voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post March]

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Then would you prefer I call you Cassie?" Merwen gives a shake of her head and a small chuckle. "Sometimes I find the naming customs of others shares as much confusion as mine does for them. I don't want to share offence, though."

'Sergeant.' She's pretty sure she knows that word, even if it's not in her native tongue.

"What do you work at?"

"You can call me whichever one you like better," Cassie says.

"I'm in the Army. Outworld Intelligence and Assault group. Basically it's my job to keep the world safe from interdimensional conquerors and crime syndicates."

Oh. Oh. Merwen cringes a little, an involuntary little flinch that she catches and tries to hide almost immediately.

"I see," she says, as neutrally as she can. "And how do you do that?"

"Mostly by shooting and punching 'em," Cassie says. "One time I had to beat up a fallen Elder God who wanted to merge Earth with Hell."

She pauses for a moment, her expression softening. She hadn't missed her initial reaction to her job description.

"Have you...had bad experiences with soldiers?"

For a moment, Merwen is quiet, trying to decide how to answer. Ultimately, she's a truthful person.

"Yes," she says, her tone flat. "Many soldiers came to my world, poisoned the sea, stole our daughters, all in the name of 'conquering' us, because... I don't even know why, what they wanted that we would not have shared freely, other than that their violence was a sickness and they knew no other way to be."

Cassie's voice softens to a near whisper. "I'm sorry."

She doesn't set a hand on Merwen's shoulder or anything. But it's a quiet, sincere pair of words.

"That's what Shinnok would've done if he'd gotten to my world. That's what Shao Kahn did to a couple others. It's everything I try to stop."

For a moment, Merwen just looks at Cassie, silently assessing, but she relaxes a little, just fractionally.

"You seek to end violence with violence of your own," she says, more of an observation than an accusation. "I'm not convinced that there can be an end to it that way, but I'll acknowledge that you are seeking an end to it regardless. That's... more than I might have expected, of a soldier."

"I'd prefer to think we're the last option when negotiation fails," Cassie says. "Or if it isn't possible. There's no reasoning with a fallen Elder God who hates all mortals for existing."

She runs a hand through her hair, perhaps a little nervously.

"We're at peace with Outworld now. We'd like to keep it that way. We aren't in the business of starting fights, only finishing them."

At least that's how it's supposed to work.

"It's true I don't know what a fallen Elder God may be, or how such a creature may think.
Even the peace we won on Shora came with a cost of many lives, and we never hastened their deaths in return."

This is a very unpleasant conversation. Merwen gives a shudder, and she starts fidgeting with her hands, snapping the webbing between her fingers. "I hope peace stays in your world as much as mine," she says.

"Yeah," Cassie says. "Once you see what war looks like you don't want more of it. I'm hoping for a really boring rest of my career once I get home."

She's definitely not counting on it, though.

Despite herself, Merwen laughs. "Yes, that's what I was hoping for myself, too. Peace, my family, and perhaps a few granddaughters to play with, eventually. Instead, I'm here."

"Yeah, I hear that," Cassie says. "Though I'll have to admit, it's kinda been more good than bad for me so far."

"That's something to cherish, then," Merwen says. "I think... well, I don't know what my own thoughts are worth. But I think that's something to be grateful for."

"Yeah, I've learned a lot," Cassie says. "Gotten stronger.

"But most of all met some new people I care about."

"Ah." She smiles, warmly. "Yes, that's one of the most valuable things, isn't it? There is always joy to be shared in friends and family. I'm already finding that to be true, even here."

Merwen takes a cookie from the tray for herself, and has a bite. "It's... one of the more pleasant things the train shares with us."

"Definitely," Cassie says. "It's been good to meet you, too."

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

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