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

It's not unusual to see people wandering around, especially not on this day. Tidus is in the middle of checking out a suitcase in luggage, fairly large, a sack of some kind taking up most of the room, while a cluster of bottles and what appears to be two pairs of arm bracers sit tucked to the side.

But he looks up when he senses someone else in there, which isn't anything unusual either; lifting his chin in a nod.

"New? Getting a hang of the different carriages?"

Ah. This looks like the end of the 'train', if the lack of a door on the other side is anything to go by. "... Ja, I am. It's... quite a lot to take in. I suppose it is a good thing I travel a lot, or else it would be difficult to get from one end to the other."

There's a small laugh, more of a huff. "Oh, yeah. Better than it used to be though, now. You been through the cabin cars? They all used to be a long line too."

Lucky newcomers aren't gonna know the travel there.

"You fine with giant spider girls? 'Cause we have one that'll teleport people over to the dining car in the mornings. Shorter travel."

You know. As an option.

"... Giant... spider girls." Uh. Explain?

"She's like a giant spider about this big." This big being at least, this high, his hand coming somewhere above his head and making a horizontal motion, then both arms attempting to spreead ooout for the body and legs!! "All of this part, she's a spider? But then she grew a human body that sticks out on top, with a head. No legs though."

You know, just explaining spider-girls!!

Oh. He looks at the guy, nodding once. "She's nice. Shy, but nice. She can make clothes and do magic."

Also very important to include!

He looks dubious until he mentions 'magic', at which point he perks up a bit. "Ah, do you know what kind? I suppose you did say teleportation, which would be conjuration magic... oh, but if she's some sort of creature it might be one outside of the normal nine schools of magic..."

You may need to stop him, Tidus.

Stopping? Actually, his brow stitches together as he tries thinking.

"I know she knows a whole bunch, but I forgot most of them." Yeah, he asked once. And totally forgot 90% of them. "She can teleport though, heal, weave magic into anything she makes? I dunno, you'd have to ask - she might like talkin' 'bout that stuff."

So, no problem sending her a potential magic-talking buddy, right??

"There's a few magic users on the train, if that's your thing. Even people who make potions."

"I'll have to speak to her. Normally I'd say that she sounds like a dangerous monster, but... I think my definition of monster has... changed somewhat... in the past few years." Between running with a 'goblin' and seeing how the more 'monstrous' races live in Xhorhas, it's expanded somewhat.

"I dunno what life was like for her back where she's from, but she's been nothing but friendly here. She's a big help to the train," Tidus shares earnestly. He likes his spider friend, ok! Only a good reputation here on this express ride!

"She hangs out in the dressing carriage. The one with all the cobwebs, you can't miss it. She might be playing videogames if you go see her now."

"... What is a videogame?" There are so many things he has to learn here. Forgive him Tidus, he is from fantasyland.

"Guessing you're from a world with magic, but you don't have anything like trains or washing machines?"

It's ok, fantasyman, Tidus is very sympathetic, even as he asks that with some humour. He'll get to the question, just-

"Last one's kinda important for clothes washing around here."

Unless this magic-interested guy has a 'clean clothes' magic button in him.

"That's right. ... I... ah." He's kept his clothes mostly clean, but he also has lived on the road for the past... while. And he doesn't have Prestidigitation, so he can't just instantly clean his clothes. "No."

"No problem!" There's no trace of judgment in his voice, easy and relaxed. "A videogame is... well, you'd call this train a machine, right? It's got bits inside it that makes it run. It's built. A videogame's like that - it's a machine you can play games on."

Tidus tips his head. "You're gonna wanna know how to use some of other stuff around here before that, but you'll get the hang of it. Oh yeah," he says after a beat, "I'm Tidus, by the way. You got any questions, I've been here around...six months, now."

And he says that, zipping up the suitcase he'd been looking through before.

... He's still confused, but maybe he'll figure it out later. "Ah. M... my name is Caleb Widogast." Despite what his stupid piece of parchment says...

"I am... still unsure as to what we are supposed to be dong. I read the material provided, but..." Multiple perspectives helps, and he's also not convinced it isn't propaganda.

"Riiight..." It's a slow but understanding thing, Tidus sighing quietly, hands coming to rest on his bent knees.

