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

standard car

[morganizedchaos]

Exploration and information-gathering is going... Well. It's going, and that's something. From the back of the train to the front, and now Ghost is starting to work his way backwards again, this time with more attention to detail now that he knows the layout.

The sight of a person in a white coat is enough to slow him down, at least. (That, or the feeling of ice, hard and sharp and not familiar but something close.) As a result, he pauses at the end of the row of seats Vexen has occupied. The fact that the guy isn't in the generic matching outfits of the new arrivals is probably a good indication that he's been here for at least a little while.

"So, if I was going to ask your scientific opinion on the whole train thing, would you give it to me?" The voice comes from the phone clipped at his waist, but other than that, there's not anything overtly strange about this particular new arrival.

[thawed_pride]

He ignores the approaching newcomer at first, focused intently on what he's doing. There is indeed something of a cold aura about him, not in terms of actual temperature, but the air smells crisp, like the middle of a cold snap.

The voice does get his attention, and he quickly finishes what he's writing before glancing over. He stays hunched over the coat, even as his eyes light up.

"My scientific opinion? It's quite fascinating. I had not been so foolish as to believe I was aware of the entire multiverse, but the existence of a form of vehicle that can cross regions of interspace impassible to even corridors of darkness is nothing short of revolutionary. The implications are simply astounding, the idea that even the worlds known to seasoned travelers are but a mere fragment of the entirety of reality...that even the concept of 'reality' itself may be broader than any had realized. It's really quite a pity we aren't capable of entering the engine room, I would love to take a look at the equipment that makes it possible for us to enter this Void, when my own magic falls short."

[morganizedchaos]

There's an expression on Ghost's face that could be described as the visual equivalent of a GPS going Recalculating at the mention of magic, but - well, if magic did exist, then yeah, of course people would study it.

Readjustment over, he leans forward to prop his arms on the back of the back of the seat closest to him. "And it's not even just the branching timelines kind of alternate worlds. If magic's real and commonplace in yours, then there's probably a subtle difference in the way the energy part of the laws of physics works."

[thawed_pride]

He taps his pen against the coat, grinning widely. This might not be his primary focus, but it's one he finds fascinating nonetheless.

"The prevalence of magic and even its mechanics do vary from world to world, this much is already known to any who have access to interspace. In my homeworld, it is a common aspect of daily life, often woven together with technology. In others I have been to, its usage is more restricted, or even unknown altogether. It is, however, worth noting that I have yet to encounter a world where even foreign magic is rendered entirely unusable."

[morganizedchaos]

"But does that apply to everyone, or only people who bring existing sources of magic in with them, so to speak?"

Part of him observes that this isn't really where he was intending this discussion to go. The rest of him (80% Morgan's personality by weight) is already latching on to the whole new avenue of research with gusto. Outwardly, Ghost looks incredibly interested, one arm propped on the seat back he's leaning on while he gestures with the other one in a way that would look completely natural on a person who was speaking normally.

"Is it an inherent trait of those universes, or can it be taught?"

[thawed_pride]

"Individuals from worlds with no known magic have indeed learned to use it upon being introduced to travelers from other worlds."

That's a detail he's counting on with Ken, even. If Sora can learn grand magic, surely Ken can at least learn basic level spells.

"Certain forms of magic may be inherent to specific worlds, and thus difficult or impossible to use outside of them, but learned spells can be taught and learned freely so long as one has a competent teacher."

[morganizedchaos]

The look in his eyes is definitely one of 'you have opened up an entire new world of science and I am inclined to make use of it.' That particular kind of adult curiosity that wants to see how something works, to really understand it down to its foundations.

"Wonder how it compares to psi abilities. Which can't be naturally taught, before you ask." At least it's probably a little close to an explanation of what the hell is going on with the phone voice thing.