voidtreckerexpress | 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

"Hey, hey, hey, don't do that."

Edge hurried over, almost ready to put himself between Lightning and the train. He understood the feeling, but she was gonna hurt herself for no good reason at all. Guess what argument she may not be avoiding after all!

"Why not," she snapped, fury still overriding sense even as her knuckles throbbed with four reasons why she shouldn't do that again. "All she wanted was to see her brother again, and she doesn't even get that? She's dead, Edge!"

"Because when you hurt yourself you're making everyone who cares about you unhappy," Edge said, meeting her eyes as he did, indeed, put himself between her and the train. "It didn't change anything, it didn't help anything, and you don't know what happens when people leave this train, so why assume the worst!"

It was something she'd told others over and over, but hearing it turned back on her made her teeth grind. But even then, she wasn't about to go through Edge; the impulse, flash-hot, was fading already as their eyes met.

She glared a moment longer, and then dropped her stance with a curse.

"You're right, and I know there's more to it, but..." It was just so hatefully unfair.

"I'm the first person who'll tell you rage is the right reaction here. Problem is, we have nowhere to turn it." The train didn't know and couldn't care, right? And even if it did, they couldn't hurt it.

"If we knew it was gonna end, if we had a..." The rest of her sentence left her mouth in a harsh exhale, but she finished it anyway. "If we had a focus, it'd be easier to take it. In the world of battle we at least had a target."

"We have one. The people we travel with, and the community we're forming." Edge threw an arm around Lightning, slapping her shoulder with his hand to add a little roughness to the comfort. He figured she'd like it better that way. "Take it from the King of Eblan. There's nothing better than not needing to fight, but that doesn't mean the duty's done. The king's duty is to the kingdom and its people, and building peace is more important than waging war. So we build happiness here as best we can."

"How, when every time, we lose... Ugh."

Building happiness. She almost looked, unconsciously, towards the fogged barriers, body half-turning-- stopped, by his arm around her. She almost recoiled, one hand lifting as though to push him away, but slumped, instead. Let herself be shaken. Took comfort in it, as much as she didn't want to be comforted.

If anyone knew about losing someone they'd formed something with, though, it would be him.

She'd just have to last long enough to see her come back. "Right. On this ride 'til the end."

"Yeah. Even back home, we could lose people we love, or say farewells for the last time. That doesn't make life any less worthwhile, here or there." Have a little squeeze, too, Lightning.

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

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