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

[helborn]

"Oh... wow. Okay, i wasn't sure if you were more used to living under the water... I've been to a world where there are people who are like that. Are Sharers the name of your people? I'm sorry if I'm asking too many or too invasive questions."

[theimpatientone]

"I don't mind learnsharing," Merwen assures him. "I've had more than my own share of questions for people here. Yes, Sharers are what we call ourselves. We are nearly as comfortable in the water as out of it, and I can probably dive longer and faster than you can, but I still need to breathe air."

She considers, then asks, "If you've met people who live entirely under the water, what are they like?"

[helborn]

"Probably, though I can hold my breath for quite a long time." Maybe not as much as her, he's not sure. "Ah... the merfolk... from the waist down they have the bodies of various ocean life. Fish, shrimp, whales... that sort of thing. They're a tribal society that has magic that's based in Song. They're also struggling with the last remnants of a disease that makes them turn cannibalistic and eat... whatever living flesh they can get their teeth into."

That had been an extremely unfun Jaunt when he got back to himself.

[theimpatientone]

She makes a bit of a face, horrified and sympathetic. She touches a hand to the base of her throat. "Those poor souls. What a terrible thing to have to face. Their lifeshapers have found no cure for it?"

It's especially horrifying when you're vegetarian mainly because you're afraid you might accidentally eat something a little too person-adjacent.

[helborn]

"There was a cure that was found the... last time people had been at that world? Maybe the time before. I wasn't around for those missions. But the few that had the disease still were hiding it because they were ashamed. One of them was the leader of the local pod, so he was... not eager to let that be known."

[theimpatientone]

"If they share shame at the infection, and hide it, doesn't that share danger with their sisters?" Merwen asks, seriously. "If they share untruth, that puts everyone at risk. That's the act of a child. If they would presume to share their wisdom to the group, then such selfish behaviour will share much harm."

[helborn]

He takes a minute to translate that. "It does, but he was the leader of the group. He was tasked with dealing with a difficult situation. He did have good plans, but the infection was throwing those into danger. He was racing to complete his mission before he could hurt anyone. He did hurt someone who deserved it, as well as someone who did not."

Casper tensed up for a moment and continued. "... On our missions some of us were essentially put to sleep and put inside minds of people native to the world we were going to. We had the ability to wake up others so we could have allies that knew what was going on. I was only woken up once, which I requested because the one time I was it was very distressing. ... Unfortunately I was the one inside that pod leader, and a friend was inside one of the people he hurt. Neither of us knew at the time. The other person he hurt was a friend who was himself. ... We had some conversations about that once the mission was over."

[theimpatientone]

Merwen listens, then lays a webbed hand on his arm, consoling. "I'm sorry," she says. "It was not my intent to share hurt with you. It sounds as though while you were in this person's mind, you were subject to his illness, as well."

That's a strange story, but everything here is super weird, so she can't really pick apart what does and does not sound likely anymore. "Was it like waking from a bad dream?"

[helborn]

He shakes his head and puts a hand on hers, smiling. "It's all right. I know you didn't mean to. It was kind of like that, yeah. I've had some good experiences with that though, too. At one point I got to be a kid... he was well-cared for and well-loved in the dream world he was in while his body was asleep on a spacecraft. I brought some of his power back with me."

As he pats her hand there's a brief flash of light - not enough to be painful, but enough to be there. Any small bruises or cuts she has get a dose of healing energy, warm but not hot, as if she were outside on a pleasant spring day.

[theimpatientone]

Merwen draws in her breath, startled, though that quickly turns to fascinated interest. "What was that?" she asks, eagerly. "That... warmth. What was it that you shared?"

Magic is one of those fascinating things she's discovered here, on the train, because she sure as heck doesn't have it back home.

[helborn]

"It was a small healing spell. It's not enough to do a lot of healing, but enough to close up small things as needed. I... don't really need it much myself, these days. My body heals really quickly on its own. But it's good to have around for other people."

He hopes he doesn't have to use it, but he knows he will.

[theimpatientone]

"You use magic to heal?" The idea seems to surprise her. Magic is for impossible things, she'd thought, but healing just seems so... mundane. "Is that better than your lifeshapers?"

[helborn]

"It's a lot faster, especially in the middle of a fight. ... Most people on my home world don't know about magic, to be fair. I never went to the doctor all that much anyway when I was growing up, even... if I probably should have."

He'd gotten out of being beat up with some bad injuries before. It wasn't ever anything life-threatening, but still...

[theimpatientone]

She considers this, and nods. "I can see how that would be useful, in an emergency. You could share help with someone before you even got to the lifeshaper. Ah, there is no magic on Shora. It's hard for me to imagine, sometimes."

[helborn]

"It's okay. I'd be happy to share what I know of mine with you, even if I don't totally understand how all of it works."

He's gotten a little better at figuring it out as the years have gone on, at least.