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

[famtastic]

"You might look good in an apron." She realizes faintly that she may come off as flirting. That is fine. Flirting helps distract from the truth of things and it's not really flirting. Is it? No. It's not. It's just teasing. That's it.

Obviously some of Jack rubbed off on her.

She listens and appreciates it. Even joins in on a little counter melody. Whistling was a skill that she never forgot--though at some times considered themself too posh to do, but you were never too posh for that.

When they're finished, she smiles.

"The Beatles. I saw them in concert once. It was a good time." And nothing terrible had happened aside from a slight Sontaran invasion but there was only one and he was lost and lactating so you had to take pity on the poor thing really.

[yondu]

"Well, you're not wrong. I am pretty in one."

Oh, Yondu is absolutely flirting. But Yondu is flirting with the very realistic assumption that a cute archivist-looking woman, apparent ex-con or not, isn't going to be into a scarred and grizzled old space captain. Hell, he's not even tried with anyone in earnest for a decade, the occasional line being dispensed but other than that doing the oh-so classy activity of hiring himself some company.

At least he's feeling playful enough to banter after a couple of weeks of his own more miserable personality facets shining through.

"Nice voice you got," he says of her whistling. 'Voice' he calls it, like he doesn't just consider it whistling. And that's not flirting, that's just facts.

"Alright, uh... Gym this way. Gardens and greenhouse, too. There's a pretty goddess here- I'm talkin' literal goddess. Not even like Celestials. Those apparently happen in some universes and this train grabs 'em somehow. But she been taken real good care of the plants there."

[famtastic]

Having been an scarred and grizzled old space sort of captain herself not too too long ago, he'd be surprised. She was tempted to comment on the apron comment but for once had the foresight to keep her foot well out of her mouth because she didn't want to step in what couldn't be easily stepped out of.

Not that she was completely uninterested.

But not a good thing for the first day -- besides which --

Other things that she doesn't want to think of.

"Thanks! You too. Great pitch." And she means it. "Oh... I'll have to go say hallo. I've met Satan before but not so much a goddess. At least not a real one." Perhaps real from a cultural perspective, but then again, what does she know?

"Not fond of the grabbing thing but...I assume she's gotten used to it."

[yondu]

Her crew was undoubtedly miles better than his. "I met another guy on here that met the devil." But that guy is actually a demon, and one who might end up with a face familiar to the Doctor since she's had one real similar.

"I ain't fond of them takin' people, either. I don't reckon anyone is, goddesses included, but it's the youngin's that chafes me. If I had the chance I'd try to at least get these littluns back to somewhere decent. Not a lot of 'em got places to go to, but they shouldn't be runnin' these missions."

He taught Peter to be a thief when he was a kid, but that was basic survival that he needed to have. How to fly, how to hide, how to lockpick, how to run. He'd teach any one of these kids the same, even wants to so that they make it out.

But they sure as shit shouldn't be on this train. "Mind me askin' what you are? I'm Centaurian."

[famtastic]

Her crew is the best, always the best, so hard to beat.

"Really? Huh. Suppose he gets around." Which isn't surprising considering. She frowns a bit.

"Yeah... that's... a little questionable. I can understand us-- and being generous it may not mean to scoop up kids but that doesn't excuse the fact that they're here."

As to what she is... that's always a question she's afraid to answer, especially after everything. Even after Gallifrey had returned, the wounds of the Time War lingered. And now... now it feels even worse. She wonders what new legends will be born that she'll feel ashamed of, that she'll feel responsible for.

Still--

"Time Lord." A tight smile and there's a sorry just behind it while at the same time wondering why she still has to be.

[yondu]

For now, all the name does is invoke a nod. 'Time Lord' is a strange kinda name for a species. "I'm gonna take the incredibly rough leap here and assume that doesn't mean y'all just make clocks."

Why does she look like he might hold it against her, though?

"I won't bug ya or nothin' about it, your business is yours... despite the fact you've been strange enough that I'd love to know what the hell you been gettin' into. It just makes it homier when you're used to different types and there's not been a whole lot." There are a few, but he's been used to being surrounded by variety.

"So how about this one. You got a name? Or should I just make one up for ya for plausible deniability?" She gets another wry grin for that as they enter the games car.

[famtastic]

"I don't really want to talk about it." Because there is too much and not enough and it's still a tender subject, a wound only just scabbed over except not so much anymore. "But I'm different, if it helps."

The last one again? Aside from the Master? Was she really? No, it wasn't the same. There had to be others out there. Refugees. Something. She is tired of seeing it. So damn tired.

