A New Platform [Intro Post March]

[voidtreckermods]

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PLATFORM STOP: MONTH 17
(QUICKSAND)

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BEFORE ARRIVAL

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day 1 of the month of Quicksand. Points have been updated on the system."
The voice of the Voidtrecker Express welcomes passengers at the same time as always, sometime after breakfast. With points updated, everyone can spend the morning shopping. Most people will be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later, as the colours of the void outside the windows blur more and more.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. The weather is cold and damp. 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.

ON THE PLATFORM

1. THE ARRIVAL

At first, all your character can see is steam billowing around them as they come to their senses. But as their eyes adjust, they find themselves on a platform.
It is cold, a slush of ice and rain on the ground underneath their feet. It's not currently raining though. The platform is made of black cobbles, slippy under their feet, dark stone gates serving as barriers giving the impression of a severe and grim place.

They stand in clothes not their own, in a style they might not even recognise. They're carrying a rucksack on their person, and for a moment it seems to just be them, alone on this platform. Before the fog starts to subside, and they'll see they're one of eleven figures: all facing the tracks, and all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies, the latter in one of four colours. Purple, red, blue or orange.

But then there's a roaring sound to get their attention, and out from the fog arrives a train. A sleek black, it it reads The Voidtrecker Express in gold lettering on the side. Every one of the doors hiss as they open automatically, and out pours a strange assortment of people, over a hundred at least. Some are human, some less so, with a majority wearing the same hoodie of four colours as they do, though some sport outfits in a variety of styles.

The train doors close behind them, and the vehicle is cloaked in the same fog that hides the world beyond the platform. A group of people head towards the gates of the platform, their expressions blank and unaffected by their surroundings. Ansem, Connor, Curufin, Elle Days, Freddy Fazbear, Margulis, Murderbot, Potato, Vexen, Will Stanton and Yota They disappear through the barriers, but no one else can - all people can do is wait until the train re-emerges, finishing whatever changes it's making.

2. BOARDING THE TRAIN

After a short time, perhaps ten minutes or so, the fog clears and the doors hiss open again. Everyone will feel a pull when they do, a need to board, and those from the train may encourage new arrivals to board. This feeling grows into one of apprehension and turns worse the longer they stay off-board.

For those that do board, they may find themselves in a few different carriages, but most likely the standard coach. A row of seats sit available, with a few tables between each. More likely than not, some cookies have been set out with jugs of drink, and cups available for pouring.

For those that don't, however, they're likely to attract attention if they're spotted. And if that fails... an unfortunate end will await them.

3. DEPARTURE

Do a little exploring, if you will. But people will have half an hour total from the train's arrival before a second horn sounds, encouraging any stragglers taking advantage of the fresh air to board. After five minutes from this, the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train begins to rumble with activity, and the platform starts to disappear into a fog as the voidcraft moves. A female-coded artificial voice echoes throughout the train.

"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. 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.

ON THE TRAIN

1. EXPLORING

With nowhere to go but through the train's carriages, this is a good time for newcomers to explore. For veterans, it's back to your everyday life aboard the Voidtrecker Express.

¤ New arrivals will notice a screen and console in every carriage sharing the same message, and a stack of leaflets in holders by them offering further information to the curious (see 'Publications'). There are lavatories available on each carriage on one end, with another console with a deposit box under it at the other. This is the train shop.

¤ It'll take some time for newbies to figure out the layout, even if there's only two directions to go in. Go one end, and you'll find the food stores and washing utilities. This month's key ingredient is pineapple, and you're sure to bump into others curious about what's in the stock.

¤ Go to the other end, and you'll find the sleeper cabins. Plaques sit on the wall by each door with the names of their occupants, and one of these will be yours - hopefully, they'll figure out that swiping their ticket against the doorpad will open it up to them. 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.

¤ At the farthest end in this direction is the luggage carriage, where passengers who have bought items from the train shop will find their purchases. There are also medical kits for every one, each labelled with their full roster name. These are scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags, but there's also a small fridge and kettle here with bottled water, for those who want a quiet drink.

For those of Purple team who go looking for their reward they will find simple boxes of cupcakes to share out. There's a cupcake for all of purple team, even the new arrivals, share in your new team's success!

2. ACTIVITIES

But of course, there's also everything in-between those two directions, and the people in them.

¤ Areas of note will be the training gym, where there's always regulars training to pass the time. There's a training board offering services, but maybe you'll find someone who catches your eye in here. Or even its gear?