"We're here to go on missions. One day - one day pretty soon, in about a week, we're gonna get a message on this-" he raises his hand with the SCA around his wrist, tapping it, "-telling us a place that needs our help, and what the teams need to do. We're dropped off there, and we do what we have to to fix whatever's up."

Tidus then shrugs, energy lacklustre, arms coming out. "Then we're picked back up and wait 'til the next mission. But the missions? That's why we're brought here - 'cause the train needs people to be heroes."

The easiness and hint of mirth that had been in his voice before has gone, lacking warmth, but not cold. Just used to it, this reality. That's the reason they're all there - why they're stuck.

"... Who is in charge of this 'train'? And its measure of heroes..." Well. To some people, maybe. For him it's trying to pay off a debt that'll never be repaid. "What sort of missions are we discussing, anyway?"

He's had quite enough of 'missions' for one lifetime... or several.

He sits back some, expression helpless as he reveals, "No one's in charge of the train. It's kinda like..." There's a pause as he thinks, brow furrowed, but- "It's hard to explain without you knowing about tech, but it's got an objective, right? Say like... a spell that tells it what it's supposed to do. So it's doing that - the only way it knows how."

Does that even make sense? Tidus wouldn't blame the guy for not getting it, and so he goes on, to a far easier answer:

"Anyway, the missions are... they're pretty different, but someone, somewhere, always needs saving. Villages, worlds; something's going on, and we need to fix it. Easiest way of explaining them."

That part makes more sense. Like a programmed illusion, but not as an illusion. He settles slightly, eyebrow raised a bit.

"Most of my 'saving' has not been... quite so directed. I... admit that I do not take directions very well. My friend takes it even less well than I do. And neither of us are used to doing anything like that with so many people." This is basically a village full of people. Getting them all on task will be impossible.

He puts a hand on the handles of the suitcase, makes it disappear a second after as he says, saying with a nonchalant tone, "The SCA's just tell you what's up and what's gotta be done. Protecting a city, going after gates, checking out towers. Purple's a lot of fighting, but you should go wherever you think you can do some good. If you wanna even go."

It wasn't like he'd be forced. Tidus stands, stretching his limbs some.

"You do what you want. Some of the teams have roles and that, but it's just if you wanna do things that way. You know? We're all different. It's expected."

A village is too kind of a comparison to the train, at least. It is what it is: a revolving forced imprisonment of too many cultures and differences to ever be of a single mind.

"But there're people here to help."

The sudden disappearance of the suitcase makes him jolt slightly. "... Ah f... fighting... I'm not unfamiliar with it, I just... am not a frontline fighter." Look at him, he's a twig. And not in the pretty anime boy sense. "So... I do not know. I will likely go where Beauregard does. She and I function very well as a unit..."

Or they will when he can use most of his spells.

"I... will have to see what she thinks about it. Neither of us are going to let th eother wander off on our own."

"You've got a friend with you? Great!" And Tidus does sound happy for the guy, smiling. "If you're not big on fighting, Orange and Blue are good for that. Red gets the real 'go out there and kick some ass' jobs, and Purple's usually behind that. Blue can get into fights too, but it's gotten a lot of easier jobs," in Tidus's opinion, "lately: animal herding, that kinda thing."

Or people herding, considering the last mission.

"Orange gets magic-ky stuff sometimes, but sometimes it's tech too. You won't know 'til the day."

"I suppose I'll have to see. I am not... an artificer by any means. Magic I can handle. I am not shy of a fight, I simply need a... better vantage point. As well as some preparation, as I have a lack of materials, unfortunately..."

It's very frustrating. "But I know she will want to go where there is fighting. She'll be disappointed if she isn't there."

"What kind of materials do you need?" He isn't sure what that means, but he's curious, and his thoughts drift to someone, adding after a moment, "Raven, she's got crafting stuff. She uses magic too. She's Purple team - I can show you a picture of her, if you want."

"I... it's varied. I think sulfur and bat guano may be some of the more difficult utility ones to get my hands on right now."

Yes, bat guano. No one ever said magic wasn't dirty.

Shit bombs, is what Tidus's very simple brain thinks; luckily, he can sometimes control his mouth to not come out with the first thought.

"Dooon't think we have those onboard, but uh, what do they make?"

wandering

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