voidtreckerexpress | Train Memory Investigations (Backdated to month of Quicksand and Onward)

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Train Memory Investigations (Backdated to month of Quicksand and Onward)

Who: Elidibus, Seto Kaiba, Faux, Esteban, Tidus, Emet-Selch, Ryo, Wash, Naoya, Thantos, Trunks, Zetta, Kitty Pryde, Devero, Leia, Clef, Gremlin (Najaran), Zagreus, Zelda, John Conner + Open

[ If I missed anyone that signed up, lmk

wewillwewill ]
Where: Games Carriage, upper floor
When: Midway Quicksand, beginning of Rabbit
What: It's time to learn what happened to the Train's Memories and Former Crew (leading into Rabbit month event)
Warnings: Nothing Immediate: Train Memories and Investigation, potential minor spoilers for various canon as people use their personal methods to look into things. More will be added as needed.

THE CALL

A couple of days before the evacuation of Osiga's system, there's an ICP call made to all carriages from Seto Kaiba and Elidibus.

Seto Kaiba speaks first:

 The invitation to learn. Seto Kaiba and Elidibus will be coordinating the efforts of tech and energy/magic respectively. All information gathered and turned in will be available to everyone. 

Greetings. Those of you who've been on board a little while know that the train has a certain mission, to find the crew it had before us. They were all lost in the destruction of its original system. We haven't made progress on that because the train isn't able to recall certain memories. A group of us have asked the train if we can investigate, and we're going to try to find out what's missing and why.

[ Elidibus is also heard on this invitation. ]

Seto Kaiba will coordinate the efforts that use technology to access the data. I, Elidibus, will serve as a contact for efforts that manipulate or read the energy directly, whether magic or sensory gifts. If you have any questions, pray come to one of us. All the data collected and turned in will be available for everyone to read.

People can join in when and as they please, a set-up already put together in the upper games carriage. Giant block pieces have been moved aside, most of them gone (for the time being). In their place along the wall opposite the game consoles are screens - holographic, connected to the carriage's ICP panel to project the data the train's given them permission to look at.

There are also extra headsets, where people can access the space of this data through virtual reality - for those more inclined towards magic, particular abilities, and emotions. Even those not really in tune to anything will be able to navigate some portion of this data. And as for what there is to learn...

THROUGH QUICKSAND: THE BEGINNING

➀ What volunteers to the project learn, is…

for those familiar with programming - is that they can access the data logs fairly easily, with the train's help. The worry of an untranslated language doesn't come to fruition, though they're still working with a complex machine. Some time spent looking through files will help them understand what they're looking at.

With enough time spent navigating and getting an idea of what it is they're working with, they can find records of air temperature, movement of passengers, records of ICP use, purchases.

➁ For those working with energies, they will be able to - with time, and perhaps even guidance - sense the tethers connected to the train. Their own, the people around them; one's experience with sensing connections or energy in general will give them a helping hand in recognising how to 'look' at these threads.

But even those not experienced may be able to feel them out. With time, and trying. Thinking about those they already know on the train will start to make those golden strands become visible, and more time spent on this will make them even more so.

Still, it's hard work, not easy to accomplish in a day or two.

Elidibus will have shared with everyone that through his previous investigations, he has been unable to decipher the traumatised energy - aether, as he calls it, the train's life force - from Beetroot 12 to Apple 1. This is the time between when the last crew disappeared, and when the Voidtrecker Express began picking up people under its new settings.

➂ While this project starts soon before evacuation, it is something that those looking for a distraction after the heavy mission can come back to, to throw themselves into.

Fortunately, there are people who know to come and check on such people.

GOING INTO RABBIT: PROGRESS...

They've lost passengers, even Senku who was part of the original group, but still, as always - the Voidtreckers must proceed.

➀ For the programmers, it's likely they've already tried to get into the logs of the past passengers. This is where it gets the trickiest, some data corrupted, but not always unsalvageable. They span through some old months, and sound mostly like any journal entries. Never always in the same tone, and some written as if speaking to the train.

