voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post March]

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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

Oh, that's a neat plant. He's not sure what it is or where it's from, but he's also not sure where she's from. Clearly a culture that doesn't use clothes, which takes him a second to adjust, but it's fine.

He gives his raven a little boost, raising his hand as Bob's wings open and he starts to flutter around the area. Once that's done he approaches Merwen.

"Not in dirt? Do you use hydroponics for it?"

"I don't know what 'hydroponics' means," Merwen admits. Her eyes are on Bob, her expression equal parts delighted and apprehensive. She's never seen a raven. "They take root on the branches of the raft trees. All our plants do. See these long roots? They hold on tight that way."

She pauses, then with a shy smile, asks, "What is this creature of yours? Is it tame?"

“Oh. Hydroponics has to go with growing plants without need for soil, in the water. I... just kind of know the term, not how it works.”

Rafts, huh... “Mostly an aquatic world, I’m guessing? Between the rafts and the webbing.” It reminds him of merpeople, which he doesn’t want to think about, but she looks different enough that it’s fine for now.

Creature - oh. Right, obviously. Not the same world, no reason to know the same bird species. “This is Bob. His species is called a raven, often mistaken for a slightly smaller species called a crow. They share a lot of traits, like high intelligence and the ability to make and use simple tools. I raised Bob from when he was a chick - just after he hatched from his egg. He’s been with me ever since... he’s unusually long-lived and intelligent even by raven standards. Neither of us know for sure but we think my mother and Fate brought him to me. My mother’s a goddess... I didn’t know that until five years ago, though.”

"Tools?"

Merwen's eyes go wide, astonished but also delighted. The detail of 'goddess,' well, this isn't the first time an actual deity has come up, and she still doesn't know what she thinks about that. Honestly, a tool-making-and-using animal is far more interesting to her. There are some clever animals on Shora, but nothing quite like a raven. "Then Bob is a sister? A human soul of another species?"

She clasps her hands together and addresses the raven directly, then. "I am very glad to share meeting with you, Bob. The only sisters I have ever met have been my own species or ones descended from the same ancestors, cousins to my own race. A sister who shares in being human while being so different is something we had only ever imagined."

"Uh. He's not a human. Most ravens are smart, but on the same level of a human child. He's smarter than average, though. He's... I mean, it's not like we ever did any sort of tests. I don't really know... but he's smart."

Bob hops down and flutters in front of her. He squawks a little bit and Casper chuckles. "He says that 'finally, someone recognizes it'." Bob flutters onto Casper's arm that he holds out for the bird so he can be closer to eye level with Merwen. "He's a good guy, even if he's a bit of a smartass sometimes."

She laughs, delighted. "Human, not in species, but human in that he looks into a reflection and sees himself in relation to the world. There are intelligent animals on Shora, but nothing that we could approach as an equal. So, I'm glad to share meeting with you, Bob."

What a beautiful creature. Merwen is completely delighted, momentarily having forgotten entirely about her silkplant, even if she involuntarily flinches back from the unexpected flutter through the air. "The creatures that fly on Shora are insects or fish, nothing with plumage like yours. Someone said the word "hair," but maybe that only means the plumage so many here have on their heads? That is different from yours. Would you be willing to open your wings so I may see?"

"Oh, I see." Bob spreads his wings so she can see. Casper uses his other hand to point as he talks.

"They're called 'feathers'. You can see how he has his shoulder right here... and this part would be the same as our elbow. The wrist joint is here, and this would be the equivalent of our hand. These long feathers are called 'primaries' - they're the ones that create the most forward motion when he's in the air. The 'secondaries' here help make the proper shape for the wing to provide lift. His tail feathers here help him to steer like a rudder on a raft or boat."

Merwen holds up her arm, mimicking the wing shape with her own anatomy. "How fascinating. 'Feathers.' Thank you, Bob. You are a beautiful creature."

She steps back, still smiling about this. "My name is Merwen the Impatient One. I'm afraid I shared rudeness in my excitement."

He blinks in surprise and then laughs. "I didn't even tell you my own name, it's fine. I'm Casper. Do you prefer that I use your full title, or is just 'Merwen' preferable?"

"'Merwen' is fine," she says, easily. "It would be excessive to call me by my full name always. But I'm glad to share acquaintance with you too, Casper."

"I just wanted to make sure. I don't want to be impolite." Not if he doesn't have reason to be, at least. "Have you been in this place long? I just got here today."

"Not long at all. I arrived a few weeks ago, the last time this 'Train' stopped at a 'platform.'" Foreign words. She learns quickly, but they're still foreign. "I'm still adjusting. This place is... very different from my home."

