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

[famtastic]

That just makes her freeze inside. She doesn't know why. She's never been worried before. She shouldn't be worried now. What did it matter if it was her?

But it did. It did.

She knew himself.

She didn't know... the others. Not really.

"Yeah. That's me." A faint grin. "What did I look like to you?"

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila's eyes widen and her ear flick in concern in the slight uptick in that double heartbeat. "My apologies, I forget sometimes that not everyone has necessarily done this before." She gestures to the platform in general and gives the Doctor what she hopes is a reassuring smile.

"The Doctor I met looked like an older gentleman, a different accent to yours and a tendency to be a bit grumpy but rather kind. You have the same sort of heartbeat and your aether is similar enough." She shrugs, "'Tis common to run into multiple versions of the same person in places like this where multiple universes seem to converge."

[famtastic]

Those ears... They are a bad sign. The Doctor shifts an inward focus to regulate her physiology to not react to emotional distress, just on principal. Maybe it isn't necessarily a good thing but she prefers people not to know what she's thinking so openly.

And that...describes about two thousand years of themself.

"What hair color? Eye color? No it probably isn't Casanova in training... What did I wear?"

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila taps her chin thoughtfully with a red-painted claw, it had been a while since she'd last seen the Doctor in Liminal Space.

"That version of you had... somewhat curly grey hair with light blue eyes." Q'uila nods to herself, "And they favoured a navy jacket with red lining."

[famtastic]

"Ohhh. Not far back then. Scottish, right? Sounds a little like this?" She imitates the accent she once had. "I looked really good in that jacket. I could even pull it off now if I like but there's something about wearing old clothes."

She thinks about this.

"And I was here?"

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila nods again, "Aye, that is the accent. Though 'twas not here, we called the place Liminal Space. If you had been there you would have a mark from one of the Major Arcana somewhere, you would also feel different. So the Doctor I met would have been a completely different you appearance aside."

[famtastic]

"No it's the same me. The same one. Exact same. It just hasn't happened yet. Or been changed. Retconned if you like. But it's the same me. Just me." They are all her and she is all them and she won't accept anything else.

[dragoonrouge]

"Mayhaps, though if that is the case you shall have to tell me how you got rid of the Arcana's mark. I would very much like to get rid of mine, Justice is not exactly a subtle individual." Q'uila's scrunched nose and folded back ears convey how little of a fan she is about that.

"So, from what I know this sort of place is probably more your expertise than mine, what do you think of this place?"

[famtastic]

"Haven't remembered yet. But I'll let you know when I do." She wants to know about it and she really doesn't.

"But this place? Not sure." She glances at her sonic. "Can't get a proper reading, not enough to tell if it is anywhere. It may be some sort of liminal space. Something in between if you understand."

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila nods, "It feels similar to the Liminal Space I was in before but different at the same time. This one feels more rigid." Q'uila had tried to pull on the liminal matter to form objects like she could have done in Liminal but nothing had happened.

"I suppose that the next big mystery is how we were all selected and brought here, I do not recall seeing or sensing anything unusual before arriving here..." She trails off, tail swaying as she thinks.

[famtastic]

"Really? It feels less so to me. More malleable. But then I don't know your point of reference.

"Me either. Course that doesn't mean anything. It could also have been wiped from our memories, considering all this has changed as well. Clothes and all... Oh..." She reaches up and breathes a faint sigh when she notices her earring is still there. She doesn't know why she's relieved but it feels important.

[dragoonrouge]

"In the other Liminal Space, those of us trapped there were able to manipulate the space and shape it to create various objects and foods and such. I did try here but none of it worked."

Q'uila taps her heel against the ground as she looks around, "It is not just a change of clothes, most of my belongings are gone as well even though I am the only one who can access my hammerspace." Four, glowing crystals appear in her palms and she hisses, "I am short of job stones by nearly a dozen and with only my lance to boot. Never mind my potions, tomestones and other odds and ends."

[famtastic]

"Ooh nice. Is that how you're able to do that? Pull things out of er...hammerspace as you call it?" She waved a hand around in the space above, trying to feel something, but it was just air. "Is it in another dimension?"

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila makes three of the job stones; the vermillion, marroons, and yellow one appear and disappear for the Doctor to get a better look with the blue crystal marked with what almost looks like a stylised arrow remaining in her palm.

"As far as I am aware 'tis a seperate dimension that is unique to myself, we all had a Hammerspace but it was impossible to access others unless you had purposefully linked them. My Adventurer's bag does something similar but 'tis far larger on the inside than my Hammerspace is but that also seems to have been taken from me."

[famtastic]

"Ohhh. I like that. Wish I had me one of those. Maybe I can build one if I can figure it out." She peers at the arrow. "Bet I can. Maybe I can even figure out the stone things."

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila blinks, "My Job Stones? 'Tis simply crystallised aether, the hard part is imbuing it with memories to teach future generations, this one has been passed forward many a time and I am still adding new skills to it for whomever shall inherit it once I have hung up my lance."

[famtastic]

"That's not 'simply' anything. That's some amazing stuff. Memory retention is tricky at best but to preserve that kind of knowledge is worth exploring. Then again I love tinkering with weird substances." A faint sheepish smile. "But you probably know that."