voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2021-04-01 06:00 am

A New Platform [Intro Post April]

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!
light_of_willpower: (long hair profile talking)

Re: Luggage Car

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-04-14 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
"Makes sense. I'm from a version of 'Earth' and while we're mostly human, we also have animal people, and aliens. That latter being less common in the general population."
averyusefultray: (Default)

Re: Luggage Car

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-04-14 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
"Most of the Earths I've heard about have been human worlds." Though she's heard about a lot of Earths. She can't help wondering what it is about that world the train likes so much to pull from so many versions. "THere don't seem to be many people here that are part of a wider galactic community."
light_of_willpower: (long hair profile talking)

Re: Luggage Car

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-04-15 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
"Mm, I wouldn't even say my Earth is. We just have the occasional random alien or three." Trunks said with a little shrug. "What planet are you from, and what's your race called, if you don't mind my being curious?"
averyusefultray: (Default)

Re: Luggage Car

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-04-15 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
"Ryloth." She doesn't expect the name to mean anything here. So far Guri is the only one who has recognized any planet that she knew. "My people are called Twi'leks."

And the nice thing about this place is she controls what terms people do and don't know. So she's making sure the correct one is out there.
light_of_willpower: (long hair profile talking)

Re: Luggage Car

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-04-16 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"What's it like there?" Trunks was curious. "I don't recognize it, but I'm not surprised by that. I only know aliens exist in my world because I'm half of one. Half-saiyan."
averyusefultray: (Default)

Re: Luggage Car

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-04-17 04:11 am (UTC)(link)
"The terrain varies a lot, but the planet is generally pretty hot." As much as one planet could be anything. "The wars have hit it hard, but it's full of good people. It's been a while since I've been back."

Which is no issue with the planet and every issue with her father but that's beside the point. "Where are Saiyans from?"

SHe probably won't have heard of it either if there's Earth involved, but still.
light_of_willpower: (long-hair-armor-smile-confident)

Re: Luggage Car

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-04-17 10:18 am (UTC)(link)
"I think they were originally from Vegeta-sei, but now they're...well, functionally extinct." Trunks said with a sad smile. "I'm the only one left in my timeline with any saiyan blood. In the alternate timeline, there's at least two full blooded saiyans left, and 2 half-saiyans, not counting my 'visiting' there. Apparently later on in that timeline a 3rd half-saiyan is born, and then a 4th, and there might be 1 quarter-blood."
averyusefultray: (Default)

Re: Luggage Car

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-04-18 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm sorry." Not really enough for genocide but... what is.

"ALternate timeline... you were familiar with that before?" Here she thought it was only a train thing.
light_of_willpower: (long hair profile talking)

Re: Luggage Car

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-04-18 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"I was. I traveled through time to what was 'the past' for me, and it spun off into a different timeline. I actually went back to that timeline after a year of my own time, and that's where the train plucked me from. That alternate timeline." Hopefully that made sense?
averyusefultray: (Default)

Re: Luggage Car

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-04-19 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
"Did that make--" She gestures vaguely around the train "All of this easier to follow?"

It's all very strange.
light_of_willpower: (long hair profile talking)

Re: Luggage Car

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-04-22 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes and no. Some of it was bound to be weird no matter what. But at least I was already comfortable with the idea of interdimensional travel and potential time troubles."
averyusefultray: (Default)

Re: Luggage Car

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-04-22 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
"It's a good place to start from. I think it would get more complicated if the person from my world's future wasn't a stranger." She's guessing, of course, since she doesn't have anything to compare it to. "ANy one time has enough trouble on its own."
light_of_willpower: (long hair profile talking)

Re: Luggage Car

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-04-23 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"I have nothing really to add or disagree with, in those statements." Trunks said, with a soft laugh at the end.