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

[10billionpercent]

Senku chuckled. "Shame you don't know how, it'd be fascinating to learn."

He couldn't possibly know everything in every world, that would be impossible. He couldn't even say he knew everything in his world.

[consider8]

"Well, I could probably order one...? I made a few purchased and they are practically identical to the ones in my world." She wasn't able to notice a difference in her ink tank and weapon, at least.

[10billionpercent]

"Hmmmm." Senku mused thoughtfully. "If it's unique to your world, there's a good chance I can't order it myself." No doubt there'd be a learning curve, but he was stubborn.

"But I can order you something. What would you like in exchange?"

[consider8]

Unfortunately she made a recent purchase, so that may be a while out, but she can make a mental note of it. As for the exchange...

...

A wry smile comes to her face. "Music. From your world."

[10billionpercent]

"Music..." He stared at her a little blankly. "Um."

He had to think. "Apart from Lillian, can't think of anything. I wasn't much of a music guy, but I can ask the Mentalist. I know we can order things from the past, so I can do that. The only music we have in the present is a glass record my old man made with Lillian singing one of her songs."

[consider8]

"Glass record?" That was new... and seemed quite delicate.

[10billionpercent]

"They used, probably a diamond, to leave behind a record in the base of an old glass bottle, wrapped it in foil and encased it in concrete." Senku explained.

"Then I built a record player to play it."

[consider8]

"Clever." But that does prompt an important point. "Then provide some of that, as well as an instrument that can play it."

[10billionpercent]

"Well I know for a fact due to what I've ordered, we can get things from our past, so I should be able to get you a lot of music. Gen will have suggestions. I'll point out the song that we have in the stone world too." Senku commented.

"Lillian was quite something, I can admit that. I didn't really know much about her, but my dad eventually married her and had kids with her and all that. It's fine, I could tell he liked her even before all of that." He rolled his eyes. "He sent the most annoying texts."

[consider8]

Eight frowned.

"You shouldn't..." No, she held it to herself. Then rethought that decision, because if it was never said than Senku may never bring it up again. "...you shouldn't dismiss things like that so casually."

She shook her head. "These things: writing music, making notes, drawing art, making... memories. They are a part of life. Of living. If science is the way we understand the world, then art is how we show we lived it. And like science, it builds from what was made before. There may come a time when that is all we have. Is... all we leave behind."

[10billionpercent]

Senku glanced at her when she spoke up and considered her words for a moment.

"I'm not very sentimental." He murmured. "But this one recording, which is the only thing we have like it, is something I've promised to protect with my life."

He exhaled. "I know they are. They're something I've promised to bring back to the world. I don't take that lightly. But those things weren't even left behind. All we have is the record. One of the last gifts my dad left for me."

[consider8]

Eight is quiet for a while again, looking squarely in Senku's eyes. Her head lowers, obscuring her eyes with her hair tentacles. "You should... say what you feel, sometimes. It's okay to be happy."

She reaches into her rucksack and pulls out her phone. She inches her way to Senku so that he could see. She flips it to her gallery. There are pictures of her time in Inkopolis: trying ice cream for the first time, taking a bedroom with a sole futon, a picture of her in the mirror wearing what appears to be a work uniform. A photo of other tentacle-like people sitting in a circle. She smiles beneath her hair. With a flick of the thumb, the pictures shift and there is a platform with confused looking people. The next is an interior of the train, followed by one of the stone garden car, music car, what appears to be her cabin... then people. Senku and Gen talking to each other privately at the dance. People dressed up in Halloween costumes. S'reee floating in the sea holograms. Devero and Eight smiling with a finished Della leg. The injured set upon stretchers on world #6416. The procession of people as the leadership changed. Rich performing a song in the theater hall. Memories. An entire three month span of Eight's memories for Senku to see.

Even if the message was lost in translation, her actions meant to convey. 'This is mine. This is what I choose to protect with my life.'

[10billionpercent]

"I don't really know if that's accurate." He admitted, he couldn't say it made him feel happy to have the record. It made him...well for him it hurt.

It was lucky she'd gotten her picture of him covertly, he definitely wasn't one for posing for them.

"That's good, that you have something to hold onto, I think. I made a promise...that's why for me I do it." He exhales.

"Fortunately people only want to hear the song...not the message that came with it." He smiled slightly. "I think mostly the message just makes me feel..." He considered it. "Sad."

[consider8]

She nodded softly as she leaned into him, completely okay with him being pushed away if he so choose.

"I'm sad too." She reciprocate, not needing to go into details. "I want to go home." She repeated from her conversation the night before. Only this time the meaning was more expressed. It wasn't just home that she wanted back: it was her dream. Her hope.

[10billionpercent]

He did stiffen slightly, betraying his sudden discomfort at being leaned against, but he didn't pull away or push her. He relaxed after a moment.

"I do want to go home...I do miss what I'm doing, but at the end of all of this my dad who was my family, isn't going to be there. He's already lived and died thousands of years ago, which means being upset about it is nonsensical."

[consider8]

For a moment Eight's eyes looked distant. "I defected. The place of my birth is no longer my home." She didn't raise an eyes to his. "But I made that choice."

"You didn't." And for that, she is so, so sorry.

[10billionpercent]

"My home is still my home, it just looks different. Although I did live in Tokyo. I've traveled about 80 kilometres to Hakone." Senku explained. "Or what used to be Hakone."

There were things he missed about the past, but he also missed his home in the future. "The village is situated there, which is why I never found it when I first woke up."

[consider8]

Well, that's nice at least. "I could never go back home." She paused. "I have a new home now." One she missed dearly.

[10billionpercent]

"Hm. Then that's just home isn't it?" He asked, maybe a bit kinder in tone than one might expect.

"Hopefully you'll get to go back soon. Unfortunately we haven't figured out how that works yet." He grumbled. "The train certainly doesn't want us to."

[consider8]

Despite herself, she looked on to Senku for reassurance.

"Do you think we even can? Do you really think that is possible?"

Three months so far. She was deep into doubt.

[10billionpercent]

"I think it's not only possible, we're going to make it possible." Senku said with a determined grin.

"There has to be answers, I want them, and once I have a clear understanding of how everything works, progress can take its first step."

[consider8]

Pragmatically, Eight knew better than to trust someone without a clear plan to achieve their goal. There was just so much nuance on the train that didn't make sense. Spiritually, though, seeing someone with such confidence was helpful.

"I'll do what I can, too." She just wished she knew where to start.

[10billionpercent]

"If we get to the point where there's less risky things to try, I'll let you know." For the time being he was taking calculated risks to try and understand things, but he really shouldn't ask other people more than he already has.

[consider8]

"You can let me know if there are risky things to try, too." Eight would not mind. "So long as I know what the risks are."

Through she liked and trusted Senku, that would not last long if he were to ever push his luck with that kind of open invitation.

[10billionpercent]

"I've been experimenting with the SCA, to see if we can figure out everything it can do, and if it's doing more than we think." He was pretty sure it was. "Outside of that, I also take a sample of almost every world we go to to look under microscope. No links so far. I'm also looking to look at everyone's blood to see if there's some kind of link between us and now for void residue."