A New Platform [Intro Post September]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Nebula. 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 doors open. As usual, those who leave first notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. A-Qing, Atem, Beauregard Lionett, Casper LeBlanc Jr, Donatello Versus, Frankie Bacon, Ichiban Kasuga, Kumoko, Lena Sabrewing, Mami Tomoe, Mono, Peter Parker, Reno, Shi Qingxuan, Tobari, Wen Ning; all pass across the platform, not looking back. And then they're gone, disappeared 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. The platform is open to a bright blue sky, speckled with a couple of clouds. It's very warm, enough that they will not want to stay in those hoodies for long. Behind them through the fogs is a set of barriers, set in a brick wall and in front of them is a single set of tracks extending both ways into that same thick 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 on the foggy, blistering hot platform; then the fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform isn't large, but it is enough to hold the 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, perhaps ten minutes or so, 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'). They will also find a bunch of posters around the train and might notice the new clock in the standard coach.

The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, the ingredient this month is a strange meat, yaddon tail.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. There is a box labelled for purple team containing a stick of rock for each member of purple team, including those who are new. Join in your teams success!

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. In most rooms, the occupied beds are obvious, leaving the spotless, empty spaces for the newcomers. 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

[dnaofahalfa]

"Never, ever be without medical supplies," she said with the most seriousness. "And since the conductor didn't see fit to bring neither my first aid kit, or my Cure materia, I need to restock. And if I have it on my person, maybe they'll fill this supply next month and then we have more around. Or at least I'll have bought more myself."

[goingthroughaphase]

Kitty didn't say anything for a moment, glancing at the cabinet where the supplies were. "I mean, I can understand that," she finally said. "But if you're keeping some with you, that does kind of leave others without it, doesn't it? Even if more is restocked later, there's still less for people right now."

[dnaofahalfa]

"I'm likely to be visiting this car frequently anyway," she said. "I have a pretty good amount of medical training. At least enough to play nurse."

Says the fourteen year old.

"If it gets low, I'll return some, but if I can force the conductor to get more, I'm going to. And I'd rather have the ability to treat someone on site, then forcing them to move. People can bleed out pretty fast." And that is also said with quite a bit of certainty.

[goingthroughaphase]

Kitty is pretty aware of that herself, so she really can't blame the other girl for wanting to have stuff on hand.

"Well, just be careful. It won't help either if we were running low on supplies we need here, and you aren't able to get stuff back here in time."

[dnaofahalfa]

"If things are going that badly, I'll probably need the medical supplies on me for others. Unless all the doctors here are bad at their job and over use things," she said, tossing bandages in her bag and putting the rest away. "If that many are getting hurt at once, its going to be a whole thing and that's why its important to be ready for an emergency. Now where is the medical thread..."

[goingthroughaphase]

Kitty bites back a sigh, but lets the subject drop. She isn't in the mood to really put up a fight about it, and really, what could it hurt to have someone with medical supplies on them?

"Try the upper shelf."

[dnaofahalfa]

That is Razzy's way of thinking. She isn't taking everything and as long as she visits often, she can make sure things aren't actually OUT out. But not having anything in an emergency....

It makes her very anxious. She hasn't been without medical supplies for a year.

She reaches up, feeling along the shelf until she pulls out some. "Ah, there we go. Hmmm, one box should do, stitches don't need a lot..." She smiled over at her. "Thanks."

[goingthroughaphase]

She manages a small smile in return as she nods. "No problem."

A pause, because now that she can get a good look at the girl's face, she can't help but feel she looks familiar somehow.

"You're...new on the train, right?"

[dnaofahalfa]

"I am," she said. "I was on Diagad too. I also have a cousin, Danny, whose been on the train a while," she said.

Because she knows who she looks like.

[goingthroughaphase]

Her smile brightened up a little. "Oh, you're Danny's cousin?" That's why she looked familiar. "You two do look a lot alike. I don't think I saw you on Diagad, though, so it's nice to meet you now. I'm Kitty."