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

departure

[mtsilver_conquor]

Here, have a young woman with a red oricocolo on her shoulder, though Dancer is more sleepy bird than anything.

"Yeah. it is," Eva says with a sympathetic smile. "We're still working on a way to get everyone home, preferable at around the same point in time we were kidnapped from."

The last part's said with a bit of a grimace, but it is true.

[efficacy]

The bird gets a quick glance, but it's hardly the strangest thing she's come across yet. If anything, a pet bird is refreshingly normal. Pepper's eyes dart back to the colorful display behind the windows soon after.

"Right. And when you say still working on, how long, um." She pauses and wets her lips, her mouth feeling a little dry all of the sudden, and tries again. "How long have you been trying?"

Sorry for the delay. IRL Pet drama happened. :(

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Ten and a half months by train count," Eva says with a tired sigh. "I've been here since the start of this adventure and trust me, we take victories where we can when we can."

Though the grimace at the end suggests not all victories are palatable or even liked. "I'm Eva, -Orange Lead- and I'll do my best to answer any questions you still have after that."

She nods towards the welcome guide.

np, hope your pet is okay!

[efficacy]

Ten and half months. God. That doesn't sound very promising, to be honest, and Pepper's expression falters uncertainly for a moment. Manners kick in a beat later, and she's distracted enough to set those worries aside for now.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Pepper." The guide-- yes. She hasn't yet had a chance to sit down and fully go over the guide in peace, but a question niggles at her already that she can't quite quell.

"Sorry if this is covered in the guide, but I've admittedly been curious about it since the platform," she starts with a small, abashed smile, "But how are the teams decided? Is there a skill or characteristic that determines whether someone's team orange or blue?"

Everything seems to be stabilised now, so.

[mtsilver_conquor]

Pepper... Eva could have sworn she's heard that name at least once in the last ten months, and as curious as she is, she set it aside. There's more important things to worry about.

"We don't know how it's decided, but given Orange is typically investigation, repair/disarm machinery, or to locate problems, it can be assumed that we generally have that skillset. The Blue team basically searches, guards and protects and, unlike Orange, they do see combat."

fingers crossed it stays that way

[efficacy]

"Right." Pepper thinks on it for a moment. She can't repair anything and she doesn't think she's much of an investigator, as such, but locating problems she can do. And solve them. Depending on the issue, of course.

"Let me guess. The red team's the muscle?" Just a hunch. Red's an aggressive color, after all. "What about purple?"

Thanks.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Pretty much, while Purple tends to be a mix of combat and protecting civilians. I'd rather be on Red myself, but..." Eva shrugs a little. "My skills are probably better served with Orange. Though, I've been tempted to go with another team a few times."

But she's a leader here and her duty is to her team.

[efficacy]

"Oh, people can switch if they want to?" She's not sure why she figured they were stuck with their teams, but she did. Not that she plans on switching-- it's obvious the other teams don't suit her and her skills any better. She's just curious.

Sorry for the delay. Feel free to drop this if it's too old.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"After a fashion, yeah. Like, it won't change what team we are according to the train, but..." Eva shrugs. "Small victories where we can with what we can affect, you know?"