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

"Yeah, well... These kids need 'em." And a few of the adults, but for the most part it is kids that hug him. He was actually startled when he cracked recently himself, having recounted a story he didn't want to tell, but that's nothing he's quite up for sharing.

"Hope you don't skimp on the hugs yourself. I don't want you worryin' that bad about havin' an audience."

"Hugs are one thing I'll never skimp on. That's how people remember they matter." She doesn't have all the answers, but that's one mom thing she's absolutely got down.

"To many of the kids don't realize they matter for them."

"Sooo does that mean I can get a hug?" It's a tease though, so if she wants to shove a hand in his face he's fully prepared for that sort of reaction.

"Hey, if you want a hug you can have a hug." And then a smile since she's pretty sure he's joking. "Might cry and ask you to do my hair though."

So much of that.

After about three seconds of looking at her very hairless head? He reaches out both arms. In that universal 'Come here!' gesture.

She does go in for the hug, complete with the comforting weight of lekku dropping onto his shoulders. "It's good to have adult friends to talk to."

He snorts a soft laugh at that. "I'd argue I ain't all that mature sometimes, just all dried out. But I figure I'm close enough to qualify."

He releases her from a heavy patting bro-hug and leans against the washer.

"Y'know... I think we got a couple of dual cockpit ships we could try to learn the controls for. I could run gunner and you could do the pilotin'. Nice asteroid field? What do ya say? Might take your mind off better'n wanderin' around doin' chores can."

"You get it when I talk about my kids, that's important." The people who are the same age as her kids can't get that. And she does need it.

"Now you're speaking my language. We could try something new, or I can show you the Ghost."

"Wanna know somethin' funny? I know I talk a lot about how I miss my old team. And I do! All the time, I miss 'em. But it does feel kinda nice to have folks that understand that kinda family. And I ain't sure I'd get that if I got 'em back. None of 'em had families, outside of Aletta and Stakar bein' hitched."

He's surrounded by other fathers and mothers and uncles and aunts and he's never thought of it before, but it's made him more secure in some of the harder choices he had to make.

He gestures for her to go ahead. "Show me how she moves! I'd love to see it."

"It's the kind of thing that can really take you by surprise. Family." She never set out to build one, after all. "Or the train."

She starts leading the way. "She works even better fully crewed, but even two people can really pull a lot off. Better than the ship Leia requested."

No she still doesn't get the YT-1300's appeal actually.

"How long has the real thing been servin' ya?"

He knows having the Eclector isn't an option. But he still loves the memory of her. In some of his grandest, most unattainable fantasies he thinks of getting her back somehow. Having a ship can be a lifelong relationship.

"More than ten standard years. I was barely more than a kid when I left Ryloth." Younger than her kids are now, but they're still kids to her and always will be. "Eighty seven illegal upgrades to the stealth system have kept us alive all this time."

Yondu doesn't consider himself having been a child when he received his first artificial fin 'cause his skull had stopped growing when they chose to give it to him, but he was still a teenager and any kid on the train who had been through similar he'd feel plenty of wrath about.

"Oh damn, I wish ya could show me in real time. I miss slippin' in with a good stealth ship and just makin' a pest of myself where no one knew what I was up to."

"There's a reason she's called the Ghost," she says with a smile. "The missions have gotten bigger but sometimes we still get to just slip right in under Imperial noses."

Pulling that with Thrawn is tricky, but she'll never give up trying.

"When we figure this out, take some tricks you learned here home. Maybe someone patient'll be a good influence on your problem, too. I know that kinda thing can be a bit much to hope for but you get stuck here a while an' it does start gettin' to ya."

Though he knows he might have gotten 'better' anywhere, depending on the circumstances. The kids helped him, but it doesn't sound like this one guy shares his soft spot for those. Mostly it was knowing he had nothing left, and maybe the right people from the future could convince him to act in his own self-interest which would not be the Empire's.

"We can always hope. Being here does require a certain flexibility in mindset." She won't count on it. But she can still wait and see. That's why she's not endorsing punching at the moment.

"If there's one thing I know how to do, it's find something that can help the cause at every situation."

A NEW PLATFORM [INTRO POST JANUARY]

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