voidtreckerexpress | 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Negotiating with terrorists is not a 'fragile' line to cross," the book said with a huff.

"You are so threatened by witty words that you withdraw without finding fun?" he asked with a smirk. "Guess I shouldn't have judged this book by it's cover since for a moment you almost looked impressive." He smirked again and yawned, stretching. "If this is your idea of terrorism, I hope you never see anyone truly terrifying. You'd ink yourself for sure."

Edited (Added an extra letter. ) 2021-05-13 07:09 (UTC)

"Throw planets at him!"

A bunch of minions hurried off, then came back with a gas giant precariously balanced above their heads.

This probably raised several questions.

"Don't you know that no planet survives contact with the enemy?" He quipped to cover the fact that he was sweating mentally now. How was he supposed to avoid THAT without letting people see that he COULD do magic? Not good. Not good not good not good. How was he gonna get out of this one...? Oh!

"Guess your minions don't get the gravity of the situation?" Yes, he was hanging his hopes on the laws of cartoon logic, that having pointed it out it would cause the prinies to realize that they should be squashed against the surface of the planet and they'd be unable to throw it....

"Hyaaaaha ha ha ha ha! Behold my revenge!"

Charging forward, the minions promptly tripped over each other's feet, stumbled, and fell. The gas giant drifted out of their hands and into the distance, like a beach ball drifting off in the breeze. It was a GAS giant, after all...

He stared for a moment, then burst out laughing. "I should have realized your threat was full of hot air."

The Overlord sputtered. "Hey, it could have been a cold gas giant. Those are things too. You should be glad I didn't shove Neptune up Uranas!"

"Hey! See! You can make a pun too, so long as you plan-et!"

"THROW ALL REALITY AT HIM!"

Did Spark really want to stick around and see just how THAT was going to go?

Yeah, actually he did. Because that was clearly not actually possible. So he stretched and smirked. "All of it? Really? I think your failure really threw you off your stride, huh? Or do you think I'd just book it on out of here and the thread would have you covered?"

The minions, as one, grabbed for -- apparently nothing, and then yanked on it. The entire scene lifted up and away into their hands, leaving them, Zetta, and the cat all in a blank white void.

"So basically what you're telling me is your minions don't think you're real. Wow, that's gotta hurt the pride."

"Uh, no, I'm more fundamentally real than anything you can possibly comprehend, because of the mana power." Zetta figured this explanation would work better than "pre-rendered background vs. sprites".

"The manna power?" he repeated, amused as if that was a cute and pathetic attempt to make actual words. "Is that for people who think the need to manna up and fail to do so? Or are you just so energized with joy that you get a thrill that you are currently talking to me?"

"Okay, those don't even work at all," Zetta said, as the minions swung reality violently at the cat.

Luckily, it was the equivalent of swatting a pesky feline with a broom. All of reality had a lot of empty space in it, as it happened.

He did his best to dodge, anyway. "Sorry, but getting hit with the real is not my cup of tea."

Good luck with that, considering it was -- you know, reality. Kinda hard to dodge, what with being everything and all things and that.

"Hey!" he said pleased after rolling back to his feet. "Hardly Hurt! How Heavy was that? It was lighter weight than you, and not at all worth the wait!"

"You know reality is a hell of a lot of empty space, right?" Zetta heaved a long sigh. "Countless light-years between stars and everything. What are you expecting?"

"How am I supposed to know that? I'm a cat..." he said, ear twitching slightly. He even added, I'm funny, not smart, you know."

"It's sad that you think that," Zetta said, as the minions carefully put reality back where it belonged.

"Wait, you think I'm smart? I mean, I am rather dapper..."

"Man, you're in your own little world..."

"And here I was thinking that I was out of this world since you know, you just threw it at me and all."

"And then I put it back, so here you are again." Come on.

(no subject)

death_from_above - 2021-07-01 09:07 (UTC) - Expand

badassfreakingoverlord - 2021-07-01 14:58 (UTC) - Expand

Ty for the thread.

death_from_above - 2021-07-02 03:30 (UTC) - Expand