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

[sciencegirl]

"I know, he could practically be building anything and need help! He's really good at optimizing resources so I bet he would be able to head up some really frugal but effective projects!"

She doesn't even catch the sarcasm. She's genuinely happy about it.

"If you like science, he'd probably like to meet you, too."

[sirentologist]

"I don't simply 'like' science. Although it is good to hear that the ineffable quest for knowledge continues." Perhaps this place isn't such a backwater after all, even if the facilities she requires don't exist. Yet, perhaps. If she can find the space for it somewhere. Or build it hanging off the side of the train. That might be fun.

[sciencegirl]

"Of course it does! There's Siebren, who's extremely patient and equipped with incredible abilities he can use casually. And Kaiba who I've seen do some great statistical and architectural design. We had some great discussions about the train's artificial intelligence. Oh! And you have to meet Devero. He's a cyberneticist, very talented."

She's just happy to know other scientists.

"Hey! Do you want to come look at these hard light hologram components with me! I'm going to do it in the quiet car where I can spread things out!"

She says like she's inviting someone to come play with her.

[sirentologist]

That is not an offer she was expecting to receive and she blinks in surprise for a moment before she figures out what she wants to say. It sounds utterly fascinating and as long as she'd been given then option anyway, might as well take the opportunity.

"Yes. I do. The technology involved is bound to be fascinating!"

[sciencegirl]

"Great! I'm headed this way."

She picks up her box again and continues the way she was heading.

"There's a ton of great applications they could be used for. Since we have access to some VR helmets, I'm thinking we could generate artificial versions of ourselves to work in originally inaccessible or hostile areas. That's particularly exciting. Or target practice for the gymnasium. Stationary dummies are doing our combatants no favors."

[sirentologist]

Tannis' mind is already going through dozens of potential uses, throwing out the stupid ones, and holding on to the ones that might actually be useful. Portable containment for various experiments, holding cells for...well, for at least one person she can think of, all those exciting little things that a place needs. It's almost starting to feel like home.

"Perhaps. There are a number of things I could think of as well. Weapons would be the most interesting."

[sciencegirl]

"We have enough parts for basic energy weapons but I definitely think some good shielding items would be useful too."

She's super excited for all the applications. When she gets to the quiet car, how she dumps the tech there is anything but quiet. But you know what? THINGS! And stuff! It's exciting and she gestures at it.

"Let's take some stuff apart!"

[sirentologist]

Tannis is at least equally excited, if a little less boisterous about it. A fellow crazy person to do science with! It is a far better day than she'd anticipated since she'd found herself on a train platform. Albeit with several hiccups.

"Let's, indeed." The excitement! The mystery! The chance for explosions!

[sciencegirl]

She starts laying out little bits of Helpmates across the floor of the largest room, the one a previous occupant had split open.

"One of the previous missions used Hard Light to generate their service droids, called 'Helpmates'. So many were broken that I collected the scrap for later use. So far there's been plenty to do any number of experiments."

She 'hands' Tannis one of the generator remains with two locks of her hair, reaching over to her to do so.

[sirentologist]

Damn if she's still not interested in that hair and what made it do that. She might just have to hold onto that for now, though. There are things to be dismantled! And really, that hair is not even the strangest thing she's seen even just being here for a few hours, so she takes the offered generator, turns it over in her hands a couple of times before she starts fiddling with it. Interesting...

"And here I am late as usual." Ah well, at least she gets to play with the pieces now.

[sciencegirl]

"Well the great thing is that the scientists who have been here collect data. While investigatory resources have been lacking, the people available have been doing their best to keep track.

"You would have loved the Helpmates by the way, they were super cute. I'm glad we helped them."

[sirentologist]

Duly noted, she'll have to poke around and see whose data she can get hold of. Especially the parts they don't want others to find out. What intrigue!

"Cute? How would something like that be cute?"

[sciencegirl]

"How wouldn't they be cute? Well, they're less so now because you're only seeing the parts. But they were very busy and focused when they were whole and functioning."

