A New Platform [Intro Post January]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

After a very quiet latter half of the month of Catfish the calendar clicks over. Passengers wake up in their beds as usual to the passenger announcement. "Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of domino.".

Those that have been on board a while know that new months usually come with new people and so the message a few hours later will not be a surprise. "Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void imminent." A lurch and a jolt and they are soon surrounded by the fog that means they are at a platform.

It will come as a relief that no one leaves this time, no one with packed bags to walk silently towards the barriers.

Added to that the platform itself holds more people then it ever has before. Twenty one figures, all the colours are represented. The ground is icy and their breath pools in white clouds around them.

For New Passengers

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 large and it holds twenty one figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. The air is cold, the ground icy beneath your feet. Both left and right the tracks disappear into the mist. 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 into the cold step a selection of people. Some are human, some are less so. They are wearing the same hoodie in one of the four colours, red, orange, blue and purple.

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 also it’s very cold out on the platform. The train is warmer.

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. The store rooms have been restocked and it seems that water chestnuts are the month of Domino’s ingredient of choice! Any of orange team who who go to check the luggage cart will find a parcel containing gingerbread snowflakes, decorated with icing. One for each of the orange team, including new members, come share in the reward!

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!

Comments

[heavybreathing]

When someone was thinking about something so fervently, it was child's play to pluck the general essence of it from their minds. From a mind as vulnerable as hers, it was more difficult not to pick up her intentions.

He knew a great deal about speaking in whispers, as well.

"You do not know because no one has tried it, or because no one has survived?"

[deductiongeek]

"You think you have allergies, but you also think you're immune to the common cold."

[dredefulchilde]

“‘Impatient?’” he echoes. “My friend, we are all of us impatient. That doesn’t mean that we’ll be released from this mobile prison of ours any sooner.”

The deep voice and sound of the respirator that the mechanical monster seems to be breathing through are putting him even more on edge. How pathetic has the Little Prince of London become if he’s so terrified of a stranger?

He puts on a brave face and forges ahead.

“I’m called Joscelin Fitzthomas. I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of making your acquaintance, Mister...?”

[deductiongeek]

Conan tucks the board under his arm and smirks at his rival.

"What, no luck at recreating your hangglider yet?"

[amery]

"Indeed," Amery said, nodding. He was still staring, just a bit, and finally had to force himself to look away.

"I haven't the faintest idea. I assume there must be some sort of storage, though." It hardly seemed right to give them a place to sleep without anywhere to store things.

[amery]

"Of course I do." He didn't sound insulted, at least, just maybe a bit surprised at the idea that someone might not know what a horse and carriage were.

He eyed the engine of the train for a moment, absorbing that new information. He was following right up until the bit about the train flying and visiting other worlds. "I beg your pardon? How does it do that, exactly?" And what other worlds were there?

[amery]

"A train," he repeated, mostly to himself, feeling out the word. He was relieved that he wasn't the only one who'd never seen one until recently. He thought he'd seen almost everything, as far as technology went, but clearly he was wrong.

"Indeed, we do," he said. "Horse and carriage is our primary method of transport." He hesitated. "What is this place?" And how had he gotten here?

[amery]

Oh, good lord, there really were children on board. Amery didn't have a lot of experience with children--or patience--but he smiled politely all the same. He would be polite to anyone unless they were impolite to him first.

"Indeed, I am," he said. "I'm Amery Vallet. It's a pleasure to meet you."

[hashtagparkerluck]

For a moment he thinks maybe Vader won't notice him and also that's a little lame but at the same time probably a good thing. But then he does notice and Peter is forced to let out his breath, coughing as he does and covering his mouth because he doesn't really want 'coughed on Darth Vader' to be why he dies. As cool as that might look on a head stone. Never mind, he found out and there's a whole mix of emotions because meeting Darth Vader is super cool but also not awesome because he's dangerous and his Spideysense feels like it's practically vibrating like speaker at concert. Yike.

