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

[gentle_jim]

"My bad. The quote just works so well, I couldn't resist," Jack chuckles.

He grimaces a little at the description of what might happen when the SQUIP gets flipped back on, not excited about enduring that or having anyone overhear it.

"Hm, not many private places on this tin can. What about gagging you before we start?"

[firewalled]

"You know, 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy' would have fit way more."

He makes a face at Jack's suggestion. If this was any other scenario, he'd flat out refuse and probably make a jab at Jack for jumping straight to gagging someone, but he knows that's probably their best solution.

"I'm guessing we don't have any other choice... I guess we could try that."

[gentle_jim]

"Yeah, maybe if I considered this 'work'," he snorts.

"Unless you got any other ideas." Jack takes another drink from the weird purple Mountain Dew.

"Not exactly thrilled to do it that way either, but." He shrugs. "It'll be worth it if it works, right?"

[firewalled]

"I guess it's not exactly work..." Though Rich isn't exactly thrilled about the thought of this being 'play' for someone like Jack.

He inhales and lets out his breath in a long, slow sigh. "Yeah. Yeah, it'll be worth it." It's what he's got to keep holding onto, right? It'll be awful in the moment, but in the end, he'll finally do something for the people he cares about. He'll actually have proven he was the hero the train had kept going on about him being.

"I'll meet you in a couple days, then."

COUPLE OF DAYS LATER

[gentle_jim]

Jack's waiting for Rich in his cabin as discussed, having made sure his roommates would be away for long enough to get this done. He's leaning casually against the wall with a strip of cloth in hand and a carefully crafted lazy expression.

"Ready kid?"

[firewalled]

Rich didn't exactly like the wait until their plan was set into motion. The longer he had to wait, the more the dread had time to solidify into a hard lump in his stomach, shifting with each step he takes towards Jack's room. It gives a particularly nasty twist when he notices the cloth. His hand tightens around the bottle of Mountain Dew he brought over, but he manages to keep his face straight.

This is... going to work. He has to believe that as much as it's going to suck, it'll all be worth it in the end.

"Ready as I can be, yeah. Let's make this quick, okay?"

[gentle_jim]

"Yep. We turn it on, I get in there, I get the info, and kick the thing's ass," Jack reiterates the plan with a business-like nod.

"Put the drink on the dresser. Should probably lay down somewhere if you're gonna get hit with a seizure." He hands the cloth over to Rich, because he sure as hell isn't going to gag a kid.

[firewalled]

Rich takes the cloth with a slightly relieved look. At least he'll be doing this on his own terms then. He takes a seat on one of the beds. He'd ask where to sit, but he just wants to get this over and done with as fast as possible... so after a moment, he takes a swig of the Mountain Dew, slamming the bottle down on the dresser after.

He fumbles then to stuff the cloth into his mouth, but the SQUIP was desperate, it seems, because within moments, both hands are up to his temple. He moans quietly, then tries to cry out around the thick cotton. His legs are shaking. His arms are too, but he doesn't really notice that over the intense searing pain blooming from the base of his neck and flooding over his cranium. Did he pass out? Has he fallen and cracked his head on the hard cabin floor?

He can hear a voice, but not his own, a scream of static buzzing louder and louder in his head no matter how he thrashes around to escape it-

And then all of a sudden it stops. His vision clears again, his breath quick and shallow. Jack is still standing there, and next to him... next to him is a very familiar woman. Rich chokes on a whimper as his mother's face smiles politely at him.

"Well, well. Mere months and you're willing to accept my help again? I would have expected you to be more stubborn, but I suppose even you know when you're helpless."

Rich tears his eyes away from her and towards Jack.

"Now! Get in there so we can shut her up!"

[gentle_jim]

Jack watches with not a small amount of discomfort on his face. The only reason he's watching this at all, in fact, is to make sure the kid doesn't hurt himself if something goes wrong. Despite what a great many people probably think about him, he's not actually gung-ho about the suffering of children.

Rich was not kidding about the seizure. Jack's grimace deepens as the kid thrashes about, making muffled noises into the gag. He very nearly steps in to stop it before Rich's eyes open again and he straightens up.

From the get go, he can tell Rich is looking at something he can't see as the kid's eyes swing from an empty space beside him to Jack's face.

"Her? You didn't tell me it was a her. Huh. Alrighty, here we go." Jack makes a knuckle-cracking motion, complete with the sound coming from his speakers. His holo shuts its eyes as he searches for the server ping.