Searching through past transmissions, someone will be able to uncover a transmission from system #1015 on Beetroot 5. Earlier transmissions, earlier data of void missions.

➁ For those working with energy, magic, or just pure blindly searching, there's different types of progress to be made. Some may become better at sensing the tethers of certain passengers, of figuring out where they are. Those better at such energy-seeking abilities will even be able to see through the eyes of another passenger - but, luckily, they won't know what they're thinking, or feeling.

People will also be able to navigate the different logs in this way, if they would like to try - they will be able to see through the eyes of those who wrote the entries, and know how they were feeling.

➂ But for everyone, it will be exhausting, and participants will find themselves having one dream or another.

[ OOC: Remember there are OOC details here about what can be found! If you're not sure if your character can contribute or if their skills will be able to work with what's being done, feel free to ask for help - the VR gear gives a kind of access to be 'inside' the train's data.

If your character would have any specific interests too, you can ask the mod for more details. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's been a very long day.

It's been a very long several months, if he's going to be honest with himself, but today has been particularly bad. He'd volunteered to help with the effort to connect with the train; he's not necessarily a programmer, but he'd figured he knows enough about general AI structure to be able to provide some insight.

Two things became very clear as the day wore on: that his AI knowledge was extremely world specific, and that it wasn't his - it was the Director's. Diving into the Director's memories has always taken it out of him, though he can usually keep it fairly well under control.

Usually.

He knows he's done when he can feel the headache building behind his eyes and can hear the southern drawl creeping into his voice - not his accent, not his words, because they're not his memories. Still, he hasn't left yet - he's leaning against the wall with his hand over his eyes as Athena leans against his ankles.

He's fine. Really, he's fine. Look how fine he is.

That does not look fine, and while he's not one foot in Charon's boat, Wash isn't in any condition to continue as he is. So, Thanatos pours a glass of water and holds it out to Wash.

"Sit down and drink." There is no room for debate in Thanatos's voice.

For a moment, Wash doesn't move. He debates looking through Athena's eyes to see who this is, but even that is going to require more focus than he's currently capable of pulling together.

Well, he can't stay here forever, can he.

He drops his hand and opens his eyes, blinking once or twice. "Hey, Paperwork," he says, taking the glass. It's a greeting, and a concession to just how jumbled his brain is right now: he can barely hold on to his own name, let alone search for someone else's, but he sure as hell remembers this guy volunteering to do paperwork. That kind of thing sticks with you.

Thanatos doesn't move from his spot. He simply crosses his arms and stares down Wash, unblinking and with lips pressed into a thin line. Mort peeks out from his spot in Thanatos's hood. He's judging too, even if he doesn't look it.

"Taking the glass is not enough. Sit down and drink," Thanatos repeats. "You cannot continue in this state." Wash may not have been on the train when Thanatos threatened sending healers on reckless people, but that doesn't absolve him from that threat.

Okay, Paperwork and the Rodent aren't impressed. He can't blame them - he's not exactly impressed with himself right now-

They're Pinky and the Brain, his own brain supplies rather unhelpfully, and he at least has the presence of mind to keep a straight face at the thought. He cannot think of them like that. He does not want to have to explain it-

Which all leaves him a step or two behind the actual conversation happening, and it takes a mental nudge from Athena to get him back on track. "Oh, I'm not planning on continuing," he finally says, a bit flat. "Just- gimme a minute."

"Sit. Down. Drink," Thanatos says with a noticeable pause between words. He would say that he feels like he's talking to Cerberus, but that would be an insult to Cerberus.

Wash has one tag before Thanatos makes him sit down on the ground right there and then. No chair is required to sit, and Wash will be in worse condition if he collapses where he stands. Sitting would at least reduce the fall distance.

Mort also squeaks his disapproval. He'll FITE Wash if he has to. It'll be for his own good.

"Jesus, Paperwork, let me live." It's grumbled, but he's already got his back to the wall, so it'll be easy enough to slide down, especially once Athena gives him a little room.

Wait- "Also, move." He doesn't think either of them will enjoy it if Wash accidentally kicks him in the ankles on the way down. Might as well avoid collateral damage.

