A New Platform [Intro Post May]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

Like clockwork, the Voidtreckers are awoken by a familiar message this morning.

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Llama. Points have been updated on the system."

With points updated, everyone can spend the morning shopping. Most people will be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later.

"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 air is sticky and warm, the windows almost immediately dewing over with the humidity outside.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Azula, Prisoner, Amery Vallet, Dyme Graydon, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Yoite, Piccolo, Bulla Brief, Xie Lian, Kurosaki Ichigo, Hua Cheng, Renee Corbin, and Ran Mouri; all pass through the platform, not looking back before they disappear through the barriers and into the fog beyond.

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 find themselves on a platform, rich wood and pale stone forming a natural, tree-like structure overhead. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single set of tracks extending both ways into thick fog. The air is rainforest-hot, and the sound of frogsong can be faintly heard over the drip of the artificial canopy.

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 fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform isn't large, and seems smaller with twenty-eight figures scattered around, all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. Then there is 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 pours a strange assortment of people, over a hundred at least. 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.

Behind them, the doors close, and the train is cloaked in the same fog that hides the world beyond the platform.

The Train

After a short time, the fog clears and 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 several crates of nori, the ingredient of the month of Llama, as well as all sundries.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. For each member of Purple Team, a small silver box with their name on it contains a glittery cupcake.

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, but at least they won't be alone in their confusion - since the sleeper carriages are now double-decker, and experience isn't going to avail the passengers in finding their rooms.

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.

The new double carriage's transfer ICP is active, allowing people to move to a double room should they meet the requirements with another person, though they'll have to move their belongings themselves.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers taking advantage of the fresh air, and 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

Leia Organa | Star Wars (Wake CRAU) | OTA

[motherofresistance]

Platform

When the fog cleared and Leia found herself suddenly not in her residence in Kaliste, but instead standing on a train platform in unfamiliar clothes, her first reaction was probably not what one might expect. Instead of fear or confusion- well, OK, there was some confusion, but not nearly as much as there probably should be-, her reaction was primarily one of mild exasperation. "Well, here we go again," she muttered to herself with a bit of a sigh. She had hoped that her 'vacation' would last a bit longer...

Still, there was no point just standing around. Before she did anything else, she paused a moment to set down her rucksack and strip off her hoodie, as this place's climate bore a strong resemblance to Yavin IV's. She stuffed the hoodie into the rucksack, then closed it again- making a mental note to examine its contents properly later- and took quick stock of her surroundings. She scanned the crowd of people for someone nearby who didn't look too confused, then approached them, intending to ask a few questions. Time to figure out where she was and what was going on.

Settling In (closed to roommates)

Leia checked her ticket one last time, matching it against the cabin number on the door before her: Upper Two, Cabin E. She nodded in satisfaction; it looked like she'd found the correct one. She also noted the other names listed as occupants of the cabin. Two were male names, ordinary enough ones by Earth standards if she recalled correctly; she'd have to find out which was which if they weren't inclined to introduce themselves at first. It was the third name that raised an eyebrow though. She was rooming with... Death? It was likely a measure of the tolerance for strangeness that life in Nautilus had given her that this fact didn't cause more than a raised eyebrow, but given her current state in her own galaxy, it was a bit funny in an ironic sort of way.

She swiped the ticket on the scanner, and the door obediently opened up to admit her. "Hello," she said to whoever she found there, smiling slightly. "It looks like I'm your new roommate." A quick glance at the sleeping arrangements, and she added, "Is one of the lower bunks still free? At my age I'm not especially keen on having to climb a ladder to get in and out of bed."

Exploring the Train

Once she had her things put away, Leia decided to take some time to explore the train that was apparently her new home for the foreseeable future. Since the sleeper cars were closer to the back of the train, she headed to the rear first, and then began gradually making her way forward, taking note of each car's features, purpose, and available facilities as she did so. The purpose of most of them was thankfully fairly straightforward, so she didn't need to linger in cars where she might well be in the way of people trying to get things done or who just knew their way around better, but she did stop awhile in the spa car- it had been a long while since she'd seen the inside of a spa, and made note of a few of its amenities to try later- and the greenhouse car. It was a bit too well organized to properly resemble it, but walking among the greenery brought to mind fond memories of spending time with the Fourth Doctor in his own greenhouse and the medical bay, which sometimes also resembled one. He would have been glad to see such a feature included.

When her basic exploration of the train was complete, she got herself a cup of tea from the kitchens and headed to the library car to try and find a good book to read. Tolerance for strangeness or no, the chaos surrounding getting dragged across time and space was tiring, and she hoped to get a bit of a chance to let it all settle a bit before really getting into things the following day.

Re: Leia Organa | Star Wars (Wake CRAU) | OTA

[guru_clef]

Someone might have floated over as soon as he saw her. He might have also been floating over everyone's heads, so you know, her being short didn't make it as hard for him as it might for others.

"LEIA!" he called as he floated closer.

Would she remember him? Zelda hadn't, but Nita and Link had. Well, he'd know soon enough!

He floated down to eye level with her, smiling brightly.

