A New Platform [Intro Post April]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

Once again passengers are awoken by the morning announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day Sixteen 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 after lunch. A lunch that may be a bit sparse: between the big eaters and the stress bakers, the stores have been stretched thin the last two weeks.

"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 steam is thin, with blue skies seen above. The sun shines brightly down, warm light pooling on the platform.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Cassie Lang, Glorfindel, Jessie Custer, Olivia, Paddra Nsu-Yeul, S’reee, Thea Queen, Wei Wuxian.

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, open, with a vine-covered wall stretching high either side of the barrier. 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 eighteen 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 doors close behind them.

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'). The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, including plenty more tomatoes.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. There is a suitcase stocked with spare wash kit items, for those who are running low as well as a box labelled Do Not Use Yet that is full of small 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 who are making the most of the sunshine. 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

[herarrows]

"You are and you won't convince me otherwise. I've seen your dark secret now." She might have to inform his future husband, just to be a demon about it. And she returns a moment later with a case that has Senku's name on it, with a smile.

"I believe this is what you're looking for."

Nice catch indeed!

[cycledsingularity]

[He certainly does seem to be more companion-sized than a passenger; the red voidtrecker hoodie suggests otherwise but then, pets did arrive matching their masters didn't they?

There is no time to panic when Yondu catches him with such practiced ease and puts him down before he even starts to flail. It throws Mono off so much that he just kind of stares Yondu down instead of running after. This is the strangest being he has seen yet, possibly even stranger than Della.]

"TV." [He mutters pointing at the screen he fell out of, by way of explanation. Does that answer your question, Yondu?]

[subcircuits]

That smile is a good look on him. Devero takes note.

When Yondu turns around, the drone lifts right to eye level and continues to follow him. Is-- is Sir Beepers trying to have a staring contest?

"It's looking for a specific type of signal," Devero explains. With the same hand, he reaches over his shoulder to indicate a spot between his shoulder blades, just under the base of his neck. "Everyone where I come from has an EMID unique to their system. Most interactive devices will look for your EMID first and other identifiers way, way later, companion drones included." He nods at Sir Beepers. "Poor thing got very confused when I asked it to register Koumyou Sanzo as a user."

(The little bot clearly recognizes the name of said other user. Though it doesn't break position, its antenna-tail bobs up and down, making the attached ribbons wave and flutter.)

Devero seems to have forgotten about his e-skates entirely as he listens to Yondu. "...The magic ones get me too," he admits, sounding disgruntled about it. That's one element of magic he's not terribly thrilled about. "But it usually doesn't effect my Eye, just my eyes. This thing comes in as handy as your sharp eyes against electronic illusions."

At least Devero already knows he's been a slave. Though the very idea still makes his stomach twist, he manages to keep it off his face. "He took care of you," Devero says with a nod, as if he talks about guys who save other guys from slavery all the time. "I can see why you'd miss him and your crew, especially in the middle of--" He huffs and gestures vaguely. "All that bullshit."

[10billionpercent]

"I'll deny it. No one will believe you." Senku informed her, gesturing in her direction before accepting the case.

Gen absolutely would believe her, he knew it all along.

"Let's see.." He opened it to have a look inside. "It looks both our outfits, and my clothes from home are here, good."

[herarrows]

"Who said I'm telling anyone? Maybe I'll keep it to myself and treasure it forever. Or use it as blackmail." She wouldn't, but she can't resist teasing him either.

"Fantastic. Now, let's get you somewhere less crowded to unpack."

Pfft off to a very calm start, these two

[cycledsingularity]

[Sounds of alarm were never good; when someone big made big noises things were about to get scary; popping out of the ICP so close to someone's face only makes it doubly so!

A lifetime of keeping his voice in check is all that stops Mono from shrieking right back, but it's clear by his body language he would be, like an impression of the world's most panicked mime.

Mono immediately scrambles to his feet and sets off. Which room is this?! He doesn't know it well enough to navigate where to hide to first! There has to be somewhere he can go for safety?

Because the strange thing appearing out of the ICP and immediately scurrying about in their space is sure to calm Madoka down.]

[famtastic]

"Wot. Me? Yes. Fine. Hold this and tell me if it's hot." She tosses him the part and it's warm to the touch, almost the same temperature as skin.

[famtastic]

"Really. Now that's something. Ow!" There is a hole in her sleeve now and her skin is singed. She dumps the water over it and goes back to what's interesting.

"Seen a few ghosts, a few possible ghosts, a few not ghosts at all. I take it that it's not common where you're from, or else you're not used to the question. What does it mean ice core?"

[famtastic]

"No one is. Don't think of it like expressing yourself then. Think of it as sharing. Like something you want to share with someone that you think that they might find interesting. Could be a poem you know or a memory you had."

