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

[miseris_socios]

There's people who have been here a long time... I've only been here for two weeks.

[ourtomorrow]

"Only"...

[ He regrets his distress the moment he feels it, but he feels it anyway. ]

[miseris_socios]

There's some people who have been here six months... probably longer. I haven't really asked around that much... I um. Didn't show up here at a good time for me.

[To put it mildly.]

[ourtomorrow]

[ Ken looks down, contemplating this. He doesn't mean to brush off that the other boy had been having a hard time back home, he's just...putting a puzzle together. ] So it's like that adventure.

[ Done being a mysterious deuteragonist, he meets his fellow Ken's eyes again. ] It's possible we've been summoned because there's something only we can do. That's happened to me once, and to

[ Can he use this word when he doesn't know them that well? But - maybe - given the support and acceptance they've shown him, and besides, Hikari-san and Takeru-san definitely qualify even if the older children are more acquaintances - ]

friends

[ oh gosh he said it ]

of mine.

[miseris_socios]

... Maybe.

[He's not sure. He's no hero. Heroes don't exist, and heroes don't plot murder.]

[He starts walking, if only so he doesn't have to meet the other Ken's eyes.]

Do you have... special powers? Other than a talking bug.

[ourtomorrow]

[ Ken Part 2: Ken Harder follows. If he has any suspicions about the other boy's behavior, he is keeping them to himself. ]

--Somewhat. Wormmon is my "partner Digimon".

I protect him. Ken-chan gives me strength!

[ Wormmon is radiating so much love and adoration it's entirely possible there is sunshine in this corridor now. ]

[miseris_socios]

[... Damn does he miss Koromaru. He sighs.]

Okay, you're going to have to explain that one to me.

[ourtomorrow]

It does sound unusual. [ He's...definitely seeing the fallout from that back home, with society at large not quite ready to accept Digimon as a part of life just yet. ]

Was this train the first time you'd heard of multiple worlds?

[ Wormmon sits back and prepares to listen to his boy be smart. ]

[miseris_socios]

Yes. I mean in like movies and TV and stuff, but not real life. The Dark Hour is bad enough.

[ourtomorrow]

[ "The Dark Hour"....That sounds ominous. But, first things first. Ken needs to finish his explanation. ]

My world is closely connected to a digital one. Humans from my world and "Digimon" from Wormmon's work in partnerships to keep the powers of darkness from overwhelming all the worlds.

We work hard, don't we, Ken-chan?

We do.

[miseris_socios]

'Power of darkness'? Is that like Shadows? Stuff that's from and feeds off of the bad stuff in the minds of people?

please pardon all his antihero ellipses

[ourtomorrow]

[ Ken gasps. ]

Did your "Dark Hour" contain it too?

[ Not that everything they faced fell into that category, but....or wait, does he even really know that? Where do evil Digimon come from?

Either way, does that mean that the reason he's here, as well, is......?! ]

[miseris_socios]

Um. No digital world... just monsters that roam around and try to eat parts of people or their minds until they just... give up.

[ourtomorrow]

The concept is similar, though. Negative manifestations.

[ Ken ponders this. ]

If two worlds have that system, then, this one.....

[ He can't shake the thought. Is he here to stop darkness from making even more people suffer? ]

Ken-chan, have you figured something out?

It's just a guess.

[miseris_socios]

I'm pretty sure the Shadows in my world are the Kirijo Group's fault. Please tell me they don't exist where you're from, too...

[ourtomorrow]

They don't.

[ He's making the other boy worry. That's no good; he's trying to be helpful! ]

But there are worlds that bring dark thoughts to life, like Shadows. So I was wondering whether many worlds might have that system, and if having that in common is why we're here.

Ken-chan puts a lot of thought into things!

[ This is not an explanation. This is not an excuse.

This is BRAGGING.

Wormmon loves a boy. ]

[miseris_socios]

Oh. I don't know, there's a lot of people here who seemed surprised or horrified at the thought of it. So either it doesn't happen where they're from or they don't know it does.

[ourtomorrow]

So there's not much proof. [ Noted. And hypothesis tabled due to lack of evidence.

But on that subject... ] What sorts of things does the train ask us to do?

[miseris_socios]

It has us go on missions... I don't know though, I haven't been on one yet.

[ourtomorrow]

Got it. [ Sometimes missions. But plenty of time just on the train. That would explain why so many people are here so long.

....Ken isn't trying to be a lousy conversationalist, but he has to do some thinking now. Wormmon looks up to watch in as supportive fashion as possible. It's okay, Ken-chan. If they have lots of time, that means there's no rush! ]

[miseris_socios]

[It's fine, Ken's also not used to talking to people outside of Strega, not really. The past few weeks have helped, but it's still a little weird.]

... How old are you?

[ourtomorrow]

---Twelve.

[ A rather tall twelve, but twelve nonetheless. ]

Elementary school sixth-year.

[miseris_socios]

Oh... I guess you're my senpai. I'm eleven. I... would be fifth year, but I've missed two years of school...

[ourtomorrow]

That's like you, Ken-chan. And last summer.

...Right...

[ Wormmon, why?

Wormmon, meanwhile, is just happy that someone else will understand how tough it was for Ken-chan to go back to school after time away. Friends are great. ]

[miseris_socios]

Last summer? Why, did you miss a bunch of school, too?