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

[dragoonrouge]

"No weapons?!" Q'uila hisses and her fur fluffs up at the mere idea of not having her weapons or crystals, "By the Twelve that would have been vile, I do not think I have been parted from my Dragoon crystal and I would rather not find out."

Tidus' comment about fighting does get an amused snort out of her, "Aye, I suppose that would be a fair assessment. my party and I are all Adventurers by trade so we do a large number of odd jobs, though these days we are mostly called upon to combat Primals and the Garlean Empire."

[blitzcheer]

"Sounds like a tough job! Here, well -- the work we have to do mixes up, but most of the time there's some kind of fight. Protecting priests, protecting villagers... there was some garden work too," he says in a wry tone. "Buut, there were plenty of robots around that needed shutting off, too."

He waves a hand. "Next mission'll come up in a week. You'll have time to learn what they're like! We don't find out what the mission is 'til we're about to go," he adds, "but, you know. There's a kind of theme to the different teams."

[dragoonrouge]

"That sounds a lot like Adventurer work, 'tis a bit of a relief that the work is so similar." She starts to place the lance and the crystals back into her hammerspace, "I had noticed the odd colour scheme, what are those themes exactly?"

[blitzcheer]

"They're not that unique? But..." He drags out the word, bringing out a finger from a hand as he goes through each of the colours. "Blue's had a lot of protecting animal jobs lately, get them to safety, but protectin' people too. Orange has figure things out, repair thiiings, go and grab special flowers to help people out... and then Red's job is basically, go and some things, flat out, from what I know."

He stands there, the three fingers sticking out. Waving them a little as he goes on.

"Reds can get it tough sometime. They're usually the smallest team with Blue. But, they're the teams," he says finally, dropping his hand. "You get a task depending which team you go with."

Tidus makes a motion between them of their hoodies, though his is tied around his waist.

"We got picked for Purple 'cause that's what the train decided we were best at. But you can go with anyone."

[dragoonrouge]

"I see, 'tis an interesting way of sorting people I suppose. So what is it that Purple tends to do?"

[blitzcheer]

"Well... like I said, they're the 'protect people and places, do the gardening' crew. Last mission doesn't really count-" for reasons "-but everything before that one was... clear up buildings of weeds, fight off golems, and help out a city after an earthquake."

In which the Mun cannot bloody read

[dragoonrouge]

Her ear twitches. The last mission didn't count? Q'uila files that interesting titbit away for later.

"Sounds like Adventurer work! I shall be looking forward to the opportunity to knuckle-down and get to work, 'tis never good to sit idle after all. At the very least I know I shall be making good use of the training hall in the interim."

"Ah, yes," Q'uila pushes her glasses back up from where they had started to slide down her nose, "As someone who knows their way around here is there anything you suggest for keeping busy on this train?"

it's okay, no worries, it happens to all of us :)

[blitzcheer]

"Keeping buy, huh?" Oof, wasn't that a task. Tidus folds his arms, a quick glance to the bookcase in front of him before he goes, in a rather obvious direction, "Well, there's reading if you're into it. The games room - you saw that? There's different kinds of lessons too, for training and exercising. There's a list in the training gym." He nods his head in the appropriate direction.

"But there's another where people offer to teach you stuff. I think in the standard coach?"

He hasn't looked at it in a while himself. Or maybe he's mistaking it for Mami's bounty board...

"Best thing to do is get to know people," he suggests, and with a little more enthusiasm, smiling some with it. "That's what I think. You don't feel so bored or lonely when you've got other people to hang out with. And people are always using the train to chat with everyone!"

And wasn't that a handy way to get a chat in with someone new yourself?

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila nods along in interest with Tidus' suggestions before predictably brightening at the mention of the training gym. "'Tis good to here that there are others who might be willing to take me up on a friendly spar even if the train itself restricts my ability to properly practice my Jumps."

"I will certainly take advantage of that to get to know other,' tis always fascinating to here about homes and lives that are so different to what I know from home!"