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

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Well, a few people have tried to 'lead' the rest of us, but it's never gotten anywhere. We can always keep an eye out for anyone dangerous attempting it, like you said."

And then, you know. Stop them.

One way or another.

He's not shocked at Yondu's story, either, "Small, hollow people are always beating down others to make themselves feel big and important."

Hasn't he said almost exactly that, word for word, about Valdana, from Devero's world? Back when the big man was still conditioned to defend her honor from anyone who had a bad thing to say about her behavior, too.

"I certainly saw it plenty of times on my world, as you can guess," having met Houmei, and all, although he's seen it even more since then, "and I've heard about such things from quite a few people here, too. It seems to be a multiversal truth. At least you avenged yourself and the others."

[yondu]

"Yeah, I remember. ...Yeah, uh... that reminds me. Don't mention why I picked out the tall fin. Like some of it people know easy. I told medical that I was meant to have a natural fin there but the personal part is nobody's business." Because now that he thinks about it, that's especially pathetic. "I need to start mindin' my mouth more."

But onto more important matters.

"What do you call yourself now? Houmei? Sanzo?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

"I don't talk about other people's business," Koumyou tells him simply. And it's true, even when it would be a lot easier on him if he did, for any reason... he's just not the type.

"I haven't been Houmei in twenty three years. I'm Koumyou Sanzo, or Sanzo for short."

Saying it that way has led to a lot less people trying to use his holy name by itself. He can count the number of people allowed to do that on one hand, with fingers to spare, and only one of them is on this train.

[yondu]

"Sanzo, right." He nods, even though there's an enormous risk of Yondu just using his own thing to call him sometimes. It's a burden of knowing Yondu Udonta.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Bring it on, papa smurf. Just don't call him by his homyo by itself, that's all Koumyou really cares about in this category.

"So, what did Devero do with your fin? Was it broken or something?" It doesn't look like it's been broken, but-- "I admit I know next to nothing about technology."

[yondu]

"First one broke because bitch shot me in the head.... I mean, I ran into her later and she did us all right, but it was a pain in the ass. Meant when I showed up my baseplate, the part rooted in my brain? Was all fucked up a lil' bit. I think Devero about shit himself 'cause he had to go touchin' somethin' rooted that deep into my thinkmeat."

He laughs at that, though, because it's funny now. He didn't screw it up.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"He was probably worried he'd hurt you on accident," Koumyou doesn't even try to keep the fondness out of his voice and face. If Devero's a huge softy, Koumyou's a huge softy about Devero. "He has a heart bigger than all of us combined."

He kind of has to, to care so deeply about Koumyou of all people.

"...So the bottom got damaged, but not the top? Or was that from when the first one was broken?"

[yondu]

"Top part one was the old fin, busted it all to hell. Completely mangled. It was old anyway. I was already gonna switch it out. Even had one that could actually stand up to bein' shot, at least by regular blaster fire. I just kept puttin' off gettin' it put on until it was too late.

"One of those 'I need to get this done but I'll put it off 'til tomorrow' things. I think that's a uniform bullshit decision we make across universes and worlds."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Well, since it attaches to something that attaches to your brain, I can see putting it off."

Not exactly something one does on the fly, is it?

Except for when one has to.

[yondu]

"It only took just a few minutes to get it in. It was the fin that needed changin', not the plate. Nah, that's all on me." He'll own it. Sometimes you do that kinda stupid shit. He shrugs, palms up.

Sometimes you do dumbass shit, but lucky for him it was still in a box when he needed it.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"So what you're saying is there wasn't much risk of anything going wrong when Dev had to poke around in your head?"

Sorry Yondu, you're basically asking to be teased, here.

[yondu]

"Yeah. Like I was sayin', he was way more worried about it than I was. I mean, I've had this thing since my skull stopped growin'. It might screw up but it wouldn't be his fault. He had to strip out and redo a bunch of the wires that got damaged, though, so I think that worried him."

Pokin' fun at the wrong guy, Koumyou.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"You can see why that would worry a big gentle guy like him, right?"

Poor Devero.

"Next time call me over, I'll bring a screwdriver and everything."

[yondu]

"Yeah, I'll let you know. This is only comin' off my head again when I'm dead, though. So you dig with screwdrivers an' whatever else you want. My corpse won't care none."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou reaches into the same sleeve he'd brought the cigarette out of, and produces a screwdriver that definitely probably almost certainly belongs to Devero.

(It sure as shit doesn't belong to Koumyou.)

And he pokes at Yondu's arm with it.

"This is how tech works, right?"

[yondu]

He looks down at where he's getting jabbed.

"You too? Just yankin' stuff out of nothin'? I don't think I'll ever have enough for it to matter but damn, I wish I could do that."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou actually hikes his billowing, loose white sleeve up almost to the shoulder. There, at the top of his long black arm-warmer, is a gaudy golden circlet.

"This is an ARMS band, it can hold just about anything I can pick up. The shop doesn't let everyone buy them anymore... but they're very handy! I let Devero store things in it, too."

Thus, screwdriver. Which Koumyou demonstrates by returning it to the band with a flash of golden light, visible without his robes in the way.

"Isn't it neat? I originally just bought it so I wouldn't have to carry a backpack full of camping equipment on missions, since before I met Devero, I preferred to wander alone on them. But it's come in useful for a lot more than that."