"My Species?" Of all the words he, Spider-man could have gone for as his first to Darth Vader that's what he chooses? Should he get down? There's no real point being up on the ceiling now, except that he likes the ceiling. "I wasn't... hiding..." He coughs and then moves to lower himself down to the ground again but not anywhere close to blocking the way. "I just like being on the wall... and holding my breath. It's-it's fun." He pauses, frowning at his own words. "Ceiling. That's-that's the ceiling, I know the difference."

[heavybreathing]

In perhaps an hour or so, after the initial surge of disgust had faded, Vader would also consider the problem of arriving in a world without the various machinery he relied on to function as the most active enforcer of the Empire. Would reassess, begin to strategise and innovate and ration the supplies he was able to find. And he would remember Luke's odd expertise and familiarity, and make the decision to rely on it.

At this moment, however, he was still staring at the name mockingly printed across this necessary item - printed on all of the items in the bag, he realised now - and contemplating how much power would be needed to pulverise the train in front of them.

Too much, he suspected, else he would not be here. What comfort, though, would he find in a place that insisted on using that name? On seeking to make him weak?

Very well. If the ticket was to be protected, there appeared to be a great many other targets for his ire that were more disposable. In seconds, the spare clothing was smoldering on the floor, and he felt more himself again. He reattached his saber.

"Was there anything else?" He asked, voice deceptively quiet.

[deductiongeek]

"No problem! It's easy once you see it done once. Just swipe it across the screen."

Conan reaches up as far as he can, and just barely manages to touch the screen.

"You can start it there."

[heavybreathing]

If Peter has ever wondered what 'profoundly unimpressed' felt like as a mental aura, he knows now. The boy's mind flits from one thought to another so quickly that after the first few twists and turns of logic, Vader begins to disregard anything but the most basic level of intent. Even that is alien, as though he is experiencing some kind of chronic precognitive event.

It makes his manic haze rather more understandable, but no less tolerable. More importantly, there are a number of images in the child's mind that he should have no way of ever having seen. Their frequency intensifies as he steps closer, deliberately using his bulk to crowd.

"Who are you?"

[runs_on_batteries]

He could sense Ignis looking at him and he was doing his best not to react. His boyfriend, of course, had noticed something was off. It was so humiliating. However, the quiet gesture of taking his hand was comforting even if he'd deny ever needing it. He just needed another minute of them talking about something unrelated to Thanos, his death, Pepper, and all these people from his past shaking up his newly constructed world he'd built for himself on this train.

Inwardly, he groaned hearing Eva say his name. What the hell did she want now? He was just turning his gaze to her when she began explaining what was happening like he was a complete lunatic (or at least that's how it felt). He stared at her for a brief moment in disbelief before he notes her reaching for her ball. What the hell did that mean?

It wasn't right, but she'd given him a great direction to put all that unwanted anxious energy- at her.

"What the hell is wrong with you? I was ignoring you because you're a trifling, boring, and idiotic little girl and I have way more important things to think about than whatever nonsense you want to spit in my direction today. Now take your rat and your batshit craziness and find someone else to bother."

[hashtagparkerluck]

In retrospect, it was probably not a great idea to think so much about Star Wars this and that with Vader nearby. That's on him, he did this to himself. He takes an involuntary step back-noting in his head that it wouldn't be nearly as effective if not for the aura of doom and gloom.

"Um... Peter. Parker. I'm from a different Galaxy-universe thing." He explains and then takes a second to cough and sniffle. "Sp-Spider-Man. I also go by Spider-Man." His mouth moves again and he blames his nerves. "'Cause I have like... the proportionate strength of a Spider and-and stick to stuff."

Re: On the train

[notapprovedtrash]

Cal would have to talk to Beedee about leaving the room without him. Cal held the ticket to get in, after all, not to mention Vader was on board. He wasn't about to let Beedee near him again.

But, the curious droid being the curious thing he was, Beedee of course found the opportunity to bold out.

So, Cal chased him down the hall and caught up to him about the same time Padmé did.

Beedee is already beeping out a happy greeting and Cal nods.

