voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post March]

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

PLATFORM STOP: MONTH 17
(QUICKSAND)

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.

NAVIGATION ~ GAMEPLAY ~ SETTING ~ CHARACTER INITIATIVES ~ QUESTIONS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Genjo did his best to listen, as tricky as it had been. It took all his might to not visibly cringe at the very first mention of Ukoku, even more so at the mention of Kami. Right, Koumyou wasn't aware of how much he did know about that. Of course, if it were merely a few years before, he may not have.

But he didn't flinch. He felt his hands clench, but he did not withdraw even as he felt the anger consume him with confirmation of something that was once pure suspicion.

Of course that man had something to do with Koumyous death. It made sense with how the Seiten had managed to find itself in the hands of Gyumaohs revival practices.

But no amount of emotion or rage would change his original statement. Was it warming to hear that Koumyous love for him was so strong that he became dedicated to protecting and caring for him? Of course. But he was not worth all that had happened. The Koumyou Sanzo should not have been sacrificed for the sake of a small weak child like him.

In the end, he was still a liability. And one that ended the life of his master at that.

"It must have been hard for you. Dealing with that," Genjo wanted to argue that to Koumyou. He wanted to scream at him. Tell him that his life wasn't so unimportant as to sacrifice it as he had. That Koumyous life was just as precious. No, it was even more so. "I've seen him, you know. Quite recently at that."

Was Genjo's existence such a hindrance to the crow?

"He's an asshole."

Koumyou chuckles at that, picking his bowl up again to pick at the rice and fish. "To say the least, yes."

Dealing with that, and that Ukoku is an asshole.

"I encountered him quite recently, myself. He got one thing he's always wanted from me; I fought him, and I killed him. I should have done it a long, long time ago. Another failing."

If he'd just killed Ken'yuu in that cell the night before Goudai's death, none of this would have happened. Of course, that would have fucked up Goudai's planned retirement, as his other students likely couldn't have taken the old man even in his extremely weakened state.

Taisouji temple had never produced a weak Sanzo. Those candidates tended to die very, very fast in the years-long process.

Well, even if he'd fucked up Goudai's plans, Momo-chan could have found another way to go out fighting. Perhaps even one that wouldn't involve Koumyou standing on the sidelines as an observer.

But muichimotsu had been in full swing at the time, and Koumyou hadn't particularly cared about the young asshole's wishes. Not after the incident that had gotten him locked up.

"You know, he was an asshole before he became a Sanzo, too. But he still had a tiny spark, a little scrap of a soul left in him. I suspect the Muten ate it; that can happen with that particular sutra. With any of them, really, but especially that one."

Koumyou looks up from his food to gaze at Genjo steadily.

"You were already strong in a way he never was, that night. And arguably a way I haven't been in decades."

As Koumyou lifted his bowl, Genjo had put down his own. He neatly placed his chopsticks over it before sitting upright and looking across his master with utmost patience and respect. He hadn't found himself sitting before anyone in such a way in a very long time.

But with what they were discussing, it was a matter that deserved such respect. Genjo needed to try and reserve as many niceties as possible, considering what he was about to bring up.

"I'd like to think I'm strong. And perhaps by many, I am," Genjo's gaze focused, grew more intense as he looked at Koymyou. He was trying to gauge that always serene expression of his. "But I am far from invincible. And back then, I stood no chance compared to what we were facing. And not only was I unable to help in any way, but I was merely a hindrance."

He placed the palms of his hands firmly on the table before bowing—his forehead a mere centimeter from touching the surface.

"You sacrificed yourself for me, master. And in that I was weak."

He paused. For over a decade, guilt bundled up within him. And now it swirled around in his stomach, making him nervous from the sheer anxiety of the conversation. These were feelings he hadn't acknowledged for years. Emotions he had only gained glimpsing recognition of since his journey had started.

"I'm sorry."

Koumyou leans over and... flicks the top of that familiar golden head with one finger. Hard. Thump.

"You're not responsible for how I feel, Kouryuu," he says, a touch more sternly than he'd intended. Koumyou sits back from his lean, and folds his hands into his sleeves with his usual effortless grace.

