voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post May]

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A New Platform [Intro Post May]

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I. The Usual Morning Activities - Kitchen Car

Platform day in the morning always means the same thing: Soldat in the kitchen car bright and early, working harder than usual to get breakfast done, lunch started, and a few batches of cookies for the new passengers ready for baking. Today they're bopping from counter to sink to oven to counter again to the sounds of some pretty bright pop music rather than the typical jazz.

As is often the case, their little glowing ghost figurine floats along the counter between trays and mixing bowls and things, occasionally rattling plastic chains at Soldat (or anyone else nearby) for attention.

II. A Sad Platform - Platform (obviously)

"No," Soldat says, as the doors open and Prisoner walks right out. "Oh, no."

For the first time, they follow a leaving passenger, actually trying tentatively to catch his arm, to get his attention. They stop at the barricades and stare after him in consternation, watching others they actually know and like leaving, as well. Prisoner, gone. Yoite, gone. Ichigo, gone. Renee, gone. The young man Dyme who had clearly wanted the other version of them, gone. (It's not quite as terrible seeing the man with their own face leaving, maybe.)

They take several long minutes to drag their attention away from the vanished passengers and to the new. They don't try to dredge up a smile, but they do look for anyone particularly frightened-looking to see if they can help.

III. Welcome Wagon - All Over

With their purchases tucked safely away-- most of which was for the storage car anyway, for prepping mission meals-- or delivered-- in Ghost's case-- Soldat collects their various batches of cookies, piles them attractively on a platter, and sets about prowling the train once it takes off. They're putting the sadness aside, for now. They're going to help people. That always makes them feel better.

"Hey," they tell new people with a small smile and an offer of the plate. "Doing okay? Anything I can do to help?"

Older friends get offered cookies, too, though the smile isn't quite as good.

IV. Post-Welcomes - Music Car

Frankly, they're not sure what they want to do, come evening. They should be used to loss; they lost so many, so many, people in Beacon. They (sorta-kinda) came to grips with the people they knew back when they were a person all being dead now. All of those were people they knew longer, loved harder. But it's still hitting them hard, today.

So they skipped training tonight, and instead they're sitting at the piano, alternately plunking tunelessly at the keys with metal fingers (maybe occasionally wandering into a melody, mostly by accident) and turning to fold origami on the piano bench next to them. Come cheer up the sad murder machine, somebody.

V. Wildcard!

After platform day, Soldat settles back into their standard routine, and they're really easy to find. Want cooking lessons or a free snack in the guise of a taste test? Here's your chance, find them in the kitchen working steadily away on meals for the upcoming mission. Want fighting (or falling) lessons? Find them in the evening in the training car. Want origami lessons? Standard car. Really, they can be just about anywhere, listening to music on their tablet or making origami or just quietly watching people.

Ken is not a morning person, but he'd hauled himself to luggage and then all the way over to medical, so he might as well walk a few cars to the kitchen. He rubs his face at the sudden explosion of music and instantly realizes who it is who's there. He wanders past and goes to grab some coffee before staring at Soldat.

The stare is kind of uncomfortable. Soldat notes it then tries to ignore it, settling only for, "Good morning, Ken." If the kid needs something, surely he'll say so, right? Maybe?

Bucky/Soldat | MCU | Purple Team | OTA

I

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morning kitchen

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IV

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Welcome Wagon

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wildcard pickups

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Music

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iv

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V

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II sad time :(

III

A Sad Platform