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

[nutkrusher]

"Oh," Cassie says. "Well, I doubt I'll mind it, then. You might have to ask the others, though."

Even before she'd ever shown up here, the werewolf thing wouldn't have phased her. Weird shit's kinda her job.

[helborn]

"Okay, I'll ask. First time in a long time I've been on my own - well, Q'uila's here, but we can't communicate psychically here, which is bullshit." He'd never known how much he liked the fact that he could communicate on a moment's notice with other people until he couldn't.

[nutkrusher]

"That...sounds annoying," Cassie says.

[helborn]

"It is. I mean it's not like I don't know how to talk, it's just real handy on missions."

[nutkrusher]

"I...kinda figured, given what we're doing right now," Cassie says. "Still, it sucks having things taken away from you even if other people don't have them."

[helborn]

He chuckles. "Yeah, it does." He glances down at the purple hoodie and - oh, yeah. "Q'uila's got cat ears and a tail and purple hair. We were in the same place... not the same homeworld, but we're friends. She's really strong and very reliable, so if you need help you can count on her, too. ... Not to like, volunteer other people for stuff, but just kind of... vouching for her."

[nutkrusher]

Cassie nods. "Good to know.

"If nothing else, the train's at least picked good people to abduct."

Well, good people and Handsome Jack.

[helborn]

"Well, it did need 'heroes', apparently. So it's got to find some people at least willing to do something..."

[nutkrusher]

"And people who kick ass," Cassie says. "Can't forget that. 'S'definitely why I'm here."

[helborn]

"Kicking ass is doing something." He grins and leans against the bed. "So uh. I saw there was a training gym. Any idea how much abuse it can take?"

[nutkrusher]

"I don't think any of the cars on this train can be destroyed," Cassie says. "I've seen them take some shit."

[helborn]

"Oh, good. None of my shit explodes or something, but I can train pretty rough."

[nutkrusher]

"Yeah, I'm not sure what the fuck they made this train out of, but it seems pretty much indestructible."

[helborn]

"That's good. The space between worlds is a real bad place to get lost. Even if this doesn't act like what I'm familiar with, it's... probably hard to get something back if it goes ou of a hole in the side."

... He should stop thinking about this, it's making him nervous.

[nutkrusher]

"Yeah, no," Cassie says. "I'm gonna go ahead and keep on assuming I don't have to worry about that. On the grounds that the alternative is, y'know...worrying about that."

[helborn]

"That's fair. I also would like to not worry about that and I can understand wanting to add more anxiety in general." He has enough of that already, he just hides it well.

[nutkrusher]

"Fear I can handle," Cassie says. "Fear of something you can't do shit about just isn't useful. You gotta bury that."

[helborn]

"Yeah I had about three years of friends helping me get over that in various ways. It's still a problem, but not paralyzing like it used to be." Progress!

[nutkrusher]

"I've...been through some shit myself," Cassie says. "Helps to talk about it. But it also helps to keep moving. There's a balance, I think. Different for everyone. For me it's about holding strong to the part of me deep inside that nobody can touch."

It took her a while to find it after the Reiko thing. But she bounced back, better than most would have. She recognizes how lucky she is in that regard.

[helborn]

He goes quiet for a few moments before speaking again. His voice is a little less light, a little more serious. "I realize we don't really know each other that well and I don't have like... an official license or anything. But I've got basically twelve years of hands-on grief therapy experience, if you ever feel like you do want to talk. I can just listen, if that's what you need."

[nutkrusher]

"I appreciate that," Cassie says. "I've got a handle on it, though. I came back from it, got stronger. Stayed badass."

The expression on her face shows that she's not lying to herself - she truly means it. Because she knows that if she can come out the other side of being possessed by blood magik, there's no one, anywhere, that can truly touch her.

"I have looked seriously into setting up more serious therapy stuff on the train, though. Mostly for my mother, who's had to survive everything I've had to and then some."

[helborn]

"Got it." He has no intention of pushing, just offering. "... Is she on the train?" He's not sure if it'd be better or worse to have parent-child teams on the train. Wash and Rose had been fine, if weird, but...

[nutkrusher]

"Yeah," Cassie says. "Sonya Blade. She spent the first couple months recovering after coming on here...injured. But she's better now."

[helborn]

"... I'll keep an eye out for her. No pushing, I promise." He's made enough people uncomfortable to want to try to not... do that. "... Oh. Um. Speaking of injured." If she's in the leadership of his team...

He pulls up one of his pant legs, revealing a hint of ivory-colored metal before dropping the fabric. "If you walk in on me cleaning my leg just... don't mention it? It's kind of embarrassing for me to have to do and I just... kind of don't want to talk about it while I'm doing it."

[nutkrusher]

"No problem," Cassie says. "My uncle's got two metal arms, so...I know how it is."