A new Platform [Intro post~ August]

[voidtreckermods]

For those on the Train

"Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Apple." The train announces as always as everyone wakes up the morning of the sixteenth. "Due to your success on Hub World #5739 your team points have been updated on the system. The on train shop has unlocked new stock."

For those going to investigate it might seem like the boredom of the last two weeks will be alleviated a little. More so after a few hours when there is a second announcement.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void imminent."

By now they should know to hold on as the train jerks and jolts. There is only fog outside the windows but the train soon comes to a stop. The doors hiss open.

As they exit into the fog they may notice Hibiki exiting from the luggage carriage door. She hasn’t been seen since the Hub World and they might be forgiven for believing she stayed behind. But here she is, backpack on her back as she walks through the station. She heads no call, reacts to no words and cannot be stopped as she walks to the ticket barrier and disappears through it.

It is impossible to follow. But you soon may be distracted because this platform is far from empty.

For new arrivals

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

The platform is not very large, but it hold twelve figures all facing the tracks, all wearing similar clothing, even if one of them is a spider. The tracks stretch left and right into steam, or perhaps fog. Nothing can be seen to either side. There is a wall around the platform and the only entrance is a ticket barrier. It cannot be open, nor do there seem to be any staff.

What there is, 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, wearing clothes just like yours.

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.

Once on the train there is plenty to explore. A new sleeper carriage has appeared as has a medical bay. Neither were there before those already on the train had disembarked to meet their new travelling companions.

Each ICP shows the same message. The food stores have been topped up with new fresh food, though it seems that eggs are still predominately on the menu.

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. Those who boarded two weeks ago will know what is coming next.

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

[runs_on_batteries]

He likes this one a whole lot better than the other one. Hell, for all he knew they were from similar worlds but beyond the pointy ears had nothing in common. In truth, he would welcome a few more competent adults on board who he could work with. Besides Dread and Sarai, it seemed everyone else on board were kids.

His eyebrows rose seeing how Maglor reacted to that word. "Sorry.. it was just the word the other man used. I don't know if there's a connotation to it or not." Elf? "Well since I don't see any candy canes or bells on your shoes, I'm guessing we're talking about beings out of the Germanic folklore? Norse too. Any of those words mean anything to you?"

[seawanderer]

He's much more used to dealing with humans than his father ever got the chance to. More used to them than quite a few elves, in even the later years of Middle-Earth.

He blinks down at his shoes before frowning, listening to the strange words used. "I only am concerned, depending who it is you met." He might be in trouble. "I am an outcast." Maybe mostly by choice, to avoid bringing harm to those few left alive that he cares about, but still an outcast.

"No, none of the words you have used are known to me. It would be foolish to wear bells on my shoes. What lore do you speak of?"

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony snorts a laugh when Maglor actually looks at his shoes. That was priceless! However, his humor was mostly just that, not malicious expect perhaps a little ornery.

The humor vanishes instantly when Maglor admits why he's concerned about other elves. "You might be from where you are from, but not here. You're under my protection and I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you. You have my word on that, so long as you don't hurt anyone else." It was the Iron Man Promise (tm).

"The bells on shoes was a joke. There are some children stories and a holiday and.. it's kind of a long story. I'll be happy to tell you about it later though. Basically, that word is similar to dwarves or fairies. They're all creatures in our lore that date back forever who are mostly being in the woods who cause trouble or help people."

[seawanderer]

He doesn't mind the laugh, considering he doesn't sense maliciousness behind it. He's growing to rather like this man.

It should be laughable for a human to be the one to protect an elf as experienced in battle as Maglor. But there's something about this one that leaves him standing still, staring at Tony with an odd mix of confusion, awe, and just plain lost.

His voice is a bit rough when he finally manages to answer. "Do you not care to know what I have done to deserve to be cast out?" His right hand twinges in reminder.

He's glad to go along with the explanation, and feigns a sniff at the idea of wandering around just for the sake of children. He's done more absurd things to earn laughter than silly shoes! "I would be glad to hear it!" The latter has him almost shift in discomfort.

"...That is a truth of my world, though not so much in the past Age. Creatures called Orcs and Goblins have taken up that mantle of harassing and pillaging. Men have had to learn to mostly help themselves."

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony was also responding well to this elf. He didn't have the same arrogance the other elf he met had. Not that arrogance was always a bad thing. Tony himself was a textbook narcissist, after all.

At the question, Tony shook his head. "I've likely made just as many mistakes as you have, so, no. Besides, I've always been a fan of rebels."

He listens with obvious interest when Maglor describes some about his world. "We do have stories about goblins in our mythology too. The term 'orc' not so much. Goblins though range from anywhere form merely tricksters to things more dangerous- like David Bowie in spandex." Tony looks humored at his own joke till he remembers Maglor would have no idea what he was talking about. "Never mind.. that's a, uh, 'play'." Movie, play, same thing, right?

[seawanderer]

He used to be almost as bad as his father. But centuries alone have changed him enough that there is very little left of the proud, vain elf he'd once been. He still has some pride though, when it comes to his music and his skill in battle.

Maglor can't help the wry twist of his lips at Tony's answer, but he doesn't discount what this man says. He doesn't know what Tony's done either. He doesn't mind going by how the other acts, rather than what he's done before.

There's a grimace of disgust knowing other worlds also have goblins. But...David Bowie in what? There's confusion on the elf's face before Tony realizes correctly of his ignorance. But the clarification clears some of it. A play must be some sort of entertainment.

"Goblins on their own aren't too dangerous. They merely tend to swarm, and that's where the danger comes. Orcs were once Elves, but were tortured and mutilated to the point of changing entirely. If one comes here, I will not stop and ask questions."

[runs_on_batteries]

"If they come here, I'll be happy to join you. We don't need anything on board that's going to harm fellow passengers. We didn't have a medical area until we woke up this morning." That should've been the first clue something was really off about this stop.

The spider would normally qualify but he'd been proven otherwise. He was really glad he hadn't been forced to go any further- especially with how Peter was carrying on.

"I'll be interested to learn more about your world, Maglor. Perhaps we should get you on board first? Do you like coffee or tea?" He could already tell he was going to enjoy learning from this man. It was a pleasant change to find someone who a) didn't know him and b) didn't mind sharing with him.

[seawanderer]

"It is good that we now have such an area." And that he doesn't have to point out the possible sign of trouble. He's glad he won't be alone in fighting, only that it will be necessary.

"Just as I would be interested to learn about yours." Maglor nods, shifting the pack just a little better onto his back. "I could tell you a story or two about coffee and my world," he answers wryly, thoughts on a certain relative and his knowledge of how far she'd go to get more. He gestures to the train, inviting Tony to lead the way.

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony leads Maglor to the kitchen. He points to one of the chairs. "How do you usually take your coffee? Cream, sugar, black?" He needed to make an espresso machine. He often brewed the coffee stronger than most of the train probably preferred. He didn't know exactly, but that was the case back home. He hadn't done a poll here to find out preferences.

He sets up the machine and then leans a hip against the counter, looking at the elf. "I never pictured you guys being so tall. A lot of our folklore talk about elves being small. Are there fairies in your world? Little things that fly?"