder. Dair knows an attempted insult when she hears one.

"There is nothing wrong with being short!"

"Did I say there was?"

She might just be being difficult at this point, but technically she didn't say there was a problem with being short. She just pointed out his height!

...In the most inconsiderate way possible.

"You most certainly implied it."

"You sure you're not just reading too much into it?"

She notably doesn't outright deny it though.

"Quite."

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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