Which to her? Was adorable. Her ability to see the joy in the inhuman and traditionally unrelatable just too strong.

[sirentologist]

Tannis has now completely dismantled the piece she was given with barely a glance, although she takes the opportunity now that it's in parts to study it more closely. It's far more complicated than she had thought it would be, but that's to be expected.

"So is every other construct. Most other constructs." Not claptrap.

[sciencegirl]

"Yeah! And I think most of them are cute. All their little errors and efficiencies make the most adorable little personalities! No two are alike, even if they're meant to be, as soon as they start accumulating use and data."

It's darling in her eyes.

[sirentologist]

"Clearly, you have never met a claptrap." Annoying is a kind thing to call them. Him. It. The one good thing Jack did was eliminate the line of them.

After another glance, she holds up a random bit of the little robot and stares at it.

"What do you make of this?"

[sciencegirl]

"What's a claptrap?"

She would, sadly, probably think one was cute. At least in small doses.

"Oh! So after testing, I think it's some sort of field generator? But it's not like the ones I'm familiar with. I'm trying to figure out how it works still. That's what creates the 'solid' feeling in the hologram."

[sirentologist]

"Annoying." It answers the question of "what is a claptrap" rather neatly, as far as she's concerned.

The explanation does make sense and she stares at it for a moment and then it whirrs to life in her hand and she pokes at the field with a finger on her free hand.

"Fascinating. I can already think of several uses for technology like this."

[sciencegirl]

"I know! It was so good that I couldn't let it go to waste. The current application I'm consulting with Devero on is the drone system. We have VR helmets so if we could apply this to drones, there's the possibility we could even build drones that would let us feel! Which would be intensely useful in situations that require precision."

She works pretty well by sight; her hair can't feel. But she knows what fine work she does with her hands, that others do with their hands, can be absolutely crucial.

[sirentologist]

What an absolutely benign way of using them, but then not everyone comes from the same sort of place that she does. Apparently. When last she'd looked, literally everyone in the galaxy had needed to be prepared, at least, for a fight if they wanted to gain anything. The little machine in her hand slows, and then turns itself off, and she sets it back down, thoughtful. Perhaps a barrier...could that keep people out? What would the stopping power of these projections be?

"Yes, I suppose that could prove quite useful. Could they be sent beyond the walls of the train, perhaps? What power sources will it operate with?" Herself, obviously, but she can't exactly follow behind all of them whenever they're needed.

[sciencegirl]

"I wish! We can't get any access to the outside of the train while it's in operation. I suppose we could put something on the side whenever it takes off from platform, but I'm pretty sure we'd only observe void motion. Still, it could be an interesting experiment."

Then she finally considers-

"I was thinking some sort of rechargeable power source. How did you get it to start its motor without using the manual trigger?"

[sirentologist]

Oh. Oh, dammit, she'd gotten too excited and hadn't even considered that she should...probably have not been so blasé about her particular abilities. Sure, it had been mostly fine when she'd been exposed on Pandora, but here, she can't even begin to imagine what sorts of people would take advantage of her. Or try to kill her.

"Oh, well, I just asked it very politely and it was more than happy to start right up." Sure. That's close enough.

[sciencegirl]

"Oh, neat! Is it some sort of technokinesis or technosymbiosis?" Luckily it doesn't sound like she wants to take advantage of it. In any sort of traditional way, anyway. There's just that raw interest that comes with someone introduced to something new and fascinating.

As she's saying it, she's taking an emitter out of its protective casing with her hair instead of her hands.

[sirentologist]

Alright, the woman is clearly far too naive--or distracted--to be at all fazed by anything slightly strange. And seriously, that hair. So after a brief pause, Tannis pulls up the left sleeve of her ridiculous orange sweatshirt to show her faintly glowing blue tattoos.

"More like technokinesis. I am able to manipulate machines and anything else with an electrical current. The ability is known as 'phaseshifting.'"

[sciencegirl]

"Oh! Hey, that would be useful."

The glowing is interesting. It makes her think a little of volatile and active Etherian magic when it's being directly channeled.

"Like what else with a current?"