voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post December]

"Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Catfish." The voice woke them as usual four days after they had rejoined the train, leaving the dying world, the scientists and evacuees behind them."Team Points have been updated on the system and the shop has been updated."

. A few hours into the morning there is a second announcement. "Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void imminent." Hopefully everyone knows to hold on, though if they do not they will be in for a bumpy arrival to the platform. At first all they can see from the windows is steam.

They step out into blazing sunshine, heat hits them. There is still steam, but light breaks through, dazzling at points, reflecting off the smooth surface of the platform. As the doors open the first four people off the train are wearing their rucksacks and dressed in purple hoodies. Yuki, Amelia, Harry and Richie. All walk steadily and unhurriedly towards the barriers at the back of the platform, show their ticket and disappear.

Those looking over the platform will recognise Ash, dressed in purple. With her are ten other people, one seems to have fire for a head, another is a book. Two are elves. All four teams are represented but Red and Blue are dominant with four new members each. Time to be welcoming.

For new arrivals.

At first all they can see if steam. Billowing around them as they come to their senses. They are standing, in clothes that are not their own, styles they might not even recognise. They are carrying a rucksack on their back. For a moment it seems to just be them, alone in the white haze but then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not very large, but it holds eleven figures all facing the tracks, all wearing similar clothing. The tracks stretch left and right into steam, or perhaps fog. Nothing can be seen to either side. Patches of sunlight break down and it is very warm.

In front of them is a train. Jet black and gleaming where it stands on the rails. Voidtrecker Express is emblazoned in the engine in gold. There is a hiss as the doors slide open.

Out step a selection of people, some less human than others, wearing clothes just like those worn by those on the platform.

The Train

The doors hiss open. Those from the train may encourage those on the platform to board. It’s not like there is 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 not be a good thing, as nice a day as it is.

Each ICP shows the same message. If they are near an ICP they may find a piece of paper stuck to it, for further reading. The food stores have been topped up with new fresh food, there is still an abundance of sweet peppers.

New passengers will find their tickets allow them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, especially if they want a top bunk!

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 and you will hopefully find a pillow for your bed if it has not been nabbed by a roommate, there are also spare blankets for if it gets cold.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers and the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view 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."

Hopefully someone warns you that you really want to heed that warning because a moment later there is 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. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever changing colours.

Welcome to voidspace.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

47 didn't believe in the supernatural; it had no place in his world. He did understand technology and science though, some of which could seem like magic or the like in some cases. If Caster had failed to mention the 'ghost' word 47 could have followed the 'science' of it without too much of a hiccup, even if Caster denied it being from technology.

But 47 frowned at the idea of a real ghost. The closest he could comprehend was more like what he was--a person who didn't exist inside of a government shell, someone with no paper trail because his life had been completely erased from history. As one man put it 'it was as if the Earth had just spat him out.'

"That sounds... existential." The hitman cocked his head slightly and looked over Caster once thoroughly. "It must be beneficial to be something other than," he made a hand gesture, "always around. You don't seem to have any problem manipulating things while being only invisible energy."

Of course there were benefits to being visible as well, such as holding a conversation like this one. Perhaps there were other reasons as well but 47 didn't know what the man required to...exist. Food, water, air? They might not be important if all the man were was simply energy running around.

Law of entropy applies to magic. Even without doing anything that energy is in gradual decline. Just all living things will eventually die, all magical things will eventually burn out. But Caster has always been accepting if the "we're born to die" both back in life and now.

"Existential... that is a good way to put it" his casually amused tone makes place for something more serious and more thoughtful. "To stay in this world, dead require external source of energy. Something - or someone - to anchor us to the world of the living. Without that just maintaining this body is a cost, being intangible will simply make me last longer"

He literally is a ghost. And there is a curiosity in his eyes as he divulges that information. It's gonna give out a lot on how this man react to this news. If he does at all.

"But, hey, if you die young, you can also stay a pretty ghost with cool party tricks"

Make 47 change expression sound like a massive challenge to undertake.

Pace yourself, Caster. 47 wasn't likely to change his expression from stoic stare anytime soon.

The joke went over his head; well, he got it he just didn't react to it. As for the reiteration and confirmation of being an actual ghost--as in not a living being--that made 47 pause if not visibly react. So the man was intent on such a concept. That was...interesting.

Honestly, he didn't know what to think about it. It made little difference to him. He couldn't confirm it was something that would happen to him when he were to die, and there was no sense in worrying about it. If it happened, it happened. He would adapt.

Until then, he would keep on as he always had. But if there was one thing that 47 got from this conversation it was information. And something curious to investigate.

"You can prolong your existence by anchoring yourself to something else. Why haven't you?"

Why. That's a good question. One that got a more complicated and longer answer but as always, he keeps it simple, he keeps it breezy.

"Technically, it could be anyone—" someone with strong magic energy would be the most optimal, but it's not like Masters with 0 magecraft talent (or their talent in negative, even) are unheard of. "—but I'm trying to get to know people better first. See who would be up for a deal like that."

For maximum efficiency. And probably because it includes handing off three absolute orders over him to someone.

"Enough about me though, what you are you doing on this jolly ride?" It might be seen as deflection, but it is a genuine curiosity.

The hitman nodded in acceptance to that answer. It made sense and it was a good reason. No sense in going into something half cocked. He didn't like to work with others but when the job called for it he liked to know as much about the people he was working with as possible before heading out.

The assassin shrugged his shoulders. "The same as everyone else."

"So... waiting. For something to happen. For a mission to start."

That's not necessarily what everyone else are truly doing, but for someone so chill and relaxed, he's pretty goal-oriented.

"Waiting really is the worst, eh?"

But it was exactly what 47 was doing. So it was a good answer. The hitman nodded once.

"I don't mind the waiting. It's the unknown that bothers me."

By which he meant he could wait all day for a perfect opportunity to strike but not knowing what he was supposed to do or waiting for Intel that may or may not be useful--now that was the worst, as Caster put it.

It's really better for him to stay in spirit form, because now that he has a body... he fidgets in place, trying to find better way to sit down. And yes he sprawls. Good thing there aren't more people needing space right now.

"Exactly. If we had given hour, or date of this whole mission deal, there would be something concrete to wait for" While not exactly what 47 meant, still close enough. And because he is as easily bored as he is easily amused, he suddenly asks. "Hey, do you play cards?"

47 didn't seem to mind. He was content to just stand in place like some sort of living statue.

It would have been a little something at least. 47 would have wanted more. Even if he had to do his own research on the subject matter of a mission that was fine. He often did that to prepare. But nothing at all? Even a man like him could get restless.

The question came as a surprise if only because it was a new subject to the conversation. 47 blinked. "I know how," he replied. It wasn't exactly a yes.

A New Platform [Intro Post December]

No worries! Just don't die. I've no qualms with good threads taking time tho. Thanks for keeping on!

💪thank you for your patience and kindness

<3

I'm finally home till like end of December... phew... thank you for wait

/thumbs up

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