"That's what I'm trying to have you do." He's not letting him die, quite the opposite.

Thanatos floats back a little give Wash more room. However, sitting down is just one part of Thanatos's instructions. He remains with folded arms, and oh, it's clear he isn't satisfied yet.

"And my name is Thanatos. Not Paperwork. Not Jesus. Thanatos."

Paperwork is really not a metaphor person, is he.

Still, Wash sits and settles, crossing his legs and meeting Paperwork's gaze. Look. He's sitting. What else does this guy want-

Oh, wait, the water. He breaks eye contact to start drinking it, idly letting his brain click pieces back into place. Thanatos. Greek god of- something. Not one of the big ones. Red team. Not his Red team, but a Red team. Volunteered to do the paperwork, hence the nickname. Not-

And then he fucking chokes, and takes the next minute or so to clear the water out of his windpipe and remember how to breathe. So much for trying to help him live. "I think, if you were Jesus," he finally manages, somehow with some level of sass despite everything, "we'd be having a very different conversation."

No. No, he is not, and he's even less of one when he doesn't catch the reference.

Thanatos gives a frustrated sigh. Blood and darkness. This man is bound and determined to make every step difficult.

"... I'm getting Ryo." This doesn't need Ryo's power. Thanatos doesn't have to worry about Ryo potentially over exerting himself with this, and Ryo will know how to handle someone who can drown himself with a small glass of liquid. "If you're too addled to drink water, you need more professional help."

Mort agrees. And if Ryo can't help, then Lagos can yell at Wash some. Lagos is good at that.

Who the fuck is Ryo?

It takes Wash a minute to put things in context - to shake off the vague recollection that there might be two Ryos (with different spelling? maybe? that's too much for him to sort through right now) - and remember seeing that name on the shift rotation in the medical car. Right. It's always good to know who your medics are, and evidently this Ryo is one of them.

The next thought that surfaces is that he doesn't need medical attention for water going down the wrong pipe. "Or you can just not surprise me while I'm drinking water," he says flatly. "I'm fine. If I was in trouble, Athena would've gone to get help by now."

Seated next to him, Athena meows loudly. You bet your ass she would.

Thanatos narrows his eyes. "I did nothing of the sort. I have been talking to you right here unless you are suffering memory loss on top of everything." He didn't even shift near him! Wash startling from that would have been reasonable.

"Stay here while I fetch Ryo. Athena, keep him here." If she has any power to do so. Athena is clearly not as smart as her namesake as she should have put an end to Wash's antics much earlier if she had. And a cat. Really? Athena's animal is an owl.

Death Incarnate turns to leave, planning to enter the nearest door before shifting away as to not give Wash an actual surprise and cause him to choke again.

Memory loss is the exact opposite of his problems right now. Thanks, Thanatos.

Though he's starting to realize that either Thanatos has no context for the whole Jesus thing, or no sense of humor, or both. Not quickly enough to get a word in edgewise, as Thanatos gives him his orders - and makes the mistake of giving Athena orders - and leaves. Athena stares after him in that vaguely possessed way that only cats can manage. Excuse him? He's giving her orders? Who the fuck is this guy?

Wash just sighs and looks down at her. So, they're not staying here, right?

Athena cuts the eerie stare and looks back up at him, giving a soft mrah in return. Fuck no, they're not staying.

He gets to his feet, and pauses - he can't just disappear if a medic is coming. Medics get funny about their patients bailing, and he doesn't need to be on this Ryo person's bad side, especially if their bad side is anything like Dr. Grey's. He fishes train-assigned notebook and a pen out of his hoodie pocket, writes Thanatos a quick note, and leaves it behind as he and Athena head out. He needs a chance to put his thoughts together, and he needs a nap. Time to go.

(He does take the glass of water with him, though. He's pretty sure he can get it all down the right pipe when he's not interrupted.)

---------

~~Pap~~ Thanatos-

Heading back to my room for a nap. Upper 1D if your medic wants to check. Thanks for the water.

You know telling a cat to do something makes them not want to do it, right?