Re: Leia Organa | Star Wars (Wake CRAU) | OTA

[motherofresistance]

Leia never could help a twinge of envy at that particular ability. Rude, Clef, floating like that. Where's your short person solidarity?

But regardless, she smiled just as brightly upon seeing him, clearly recognizing him. "Clef!", she said. "It seems I'm not the only former resident of Nautilus to end up here. Good to see you."

Re: Leia Organa | Star Wars (Wake CRAU) | OTA

[najaran]

Najaran didn't look confused! Confusing perhaps, but not confused. She was heading out to give her cards some chance to stretch and breathe, but smiled when she saw someone who was probably new looking around.

"Hello!" she said, with a cheerful and friendly smile.

"Hello," the man-headed cane in her hand said as well.

Re: Leia Organa | Star Wars (Wake CRAU) | OTA

[motherofresistance]

Leia smiled back at the girl and was about to return the greeting when her cane greeted her as well. That prompted a momentary pause and a raised eyebrow before she continued. "Hello," she said. "I was wondering if either of you could tell me where I've ended up?" She was going to assume the cane was sentient for now, and not some sort of strange pet who could mimic speech.

platform!

[forceshadowed]

It feels like a dream at first — she’s back at the Jedi Academy, in the sweltering heat of the jungles of Yavin, dressed in a strange new uniform. She pulls her hoodie off, tying it around her waist to get it out of the way and in the process noticing the rucksack that she doesn’t recall carrying onto her back. She finishes just as the fog begins to recede and the gleaming black train arrives.

The Voidtrecker Express. Huh. People pour out of the train and she realizes that it’s a form of public transport. But to where? And why isn’t she traveling by ship? She pats herself for her comlink, and when she doesn’t find it, she turns to rummage through the contents of her rucksack. Still nothing, but she does find her lightsaber, as well as a ticket with her name. Clutching it, she glances around. Someone’s made arrangements for her, but who—

Her heart stops for a moment as her gaze lands on a familiar pair of eyes, and in the next she’s moving towards Leia, weaving quickly through the sea of people on the platform. What is she doing here?

“Mom?” Jaisyn greets, though it comes out as a question instead.

Re: platform!

[motherofresistance]

It was difficult to get a proper sense of anyone on the platform. Not only due to being surrounded by so many people, some of them frightened and/or confused, but also due to the simple disorientation physically, mentally, and in the Force that came from such a sudden and dramatic relocation. However, there was no mistaking the inherent connection between herself and the dark haired young woman who seemed to be making a beeline for her.

And the feeling was cemented when the young woman hesitantly greeted her. She knew it was true, the same way she had known that Luke was her brother. And yet, it wasn't quite the same; the connection had that same sort of odd quality to it as her connection with the Luke she'd met in Nautilus, the one from another version of her galaxy. Like and yet unlike. Though that gave her an idea of who she might be talking to, given that the young woman had called her 'mom'.

"Jaina?", she said. Like the young woman's greeting, it was at least partly a question.

Re: Leia Organa | Star Wars (Wake CRAU) | OTA

[death_from_above]

He knew that scent. As a cat with dignity - when fish weren't involved - he never admitted to being as good a scent tracker as a dog. What cat would?

But he KNEW THAT SCENT!

An orange cat was now racing through the crowd, weaving underfoot around people walking, as he raced towards Leia. Would she remember him? One way to find out! He climbed up some other random person - Vexen, apparently - and launched himself at Leia. "DEATH FROM ABOVE!" The battle cry, after all, was essential.

Re: Leia Organa | Star Wars (Wake CRAU) | OTA

[motherofresistance]

It may have been essential, but it was just as much of a giveaway as it had ever been. Leia stepped aside, leaving Spark to pounce on empty air. Hopefully that bit about cats always landing on their feet was true.

Settling in

[acapriciousthing]

Death is technically much older, but she's hardly going to comment on that. For one thing, she doesn't look it. And for another, without actual tendons it doesn't matter. Besides, she has aeons in her yet. It's all relative.

So she just flashes a friendly smile. "I hadn't picked one yet. I figured I'd let everyone else figure it out first since I don't sleep."

Re: Settling in

[motherofresistance]

"I'm guessing you must be Death, then?", Leia said. The other didn't look like a 'Steve' or a 'Peter' to her, anyway. And didn't feel like one either, from what she could sense. "Can't say I expected to meet you in a place like this. Or quite as 'in the flesh' as you apparently are. When we met back home it was in the more... traditional way."

Platform

[averyusefultray]

Hera probably wouldn't have recognized her even if it occurred to her that a woman much older than herself might be someone she had recently described as "a good kid". Too long. It wasn't like Leia looked like her parents as a reference point.

But there are new people and she can offer a few answers after a month on board. "You don't look as confused as some of the others."

She knows from her roommates that the train isn't always the first stop after one's own world.

Re: Platform

[motherofresistance]

Hera might not recognize her, but Leia certainly recognized Hera. Though given how much younger Hera looked than the last time she'd seen her, there was likely a good bit of a gap between the times they were each last in their own galaxy.

