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! Right, I saw that on the terminal... cleaning's not so bad. I'm not a neat freak, but I do know how to navigate a broom and dustpan." Though he hadn't needed to really clean his room in Liminal, he'd done it occasionally just for the sake of the process. "... Cleaning bathrooms might be an issue with how sensitive my nose is, but I can just hold my breath, I guess?"

Or peple could not wreck the toilets, that's an option too. Hopefully.

[worthallthis]

"Spray a lot of bleach cleaner around, that'll override any smell," Soldat suggests with a wry little smile. "I know how it is. Mine's pretty sensitive, too." Maybe not as sensitive as Casper's, they don't know, but the serum did a number on their senses, too.

[helborn]

"Bleach is also bad, but at least it's not embalming fluid. I never minded helping with it, but the stuff has a smell that sticks to you for forever. Got beat up for that, too." But he doesn't sound pained by it, at least. He's processed it, mostly.

[worthallthis]

That gives them a moment of pause, just the casual mention of being beat up. Geez, this poor kid. (Is that what it feels like when people deal with us? I don't know. Maybe. No. Yeah, maybe that's a good reason to keep it more to ourselves, huh.) They decide, ultimately, to just let the mention go by rather than trying to dig in. They've made Casper talk bout enough trauma today.

"I guess," they suggest, "it's just about whatever smell you like less. The smell of a stinky bathroom or the smell of strong cleaners. Though if it helps. I haven't found the bathrooms that stinky."

[helborn]

"That's good. It means people have enough sense to keep things clean enough." As long as it doesn't take him like half an hour in there he'll be fine. He can always set down the cleaning products and take a breath outside the bathroom, after all.

"Mm. I like this train already, considering it has a library. It could do with being wider, but it reminds me of the underwater base off of Hawaii I was at for a bit."