¤ Is your character used to the appliances to be found in the kitchen? Depending on when your character wanders in, they may find someone testing out a recipe, preparing for lunch, or even dinner time.

¤ The library offers a quiet place, with a fair selection of books from fiction to non-fiction. Is your character interested in learning more about the void? Picking up an action or adventure book? Wow, there sure are a few magazines.

¤ There's also media to consume, from the games car, the cinema, to the arts carriage. Ever played a virtual reality game? Wanted to learn how to fly? Have you seen a screen of moving pictures? There's now documentaries to be found in the cinema's catalogues, from How To programming, Void-related topics, and sports.

3. REST AND SLEEP

¤ Time is difficult to track in the void, even with the few clocks around showing a 21 hour time. But the windows allowing a view of the kalediscope void will shift to a pitch black once the time reaches 12, and keep for the rest of the day.

¤ Breakfast, lunch, and dinner time is usually announced by whoever's cooking that day, and when. Sometimes it's decided by the team chores; other times, it's decided by who wants to be cooking.

¤ But sleep eventually comes to all, even if they don't want it to. When 21 hours have finally passed on the train, all passengers, whether they need sleep or not, will see black - only to start a new day in their cabin beds, with the sound of the train's automated voice greeting them with a 'Good morning' message.

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NAVIGATION ~ GAMEPLAY ~ SETTING ~ CHARACTER INITIATIVES ~ QUESTIONS

Comments

[longforgottenpromise]

Ah I see. [He can follow the science easy enough, even if it leaves bittersweet memories.

He adds a tablespoon and mixes it up.] Does this look right?

[10billionpercent]

That looks good, yeah. So what you do now is knead it for about five minutes.

[ He wipes off his hands and moves closer to Taiki and used his hand. ]

Like this, you want to move the ball of dough around folding it over itself again and again as you go. Activates the gluten. [ He'll demonstrate a couple of times and then let Taiki try. ]

Not to worry though, no way it can be messed up. Noodles are really simple.

[longforgottenpromise]

[He watched, studying how Senku was kneading it.] Okay. I'm sure I can manage that.

[It didn't look hard at all.]

[10billionpercent]

I'm just as sure you can too.

[ He doesn't have to supervise, he's checking on the broth and setting about draining the tofu. ]

When that's all done, it rests for about half an hour, which works because the broth needs to absorb everything, and the tofu needs to have less moisture.

[ Making food with Senku is not quick, but it's usually very tasty. ]

[longforgottenpromise]

[He's hard at work kneading but he nods at the instructions. Rests for half an hour whilst the broth absorbs everything and the tofu dries.]

Enough time to clean up then.

[10billionpercent]

Yep, and hanging out I guess. [ He chuckles. ]

Making fruit salad? I don't know, sometimes I just get a tea and wait for things to finish up.

[longforgottenpromise]

[Months on the train and hanging out with a friend is still such a strange thing. Something he feels almost awkward about, as if his presence will be a burden to Senku.

But he likes Senku and he does want to spend time with him.]

Tea sounds nice... There's a few different types now...

[10billionpercent]

I heard something about that. [ Senku starts wiping down the counter and moving the tools he did use to the sink to wash them. ]

Good thing, because I was going to have to reorder our supply of tea somewhat soon. Nothing wrong with what's on hand, but I figured I had the points, the variety was nice. Gen's helped me go through it so there's not really any left.

[ He hums. ] I do still have half the hot sauce though. [ It takes much more time to consume that. ]

[longforgottenpromise]

I guess now you can use the points on other things.

[Especially since there were things to vote on now as well.]

You like spicy food?

[10billionpercent]

That's true, and I don't mind that. I'm still working on the models I ordered last time.

[ It's been a little while since he's ordered something but he actually doesn't need much at his point, he's compltely comfortable and settled. ]

Yes, very much so. I don't have a sweet tooth, but I really like spicy stuff. Gen does too, which is a bonus and we don't really have that in my world right now, so we're kind of taking advantage of it while we can.

[longforgottenpromise]

Ah. I see. [He nodded. It was wise, to have it here. He made a note to remember it. After all he should cook for them at some point, in thanks.

He moved to go and begin making tea.]

Do you have a preference.

[10billionpercent]

Well if we find some wasabi or sancho we can change that at home. [ Mostly they have salt. He's human he can enjoy creature comforts. ]

No, I'm fine with pretty much good with anything.

[longforgottenpromise]

[He found some calming tea. It was a good blend and he began preparing it even as he listened.]