Wash

Thanatos comes back with Ryo only to find the place void of any other person. "... He was just here--" Then he spots the piece of paper. Thanatos reads the note, and his frown deepens. He crumples up the paper. Mort squeaks, angry. He's going to FITE them. Some companion that cat is!

"Ryo, I am passing on the care of Washington to anyone else who will take him. He is in Upper 1D according to this. I am not bothering with another reckless mortal and his guardian cat who doesn't do her job or isn't like her namesake. If he wants to fall to my realm for his stupidity, then that's his fate."

No. Just no. He's not dealing with this and will remember this should they have to interact in a mission.

Edited (fixed a word for clarity) 2022-06-05 05:06 (UTC)

Ryo had gone to the kitchen for more food and drink - because if there's one thing everybody working needs regardless of energy or duties, it's sustenance - when Thanatos had come to get him, describing someone who was so far gone he couldn't manage to drink water. He drops what he's doing and follows Thanatos back, only to find the person in question missing and a note in his place - a note that only serves to upset Thanatos and Mort.

He wouldn't think someone too injured to drink water would be able to leave a cogent note, but he doesn't know anything about this Washington person and hasn't seen that note yet. He holds his hand out, gesturing for Thanatos to give him the note. "I'll go take care of him. Can you manage things here for a bit?"

Giving Ryo the crumpled up paper, Thanatos nods. Meanwhile, Mort is busy squeaking additional observations to Lagos about how Wash hadn't been able to walk well and spoke weird and couldn't drink water right. He also adds his own disapproval of Athena and how Lagos and Mort do much better jobs than her.

Thanatos makes no attempt at stopping Mort's ranting about Wash and Athena.

Edited 2022-06-10 22:52 (UTC)

Lagos leans into the gossip, listening and taking mental notes. Don't worry, he'll pass this all on to Ryo. And wow, if cat Athena is that bad, maybe they should introduce her to Caissa and show her how a real cat acts.

"Thank you." For managing things and for handing over the note. He smooths out the paper and reads it. It's a simple enough note, though the mention of cats being contrary brings a hint of a smile on his face - which he tries to hide from Thanatos, as Thanatos is very evidently upset at that same cat. "I'll be back soon."

It's a good twenty minutes at least before he gets back - the transgates make traversing the train easy enough, but it was still a matter of getting the door open, doing a thorough job checking Washington over, and...honestly, petting the cat.

(He'd been impressed that the cat opened the door from the inside to let him in, and it had been very fluffy. He couldn't help himself.)

He finds Thanatos and stops, not sure if Thanatos wants an update on the person he'd essentially disowned. He goes for neutral ground instead: "Did I miss anything?"

Lagos warbles conspiratorially to Mort in the meantime. Cat Athena definitely isn't as good as Caissa, but she did let Ryo pet her. That's one point in her favor. Only one.

Thankfully, no one else seems to have stumbled their way out of Thanatos's good graces. He provides what's needed, and when he suggests they rest, they do so without question or choking on their water.

"Nothing much. Just taking these back to the kitchen," he says as he collects some empty dishes. Thanatos doesn't want to know how Wash is doing. He's not his problem anymore.

The companions' talk doesn't go completely unnoticed by Thanatos. There's a small disappointed squeak from Mort that Lagos gave fake Athena that one point. Some people can act nice while also planning one's downfall, and if that fake Athena even tries to get near Thanatos, he will fight her. He's not afraid of how much bigger she is.

Thanatos puts a hand atop Mort's head but doesn't say anything. He's usually trusting of animals, so for one to get on his bad side like this is rare.

"Okay." He doesn't push, instead falling into step with Thanatos, helping gather the empty dishes. If Thanatos doesn't inquire, then he's not going to push.

Lagos just gives a little shrug with wings that still don't quite work. Look, the cat made Ryo happy, and that's not always easy to come by around here. He has to give her that point, at least for now.

Of course, if that cat tries anything, Lagos is going to stab her, but he's pretty sure Mort already knows that. They will be united against that stupid cat.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Train Memory Investigations (Backdated to month of Quicksand and Onward)

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