voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post September]

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

If there's one presence that stands out to Jaisyn in the Force, it's Leia's. Her mother has always been strong — but this version of her most especially.

So with her pets in tow, she makes her way through the train. One thing Leia might notably sense, though, is confusion. Because Jaisyn has been told about Diagad, about things that happened in Diagad, but that hadn't been her who'd been on Diagad. It's not the fact that there's another version of her running around some inexplicable part of the universe that bothers her, but something... more mundane. Which she hopes to talk to her mother about. Because that's what mothers are for, right? Girl talk?

When she finally spots her mother, she gives a small wave with her free hand. She's carrying her orange tabby cat in her other arm, while her rock lizard is resting comfortably on her head like a tiara.

Leia had known immediately when Jaisyn returned, the Force connection between them suddenly humming back to full strength. So it would probably be no surprise that it didn't take them long to find each other. What may be a surprise was that Jaisyn wasn't the only one with an animal companion this time. Walking along beside Leia was a lavender-furred feline-looking creature that gazed up at Jaisyn with evident interest, the tip of her forked tail twitching a bit.

Leia smiled at the little wave and opened her arms, offering her daughter a hug, critters and all. "Welcome back, Jane," she said.

Jaisyn noticed her mother's new companion, sure, but the offer of a hug was too much to pass up. She moved to Leia quickly, hugging her tightly in turn, critters and all. "Thanks, Mom. I... things have happened, I heard." She was referring to Diagad, which was still the talk of the train, especially because a version of her had been there.

Then she pulled back and glanced down at the Espeon excitedly. "May I?" she asked, first to her mother then to the creature. Because once she had permission, she was going to launch a full-on snuggle assault. Critters and all.

"They certainly have," Leia said. "We'll need to sit down and have a talk about it before more things do. But the bulk of that can wait until after platform day; they're always a bit too chaotic for long, involved conversations."

At the question, she glanced down at Mirrorbright. And after a moment, her tail tip stopped twitching and she sat down, giving a little nod. Permission granted. "Go ahead," Leia said, smiling as she added her own permission. "Her name is Mirrorbright. She's an Espeon and also something of a long story in her own right."

Upon getting a close look at Mirrorbright, Jaisyn would notice some silver in the lavender fur around the Pokemon's muzzle and paws, indicating that she was a bit on the older side, much like her owner. But regardless of the color shifting with age, the Espeon's fur was very soft and- over most of her body- very short, feeling rather like velvet.

One would think Jaisyn wasn't a grown woman with the way she practically just dove in and gave Mirrorbright some love. Even her critters got on the love, because what else was better than a snuggle pile?

"She's so beautiful," she admired, sighing longingly at the feel of the Espeon's very soft fur. She could literally lie down right then and there and cuddle until morning. "You'll have to tell me her story sometime, Mom." Since she would've long hovered by her mother's side to snuggle with the creature if she'd been present when she was on the train last.

But, yes, they had to sit down and have a talk. Reluctantly, she pulled away from Mirrorbright, though she stayed fairly close as she addressed Leia again. "Do you wanna grab some food or is this more of a, 'we need a drink' kind of talk?"

Mirrorbright did her best to remain dignified amid all the snuggling. She did need to set an example for the younger Pokémon on board, after all. But Jaisyn would likely notice that the jewel on the Espeon's forehead glowed softly as they cuddled, and that she was picking up sensations of warmth, affection and appreciation that seemed deliberately projected.

"I will," Leia promised. "And it's more of a 'food and tea' story for the most part. Strange and complicated, but it ended surprisingly well."

A New Platform [Intro Post September]

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