Breakfast

[famtastic]

"Ta..." She takes the part back. "Not sure what it is. Everything is on the fritz, including up here." She taps her temple. "How are you getting on?"

[famtastic]

"I don't mind anythin'." She grins. "Even stick figures have meaning. And it's... well, if you like! A little piece of home to carry with us."

[famtastic]

"Don't have to be. You can write something too, or we can talk. Whatever you like." She regards him a moment with a smile. "I'm the Doctor, by the way. What's your name?"

[fivemilesdeep]

He lets her lead him to the bench and sits down next to her, resisting the urge to lean against her. He leans forward instead, resting his elbows on his knees, trying to think. It's not that he can't think of anything to say - it's that there's too much, tearing through his head like a hurricane, and he can't separate his thoughts out well enough to make sense of any of them, let alone pick a starting point. It's all a tangled mess and he's caught in the middle of it.

"I don't know where to start," he says, because that much is the truth, at least. "I- I-" He winces and shakes his head. He doesn't want to fall apart again, but after this mission, he has no strength left to spare - keeping himself together was hard enough before today's emotional blows. "I thought my friends would be here," he manages, eyes still squeezed shut. "I thought- I thought the train knew I needed them- I thought it would-" He stops as his voice breaks. It's not so much reopening a wound as it is tearing at one that never had a chance to close in the first place. "They're not here." As though it isn't obvious from his heartbreak.

[morganizedchaos]

"Not sure if that's a good thing or not. The evils you know, or whatever." He shakes his head. "Well, not shit I can do about it from here."

[promiselisting]

Wow. Wow. Did he just sass her? Or does he actually think that's normal? And not wholly unsatisfactory? She leans out over the edge of the shelf, to see if she'll still float if she- no. No she will not. She leans back quickly, trying to keep any undignified wobbling under control.

Ugh. Since she can't hop out into midair and threaten him with hanging upside down in midair until he gives her a better answer, she perches on her shelf, folding her arms and scowling (and hiding the vent behind her).

"You can't just leave it at that!" she protests.

[weisexual]

He listens quietly, absorbing it as easily has he has learned anything else in his lifetime. Fingers twitch as if desiring a brush to write down what he learns. But there is none convenient and nothing has been said yet that he can't remember on his own.

"Is there no way to only communicate with one person?" Something so advanced that it can talk to everyone at once seems useful but not nearly as useful as something he could use to talk to one. He doubts he will ever have anything he wishes to say to the whole train.

[weisexual]

"I think we are." They are fighters, protectors and stronger then most. If the train is seeking people to fight enemies then they are clearly made for this kind of thing. They have trained their entire lives for that exact purpose. So even if no one has figured out a reason for exactly who gets chosen, Lan Wangji feels like there might be some sort of similar trait they all have that gets them here.

"Even those that aren't fighters will find a usefulness somehow." It is important to have a variety of skills on any battle field. Even when there are wars on their world there are categories of people helping to win it. It's not all about the people with the swords, there are strategies and intelligence needed.

[light_of_willpower]

"I'm Trunks...you came on last platform, right?" Trunks thinks he remembers seeing her around, but they haven't really interacted before.

[morganizedchaos]

It can be both! ... From his expression, it's probably both.

"It's a really long story," he says. "Lots of questionably ethical science and people getting eaten." And, okay, maybe he's trolling a little. "A lot of the technical details aren't really understood anyway." Such is the pain of being on the cutting edge of bullshit.

[famtastic]

"Yeah. You don't see how anyone arrived, did you?" She doubts it but it doesn't hurt to ask. In the mean time she slaps a bit of paper down for him. "Favorite color?"

[averyusefultray]

Sniper rifles have their uses in certain applications out there. Picking off the worst of the creatures before they could close in. But the new weapons still earns an approving nod. "Useful. For all that people say not every mission is like that one..."

She likes to be prepared.

[averyusefultray]

"There are some people in the Rebellion... I'm not sure easier is the right word. Distant, maybe." They were the ones who didn't necessarily talk much. It was hard to really know what was going on in their heads.

[forleaving]

"It is." No matter how much freedom they were given--which wasn't really a lot considering they were stuck on a train. "I'd give anything to be able to go home."

[light_of_willpower]

"We don't. By the time we pull into platform, they're already there. Other than that, it's just the void outside the windows." Trunks responded, then blinked at the seeming non-sequitur. "Uh...blue?"

[subcircuits]

"You're welcome," Devero says easily. He winks at Ryo, trying to ease that embarrassment. "Why strain yourself when there are muscles like these hanging around, right?" Devero knows his strength and stamina are exceptional for a baseline human. They always have been-- and he's always wanted to put his big body to work to help the people around him.

He nods at the much smaller and lighter box he'd been carrying, set unobtrusively aside on a trunk before he'd bent to pick up the stand mixer. "Will you carry that for me? Save me the trip all the way back here to get it after."