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

[faithfulson]

He was deep enough in the Force to sense where the different presences were around him. His father, raging like a black star, Cal and Misa, soft and gentle, and then... there was Telli. She was an odd sensation; like a thunderstorm about to roll over.

And then she goes and says stuff like that.

He let out a snort, wobbling slightly from the break in concentration, but managing to keep his pose.

"Fun for who, exactly?" he asked, allowing his consciousness to drift back to reality.

[shockinglycaffeinated]

"Why me of course. Unless you'd allow me to sell tickets." She lowered herself to the floor before him so they were on a slightly more even level and sent him a sunny smile.

"I'd share the profits with you, of course."

[faithfulson]

Luke raised an eyebrow at her.

"It seems we share things often," he replied, trying to ignore that he felt blood rushing to his head for a different reason now. Yes, Tony had told him all about what Telli said of what she was doing before she arrived, or at least what he had been told. Just the thought still brought a blush to his face.

[shockinglycaffeinated]

Oh she knew that tone of voice and was honestly disappointed she hadn't been there when Tony had dropped that particular nugget of information.

The smile turned devious as she started to reply, "Oh but Mast..." She stopped the word in the middle, a look of disgust overcoming her face. "No, I can't say it even in jest."

[faithfulson]

Luke leaned back as she made the attempt, making a disgusted face himself.

"I don't even want to hear it in jest!" he protested.

[shockinglycaffeinated]

"Let's change the subject and forget that blunder happened." She shook her head as if to clear it before she pulled one of her lekku over her shoulder so she could play with the end.

"This isn't our version of your father is it?"