"He's a friend of mine, yeah. I think he might be the only droid on the train." To which Beedee lets out an almost disappointed sounding noise.

Re: Exploring! - Garden

[notapprovedtrash]

Beedee has scanned most of this car by now, telling Cal he should collect seeds for Greez for when they see Greez again. Cal isn't about to, though. He's been on this train for just a handful of hours and it's a lot to adapt to. He's not even sure he'd be allowed to collect seedlings and all for Greez's terrarium.

There's a clattering noise as Beedee runs up a tree to look Cal in the eyes as they talk, but the soft voice catches his attention instead. So Cal and Droid turn to look for the source.

"Hello? Beedee is just scanning the car, so you can come over and say hi if you want. We're pretty harmless."

[notapprovedtrash]

"Dirty and covered in graffiti," Cal answers honestly. Beedee lets out a sound that might be disgust and Cal sighs, turning to look at the droid.

"It was all there was on Bracca. It's a scrapyard. There's no real need for anything pretty. Just functional."

The sound the droid makes sounds like disagreement, but then he actually shrugs and lets it go.

"Bassoon and Catfish?" He's not following, there.

[rieper]

The hitman didn't react. At first it seemed like he wasn't going to acknowledge the kid at all. Then finally, "Nothing new."

Was it a joke about how that never changed? Or was he actually referring to the fact that not much had really changed on the train since his arrival? Spoiler: it was both.

[notapprovedtrash]

He can picture someone trying to herd a group of Loth-cats and there's a brief smile on his scarred face. It sounds insane, but it gives him an idea of what to expect on this train. Looking down at the weird attire he wore and then looking at hers, Cal turns to look around, too.

Everyone was color-coded. Every single one of them. He turns to look at Beedee who is busy studying the girl, almost leaning over Cal's shoulder with his head tilted in curiosity.

Cal catches this and shrugs that shoulder, and Beedee takes the hint. Got it. Don't stare. It's intrusive.

"So, what do the teams mean? And where is this train headed?"

[runs_on_batteries]

To be fair, that wasn't a bad rebuttal. However, Tony's temper had triggered and it was way stronger than he could simply pull back from that fast- especially since he was, in fact, teaching a hand to hand fighting class nearly every day on the train. So it only further angered him.

"You want to see how I land a punch? Stop running like a coward!" He growled, charging into the kitchen after Bucky. This time when he drew closer, he didn't use his repulsors but lashed out with his fists. If only he had his sledgehammer now!

[notapprovedtrash]

Beedee beeps again, an uncertain 'if you're sure', but truthfully he was concerned about this new guy. Luke Skywalker.

Wait...Skywalker? Cal recognizes that name. Don't worry; it's all good things.

Please do not ruin it.

"There was a Skywalker back home. Not that I met him, but he was spoken of as a hero. He disappeared years ago." Back when people turned on the Jedi's and tried to wipe them all out.

[heavybreathing]

"Lord Vader." He's used to correcting the various flotsam he hires for his plans, with their irreverence or pure ignorance of titles, but likewise there is no way this man can know his name after the meddling of the train's controllers. He won't hold it against him, this time.

He does not hold the fear against him either. It would be foolish to resent a desired effect.

"Perhaps you have been awaiting the right... circumstances."

[themasterthief]

"No... but that wasn't really the point of the question, was it?" the sneak thief countered. His tone was fairly gentle. He smirked slightly. "Not being given the choice is what makes it so annoying in the first place."

[themasterthief]

"Oh, I know that feeling." Seventy-five percent wry, all sorts of bitter. But at least his kidnappings were all of a similar sort, and up until now all by the same entity and to the same place. This was new though.

"Who's Clara?"

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin smirks. “Lord Vader, is it? Well I shall have to be on my best behavior now that the nobility has arrived.” The boy isn’t mocking Vader—he’s just being an ass to hide his abject terror.

Please don’t force choke him.

“And what circumstances would those be, pray? There are few stronger than I on this train and yet none of us have managed to free ourselves and return to our rightful planes of reality.”