voidtreckermods: (sparkly train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2021-05-01 07:50 am

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!
nutkrusher: (WHOA WTF)

Arrival

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-05-01 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Cassie HAS learned to sense energy. And...holy shit, she's not sure if she's ever seen anything with any of her senses that was that hard to not notice. She's flying over toward it before she's even entirely aware that's what she's doing.

She holds up three fingers in a kind of soft wave.

"Hello. You look like you need an orientation."
4starlowclasshero: (What do you mean?)

Re: Arrival

[personal profile] 4starlowclasshero 2021-05-01 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, I could really use the help here..." Goku admitted, grinning sheepishly.

He does notice that power coming from her... is that god ki, too?
nutkrusher: (Let's Get Down to Business)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-05-01 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
No, not quite. It's something different. Something foreign, not quite like anything he's seen before. What's more, a lot of it feels like it's blocked off, like it's inside of a box that can only occasionally be opened.

"Well, that train over there's the Voidtrecker Express. And you're going to be living there for however long it feels like you should be there. It travels between worlds that need help, and the people on board are the people who give 'em that help. In this case, 'help' usually involves fighting something evil. So, long story short, you've been pressganged into a private army."
4starlowclasshero: (Default)

[personal profile] 4starlowclasshero 2021-05-01 09:58 pm (UTC)(link)
That is such an odd feeling. He'll have to ask more about it. If he stays.

"Nah, no thanks. I'm no hero" Goku said nonchalantly. "I don't mind fighting, but I'm no hero. I don't do the good and evil thing."
nutkrusher: (Worried)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-05-01 10:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Cassie sighs and shakes her head. "Wish it were as easy as just saying no. But if you don't get on the train, the train'll make you get on it."
4starlowclasshero: (Huh?)

[personal profile] 4starlowclasshero 2021-05-02 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
"Hmm... I think I can solve that!" Goku said, turning around and bringing his index and middle fingers up to his forehead and... doing nothing.

"...okay, that's weird. Hold on a second."

He turns around, facing the train, still in that same pose and fades out in front of Cassie before returning a split second later.

"Weird, I can sense everything in there, but not out there..."
nutkrusher: (Listening Intently)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-05-02 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
Cassie blinks as he seems to vanish for a moment. She's none too perturbed, though - she's seen stranger, especially in the last few months.

"Yeah, I've noticed that, too," she says.

Of course, she hadn't learned how to sense energy until she got here. But that'd be getting ahead of herself.

"From what I've heard, what happens is that if the train leaves this platform and you're not on it, you'll die and wake up in the luggage compartment. I've seen some powerful fighters try to break down the door to the engine room of this train, and they've all failed. I'm pretty sure it's indestructible."
Edited 2021-05-02 01:26 (UTC)
4starlowclasshero: (Grin)

[personal profile] 4starlowclasshero 2021-05-02 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
"Huh. Weird." Goku uttered. "But, hey, maybe I can give it a try? Who knows, I could end up breaking it down!"
nutkrusher: (Saiyan Armor)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-05-02 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
"If you think you've got a way that won't hurt anybody else, sure," Cassie says.

"I know there's at least one person in here who's got just about as strong an aura as you do."
4starlowclasshero: (Grin)

[personal profile] 4starlowclasshero 2021-05-02 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Woah, really?!" Goku said, excited. "Who is it? I can't wait to meet him!"
nutkrusher: (Maaaaybe)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-05-02 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
"His name's Vegeta," Cassie says. "You know him from back home?"

Something about this guy suggests that he does. He's got Saiyan written all over him.
4starlowclasshero: (Grin)

[personal profile] 4starlowclasshero 2021-05-02 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Vegeta's here?!" Goku said, excitement in his voice. Oh, boy, he has his sparring buddy here!

"...wait, he's been here the entire time and he didn't even bother to contact me?!"

Yep, that sounds kinda like Vegeta.
nutkrusher: (Maaaaybe)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-05-02 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
"It's basically impossible to send messages out of here," Cassie says. "We were just on a world where we could do that, but that was the first time since I've been here."

She pauses.

"So...would I be right in guessing you're Goku?"
4starlowclasshero: (Default)

[personal profile] 4starlowclasshero 2021-05-03 03:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yep, that's me!" he replied. "I take it I've been talked about?"
nutkrusher: (Let's Get Down to Business)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-05-03 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah," Cassie says. "There's a couple other people here who know you, too. Trunks and Bulma."

Also Bulla and Piccolo until about two minutes ago, but she won't be getting into that.

"Your energy definitely feels as strong as I'd have thought it would."
4starlowclasshero: (Grin)

[personal profile] 4starlowclasshero 2021-05-04 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Goku chuckled a bit. "Yeah, well, it's a long story, but I'm hoping to go further in strength."
nutkrusher: (Confidence)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-05-05 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
"Hard same," Cassie says. "Some of your friends have been teaching me since I've been here."