A New Platform [Intro Post March]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

Once again passengers are awoken by the morning announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day One of the month of Kazoo. 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 is thick, the air is warm and humid and there are rumbles of thunder, the air heavy with the promise of rain.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Alfredo Martini, Daia, Enna Alchiba, Lord El-Melloi II, Natsuno Yuuki, Nita Callahan, Saku Gyousou, Sakura, V and Wen Qing

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, and seems smaller with twenty-seven 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.

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'). Those not new to the train will note the addition of an eighth sleeper carriage. The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, it seems the month of Kazoo is defined by the tomato and there are plenty of them.

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 as thunder rumbles further and the storm threatens to break. 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

[averyusefultray]

Platform

This... was not Lothal. That much was pretty obvious. If Hera didn't know better she would start to think that the universe didn't want her to actually steal any time alone with Kanan.

These are also definitely not her clothes. The strange sensation of the fog against her head prompts her to reach up and confirm that there's... definitely not anything at the base of her lekku.

Really only one question left here. "What the kriff?"

Train

There aren't any answers on the platform. The view outside the windows reminds her of hyperspace, but not... quite right.

She can't let the strange situation fluster her, she needs to find out what exactly she's dealing with here. So she'll visit each car in turn. The kitchen earns a smile. The armoury a raised eyebrow.

She stands by her previous assessment of what the kriff.

7D

This is... cozy. She's used to that though. It's actually not that different from the Ghost's cabins. The only real difference is she hasn't had decades to make the space her own.

She can handle a space like this, at any rate. "Almost like home..."

Minus her family, of course. So nothing at all like home.

Platform

[famtastic]

"I know, right? This is unusual. More than unusual. Barely happens to me at all really." She grins. "Brilliant, isn't it. I love these sorts of things." A frown. "Usually. Almost. Sort of." She thrusts out a hand. "I'm the Doctor, by the way, what's your name?"

Re: Platform

[averyusefultray]

"Just the Doctor?" That was... unusual.

But if they're going to go on a title basis, she'll respond in kind. Though she'll still offer some degree of name. "I'm Captain Syndulla... I'm not sure brilliant is quite the word I would choose."

Platform

[famtastic]

"Just the Doctor. Makes things far easier when you get around." A grin. "Captain Syndulla." She nods. "I mean yeah it is a bit inconvenient and the wardrobe is bland but all things considered if you have to be teleported to some unknown destination with no clue as to how you got there, this would be the best way."

Platform

[consider8]

Eight's eyes lit up when she saw the woman on the platform. She was taller than the usual Inkling, and her skin color was more in line with someone who hadn't yet reached puberty, but she definitely wasn't a child.

But, no, the chance that she had finally found someone from her world was too important to ignore.

"Excuse me..." Remembering that not all Inklings may have had favorable views of Octarians, her hands tightening the hood over her head. "...are you an Inkling?"

Re: Platform

[averyusefultray]

She looks the young... being over, trying to place the species at all. But she can't. "That's not a species I'm familiar with."

Interesting that she didn't recognize a Twi'lek on sight. How far from home is she?

[consider8]

Eight frowns and, preparing to run should she need to, lowering her hood to show the four hair tentacles dangling on my head. "And... do you not know what I am?"

She was prepared for a no, and was starting to regret getting her hopes up.

Platform

[chocobosnap]

Was she talking to him? Prompto's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"I-I don't know?" He said with a bit of a squeak he was way too old for.

Re: Platform

[averyusefultray]

She does her best to regain her composure after the initial outburst. She's not sure where she is, but it seemed the mission parameters have changed. She needs to figure out. "It was a rhetorical question."

Though she would in fact like to know what the kriff.

train

[blitzcheer]

"Hey there! How you doing? Looking for anything?"

Tidus sees her in the armoury as he's at one of the lockers, a suitcase bag of what appears to be liquid bottles next to him, the lid of the bag open. One of them in his hands, being put into the locker.

A purple hoodie hangs tied around his waist, though his clothes are otherwise different, if still a simple top and jeans.

Re: train

[averyusefultray]

She notes that the hoodie matches her own. THe bottles... were not quite quite what she expected in an armory but she's having a weird day. "Getting my bearings. I assume that this room existing is signficant."

