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

[securityconsultant]

It's something, at least. And it's still tense and trying to reach out, and finally, finally it hits something, grabbing hold-

-then abruptly halts, eyes wide.

Oh, shit. It's just discovered who 'she' is - and she makes it, for a split second, dearly miss ART. And wonder if she'd likes Worldhoppers as well, fuck, this thing-

It takes two full seconds for it to recover, and go back over what it missed. Others. A whole fleet? Help others? Clearly, she doesn't know Murderbot's history- there's other SecUnits- why does she want it, it's frantically dislodging itself even as it knows she could probably get in its own systems with less than a thought-

Don't mind it rushing to catch up, Soldat - not that there's a lot of space between them. Or the way it's hunching its shoulders even further, something clearly having spooked it all over again.

[worthallthis]

They paused while Murderbot froze, though only for a breath, because two seconds really isn't that long even to a cyborg. "Yeah," they say, sympathetic though they don't know the exact thing that spooks it, and keep talking. Soothing, moving back, opening the door between cars to lead Murderbot finally into the quiet car. "It's pretty weird. Maybe even weirder being on a sentient train. I try to be polite, but I don't know if she even notices, or cares. Apparently she's not very good at communicating with us. She keeps us safe and provided for between missions, though. So even if she can't explain. I don't think she means harm."

They don't know that Murderbot's scare came from accessing the train herself, but they do know the scare came right after hearing the details, so all they can do is provide more intel.

[securityconsultant]

"Then- what does she want?"

It certainly seems related to what spooked it, if nothing else; there's a tension in Murderbot's words, almost a hiss.

"Can't she do this herself?" Whatever 'this' is - and even as Murderbot realizes that some things are, well, too big to take care of the details. Shit, that makes too much sense.

[worthallthis]

"She doesn't have hands, and can't talk to people or go out and fix problems the way we can," Soldat explains gently, half-turning to open a door to one of the quiet rooms in the quiet car. Then they step well back and motion for Murderbot to go on through. "We're her crew. As far as I can tell. That's all she wants. For us to help the people she finds."

[securityconsultant]

Oh, wonderful.

They've been press-ganged.

Murderbot only hesitates a moment before stepping inside - the human seems to think it's safe, at least and as it examines the compartment, it...has to admit, it does seem quieter. Secure. But one thing still lingers-

"-she couldn't have asked?"

[worthallthis]

"She has trouble communicating," Soldat shrugs, staying outside so as not to crowd them. "And apparently she's on the run from some kind of world eater, anyway, so normal channels for volunteering don't work for her. If you really don't like it, she might let you go at the next station. People are coming and going all the time."