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

Backdated to 1-2

[anewhero]

"Blue is alright for now, but Thanks, I'll go talk to Amra. I've never seen a talking spider before to be honest."

[democratically]

No matter the effort required, small or large, it would always be something that Padmé would continue forwards with. She was well aware that sometimes a lot of effort went in to very small things. Yet there was a light amused noise, having no doubt that he likely said such things to most women that he met.

"Well, I am always open for a good conversation."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"We'll have to keep having them then! Let me tell you, this train is boring." Some days Edge didn't know how he stayed sane through it all.

[knifewithnoname]

Peter should know better than to lie. He is appalling at it. He's even rubbish at just keeping his mouth shut and letting her do the lying. How he managed to be a secret superhero in his world she didn't know because he had a million tells and all Tony had to do was raise an eyebrow and Peter was talking far too fast and admitting sins that no one had ever even noticed.

It was a problem. But one she had no answer to.

She stood as straight as she could when Happy's attention turned to her. "It do be being nice to be meeting you, sir."

[flatteries]

Definitely much easier in theory. Inigo almost winces a little in sympathy the moment the Doctor says that, because.. well. That sure isn't going to be easy, if possible at all.

"I don't think anyone has ever spoken to the driver." He pauses for a moment, but then frowns a little as he voices his realisation-- "I don't think anyone has ever even seen him. Or her. Or maybe there isn't even one..?"

[myblueskies]

"It's best if you don't sir?" He looked confused. "Why not? It's always good to know the answers to questions!"

He is leading the way to the train as he speaks.

[anewhero]

"It depends on what the questions are to be honest. If it hurts someone, is it worth answering?"

So sorry lost notif!

[deductionrival]

[He offers a smile.]

That'd be great. There's not a ton to do on this train.

[He gets that odd look on his face again.]

A Medic-nin? We don't have that where I'm from. Is it like some kind of magic they use to heal people?

[They didn't have magic where he was from, but after some of the other people around here had introduced him to it, he knew it existed.]

[runs_on_batteries]

"He was excited to see his father," Tony pointed out with a sigh. He could understand why someone would lose caution in a situation like that. It was unwise, of course, but he understood.

He listened as the two introduced themselves as he considered what it meant for Darth Vader to be on the train. "It's unfortunate we can't tell the train to just send someone who doesn't belong here back to their universe." There might be more than one he wished he could do that too.

[democratically]

"Certainly you've found some ways to lessen the dull." A small tilt of her head. Sitting around all day was not something that Padmé found enjoyable for long periods of time. She liked to be busy.

[faithfulsupport]

"The pleasure is mine." This was said with a smile.

Ignis didn't know what to say to the conversation but he could at least listen, which he most certainly did. His smile faded quickly as he thought about the safety of his other team members and as the leader, it was his job to keep them safe.

[hashtagparkerluck]

Peter lets out a rough sigh, coughing a bit as he does and then sucking in another breath before sitting back up, somehow looking worse than he did five minutes ago.

"Kaito use logic. It's super effective." He grumbles and reached for the coffee to take a drink. "We don't have like... hot tea or something, do we? Because Tea and honey sounds awesome."

[luckybucky]

He's expecting Steve to argue the point, but not from that angle. It doesn't make sense, of course, because it had just happened, but the idea that it hadn't made his stomach twist painfully. Had he been frozen again? Was he missing more time? He shakes his head hard. He always remembers going into the ice.

"It just happened," he insists, even though he knows a few hours must've passed -- he's dry, and doesn't smell like a river. Clearly someone's cleaned him up. But why, then, was his forehead still bleeding? He looks down at the blood on his hand, fresh and red and impossible. "It was today, and it's as much me as anything else I've done," as everything else.

[stealsyourheart]

"It should be, I'm supposed to be on the MENSA lists." He says blandly. "Hm. I can try and knock something together - pretty sure I saw tea leaves. Or we could just use honey? No lemons, sadly."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"I wish." Sighing, Edge slumped against a wall, then lifted his hands to rub at his eyes. "There's chores and there's training and there's that game room, I guess, but even all that gets boring when that's all to life for days on end."

[luckybucky]

Bucky's lips twist into a lopsided frown. "Yeah, if you're doing it without their permission, I'd say it's pretty harmful. People generally freak out when you change their bodies on them," he would know. The metal arm wasn't exactly a procedure he'd signed up for.

"You could try offering to turn people into demons. There are plenty who would take you up on it if there really are so many benefits," and maybe if he left off the word demon that would help, too.

[luckybucky]

"Oh, I believe that," he agrees as she steps closer. His smile spreads into a grin as her hand trails up his chest, and he actually laughs as she pushes him back.

He goes willingly and grins as she closes the door between them. "Sounds like fun," he says to himself, and heads down the train, looking for his own cabin.

[myblueskies]

Romeo thought about that and nodded slowly. "Sometimes things that you learn can be bad and scary. But the world is made up of good things and bad things and you got to know both. Even if it makes you a bit scared."

It's a big thing to think about. There are some answers he had gotten in his time in the heavens that he'd rather of not known. But really he was glad he did. Because it made him think and grow.

Re: Backdated to 1-2

[marriedanidiot]

"Nor had I before now!"

Ungoliant doesn't count - a mass of Void Stuff that kinda sorta looks spider-like is not anywhere near dear polite Amra.

"I do hear tales that in Middle-earth some of them can speak, but I have never met one like her."

[rieper]

From her description there was a high percentage that the inspectors were robots though she sounded uncertain. They could have voice changers in the helmets if they were in fact human. In which case it might be prudent to expect robots and react accordingly if they were human instead. He'd have to see for himself when the next time came.

Without more assured intelligence on them, he had no more questions for the moment. He lapsed back into silence with a small, thoughtful frown.

[badassfreakingoverlord]

Humans were so narrowminded. They'd do nothing but gain from the transformation, but nooo, they had to be all 'free will' this and 'bodily autonomy' that. Sheesh! "Okay, so no help from you on that, got it."

Yeah, he'd still try, just not expect help!

"The other worlds we travel to might have options too, though."

[tholes]

He does want to argue the point. In fact, he opens his mouth to do just that ... and shuts it again after a moment. Because this is weird. This platform is weird. The train just sitting there. The clothing - which Steve knows he wasn't wearing before showing up here. So, for once in his life, the world's greatest soldier (thanks, Nick) deploys that strategic method called patience.

He steps a little closer, but hopefully not enough to make Bucky take flight again, palms up to show he isn't armed. "What's the last thing you remember, pal?"

[tholes]

That's a legitimate concern.

[ Of course, he might bring up one of those real jobs in the course of this conversation, if only because he isn't aware of the other man's background. ]

Which Mister Stark? [ Because he knows two of them. ]

[tholes]

[ Or, strictly speaking, have never heard of it. You know, like Steve just said. Of course, he's American, and would naturally balk at any sort of over-rule that isn't his own government. (And even then ...) ]

I'm not really the allegiance-swearing sort. At least above and beyond my own country. But I appreciate the offer.

[tholes]

Well that prompts a frown. Steve straightens up just enough to plant himself on the seat across from Danny, concern in his gaze if not blatantly on his face.

"Did you have to do that at home?"