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

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"As good as they come! I'm the leader of the Eblan ninja clan, and a hero to boot!" And so modest, never mind that both titles were quite true.

[knifewithnoname]

Another hero. Of the light no doubt. Heroes of the dark very rarely went about announcing themselves as such, it put too much focus on them. She didn't roll her eyes. But she wanted to.

"What do a ninja clan be being?"

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Oh wow, you have led a sad and deprived life," Edge said, folding his arms and shaking his head. "A ninja clan is a a group of people who study and train in the arts of the ninja! Most often it has several prominent families in it, who pass their arts down from parent to child over the years. My own parents taught me, for example!"

[knifewithnoname]

"No I have no been having!" Her life wasn't sad or deprived at all. But she still had no idea what a ninja was so she squashed down her annoyance to listen to his explanation. People who study and trained and passed their arts to their children. Some important families were ninja.

"So it do be being fighting?"

That's the main thing she can think that you train in.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"The ninja arts are comprehensive! Martial arts and weapons training are just one facet of our skill. We're trained in infiltration, stealth, and deception, as well as the sacred art of ninjutsu!" And philosophy and so forth, but that was a lot less important in Edge's view.

[knifewithnoname]

Sneaking and lying sounded her type of training. She tilted her head, curious that he speaks about it so openly. Maybe she had been too hasty to dismiss him as a hero of the dark.

"What do ninjutsu be being? Where do you be training? Have you been training all your life?"

She has a lot of questions. More than she can ask, she still has to be careful. She doesn't know about his world. Arts of infiltration and deception sound chaos god following but it's not exactly something you ask about openly, not if you are smart, not if you want to live.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Absolutely all my life! As the heir to Eblan, kingdom and clan both, my destiny was assured at birth. I have to be a credit to my family and my people both." Good thing he had been, right?

"Hmm, ninjutsu is sort of like black magic, right? The power inside us emerges as great destructive force."

[knifewithnoname]

He is definitely not from her world, she has never heard of the kingdom of Eblan. But it is clear he is important there, the heir to a kingdom. The next king. Yet here he is on a platform like everyone else, about to be taken through a void on a train.

His next words though. Ninjutsu was black magic, dark, destructive. He was a priest, or whatever the equivalent was in his world. Her eyebrows raised and she glanced around, making sure no one was too close.

"You do be having to be being careful." Her voice was low, "Most people here to be worshipping the light, it do no be being safe to be speaking openly."

A beat later and she adds, "Sir." A priest and the heir to a kingdom that's probably not formal enough at all but it's at least an attempt to use her manners.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Forget the formality." Edge waved that off. What was the point when he had no kingdom to rule here? And none of these guys were his subjects. "Why am I keeping secrets, though? I'm as righteous a man as any you'll ever meet!"

[knifewithnoname]

She nodded though she also frowned at the question. She was sure he was a very noble and honourable man but that didn't mean those who followed the light would care. They would kill him even if he was honourable and righteous.

"Because even if you do be being very powerful there do be being more of them and they will be overpowering you."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Wait, hold on, why are they overpowering me?" As if they could! But Edge wasn't going to get hung up on that, when he didn't even understand what fight he was about to get into.

[knifewithnoname]

"Because there do be being... Twenty of them. Maybe. And there do only be being one of you."

If he can fight off twenty people she will be very impressed. Though some of them were just children, they might be able to fight but would be easier for him to defeat. Peter had super strength though, Lightning had magic and Tony had a flying suit. It wouldn't be easy.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Right, but why are they attacking me?! Is this a den of inquity?!" What are the odds that everyone on this train would be a villain?!

[knifewithnoname]

"Because they will no be liking you."

How does he not get this? She's trying to explain patiently without saying all the words outloud, it's not safe. But was he somehow from a world where those of the dark could walk free and open?

What a world that would be! Or was it just that he had not spent much time away from his kingdom where he was the ruler and could do whatever he wanted?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"But why not? I'm handsome, charming, and all around incredible!" Why would people just not like him? Without any reason?

[knifewithnoname]

He also had a big head. That could get him into big trouble. She sighed. "Well if you do even be needing help then just be telling me."

If he's shadow god serving and a magic user then protecting him is her job. If not officially then... It's the right thing to do.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Uh, thanks, I totally will!" How this kid was going to help him was anyone's guess, even if he could or would abide dragging an innocent kid into his troubles. But there are worse things to do than make a kind offer, so he wasn't going to just step on it.

[knifewithnoname]

"You do be being welcome." She gave a shallow yet stylistic bow, a copy of one she had seen and smiled.

"For now we should be getting on the train, I do no be thinking you do be wanting to be being left behind."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Yeah." Edge touched a hand to his chest, where a strange urge told him much the same. "That seems like a much worse idea than the alternative."

[knifewithnoname]

She nodded, she didn't actually know what happened. She was interested actually but it wouldn't be much of an experimentation unless she did it, as she would still not know the answer once the train left. But the result might be starving to death stuck here and she wasn't going to risk that.

She led the way to the doors.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"This has been a day," Edge grumbled as he followed along. The train, at least, didn't seem terribly inhospitable. To the contrary, it felt almost reassuring as he stepped on.

[knifewithnoname]

"It do be being day time yes." She nodded, he was strange. But they were on the train now, so that was good.

"Do you be needing anything right now?"

[onehandsomeslickninja]

That question got him laughing. He'd just appeared in a weird place with weird people, without weapons or even his normal outfit. Did he need anything?!

"I suspect I'll find what I need here, right? Food and shelter and such forth."

[knifewithnoname]

"Yes." She grinned at him, "You do be getting your own bed and there do be being a lot of food."

It's a very strange style of kidnapping really.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Well, I guess that could be worse!" Try to look on the bright side. Knowing he had a place to sleep and something to eat did help. "No monsters or dangers, then?"