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

[agoodsoul]

"If the stuff I've seen is real then I must be going mental." Definitely were people with blue and red colored skin. Probaby more colors. Looked like aliens. Some real super hero movie stuff.

"You been here long...?" Do they have any answers to what the hell is going on that is.

[light_of_willpower]

"A few months." Trunks answered, smile turning sympathetic. "I can try and answer questions you have. You might not like the answers though, just to warn you."

[agoodsoul]

He dumbly repeats 'months' as if he can't believe it. He can't, but why would someone lie about that?

Swallowing thickly he just nods, reality really starting to set in now.

"I um, yeah. Yeah 'preciate that." Crossing his arms across his chest he'll consider what to ask, "What's the train for?"

[light_of_willpower]

"I think I'm going on Month 3 now." Trunks answered, when Dennis repeats him in disbelief. Trunks is sorry it's not more reassuring.

"Well, you've essentially been kidnapped aboard the Voidtrecker Express. None of us are here willingly, although most of us have adapted. The VE travels through the void of multiple universes and dimensions, helping those who need it along the way. Which is where we come in."

Trunks paused, to see how that was being received so far.

[agoodsoul]

None of this is reassuring, but that's not Trunks' fault. There's no real good way to break the ice about being kidnapped for timey whimey space stuff. Trunks has barely sad more than a few sentences and it's already so much to take in.

Dennis looks more than a little upset, not at Trunks, but in general.

"You're joking." His eyes almost plead, "Stuff like that don't happen in real life." But at this point it's already been established to himself through the art of pinching that this is very real.

[light_of_willpower]

"I'm not, unfortunately. And 'real life' can be quite different, along with 'normal' depending on who you talk to on this train." Trunks said, with a sympathetic expression. "I know it's a lot."

[agoodsoul]

"Still not right." He quips, shaking his head, trying to wrap it around what he's being told.

"What the fuck..." More to himself, he's taking a few deep breaths and breathing out. Let's not have a panic attack as a first meeting.

"So we just stuck here now then? That's it?" That can't be it.

[light_of_willpower]

"Until and unless we can find a way home, yeah." Trunks wasn't going to try and sugar coat it. "We're not entirely sure WHO even is kidnapping us, other than 'the train' being the answer."

[agoodsoul]

"Someone's gotta be driving it, they don't know nothing?" They aren't a part of this?

"Train ain't a living thing, it can't just kidnap people." Are you sure about that, Dennis?

[light_of_willpower]

"So far it seems to be the train itself. Maybe an Artificial Intelligence in charge of it. We don't know. We can't get into the Engineer's office part of the train."

[agoodsoul]

"What the hell..." What else do you say to that? Train could be A.I. or controlled by some greater being.

"Don't know if I can believe all this, but feels like I ain't got a choice."

[light_of_willpower]

"I mean, it's up to you if you believe it or not--but I can assure you this is all very real." Trunks said, with a sympathetic expression. "Maybe I was lucky in that I was used to some very unrealistic-to-most-people things before being brought here."

Like being half-human, half-alien. Or how most people didn't fly. Or grow up in a dystopian apocalypse run by two homicidal androids.

[agoodsoul]

Can't say Dennis can relate to most of that. Once he's settled in he'll be interested in learning about other people's worlds and stuff. Right now is just. A lot.

"Right. Yeah." He sounds defeated about it all, if he's really stuck here what choice does he have?

"... stuff like this normal where you're from then?"

[light_of_willpower]

"Yes and no. I'm from a world where extremely dedicated and advanced martial artists can learn to fly using their ki though. Also from a world where mad scientists can build artificial beings called androids."

[agoodsoul]

Dennis gawks at Trunks like fish out of water.

"Really?" Really, really? Like he knew about stuff like that, but it was all fiction. Books, movies and video games. The closest thing to real for him were androids, but he doubt what Trunks meant were the same level of android humans we're building in his world.

"That's crazy." Still in disbelief to be honest.

[light_of_willpower]

"To you, but it's real where I'm from." Trunks countered, managing to keep his tone from being snarky. The guy was already having enough trouble it seemed.

[agoodsoul]

Honestly it'd be fair for anyone to get a little fed up with someone questioning their reality.

"... so you one of em?" Dennis makes a vague sort of motion with his hand.

"You can fly with uh, key? Chi?"

[light_of_willpower]

"Ki." Trunks replied. "You want a demonstration?"

[agoodsoul]

Does he want a demonstration? It feels like such a simple question, but if he actually sees this guy fly then that definitely means he's not lying. Dennis nods slowly.

"Sure." Sure, just gonna watch a dude fly. Sure.

[light_of_willpower]

"There's not much room in here, but alright." Trunks shrugged, and let himself float up towards the ceiling. Holding it for a moment, before he held out a hand and summoned a small ball of ki too.

[agoodsoul]

There's not a lot of room, but there's just enough to see this guy float and Dennis mouth falls open in shock.

"Fucking hell-" And he's got some power ball thing too. Ki?

"That's insane!" But his shock is turning into awe now.

[light_of_willpower]

"This, while not exactly common on my world, is 'normal'. At least for the circles I've run in." Close enough, even if that circle had died before he was even a year old. It was his mother's circle, and flying with ki and using it for blasts was 'normal'.

Trunks let the ball dissipate as he floated back down. "It's even in the welcome pamphlet. What's 'normal' in your world might not be normal in another, so try to not judge." Entirely conversational, keeping this all as calm and blasé as he can so the other can hopefully adjust better.

[agoodsoul]

Still a little flabbergasted, Dennis shakes his head.

"Nah, mate, not judging. Just... hard to believe- obviously not now that I've seen it, but that was wicked." Very cool, would love to see it again. Of course he's not going to expect Trunks to perform like a circus monkey.

"Anything like that's just fantasy where I'm from. If I'm really stuck here it'll be neat learning 'bout other places." He's definitely not against it, it'll just blow his simple Earth mind every time. For a while at least.

[light_of_willpower]

"Glad to hear it." Trunks said, relaxing minutely. "So, did you get one of the welcome pamphlets, or check out the ICP yet?" Or was Trunks going to have to answer all the questions.

[agoodsoul]

Trunks doesn't have to answer any questions if they don't want to. Dennis appreciates what he has so far, but it's no obligation.

"... uhh, kinda just looked around a bit and had a sit. S'lot to take in. What's an ICP?" Sounds like the set up to a terrible juvenile joke.