Train

[pleple]

Hello! It's an eleven year old human with a backpack, pausing in the armory to nod at the clearly new arrival. "Things get dangerous quite often. You'll probably end up with a locker of your own if you know how to handle a weapon."

Re: Train

[averyusefultray]

Hera frowned at the child's definite young age. She's no stranger to kids in combat zones, but she looks even younger than even Ezra was when he came on board the Ghost. "I know my way around a pistol. What sort of danger are we talking about?"

The kid has obviously seen it, after all.

Train

[sos_pilot]

As Hera inspected each car, she'd eventually hit the music car, where Della was dancing to some old tunes from her world's version of the nineties. She felt new eyes on her and paused, before breaking into a smile.

"Hey, what's happening?"

Re: Train

[averyusefultray]

She doesn't recognize the music at all, but it does have quite the beat to her. "That's the big question right now."

Not what she had planned for today, at any rate.

Train

[theimpatientone]

Merwen is an odd sight (purple, naked, bald, webbed hands and feet, okay we're caught up now) squatting over some plants in the garden car. She looks up as someone comes in, and for a moment she just blinks at this very strange person who's just walked in.

Then she breaks into a smile, delighted for no real reason except that possibly she's just met a whole new type of person, and that's neat, okay.

"Share the day," she says in greeting.

Re: Train

[averyusefultray]

The purple individual isn't a species she's familiar with, but there are enough in her galaxy that she's not going to stare. Lack of clothing is unusual in a non-furry species but that made it even more unusual.

"Hello." She doesn't know if that's a traditional greeting with an expected response.

train

[irrationally]

Platform days always truly are Something.

Mostly since it feels like Alice can't make a cup of tea without being interrupted by something odd. Like - in this case - an unfamiliar person wandering into said kitchen, and then proceeding to just stand there and..

.. smile?

Alice raises an eyebrow.

"Is something so funny?"

Re: train

[averyusefultray]

"Not funny I just... wasn't quite expecting to find this." It's better stocked than most galleys that she's had a chance to spend time in in the past couple years. "Better than ration bars..."

Train

[sizedoesntmatter]

Yugi pretty much if he could he would live in the gaming carriage. It was pretty much where he was when he didn't need to eat, sleep or do chores. With the odd occasion of being elsewhere.

So when he saw someone new he couldn't help but look up from the work he was doing and giving a small wave.

"Welcome to the game carriage."

Re: Train

[averyusefultray]

"I guess this is another one I wasn't expecting." Not that she'd had much of a chance to expect much of anything. BUt she was using spaceships as a point of reference and most of the ones she was familiar with might have a dejarik board but nothing quite like this.

Platform

[light_of_willpower]

"I'm not sure what a Kriff is, but I can give you the basics of what's going on." Trunks had approached out of curiosity, but that didn't mean he wouldn't be polite. "The short and quick version, is you've been train-napped to be passenger and crew on the big train over there" Gesturing with one arm. "known as the Voidtrecker Express."

Trunks stood about middling tall for a human, and wore the train's uniform of hoody over a polo shirt, over slacks and boots. All in a shade of purple that did not match his hair, and somehow did not clash, either.

Re: Platform

[averyusefultray]

She looks the vehicle over. "That doesn't look like any train I've ever seen. But that's not really the major concern."

Strange to note, but not important. "Do you know where we are?"

Train

[marvelous_murderbot]

She had given the platform a once-over, to scan for any potential threats from her universe. Specifically, powerful Imperials or, worse, Black Sun. The way she understood it, time was not a barrier, so non-linear arrivals were more than possible.

But it's back on the train that she spots someone from her universe. A Twi'lek woman, clearly new, judging by the way she was appraising each room in turn. She approaches, trying to look as harmless as possible in terms of stance, her hands folded in front of her.

When close enough, she greets the woman, in turn, in Twi'leki - speaking it with a practiced tongue. Judging by her dress, she is very likely to speak Basic - but out of respect - and to indicate a similar origin universe - she uses her home tongue.

"Greetings, fellow traveler. I hope being drawn here isn't proving too jarring for you."

Re: Train

[averyusefultray]

The Twi'leki gets her attention, of course. So far she hadn't spoken to anyone who gave any sign of being familiar with places she knew.

"Are there people who don't find it jarring?" she asks in the same language. She can't imagine this being any less than that even if it hadn't so thoroughly derailed very immediate plans.