"Ukoku thought you were, he thought it was your fault somehow. Like you'd done something to intentionally... I don't know, steal me away from him. Like you'd controlled me."

He gazes steadily across the table with open, unsmiling eyes.

"No one and nothing controls me, Genjo Sanzo. I choose to love you as my son. I still choose. I would always and will always, choose you."

That fucking word; love. It had been enough to throw him into a full-on panic attack, the first time he'd heard it after his own death. Saying it aloud makes the fear chew at him even now, but it's more distant. Like its screaming and thrashing has been sealed away behind multiple rooms and doors, as Koumyou has learned to walk away from that fear. Step by agonizing step.

"Love is death on our world. You're simply going to have to accept my choice to be your father first, and a Sanzo second."

Edited 2022-04-04 04:28 (UTC)

Genjo really should have expected such a playful and lighthearted reaction. It was Koumyou, after all. And yet here he was, looking up with unguarded confusion. The stern tone suddenly made him feel like he was twelve once more.

But back then, he would have never dared speak up to his master so brazenly. Of course, he was a different person now. And Genjo knew his master had just as much say over his feelings as he had over Koumyous.

But it didn't stop how harshly Koumyou's words had cut into him.

Genjo knew Koumyou loved him. He never once questioned that. But to hear it spoken aloud so casually only stung him more than the cut of any blade.

He understood love. He understood the implications and power behind such a word. It was why he refused ever to use it. Because to love was to sacrifice. To love was to put so much faith into someone that you were willing to hurt them by offering yourself.

"... Idiot," The word came out as barely a mutter. His body was tense as he felt his fists clench inwards.

"You really are an absolute fucking idiot!!"

Ah.

Shit.

He just said it out loud, didn't he?

"You... Do you think that sacrificing yourself is proof of love? Have you even once considered how those you love would feel in losing you!?"

Koumyou takes the yelling in stride, of course.

"I have, that's what has haunted me about my death. It's what I've been trying to apologize for since we walked into this room together. I failed you, and it was selfish of me."

He just hadn't been able to bear watching Kouryuu join the pile of people he'd cared for and watched die in front of him. Not his son. And for once, there had been something he could do about it.

So he had.

"It wasn't meant to be proof, I just couldn't--" Koumyou silences himself for a second, and remembers his son is a grown man now and can see more of him than Koumyou had shown the young boy.

"I couldn't stand by and watch again. Not anymore, and not you. I've always been the one who watches, and I just... couldn't. Anymore."

His eyes are perilously damp, but he ignores it. The pain in him is strong and sharp and old and new. A wound older than Genjo, that has never gotten to so much as scab over before it's hit again.

"I'm not telling you in order to ask for forgiveness, or to make excuses. It's an apology without expectation."

So that was it, was it?

Koumyou's apology. His way of saying sorry for what had happened back then.

It felt sincere enough. Indeed, Genjo could imagine that such a conversation must have been as painful for them both. So why was Koumyou so insistent on bringing it up here and now?

It surely didn't aid the tension that both of them were feeling.

Sanzo felt his lips turn to a wry smile. His shoulders tensed, and he once more scoffed. The feeling of his nails digging into his palms was enough to keep his senses alert despite how his body froze and brain spiraled.

Like hell, he was going to let Koumyou get away with this. This unabashed self-flagellation and pushing of guilt.

"An apology, is it?"

Bullshit. Perhaps in Koumyous eyes, it may have been. But to Sanzo, such consolation was merely a way of pushing one's guilt onto someone else.

"I know disillusionment is par for the course in meeting your past. But to think you are that dense," He took a deep, shaky breath before standing from his seat. His eyes were firm as he looked down at the man he respected as his master and father. "You didn't sacrifice yourself out of love. You sacrificed yourself because you gave up hope in having both of us live. You lost faith in yourself and your abilities Koumyou Sanzo. You were willing to give your own life and resign those you cared for to the misery of a life without you."

A pause, his gaze not wavering as he kept firm upon Koumyou. Not as a child to his father or a disciple to his master, but as a fellow Sanzo Priest. This was who he grew up to become. This was who he now was.