"I can imagine. If your plants were on rafts... I mean, I'm new here but a lot of the technology is familiar enough to me, and I've had places during my travels where there have been some... very difficult adjustments. So if there's any way that I can help, please let me know."

His hand twitches as he tries to pull liminal material... nothing. His own adjustment is going to take some time. "I don't mind explaining things, if it's something I know enough to explain. And if not, I like learning."

"Our plants are on rafts, we are on rafts." Merwen shakes her head. "You asked if I'm from an aquatic world, and I am. The raft trees are vast plants that grow floating on the sea's surface, big enough for many types of life to share an existence in their branches. Silkplants, legfish, us Sharers. I know that these plants from worlds of stone grow their roots into stone and dirt, but... not our plants."

"Oh... wow. Okay, i wasn't sure if you were more used to living under the water... I've been to a world where there are people who are like that. Are Sharers the name of your people? I'm sorry if I'm asking too many or too invasive questions."

"I don't mind learnsharing," Merwen assures him. "I've had more than my own share of questions for people here. Yes, Sharers are what we call ourselves. We are nearly as comfortable in the water as out of it, and I can probably dive longer and faster than you can, but I still need to breathe air."

She considers, then asks, "If you've met people who live entirely under the water, what are they like?"

"Probably, though I can hold my breath for quite a long time." Maybe not as much as her, he's not sure. "Ah... the merfolk... from the waist down they have the bodies of various ocean life. Fish, shrimp, whales... that sort of thing. They're a tribal society that has magic that's based in Song. They're also struggling with the last remnants of a disease that makes them turn cannibalistic and eat... whatever living flesh they can get their teeth into."

That had been an extremely unfun Jaunt when he got back to himself.

She makes a bit of a face, horrified and sympathetic. She touches a hand to the base of her throat. "Those poor souls. What a terrible thing to have to face. Their lifeshapers have found no cure for it?"

It's especially horrifying when you're vegetarian mainly because you're afraid you might accidentally eat something a little too person-adjacent.

"There was a cure that was found the... last time people had been at that world? Maybe the time before. I wasn't around for those missions. But the few that had the disease still were hiding it because they were ashamed. One of them was the leader of the local pod, so he was... not eager to let that be known."

"If they share shame at the infection, and hide it, doesn't that share danger with their sisters?" Merwen asks, seriously. "If they share untruth, that puts everyone at risk. That's the act of a child. If they would presume to share their wisdom to the group, then such selfish behaviour will share much harm."

He takes a minute to translate that. "It does, but he was the leader of the group. He was tasked with dealing with a difficult situation. He did have good plans, but the infection was throwing those into danger. He was racing to complete his mission before he could hurt anyone. He did hurt someone who deserved it, as well as someone who did not."

Casper tensed up for a moment and continued. "... On our missions some of us were essentially put to sleep and put inside minds of people native to the world we were going to. We had the ability to wake up others so we could have allies that knew what was going on. I was only woken up once, which I requested because the one time I was it was very distressing. ... Unfortunately I was the one inside that pod leader, and a friend was inside one of the people he hurt. Neither of us knew at the time. The other person he hurt was a friend who was himself. ... We had some conversations about that once the mission was over."

Merwen listens, then lays a webbed hand on his arm, consoling. "I'm sorry," she says. "It was not my intent to share hurt with you. It sounds as though while you were in this person's mind, you were subject to his illness, as well."

That's a strange story, but everything here is super weird, so she can't really pick apart what does and does not sound likely anymore. "Was it like waking from a bad dream?"

He shakes his head and puts a hand on hers, smiling. "It's all right. I know you didn't mean to. It was kind of like that, yeah. I've had some good experiences with that though, too. At one point I got to be a kid... he was well-cared for and well-loved in the dream world he was in while his body was asleep on a spacecraft. I brought some of his power back with me."

As he pats her hand there's a brief flash of light - not enough to be painful, but enough to be there. Any small bruises or cuts she has get a dose of healing energy, warm but not hot, as if she were outside on a pleasant spring day.

Merwen draws in her breath, startled, though that quickly turns to fascinated interest. "What was that?" she asks, eagerly. "That... warmth. What was it that you shared?"

Magic is one of those fascinating things she's discovered here, on the train, because she sure as heck doesn't have it back home.

"It was a small healing spell. It's not enough to do a lot of healing, but enough to close up small things as needed. I... don't really need it much myself, these days. My body heals really quickly on its own. But it's good to have around for other people."

He hopes he doesn't have to use it, but he knows he will.

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

Greenhouse

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