A New Platform [Intro Post June]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

Like clockwork, the Voidtreckers are awoken by a familiar message this morning.

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day sixteen 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. They will be glad, when the doors open to find it is plesantly warm. A breeze flutters through the platform and the sun shines in patches through the fog.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Alleyana Tabris, Asriel Dreemurr, Dr. Otto Octavius, Evangeline A.K. McDowell, Homura Akemi, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Phineas Mason, Riku Replica, Saash, Sam, Shadow, Sherlock Holmes, Steve Rogers, The Doctor; 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. 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 warm and there are some flowers growing in pots near the barriers, bright blooms of colour within the fog.

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 eleven 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.

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds with their new roommates.

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.

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

[yondu]

His own nightmares had gotten to him. The memory of his loyal crew pushed out, screaming for his help as they were manhandled by mutineers, with him bound to helplessly endure it. He was trying to keep that out of his mind desperately since coming back on board, but every once in a while he'd close his eyes and there'd be a flash of frozen, floating bodies and the overwhelming loneliness that came with that loss.

That would probably take a lot of dealing with and he simply didn't have the desire to touch it.

He puts away his mess back into their boxes for the moment, getting them out of the way so he's not fidgetting the whole time.

"I ain't seen Crowley since I got back. The two of ya stayed in again, I hope?" The 'I Hope' being the important part here, because that was so fucked up that Yondu stopped giving a fuck about the citizens and was mostly helping his own people.

[salutosinedelectat]

"Oh, yes. We, er...well, we tend to stay out of the whole mission business." He hesitates, only slightly, over that last part. Missions and quests and tasks had been a major part of their lives ever since Earth came to be, by mandate of their head offices. Aziraphale had so hoped that was over and done with when they had to sever their bonds with them, but it didn't even last - and the world before the train had them forcibly engaging in less than pleasant situations for survival as was, where the stakes were higher than most of what they had been used to. Now, on the train, they have a choice, and they choose the option that doesn't put them at risk of being discoporated, if they can.

"These kinds of stops are hardly ever pleasant. And, well, we did loose track of time. But he's doing quite well, he should be around here somewhere."

[yondu]

"It was pretty bad. This fucker could make us relive some of the worst shit what ever happened to us... Some of the best, too. That was almost worse."

Because they took everything that filled their heart, centered them, and weaponized it as a lure. For a man that fights with his heart that was the biggest crime.

"I don't know if that was worse than usual or not, but most people was actin' like it was. I think whatever this thing was, the train's followin' it. Last two stops had whatever this was involved in startin' the mess."

[salutosinedelectat]

The angel quiets as the conversation gets much more serious and glum, and the feeling he's been getting about the whole place is now facing him head on. Not only that, but Yondu is sounding exactly like Alice did, which further confirms the seriousness of what happened planetside.

"Ah...so I've heard." He pauses, then gives Yondu a look. "Are you...alright?"

[yondu]

He looks down at the locks he's obsessively fiddling with.

Back up to Aziraphale.

"I've been worse." He says honestly. But he's also getting frayed around the edge. "Brought up some bad stuff, reminded me of someone I miss real bad..." He ends up just closing and opening the cuff over and over, fidgeting.

"You know, you an' Crowley are real lucky you got each other. Ever' time I've cared about someone, I never got it right. Somethin' about 'em was out of my reach or I just messed it up somehow."

[salutosinedelectat]

The angel quiets for a moment, surprised by the sudden bout of honesty. There's no mistaking the vulnerability in Yondu's words, and the last thing he'd want to do is disrespect that kind of sentiment. And something about the man, and what he's talking about - Aziraphale feels it, although he thinks best to avoid bringing that up, for fear of it sounding perhaps a tad too invasive.

"Oh, I..." He stammers at first. "I'm quite sorry to hear that.", he adds, earnest.

Looking for the right words to say, he settles on:

"I'm sure, whatever may have happened, that, deep down...they must've known how much you cared about them."

[yondu]

"Kinda...." He tips his head with that exaggerated frown of his. "Sorta part of the problem. He ain't dead or nothin'. Just we weren't on good terms last I saw him."

But maybe he received posthumous forgiveness. He can hope.

"Never had a chance anyway. He was married." Not that his wife wasn't good lookin' and a good time so he couldn't blame him.

[salutosinedelectat]

"Oh." The angel connects the pieces as Yondu reveals them, but still much rather avoid specifics. It all feels rather sensitive, and you do much better erring on the side of caution with those.

"Well..." He considers his words carefully. "Perhaps one day you'll meet again. Get it all sorted out."

[yondu]

He doubts it, but he figures that it's time to just throw on his rogueish persona as a defense mechanism. He opens a pair of the cuffs with a smirk.

"Yeah, who knows what the train'll do. Could help me out like that."

It wouldn't. He's too cynical to believe that. His crimes too great, even if it did. But he can totally do cocky space pirate and cover all that up as he needs to.

[salutosinedelectat]

The angel offers a sympathetic smile, earnest.

"You never really know, with these things. These, er, worlds. And many people come and go, here, so there's certainly a chance. We don't know who might show up or why." But he catches himself - "--Not that I would wish anyone else to be stuck in such a place, but...it's all quite-"

He hesitates for just a second. Because the word that comes to mind has far more history than Yondu could know.

"Well...ineffable, isn't it?"

[yondu]

Yondu's face does a thing that it has to do where he has to work out 'ineffable' by context because no amount of translating is helping his poor dumb ass out. But he thinks he gets it, mostly.

"I don't count on too much anymore. Maybe I needed a bunch of new people in my life nohow. A fresh start." Even if he badly missed someone.

[salutosinedelectat]

"Perhaps." The angel adds, relieved to see some level of hope back in the conversation. "And I'm sure there's plenty that would be more than happy to fit that role."