Ah...there it is. Nice. There's no freedom like being able to leave one's own body and travel at super speeds through the air as bits of data. Once the transfer is made, his robotic body remains upright but blank appearing. It does not go in search of him this time as Jack has adjusted that code after the incident with Entrapta.

Okie dokie. Knock knock? Jack prods carefully at the SQUIP to see if it has any firewalls or other precautions up against intruders. What he finds is that maybe at one time it did, but whatever is left up is in tatters... That must be from the forced deactivation Rich mentioned.

Cool, I'll just let myself in then.

A few second later, Rich will find Jack's hologram pop up next to the SQUIP's, adjusting his sleeves and stretching his arms.

"Preeeeetty roomy in here, I gotta say. Quantum computer, huh? Jack likes~ Well, hey there, princess. Rich didn't tell me you were good looking..."

[firewalled]

Rich doesn't really understand the mechanics of the situation, so as far as he can see, one minute Jack is standing in one corner of the room, and the next, he's slightly to the right, his old body blank.

He does feel like something got in his head, though, a tingling feeling in the back of his mind that makes his stomach tie in knots.

"We don't have time for you to admire the interior of my fucking skull! Can we hurry this up!?"

The hologram beside Jack, meanwhile, raises a well-manicured eyebrow at her cohort. Rich is far less reserved.

"Gross! That's my fucking mom-"

"Language, Richard. Would you like to tell me who this 'gentleman' is? I suppose my firewalls aren't as secure since your little tantrum."

[gentle_jim]

"Seriously, kid's got no manners. Lemme introduce myself." Jack strikes a hero pose (one he's used many times for propaganda photos) and serves up a winning smile.

"Jack. Handsome Jack. And don't beat yourself up about it, kitten. Coding is one of the many things I'm super good at. So!" He claps his hands and sits down in the air on an invisible chair.

"Gonna need some answers from you, sweetheart. Y'see, both me and Rich here need to figure out a way to get off this train. You can help with that, can't you, babe?"

[firewalled]

"I have manners! I don't need them around someone like her is all-"

He flinches a bit as the SQUIP points at him, sending a jolt through his spine. He'd scream, but she's also succeeded in clamping his mouth shut. She 'sits' down across from Jack, legs crossed at the ankles as she hovers in place.

"Hmm... it depends. I believe the information you would wish to acquire from the train would require a large amount of processing power, and a connection to an internal network for this train's system that I believe neither of us have. I am willing to try to use my quantum computing, damaged as it is... but you'll have to give me a moment."

Rich bunches his hands in his tank top. "How long of a moment...?"

[gentle_jim]

"Yeah, the quantum computering thing is what I'm here for. Otherwise I would have figured this stuff out myself." Jack frowns at the word 'damaged', silently hoping it's only minor. Rich had never mentioned the extent of what might have been caused by the forced shutdown. Probably because he didn't know, would be Jack's guess.

If this was a giant waste of his time...

"What the kid said -- how long? I got shit to do."

[firewalled]

"Both of you need to be more patient. It should only take a few minutes, fortunately for you, Richard. I don't believe your skull would be able to take the heat... or perhaps you're more heat-proof than I thought."

Rich tenses, but says nothing, leaving the SQUIP to give him a patronizing grin. After a few moments, though, it's back to business. The hologram closes its eyes, seeming to reach out into the air for something. Rich can feel the hairs on his arm stand on end.

It's silent for a few moments, and then there's a shriek of static feedback as both Rich and the SQUIP double over. Rich manages to clamp his jaw to stop himself from screaming, but his voice is thick with pain when he manages to speak.

"Wh-What the fuck...?"

The SQUIP, for once, doesn't seem to have an answer. "I am not sure. I can see the possibilities, but if I try to zero in on one... it's too overwhelming for my processors. They're too weak for this... I suppose humans would call it sensory overload."

[gentle_jim]

"Are you telling me you can't do it? Try it again!" Jack demands, the anger clear in his voice. He was so close to finding a way off this frickin' thing! Had the kid lied to him about the SQUIP's capabilities?

[firewalled]

"Very impatient, aren't you? I have tried several times while speaking to you, but I have retreated when the information pathways have become too saturated." That may explain why the SQUIP's image seems to be glitching in and out while Rich watches. He winces softly, cowering a bit away from Jack's outburst.

"Sorry... I guess... we might have to come up with another plan, or-" He's got to come up with something, quick. He has a feeling if he doesn't, Jack might let his anger get the better of him.