And he wasn't going to hold himself to the shadows of a naive past to give Kuomyou the pity he so desperately seemed to crave.

"Your death was your decision to make Koumyou Sanzo. So stop using your protection over me as an excuse for the path you chose to walk."

That was right. All of this was in the past. What mattered now was acceptance and the present that Koumyou and Genjo were now living.

Edited 2022-04-08 05:07 (UTC)

"I'm not," Koumyou stays seated, however, hands staying folded into his sleeves. "It's just something that needed to be said, lest either of us be forced to leave at the next platform. There's literally no way to know when that could happen. Some are here for only a day before vanishing and then walking off at a platform, some remain for years."

Genjo's guilt over that night was misplaced, and now he knows better. Whatever happens going forward, that elephant in the room has been addressed.

He's not going to argue the rest; Ukoku's spell can't really be countered. One of them would have died, and Koumyou just wasn't strong enough to be the survivor anymore.

And it was that final part of Koumyous' thoughts that Genjo was able to sink onto and understand. It was that part of it all that had angered him so. Even if it was impossible for them both to survive, Koumyou could have at least tried. But he didn't. He simply gave up.

He gave up and resigned himself to the concept of leaving Genjo alone and scared and burdened at the age of thirteen with a position that was so much for someone so young.

Genjo felt he had every right to be angry for that.

And so, he scoffed. Turning his head away from his master with an abject sense of disappointment that he was not expecting to have when he first started this conversation.

"So that's it then. Is that the only reason you wished to pull me aside as you have? To resolve your guilt?"

"There's no resolving or absolving any of it. But now you know it wasn't your fault."

Even if Genjo's ultimate take on it seems to be something Ukoku might have said to either of them to inflict pain. That he hadn't tried enough, hadn't cared enough, had simply given up. Suicide, even.

But ultimately, this isn't about Koumyou's feelings on any of it, so he's just going to accept the way Kouryuu has soured on him in the course of this little chat.

"I also wanted to get you into a quiet place to push food and tea at you and give you information on where you are now. Speaking of, you must have questions? My very first one was if the train goes 'choo choo!' or not, so my priorities on information aren't exactly... the most practical."

Koumyou finally takes his hands out of his sleeves and leans forward to take up his tea again.

"By the way, it totally does. I've gotten it to do it twice!"

"Mmph."

Damn. Koumyou was a bit too good at just casually switching subjects. Genjo had felt as if perhaps he needed time to adjust to all his master had told him. More so than he needed to figure out anything about the Voidtrecker itself.

But he sighed. Crossing his arms as he lowered his head in thought.

In the end, even if it hurt, he was able to talk to his master. He was grateful to have had this experience.

No point arguing any further, no matter how much he wished to.

"... You said we were 'kidnapped' earlier. Do you know who it was that took us?"

Look, if Koumyou showing feelings or sharing intent is him showing denseness, or far worse, trying to inflict his shit on Kouryuu...

Then he just won't. After all, he's had far more practice just skipping along the top of those deep waters like a stone, than not. He's pretty good at reaching the other side.

"Well, that was the train. I use 'kidnapped' because that's how most people see it. I sort of figured you would be among them."

Having, you know, living Sanzo business to be doing.

"The train doesn't seem to do it on purpose or have a lot of control over how long it keeps people. I think it was damaged when its original crew was lost and its home world was erased. Not as completely as it could have been," you know, like if the Muten had done it, "but pretty close."

Koumyou refills his tea and once again offers to refill Genjo's with a silent gesture, if it's low enough to bother asking.

"I suspect these spiritual tethers are something like the snapped ends of those left by the old crew, waving around in the void and latching onto anyone 'close enough'. But not able to fully bind to us, because we're not who they're supposed to be attached to."

It's a theory he hasn't shared with anyone else so far, but only because he hasn't been sure others would understand. Even with the almost complete lack of training he'd given his son, he suspects another Sanzo will follow just fine.

After all, that's not that different from the sutras burrowing into their souls.

Just because he's dropping it, for now, doesn't mean this is the end of things, Koumyou. But he is offering a brief moment of respite. It was a sort of rest for the betterment of both their psyches.

