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!

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Ah, Taiki to the rescue! Tidus takes it with a "thanks", but it's tough job getting it from Taiki with the spinning wheels. But he does, noticing the changing numbers; brow furrowing at the sight.

"My name was on the box," he shares helplessly, turning and twisting it. "Maybe I got it for someone...?"

He pokes one of the wheels, but that doesn't deter its spinning for more than a second.

"It's not from Zanarkand. At least... I don't remember it."

"Oh." It didn't look like anything he was familiar with either. "It does look a little like a robot perhaps... What does it say on the screen?"

It had a small screen, so perhaps it was computerised.

Strange that Tidus can't remember buying it though.

"...numbers?" He'd give an exact number, but this thing doesn't want to settle on any, which starts to make Tidus think with that brain of his. Lifting up the wheelie number thingy higher, he watches as the...numbers keep changing as they were before, changing directions of where he points it.

"Maybe it's a signal? ... ...But I don't remember buying anything like that either." So, what could it be...

"...Hello?"

That's to their little wheelie friend, but trying to talk to it doesn't change anything about it, and after a few seconds, Tidus puts it down - letting it roam again freely in whichever direction it wants, while he goes back to pick up the box.

"What if the train got the name wrong? Think that's it?" It's never happened to him before, but what if? The discarded box is easy to find, but again as before, the name on it is his, and he sees nothing else about it on the cardboard.

"Numbers?" He tilted his head as Tidus put down the small machine and watched it start to roll around again.

"I've never heard of names getting mixed up, but perhaps... Is there anything you are missing? Perhaps someone got your parcel instead..."

"Uh, lemme keep looking." He goes over to one large suitcase, bending down. "I haven't checked this one yet. Let's see..."

He has to lean over to get all the sides unzipped, but as he does, there's a large sack inside, a cluster of bottles, packets and - bracers. Tidus hums a small 'aha!' under his breath, picking up one of the bracers and turning it over. A glance lets him count how many there are, and it's a disappointment there aren't more, but Tidus waves Taiki over.

"Hey, come here." And, when he has, Tidus lifts the bracer. "Try this on."

Taiki watched the small machine for a moment more as Tidus opened up his parcel, he walks over when Tidus calls him and looks a the bracer, taking it to try it on as asked.

"Armour?"

Once Taiki properly fits it in, he'll feel a warmth go over his body from the bracer, then a quick waft of air, a lightness to his body. A waft of air that Tidus notices some himself, though-

"Yeah!" --gotta answer Taiki. "It should be like the golem shield. But easier to manage, right? I want you to keep it. I know you'll have to take it off as a kirin, but..."

But, well. Protection. Keeping safe, wherever he is. That should be manageable. At least he has the arms band he can put it away in.

"You like it?"

He blinks at the warmth, the waft of air. Like the shield, but a bracer instead. It was a bit better, not having to carry the shield and allowing a shield to be going to someone who might need a shield in a fight.

"Thank you Tidus." He smiled, "It was kind of you to think of me."

"'Course! I want you to be safe, wherever you are," he says earnestly, a passionate nod to go with it. He picks up one of the others. "I got one for Inigo too! And then these other two..."

There's a look back at them, but after a moment, he goes to grab the lid, to bring the suitcase to a close again.

"Man, there's a few people I could give them too. Wonder if I should just stick 'em in supplies?" Ha- "I guess I could do with one too."

"Yes you should wear one as well." It's important that Tidus is safe, though he often thinks of others before he even thinks of himself. "You could put the fourth in the supplies, for anyone who needs it."

Did he buy them thinking he'd keep one? Tidus eyes the one Taiki has for a second, then smiles to himelf, nodding after.

"Yeah, sounds good. They wouldn't be bad to let people know about." The suitcase disappears into his arms band, and he takes up; still hearing the wheels of that odd device going, and he looks around to search it out. "I don't know what to do about that thing though... ah," he sighs. "I've gotta start writing down what I buy more."

Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't.

He nodded, he was sure it would be useful for others to wear, after all everyone needed protection on the missions.

He glanced towards the source of the noise himself and frowned, "You cannot think of anything that is missing? Perhaps we can ask around, see if anyone bought a... robot?"

Is that what it was? It wasn't like any of the robots they had come across on missions.

"Sure," he says sheepishly; half because he really can't remember what he would have ordered with wheels, and... now they have to catch it again, don't they. Tidus starts to walk, following the noise of the little wheels in motion for the general idea of where it is. "I'll stick it in my arms. Did you get everything?"

"Yes." He nodded, "I collected everything I ordered."

He moved around, keeping his eyes out for the small wheeled thing. "Over there..."

He moved cautiously towards it, not wanting to lose it again.

Tidus sees it! It seems to be stuck trying to get around some suitcases left on the floor, bumping repeatedly into one. Tidus starts to sneak around one himself, hands coming u-

"whauuhhUUHAAHH-"

nevermind he's tripping on the side of the suitcase, hopping, hopping, hopping to keep his balance!!!

--and down Tidus falls regardless of his efforts, his face finding the comfort of an empty suitcase that flattens under his weight, a small 'oopfh!'

The wheeled machine finally gets itself around from the odd corner it was trapped in, and zooms off -- directly towards Taiki's feet, bumping into them.

"Tidus!"

Taiki calls out in worry as Tidus falls but also the small wheeled thing is at his feet. He bends down quickly and grabs it, picking it up and holding it tightly as he rushes to his friends side.

"Are you hurt?"

The things wheels are still spinning, but Taiki holds it close, not allowing it to escape again.

He's getting up, arms getting under him to lift him, a "yeah" breathed before he's able to sit back, rubbing a hand at his face.

"I'm alive," he says, with a note of resignation - not about being alive, but it could sound like that. Tidus looks at Taiki and the spinny thing, ... and gives the screen with its erratic number switching a hard poke with his finger.

"Troublemaker."

huff puff huff puff

"I'm glad." He smiled and reached out to touch Tidus' shoulder gently as he held the machine in the other hand tightly.

"It's very troublesome, shall we put it in an arms band?" Probably best to stop it from escaping...

"Oh, yeah, sure." His huffiness is let go, a small smile tugged onto his face. Thinking, before he offers his hands to take it: "Think it'll speed off the second you take it back out?"

Tidus isn't sure those wheels are going to stop for anybody - not even an arms band.

"Maybe..." He passed it over regardless, watching it with a small worried look.

"Maybe make sure you take it out into a box."

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A New Platform [Intro Post May]

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