voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post March]

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Just arrived. Bet it shows. [well, that and there's probably probably a limited number of...passengers? prisoners? unwitting explorers? aboard]

First, let's start with the basics. Is there anywhere we're absolutely forbidden to go?

Well, it is a platform stop and I haven't seen you around, so I figured you're new. My name's Masumi, by the way.

[It's an easy guess. But more important is where they can't go, which is fairly limited.]

We can't get into the engine. It's sealed off, and no one can get through the wall as far as I know. Other than that, you can only get into your own sleeper room unless you're invited into someone else's, since you need your ticket to get in.

Masumi. I'm the Doctor, nice to meet you.

[she puts her hands in her hoodie pockets, which she's really starting to dislike by the way]

What happens if you try to get in without a ticket? Or if you lose a ticket? Or get a hand on someone else's? Can you make a ticket?

It’s nice to meet you too.

[The series of questions is a bit of a surprise, but thankfully it isn’t that hard to answer each question.]

You just aren’t let in without the correct ticket. If you lose your ticket then you can’t get in your room unless a roommate lets you in or you’re moved to your room. If you have someone else’s ticket then you can get into their room with it, but can’t use it to get into yours. And no, you can’t make a ticket.

Has anyone tried to make a ticket? [she wonders if she could make a master ticket] So theoretically if you had someone to let you in, you could take apart a ticket and see how it works.

[it was a thought. But then she only had one]

Something to think about for later. But on the other hand, who needs a room? Never liked staying to one room anyway. Too restless, me.

As far as I know, no. But hypothetically, yes, as long as you have another way to get into your room then you could destroy a ticket.

[By the tone of her voice, she doesn't recommend doing this, since the ticket does have a few other uses.

As for the sleeper cabins...]

Not much of a choice here. Even if you go to sleep somewhere else or stay up late, the train just forces you back to your room by a certain point at night. The good news is that you're only forced to be there during the required sleep hours at least.

Well you do have another way to get into the room. I mean if you're teleported back into you room anyway when it's time to sleep, and if that's the only time you'd need access, then the ticket is free to do with as you like.

[she thinks]

Wouldn't hurt to run an experiment or two.

You know what, I'd be willing to see these experiments. [You know, to see what happens.]

But I should warn you that there are a few other uses for the ticket, mostly related to some features on the ICP system like training programs and responding to messages from the train itself, checking out books in the library, and accessing the lockers in the armory. [Fair warning about what else the ticket is for is very important.]

ICP system? Training programs? [those do sound interesting]

The train sends messages? What kind? What do they typically say? Does it come through the ticket itself or do you just have to hold one?

Yup, it has training programs. Stuff like first aid training, learning semaphore, a learn to read program for anyone who can’t read, stuff like that. The main purpose of the ICP system is to let us send voice and video messages between carriages, though.

And sometimes the train does use the system to give us messages. There were a few times where it asked what would make us happy and let us pick from a list of options before giving us a new carriage at the next platform, and a couple months back it actually answered questions from us. The tickets are placed in a slot on the ICP to use the extra functions or respond to messages from the train.

[Infodump done, Masumi takes the chance to think about if there’s anything she missed.]

Almost forgot, you also need your ticket to use the train shop system, so that’s something else to keep in mind if you do decide to experiment on yours.

Maybe I better figure out what I'm going to lose before I do. [she sighed] Or else get my hands on a spare.

But I do like a good shop. I used to work at one briefly. Had a nametag and everything! What do they sell?

That might be a good idea. As I said, I don’t recommend losing your ticket if you don’t have to lose it.

[Give her a moment to think about what the train store sells, though, it’s quite a bit.]

It has a pretty good selection. The cheapest item you can get is some snacks at three points, but if you have the points you can also buy items from your world, clothes, weapons, or even animals. Some of the options can get expensive though, and I don’t really know how points are distributed besides that we get them every two weeks.

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

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