voidtreckerexpress | A NEW PLATFORM [INTRO POST JANUARY]

On the Train

Despite whatever Voidtreckers may have learned or how they feel about those revelations - or reminders - of the precariousness of their situation, the train flies ever onward.

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Poi. 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. The weather is dry but there is a chill to the air and a strong breeze." 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. Dairine, Okada Izō, Rapunzel, Satoru and Siebren; 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 thirteen new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours and 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 long with a grassy mound behind them. It is blustery and the air is cold, they will be glad of those hoodies.

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, windy platform; then the fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

Thirteen figures, 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, with cans of corned beef lining the shelves.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. Those from purple who go to find their prize will find a large box containing a gingerbread train for them to share. Plenty enough to go around, even for the largest team.

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.

Snow Time: Rock Garden

Winter seems to have followed from Osiga and nested in the rock garden. There's a chill that nips in the air and a light snow (real snow) fills the air. A thin cloudy haze at the top of the carriage seems the source. Yet the kaleidoscope of the void will assure that this is no timely world stop.

People might have seen it occurring the night before. Snow falling heavy before tapering off with an odd precision, leaving a heavy blanket over the carriage 'ground'. By morning of Platform Day, a miniature winter has descended, ripe for snowforts, snowballs, angels and snowmen.

It's not just the climate that's changed. Many statues and rock features are missing or moved. Digging below the snow reveals soil now frozen but providing a barrier between the bare floor of the carriage. Keen eyes will see changes are made with safety and available space in mind. The fountain has been emptied but the pond and streams are frozen solid, allowing intrepid spirits to try slide-skating over the surfaces without the risk of breaking through. The mosaics are still around, and enchantments are in place to protect paintings and paper decorations from damp. Any plants have been sent to sleep or taken to safety.

The benches are still around. Paths and bridges are covered with fresh snow, but, as the day goes on, it's trampled down and or scattered. Najaran's woodfolk may be glimpsed near Jingyi's shrine or hiding in the shadows of rocks and statues still present, perhaps even buried in the snow and peeking out. Shy around humans, though those with pointed ears or Hylian lineage may find an easier time interacting.

There are signs on both doors of the carriage warning of the change and mentioning the dressing carriage will have winter gear, and it does: with hats, scarves, gloves and ice skates in a variety of sizes. Dispensers with warm drinks such as coffee, hot chocolate and hot water for tea are available in the Games Carriage.

Early the next day, the snow will be gone and the gardens returned to how they once were.

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

"I've seen you on this one before." Yugi had managed to settle into a beanchair as he watched her. He had seen her here at least once before on this game which was one of the few Yugi hadn't managed to touch yet even though he is in here a lot.

"Do you like flying?"

She smiles. This is a topic she's always happy to talk about. "I love it. That's when I feel like I'm at my best."

SHe gestures toward the simulator. "It's not the same but... it's something. And I can't let the skills lapse."

"So it's something you are very skilled at. I mean I've never seen anyone play it as well as you do." Which he was being honest about. Kaiba was good at this one too so he knew those that were good were usually those who had the skills for such things, which for him is impressive.

"I've been flying since I was ten years old. There are a lot of people counting on my skills at home." Yeah, she's good. Probably one of the best, it's not rude to admit that. "It's my job to make sure the other pilots are ready for whatever the Empire throws at us, so I like teaching people here too."

"Ten years old?!" That was a surprise honestly. Back home he doubted anyone would let a ten year old fly anything at that age. SO he just concluded that she was that good that it was pretty much okay for her to.

"Making sure other people are ready, huh? Thats very admirable. Putting what you are passionate about and helping others with that exact thing." he looked over at the simulation. Everything was so slight yet so accurate. She seemed to understand the speed and what angles. Yugi could never understand anything like that.

"Though I guess you mentioned an Empire... That was not a good thing, correct?"

"I was very insistent. And things got complicated." Ten was probably also a bit young for treason, yet she very much committed it.

"The Empire hurts a lot of people across the galaxy. My crew and the other people we work with are trying to change that." Her words are firm, confident that what they're doing is right. "Whether it's by stopping the Empire or by getting supplies to people who need them."

"Then I think I understand. You do your part to help either stopping what is causing the issues, or at least getting things to those who need it. Must be really useful for missions. Being as kind and caring as you are." he said as his eyes looked over at her for the moment before back at the screen.

"There are many things you are able to do with those skills, even if it's not flying."

"I fight well enough on the ground." Not her specialty, but she's still no slouch. "But mostly what I do on missions here is find the right people for problems."

SHe shakes her head. "And make sure everyone eats. Some of us are really bad about that."

She can't be the sleep patrol though because she's just as bad on that front.

"That one is a tough job. I am at least good at eating and sleeping on missions." Was he good at not over working. He could also be bad at that depending on what he was trying to do during the mission. But for the most part he was pretty okay.

"Though I never knew people choose to not eat during missions."

She smiles. ONe less for her to worry about then. "It's usually not choosing not to eat, it's getting so caught up in what they're doing they forget."

At least the missions are only brief periods of that here. "It's a balance."

"Ah, I know of someone who could do that. Those who do that do usually need to have someone remind them and maybe even bring the food incase they forget again." It was a tough job but someone has to do it.

"Though can I ask something. Was what you do now on missions what you knew you were going to do from the get go?"

"My first mission was defending the city against demons, so that set the tone." No matter how hard anyone since had tried to convince her catastrophe missions weren't typical, she liked to be prepared for it to go that far.

"What I do on missions isn't so different from what I do at home. I have to keep track of the big picture."

"The big picture? Like the goal of what we are trying to do, right?" Or could there be more to the big picture than even that really. Yugi understood what his own end goal was before but here that was now different.

"The goal and how different people are moving toward it. It's easy to get so focused on one particular task that you miss how it fits in with everyone else. Sometimes you need someone who's looking at all of that at once." And it seems it's going to be her.

"I guess you do need someone like that, huh." Sounded like a big task as well as he thought about it. A lot of things to take into account and such.

"But how can someone do that?"

A NEW PLATFORM [INTRO POST JANUARY]

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