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

[fennu]

Jiang Cheng tries, at least, to be less volatile around children - at least until they're old enough to be responsible for himself. It means that when he's approached he calms down, or at least tries to appear that way, and manages some level of politeness.

Someone would be proud of him.

"... No. I've never seen one before."

It's clear from the way that he looks at it that he doesn't trust it even a little.

[knifewithnoname]

"Well you do be being lucky." She told him, her sweet smile still in place. "I did be being here for a long time and I do be knowing a lot about trains."

She gestured at it. "So I can be showing you around. If you do be wanting."

[fennu]

Jiang Cheng doesn't feel lucky and it shows on his face, something making him feel on edge and sharp. His jaw is tight and his eyes are flicking, here and there, before he manages to nod his head. She's a child. She's just as Jin Ling was when he was a child.

"... Please. I would appreciate it."

[knifewithnoname]

She tenses. She's never been on the wrong end of someone angry at being on this train before. But that's because she's careful, she's being careful here to, ready to run if the situation turns unsafe.

"Be following then." She nods at him. "You should be having a ticket, that do be saying what room you do be staying in."

[fennu]

Not particularly very good at noticing when people are on edge around him, far too focussed on his own feelings at the moment. All he can do is listen to the small child and nod his head.

"Very well." He nods, taking stock of himself and drawing out the ticket. "Sleeper Four, Cabin A."

[knifewithnoname]

"We will be going there first." She explained, "You can be leaving your bag in there. You will be having roommates."

Wait wasn't that... "My friend Soldat do be being in that room, you will be liking them."

[fennu]

"Roommates." Jiang Cheng nods. He's not necessarily comfortable with it, not when he's been accustomed to the rooms of a Sect Leader, but he can manage it. He's had roommates before.

Still, he takes in the name.

"Soldat? What... Is he like?"

[knifewithnoname]

She had to think a moment, for a good way to describe them. "Strong, brave, a fighter." That as probably the most noticeable thing about them.

"But they do always be explaining things and helping others. They do be being very cool."

[fennu]

A strong fighter. Jiang Cheng thinks he can get along with that, at least. It's familiar enough to home.

Very cool, though?

"What do you mean by cool?"

[knifewithnoname]

"Oh." She grinned, it is pretty rare that she gets to teach new words to people, usually it's the other way around.

It makes her feel smart. "It do be meaning good, someone you do be liking to be being around. It can also be being used for things or activities too. So if I do be saying... 'Fighting that monster did be being really cool' it do be meaning I did be enjoying it."

Was that a good explanation?

[fennu]

It's not insulting for Jiang Cheng to be educated by a child, at least, and he lets himself nod along. It's a strange term, at least to him, but that's fine. He can learn.

"I understand. Thank you." So it doesn't just mean temperature... And technology isn't the only thing he has to adjust to.

[knifewithnoname]

"You do be being welcome."

She grinned at him. "People do be using lots of weird words here, so if you do be needing any more explanations you can just be asking me."

She was basically an expert on weird words, being friends with Peter had its perks.

[fennu]

"That's kind of you. Thank you."

Jiang Cheng offers a nod - but he's still not really sure how to handle himself, especially around children he's not related to nor teaching.

"Have you been here a long time?"

[knifewithnoname]

"Yes. This do be being the tenth month."

A very long time to be far from home and stuck on a train. But at least it meant she had wisdom to pass on.

[fennu]

"Ten? That long?!"

That sounds ridiculous, and his eyes flicker for a moment before he breathes out sharply.

"That's longer than I expected."

[knifewithnoname]

"It do be being long." She nodded with a nose wrinkle. "It did be being empty when we did be arriving. The train I do be meaning."

[fennu]

"So you've been here longer than most." He understands. Nodding his head, he breathes out and looks around the train quietly. "There's so many now."

[knifewithnoname]

"There do be being so many."

More and more each time the train stopped at a platform, though people left as well. It was strange. "The train do be growing as well. It did no be having all these carriages back then."