"... I see," Koumyou's explanation made some sense. Genjo took the glass of fresh tea as it was poured out for him, allowing its warmth in his hands to ground him into the conversation. "So something about 'us' managed to stand out in some way as to catch this train's attention."

Was the train sentient? How peculiar.

"Something that possibly reminds us of its original crew."

He knew the fear of what being 'erased' could imply. However, it came with a pretty obvious assumption that it wasn't exactly like the Muten.

If it were like the Muten, this train would have probably ceased to exist along with everything else.

"I take it that residents of this train have been searching for the reasons behind our ending up here for quite some time now."

He sipped at his tea with that, savoring the familiar flavor as he waited for his master's response.

Koumyou nods to the first bit, and reaches up to touch one side of the Seiten around his shoulders after Genjo finishes, looking thoughtful. "The tethers looking for people who are similar is just my own theory, but... you know. Spiritual tethers."

Kind of a thing Sanzos have to deal with, isn't it? Just like how Koumyou can feel the Maten's location right now just as surely as his own thumb, after all that time as its lone protector. Keeping it safe. He'd always meant for Genjo to inherit the Maten from him even, if he hadn't meant for Genjo to inherit both so damn early.

Tenkai had said he'd know when the Maten was ready to be passed along again. He'd been right, as always.

(And he'd mostly only ever seen everyone's future deaths, hadn't he? Until Koumyou. Or including Koumyou, perhaps.)

...He realizes he'd lost himself in thought, and comes back with a slight shake of his head to clear it.

"Of course, but until recently our only source of data on anything about this situation was the train itself. Now we have the Void Ministry to deal with too, but since they don't remember the train's world ever having existed... it's hard. Plus, they're a governing body."

And thus never particularly trustworthy even in the best of times, which this is not.

Sanzo only understood the Maten Scripture through brief and sporadic research on the scriptures he acquired throughout his years. It was one of the main issues when handling something so sacred at such a young age. The Founding Scriptures of Heaven And Earth were artifacts purposefully kept out of the limelight for safety against their sheer power. He knew Koumyou was an exception in the way he carried two scriptures. He knew how keeping the scriptures close could cause trouble as the sheer power of one alone was a force that could throw the very harmony of a planet off balance. And he knew that, before Koumyou, all other inheritors to the Maten scripture had been youkai.

He had also recently learned the name of the inheritor of the Maten before Koumyou. Although in passing, he picked up other bits of information. Did Koumyou know of Taruche, perhaps?

He still had so many questions for his master. They were questions he was sure he wouldn't be able to hit on with their current train of conversation.

"You're saying that, somehow, the crew was thrown out of existence along with their entire world?" Now that was worrying. And that wasn't even including the entire situation regarding a 'Void Ministery' that Koumyou just dropped onto him. "So you're saying it's more akin to the Muten's energy than initially implied. But somehow, the train and only the train managed to escape it."

Now that was interesting.

"It's like the Muten, but sloppier than anything one of the sutras would do. The train, and perhaps a handful of people, still remember that world existing... and its famous void-craft being an official, sanctioned vessel."

Instead of whatever the hell the Ministry is classifying it as at this point.

"None of those people we know of were its crew, either. It seems pretty random to me, like a wildfire jumping over patches of forest."

And he perks up, remembering another interesting detail.

"Whatever happened to Choochoo-chan's crew," yes, that's his name for the train, "it seems to have damaged its programming, too. It's been getting more communicative as its been repairing itself."

Edited 2022-05-12 09:53 (UTC)

"... 'ChooChoo-Chan'," Genjos eyes narrowed as he stared blankly at his master in regards to the strange nickname. It was surreal, but carried a sense of nostalgia with it.

In the end, Koumyou will always be Koumyou

But the phrase carried more to it than just a strange sensation of childhood memories. It confirmed something for Genjo. Something he had been questioning since Koumyou first started describing the trains functions.

"So it is sentient then," Like a living being, able to heal and function on its own accord. "And it's able to communicate with us?"

Of course he looks a little confused with that. His eyebrows furrowed together as he tried to imagine how a train would be able to talk.

