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

[blitzcheer]

"Senku's a good guy to talk to," he says first, without any hesitation. But there is a furrow of his brow as he thinks about anyone else. "He's smart. We've got books too, in a library, but there was him... oh yeah, and there was someone..."

A woman. But as Tidus tries to remember her name, the silence grows, as he ends up looking back at the man with a sheepish expression.

"Uh, sorry - that's the only name I remember. The girl I used to know who was big about learning everything left a few platform stops ago..."

And unfortunately, the subject of the void and how it works isn't really one he gets into, to really know who knows their stuff. But he makes a sound, dismissing that small bumble to finish answering the man.

"Anyway, yeah. This train used to be famous in the past and had its own crew, but they disappeared, and then this thing reappeared when it started yanking people from their worlds. We know something about what happened, but... it's all really vague."

[intelinside]

"Senku," Phineas repeats. "All right." And when it seems like Tidus is trying to remember someone else's name, he waits patiently, though it turns out Tidus can't recall -- and that whoever it was has already left, anyway.

"That's fine. Senku's a good starting point." He'll make note of that name once he sits down, he doesn't feel like messing with his rucksack again right now. "And I appreciate anything you can tell me."

So even if it isn't a lot of scientific information about the void, or even why all of this is happening beyond 'press-ganged into helping people, apparently(?)', that's fine. Phineas has a few things to work with, now.

"Huh. I wonder why it stopped doing things legitimately." And what happened to its old crew. That's a bit concerning, frankly. "Well, thank you. It's good of you to check on the new people." He offers out a hand. "I'm Phineas Mason."

[blitzcheer]

He takes the hand, shaking it. "Tidus - just Tidus. I can tell you what I know, but the stuff with the train - maybe you wanna settle some more, get your bearings 'n' all?" The guy was on the cool side of things, all things considered, but the day was busy, and it'd be a better conversation for later.

"But there's consoles on the train, a screen. You seen that ticket you got? There's a slot to stick it in, and it'll bring up the passenger roster. You'll see Senku's face on there. And maybe someone you know."

He says it on a hopeful note, but only some.

[intelinside]

"All right, Tidus." Frankly, he had a point, and Phineas nods. "Later, then. This is a lot to take in," he admits. He might be used to weird new things happening in his life, but this is weird even for him, and less welcome than a lot of what's come before in several ways.

He put his ticket in his lanyard when he'd found the two things earlier, and looks at it now, then smiles faintly at Tidus. "That's good to know. I'll take a look. And I'll try to find you later when I feel a little more settled."

[blitzcheer]

"No problem, man. I'll be around!" he says with a friendly mirth, a joke. "Got nowhere else I can go."

And probably not the most appropriate at this time, but no less the truth. But he gives him a nod farewell, a quick thrown in, "Ask about the missions when you can, one's coming up soon," and hopefully, the guy'll get settled in with time.

...whatever that really means, on this crazy ride.