That can be thought about later.

"The Doctor. That's what I go by. This looks like an interesting room." Said mostly just as filler. It was interesting but her thoughts are still a bit jumbled.

[yondu]

"I reckon. There are some card games I ain't all that familiar with. Video games. People like it." Filler conversation in the one car he doesn't do all that much in. But as he said, he doesn't pry.

He'd pointed out his name earlier, but still he says, "I'm Yondu." Then taps his chest twice with his right fist, gives her a slight bow in Ravager greeting, but those red eyes are a little concerned when he regards her.

"Since you're the Doctor and all that, next car might be up your alley. It's Medical. There's a pretty good mix of magic users an' regular folks doin' business in there. Since I had a rough time before I showed up, I came in to get my fin checked out. Had a decent expert to take a look."

[famtastic]

"Love me some video games." And there may be some things she can cannibalize for parts, but she'll think of that later.

"Yondu." She grins. "I like that. What's that you just did?"

She wrinkles her nose.

"Not that kind of Doctor. I know some basics but-- I'm useless in a crises." Or at least that kind of crises.

[yondu]

What kind of Doctor is she then? Well maybe it's just a name and- You know what? She's just strange. She's a weird Doctor. He'll live with it.

"It's a Ravager salute. How the fleet greeted and said good-bye, at least when you had one scrap of politeness in ya. There are a coupla big warrin' Empires back where I'm from. Went on for years and years. The best place for a capable person to be if they wanted out but still wanted to fight back? Was as a Ravager. So you got this good mix of good folks that just don't wanna answer to warlords an' the ones that are just complete idiots. I used to be a battle slave before I became one."

But even if he's 'retired' now, even if he was exiled, or no longer has a ship, because of the freedom it gave him he thinks of himself as a Ravager before he thinks of himself as a Centaurian.

[famtastic]

"That's rough, mate. Glad you got out of it." She pats his shoulderblade in a friendly yet masculine way, more like a light whap. "I like it. Renegade. Ravager. Me too. Well more one than the other. And less these days. But I used to be really wild. Now... I'm sort of... " she wrinkled her nose. "Responsible."

[yondu]

He doesn't really expect any kind of gentleness from people, and when it happens he usually has to go through some concern. "Had someone help me out of it. The head of the Ravagers." Being a battle slave? Not as big a deal to him as losing Stakar, though.

He passes through to the Standard coach.

"Who says I ain't responsible. You gotta be if you run a crew." Not always kind, but definitely responsible. "'Renegade', though. I like that one." Better than 'exile'.

[famtastic]

"Right? Well. I used to be-- it used to be-- I don't know, it used to not feel so much. Back when it was just fun, gallivanting around-- but then I don't know. Something changed." The Time War mostly-- but even before that.

"Pretty soon the weight of the universe really bears down on you and you get really tired of saving it every five seconds. But I've moved past that." More or less. Or at least she had a better handle on how to deal with that kind of depression.

"Live long enough and you'll learn it I suppose."

[yondu]

"I will guarantee you that the vast majority of the people on this train have learned nothin' of the like whether they are the age of gods or still pint-sized, so you might as well just get ready for that."

He's seen enough of these people as both children and adults now to be sure.

But then he just laughs. "But misery is pretty good company, am I right? Nothin' makes you feel like a sore thumb quite like standin' before a real privileged life."

[famtastic]

"Right." A smile. "Though I've had a privileged life, I can't deny that. I've been able to do what I want, go where I want-- make my own messes and get out of them again. That's why I feel I owe it to others to help where I can, but have a lot of fun along the way."

[yondu]

"Did you say you've been to prison? I mean, privileged people can go, sure. But usually they don't get that specific look that's all that distant when talkin', like sometimes the universe still gets heavy on 'em and they know all the bad feelin's in it."

And they're at the kitchens, finally, after a million miles of train.

"Stores are in there, let me find where they put the damn recipes." He turns on the ICP to find the right folder. Okay! Right there. He taps the screen.

"Alright, pick somethin' an' I'll go get the stuff for it. I know they do this ingredient by the month thing but they'll still have everythin' so don't worry about what's for when."

[famtastic]

"I'm not like other people. I'm not like anyone." It sounds like a display of arrogance and usually it is. But in this case it's truer now than it's ever been. She doesn't want to think about it and instead grins.

"Oh! Ratatouille! I loved that movie. Let's have that one. I'll help." Will she be any good at it? Probably not. But she needs to get her hands busy with something.