"Well, it is a choo choo train, you know!" Koumyou doesn't even miss a beat, there. "You probably don't remember it, but one of the older monks carved a wooden choo choo train for you when you were really little. I mean, it didn't really look like much of one, but you seemed pretty sure of it."

You want a trip down memory lane, Kouryuu? Koumyou's got a whole memory map. A whole memory city.

"Hm, it seems to be sentient, yes. It's talked to us a few times, but I guess it can't run that program all the time or something. Takes up a lot of energy. I offered to power it up a bit if it's low, but it hasn't taken me up on the offer. Probably just as well... I'm so bad at restraint I'd probably pop it. I've already done that to two water pipes in here!"

Is that going to make much sense without context? Possibly not.

Oh well!

Genjo Sanzo vaguely remembered Choo-Choo-Chan.

He refused to admit that he remembered that stupid train toy. Nor would he ever admit the vague memories of pushing the clunky thing down the temple halls. It was one of his earliest memories, one of the types that he didn't even remember remembering until Koumypou had brought it up the way he did.

Trains were such a rare and newly budding thing in Shangri-La. Save for the toy; he had only heard stories about working train lines.

They were probably all non-functional now—a true shame.

But rather than focus on the poor state of Shangri-La or silly childhood memories, he decided to keep fixed on the subject at hand. He knew how easily his master got side-tracked in conversation unless you steered it correctly.

"A program? So you say it uses a computer program to communicate with us? And how can the train be low energy? Isn't it constantly transporting us around? Why can't it just stop at some refuel station for a second and not move and talk to us then?"

Sanzo is filled with so many questions about this train. And he is determined to milk you for every bit of information you have, Koumyou.

Tiny toddler Kouryuu had been quite the little princeling for a temple brat, with people trying (and succeeding) to garner some of oh-so-holy Koumyou Sanzo's favor by making or acquiring little toys like that. Even his crib as a baby had come from the village down the mountain in a bid for the Sanzo's blessings.

"Well, it's probably made of programs, you know? But so are people, in a way. As for stopping to talk, that's what it's done on those few times. Last time, it had more personality, and when I mentioned that it said..."

Koumyou's eyes go kind of distant as he recalls the exact wording. His memory is always either precise and sharp or nonexistent on any given topic, depending on how much attention he'd paid. For this, he'd paid attention.

"'More programs have come online. More files have been recovered. It takes a lot of power to run this particular program.'" Koumyou quotes, then smiles, "That's when I offered to charge it up with the Seiten if it needed it. Since it's literally limitless power -- is the concept of energy itself, I could probably charge anything up if I didn't just pop it."

Which is a real concern with a sutra involved. Cosmic forces beyond human comprehension don't really do subtle very well, even filtered through the control of one of those very humans.

"But I get the feeling it's more like its reserves are damaged, you know? It can't hold enough at one time, no reservoir. No stamina. As it heals, maybe that will change."

It's a concept he's familiar with, since chi works much the same way. Koumyou's had to explain that whole concept from scratch more than once on the train.

Edited 2022-05-25 09:49 (UTC)

"So it's not that it's generally lacking power, so much as it can't seem to retain it," Relatable. However, it sucks to think that it needs such reserves even to be able to communicate. Sanzo couldn't help but wonder what it must be like to be a sentient machine with many other living things inside of you while you could barely communicate with them.

Wait.

Huh.

Maybe he should pay more attention to that dragon if he finds himself back in Shangri-La.

Oh right. Genjo was getting information from Koumyou. So much for keeping the other man from getting sidetracked.

"So, if it is a machine, is there a way to modify such reserves?"

Yeah. Right. Stay on track.

"I have absolutely no idea!"

Sorry Genjo, you know how technologically advanced your shared homeland is...

Yeah. Genjo's just going to stare at you blankly with that one pops.

You are just as he remembered you.

Taking another sip of tea, Genjo savored the familiar moment while not entirely giving Koumyou any reaction.

Hell, if he could have a moment to savor a quiet moment to mentally relax from the chaos of all that just happened while sitting in the presence of his now very alive master, he was content.

You know what? That's just fine by Koumyou, too.

So he's just going to sit here and drink his tea, glad to be spending time with his son again.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

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