A New Platform [Intro Post October]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

The train continues its journey

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day sixteen 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. Asch, Ayumi Uoshida, Cleopatra Selene, Della Duck, Ghost, Hanuel Min, Jaisyn Solo, Jonathan Sims, Martin Blackwood, Nie Huaisang, Vermouth; 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 four new faces. Wearing hoodies, three in purple one orange, 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 relatively small, a brick wall behind them and cracked flagstones on the floor. It is cold, icy cold but the wall at least shelters them a little.

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, freezing 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 four 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'). The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, including yadon tail, 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. 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

Train

[hoardsrealestate]

Probably the most notable thing for -- quite some time now, actually -- about Freeza of late is even for someone who was by their very nature the sort to withdraw and keep to himself, he had been moreso in recent weeks. Even going so far to say that it might stretch memory some to try and recall the last time anybody has even heard him speak. He has not been absent from duties or what seem to be his basic needs met or routine maintained (and boy did he have one, down to the minute), but he has largely ignored other people through it.

Such that one might have suspected that he was about to be one of those quiet fellows that disembarked without a word -- bodies heading off to join minds and personalities that had departed well before the rest of them had.

So the fact that he answers at all is, frankly, miraculous. "Holding what up?"

[nutkrusher]

Cassie blinks as he turns around, her instant regret at starting this conversation showing on her face for a single mortifying fraction of a second. Somehow the look of him still takes her by surprise.

She does find her composure again, quickly, though.

"You know...yourself. Your whole general deal."

[hoardsrealestate]

As his alien brain wraps around the colloquialism, the new one just added to the mix (not an actual deal -- this wasn't the barge -- and adds everything together. Understanding dawns clearly on his face.

A thoughtful "Ah, yes." His fists come together behind his back as he straightens up, a familiar neutral but formal stance. "As well as one does, then."

[nutkrusher]

"Well, that's...good, I guess?"

She clears her throat and finally begins to stand a little straighter.

"You're just taking everything a whole lot more quietly than I'd have been led to expect."

[hoardsrealestate]

"I can only suppose it is because all your impressions of me, and people like me, come from persons that have largely only dealt with me in battle, at least in recent memory," he offered.

And even Vegeta had very little contact with him in downtime, back when such a thing would have mattered.

"You come to the occasion appropriately prepared as each one requires, and I did not come to this train to make war, or even really kick up dust."

[nutkrusher]

"It's not like you could do much even if you did," Cassie says. "The train's pretty firmly in control of itself.

"Still, you've been pretty chill about that."

[hoardsrealestate]

"It is...not exactly a foreign concept to me," Freeza returned. "While it may be far better organized, there are other ships that move between, and railing against that --"

There is a brief moment where the pun in the word reaches him, having to filter itself through more than one language in his head. His expression briefly flattens.

"-- Is of no current interest to me."

[nutkrusher]

"I guess you've got a point," Cassie says.

"Still, you probably could take charge in Team Red if you wanted. Assuming some kind of bigger role in organization or strategy."

[hoardsrealestate]

"I imagine you are quite right about that," he quipped. "But leading was not my reason for coming here."

[nutkrusher]

"Technically speaking, you didn't have any reason for coming here," Cassie says. "The train's the one that did."

[hoardsrealestate]

"Better that you speak for yourself on that matter."

[nutkrusher]

"The train's spoken for herself a couple of times," Cassie says. "She's more or less said the same thing."

[hoardsrealestate]

"And I speak for myself. I chose to come here. When I am finished, will likely be left up to 'her.'" He doesn't understand gendering things.

[nutkrusher]

"...Didn't know you could do that, but sure."

[hoardsrealestate]

"When you go from one ship with a mind of its own to another, there is occasionally some light wiggle room."

[nutkrusher]

"You mean you can get a transfer for good behavior?"

[hoardsrealestate]

Amusing she would mention that, he thought to himself. "If I could better explain, I would."

[nutkrusher]

Cassie shrugs. "Don't tire yourself out trying then, I guess."