"This isn't my first time being suddenly transported across time and space," Leia said. "Though I've got to say, there's a much larger welcoming committee this time around. Either way, though, it's good to see a somewhat familiar face, General Syndulla."

platform

[irrationally]

Alice definitely doesn't look confused. Not even by the way the train changes. Instead she looks.. well, it's hard to tell. Her expression is the default expression one may find on a teenager's face while they're at Hot Topic, so it's most likely best qualified as a middle road between bored and annoyed.

It shifts a little when the woman approaches her though. There's bit more curiosity in her gaze then, her eyebrows raising slightly.

".. is something the matter?"

[motherofresistance]

Ah, yes that was a look Leia knew well. Both from her own face when she was younger, and from Ben as he'd entered his early teens. "I don't think anything is 'the matter' per se," she said. "But given that I've apparently been instantly transported across time and space again, I do have a few pertinent questions, if you have a moment."

Exploring

[worthallthis]

As she comes into the kitchen looking for tea, Soldat is back to work. There's still a plate of cookies out on the counter, as well as the little plastic ghost hovering over it as if they could actually eat anything.

Soldat pauses as she comes in, looking up from the soup they're stirring. "Looking for something in particular? I can get it for you."

Re: Exploring

[motherofresistance]

Leia smiled, but shook her head. "Thank you, but no," she said. "I just arrived, so I'm simply getting the 'lay of the land', so to speak, since it seems likely I'll be here awhile."

She noticed the cookies, glancing over the plate in hopes of there being a few chocolate ones left, and saw the hovering plastic ghost. "Is this little fellow a friend of yours?"

Kitchen

[chocobosnap]

Prompto was just making himself a snack, to go with the cupcake he got since he was going to share that with Noctis anyway.

He smiled brightly at the stranger and moved out of her way. "S-Sorry." He stammered lightly.

Re: Kitchen

[motherofresistance]

Well there was a face Leia hadn't seen in awhile. Though the recognition clearly wasn't mutual. Thus she smiled, but didn't mention that she'd met him- or at least a version of him- before.

"For what?", Leia said. "Unless there's some sort of strict 'no snacking between meals' rule on this train that no one's mentioned to me yet, you're welcome to keep at it as far as I'm concerned." She stepped over toward the opposite side of the walkway to show him that he wasn't in her way.

"In fact, speaking of snacks, you wouldn't happen to know where a lady could get a cup of tea around here, would you? I've been checking out the train, but once I'm done with that, I'm hoping to sit down and let everything settle a bit, and that's always better with a good cup of tea."

Room for one more? Library

[soldier_blade]

She wouldn't be the only one seeking refugee in the library. Sonya did as much as she could to help the new arrivals get settled, but the chaos combined with the changing train wore at her patience until it was either head on board earlier than usual or risk snapping at some poor sap who's only fault was being too close.

The book was just some 'air port' novel, the sort of easy read that she wouldn't have to think too hard on, when the woman entered. Under normal circumstances, unless that person was on her team, Sonya left well enough alone; in this case, however, it was seeing someone who actually 'looked' around her age was enough to get her attention.

The elves were no longer on the train, and she supposed being around so many younger people made her feel her age even more.

"I'm afraid the books aren't entirely in order." For the most part it was a matter of 'catch as catch can'.

Always!

[motherofresistance]

It was indeed good to see more people apparently in her own age group in this place, and Leia smiled. "Well, maybe something can be done about that later," she said. "But for now, I wasn't looking for anything in particular. Just something to read while I let everything settle. Even if this isn't my first time being suddenly transported across time and space, it's been quite a day."

Exploring - Library

[scaledwolf]

It's a little while after his talk with his roommate, getting a little knowledge about what this was they were on. A train. He'd wanted to explore where things were, what things were in some cases. If this was going to be his home for the foreseeable future he should know it after all right? Though it's the library that his attention. All the books to be read, and it seemed like he'd have at least some time to read them.

Though as he comes in, he sees the woman with her tea and he pauses. "Apologies, my Lady. I did not mean to interrupt." Because now he's wondering if he should go and leave her in peace, or potentially try and find a book to borrow and take back to his room.

Exploring - Library

[goingthroughaphase]

Kitty is just coming out of the library when she feels a presence in front of her, and she came to a quick stop to avoid running into Leia. "Oh, sorry!" she said.

library

[writerkick]

[When Leia makes her way into the library, she'll find a large stack of books at the Red table, almost eclipsing the woman behind it. She seems to have grabbed every book related to the Void that the library has to offer, and she's poring over them.

Although, as Leia enters, Kotoha does manage to look up.]

Ah, I'll put the ones I'm done with away soon, if you're looking for any of these.

Exploring the Train

[achickenformylove]

WangJi happened to be in the kitchen, having a cup of tea, when Leia entered. He glanced up at her and then stood, clasping his hands in front and giving her a bow in greeting. He didn't often greet others beyond more than a head nod, but it was more polite.

"Greetings."

She'd also probably notice that he wasn't wearing normal train clothes, but long white and blue robes.