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

[ballseeker]

Then why lose the ability to regrow them in adulthood, though? [ It didn't make much sense to her, but then again.. not a lot about the world made a whole lot of sense at the end of the day. Who was she to tell Saiyans how to evolve and all of that, right? It isn't really the most pertinent question at the moment, but it's what she can think of. ]

Do you.. Do you want it cut off again if something happens and you can't control it?

[ Establishing Vegeta's wishes to do with this is important considering she's getting mixed messages here on the tail's worth to him, for starters.. and, well. She doesn't really want to ask someone to butcher her husband in some way if that isn't what he wants, regardless of the destructive rage part that filters in too.

He tells her not to dare to pull his tail and Bulma just smiles in that too sweet way that says she will not promise, but he has to try not to make her mad enough to think about it in the mean time. ]

I guess kind of no point in testing all of them if you don't have to, that's fair.

[renegadeprince]

Because the likelihood of an adult Saiyan losing their tail is extremely low, short of them not being some sort of moron who is just asking for it. That or whatever would have the ability to take their tail would also have the ability to just kill them. Keep in mind you all had knowledge of how they worked before Raditz, Nappa, or I showed up. Not every race does, or lived to tell the story. [Vegeta is well aware of what his people were like, and just how much damage they had done in the universe.

That question makes him hesitate. Does he want it gone? It wasn't really needed now days, not with him having Super Saiyan, and he had learned to adjust to having it gone. But... he had also missed it, even if he wouldn't admit that, even to himself. There had been no point to mourn over it once it was lost, it couldn't be changed after all. However, if he lost control...] It's not worth keeping if it threatens you. [And that's what it came down to. If he transformed, if he couldn't control that form, then the risk of what it could do to those on the train, to their kids, to her... it wasn't worth it.

Although, it raises a question, Vegeta getting caught up in those thoughts and tuning her out as he does so.] I wonder what would happen if I was in Super Saiyan when I transformed. Or Blue. [That was... he hadn't considered that. What would happen? The great ape form increased a Saiyan's power, so if he was already transformed before doing into that...]

[ballseeker]

Well I mean .. did we really, considering it was Goku? [ Let's be fair here Vegeta - Goku was her best friend, and a lot like her little brother, but he isn't exactly a shining light of knowledge and insight in to being a saiyan. If anything, she's lucky when he isn't naked half the time just hanging around his house or something.

It warms her a little, admittedly, to hear him say that it wasn't worth keeping the tail if it threatened her. She'd ask about their kids, but she could anticipate the answer, she thinks. ]

A big blonde or blue ape, I would bet. [ Which is kind of funny, but at the same time - ] But I guess more dangerous for the rest of us.

[renegadeprince]

I might be able to beat Kakarot and his damn Ultra Instinct. [Sorry Bulma, you've lost him for the moment as Vegeta considers the options here. If he did manage to get control over his ape form, why not use it to train while he had access to it? Of course, only on suitable locations with plenty of space and no risk to train inhabitants. To be able to increase Blue form's ten fold... Maybe he could even get a hit in against Beerus or Whis if they were here. It opened a whole new bunch of possibilities. Vegeta had given up on himself reaching Ultra Instinct, it just wasn't his style, he couldn't possibly 'empty his mind' like Whis had instructed them. Certainly not as easy as Goku could...

So he would have to find his own way to continue to progress. And this was a very Saiyan way to do so.]

[ballseeker]

[ Bulma can't help the half sigh, half-laugh that escapes her as Vegeta waxes into his thoughts about beating Goku. She really should have known that this is where this would absolutely end up, but somehow had missed that all signs pointed to the fact that he was going to go into 'more powerful than Goku.' ]

I should've known that's what you were going to start going in to.

[renegadeprince]

[You should had, Bulma, you know what your husband is all about, even without his constant competition anywhere near him. Add on grumpy to that and you basically described him 90% of the time.] I may as well have it be some use rather than just a nuisance. Plus it also means I have an extra limb to fight with now. [It's something Vegeta hadn't used to it's full potential years ago, but that was due to the risk of losing it as his only trump card. Now with access to the various forms of Super Saiyan he wouldn't have so much of a need to be protective over his way to transform.

His attention then went back to his tail, which he hadn't been focusing on while talking, and it still hovering near Bulma from where she last had reached for it.] Once I have full control over it again. [Had to train all those instinctive reactions back out of it again.]