I hope that you do. Um. Sorry. I wasn't in the best place when we met on my world. But you said you world was in a catastrophic state?

[10billionpercent]

That's how I'd classify it based on the train system. It's a fine place as long as everyone's okay with humanity being non-existant.

[ Being that he is a human and everyone he knows is a human - he is very much not okay with that. ]

Something happened while I was gone and the few that weren't petrified have been petrified. I suppose the only solace is that I know how to fix that. Course, my body is just as petrified so I'm not sure what to make of it. It's why I'm so old when I'm just an ordinary human. I remained petrified but alert, in stasis for thousands of years. Civilization as it exists is only what I've managed to bring back over the past four years.

[longforgottenpromise]

Oh. That's... [Terrible. Everything about that is terrible. That people have been petrified, that Senku had been petrified but alert in stasis for thousands of years.]

We need to find a way back. If you know how to fix things.

[10billionpercent]

I do. Before I came here, we were...well still in a catastrophic state, don't get me wrong, but we had a population of about two hundred between my village and Treasure Island. That everyone is completely petrified now is new. And I'm not sure what happened.

[ He wasn't there. ]

I'm going to make sure to have some revival fluid in my kit just in case we make it back. In case I get the chance.

[ Otherwise, it might be a very long time before humans are aware and moving around again. ]

[longforgottenpromise]

[It puts his own troubles in perspective. The people of Tai may be struggling, hurt and oppressed but at least they were alive, moving, not petrified.

Two hundred people in the whole world? That was almost unimaginable. Terrifying.]

If there's any way I can help please let me know. [What else could he do?]

[10billionpercent]

Thanks. What I need is time, honestly, time to stay there and fix it and not be traveling. Fortunately my protégé can handle a lot more than he thinks and if I didn't go back...I've done enough to save everyone. I want to do more, but figuring out the revival fluid was critical and a lot of people know how to make it now.

[ Senku is only one man, and the world cannot rest on one man's shoulders, even though he's been shouldering the burden for a long time. ]

Chrome's learned a lot.

[longforgottenpromise]

I'm glad, that it is not your burden to bare alone. [And that he had done enough, that his world could still be fixed even if he did not return.]

Do you... I mean why are people petrified? Do you know the cause?

[10billionpercent]

Well. [ Senku let out a slow sigh. ]

Not enough as I'd like. It's a long term project, much like the train is for me. [ He's a patient man, at least, and it's interesting. ]

We've located a device, nicknamed Medusa, that replicates the petrification. There was one that they had on Treasure Island. Battery's dead, but we've seen it activated enough so that we now know the mathematical calculation of the effect, it's definitely scientific based, although the reason it transforms things to stone is still unknown. We only have one, I'm still hoping to use a flash of energy out of it so I can't tear it apart yet.

[ He hums thoughtfully. ]

And we've made contact with who sent it. At least, we've picked up on their signal. They keep asking why, they're not asking questions. And after I told them to talk to me, they stopped. Since Treasure Island though, far as I still know, the new message they're sending is the order to re-petrify humanity. So I can suppose they managed to give that order. But how?

[longforgottenpromise]

"Like the legend?" He knows that story, from earth. An apt name for a device that turns people to stone.

"So it is people from outside your world? Like aliens?"

Why would aliens want to turn humans to stone?

[10billionpercent]

[ Senku chuckles. ]

Yes, like the legend. I'm a smartass like that. I also named our ship Perseus. [ He's kind of a nerd, and so people get exposed to that unknowingly. ]

That would be my best guess, yes. The technology is nothing on par with what humans could do at the time we were petrified.

[longforgottenpromise]

An auspicious name. [He smiled at him, it's the sort of nerdery he can appreciate.]

I guess it's not how people would think aliens would attack... Had your world discovered any life outside earth?

[10billionpercent]

According to all the media I was forced to consume in my childhood, that was definitely not the previaling thought. It doesn't make a lot of sense either, what's the purpose of petrifying humans? It's not like they invaded the planet or anything.

[ No, there's a lot that doesn't add up. He'll get his answers in time, he's sure of that, but it doesn't make sense now. ]

Life, yes, but it was microbial and not alive. Fossils, remains, that sort of thing. That still counts as life, just not what people think of course.

[longforgottenpromise]

Yes I understand, life but not sentience. [He nodded.] Most the things about aliens that I researched where about those who were taken from earth and claimed that aliens had done so. But media did seem to focus more on aliens invading earth and taking it for themselves.