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

[happyends]

".. You will..?"

She looks a little surprised. Not since she already thought he was a mean kind of person who wouldn't help, but.. still, she only just showed up here. He's a stranger, yet he's still offering to help. That's a kind thing to do, and thus she wants to be properly appreciative of it.

"A.. Are you sure? I wouldn't want to take up your time if you have any other important things to do! But.. I'd really appreciate the help."

[thebiggestguy]

Dread smiled. "Helping people is important."

How little she knew about Eorzea, and the requests people made of a Warrior of Light! The only unpleasant thing about helping her would be the very likely failure.

[happyends]

Shh, don't mention the likely failure. Madoka was feeling pretty bad about this situation, but now there's at the very least the tiniest spark of hope she could still find Kyuubey, she's focused enough on that to not feel totally down in the dumps anymore.

To the point that she even gives him a small smile in return. "Right..! Thank you sir, you must be a really good person." She's basing that on a single moment of help, but that's apparently just enough for Madoka. "The cat I'm looking for.. um, he'd be easy to spot, since he's kind of unique-looking. It looks like he has two sets of ears.. a normal set, and a longer set below them."

[thebiggestguy]

"Is it actually a cat?" was Dread's first question. He suspected she might be using the term for convenience's sake, but Dread had dealt with all sorts of creatures in his time, and was prepared to hear about more. In fact, given her description, he was certain that this creature absolutely was not a cat...

[happyends]

It's pretty obvious that Madoka, indeed, is not talking about a cat at all.

You know what else makes it even more obvious? The fact she just goes completely dead silent for a moment after his question. It's not even a question you have to think about when you're answering honestly, so she's being pretty obvious over here.. Not that Madoka herself seems to realise that though, since after those moments of awkward silence she answers, as if it's totally normal and believable--

"Yes! He's.. my pet! Just a normal housecat!"

Someone here is completely incapable of lying.

[thebiggestguy]

Dread tilted his head slightly, more than a little skeptical. "That's all right. I've just seen so many strange creatures in my time that I wouldn't have been surprised or thought it was weird if it wasn't actually a cat."

But this hadn't been the most transparent lie he'd ever been told, so he continued on to help with the search nonetheless. Everything would become clear eventually.

[happyends]

Phew. Madoka - happily oblivious - just believes that her lie was clearly good enough that he believed it. She feels a little bad about lying, but sometimes you have no choice if you have a secret to keep, right..? Let's just chalk it up as relief for now.

Instead she focuses on looking for Kyuubey as well while they look around. Something about what Dread said sticks around in her mind though, so while she's peering under something she can't help but ask-- "Um.. If it's okay to ask, what kind of strange creatures have you seen..?"

[thebiggestguy]

"I've been into facilities where ancient kingdoms performed biological experiments." Did she really want more details than that? "But -- you come from a world that's all Hyur, right? Humans, that is."

[happyends]

Whether she wants more details than that is a really good question. Just that single statement from him is enough to make Madoka lean towards the "no, thanks" side of things. She's not even sure how to imagine these biological experiments, but they don't sound very good?

The question makes her nod though as she looks back at him.

"Yes. I didn't even know there was another name for humans.."

[thebiggestguy]

Dread nodded. That comported with how others here had acted and spoken.

"Where I come from, the spoken races -- the ones who live together in cities and civilization -- number five, conventionally. So we consider ourselves in terms of race. I'm a Roegadyn myself." Thus his immense size and bulk, if she'd been wondering.

[happyends]

And here Madoka assumed he just hit the gym really, really often.

"Roe.. Roegadyn?" She slowly repeats the name, like she's trying to make sure she's pronouncing it the right way. She doesn't want to offend him! Not because he's intimidating (he's helping her, so she thinks he's rather nice), but just since she doesn't want to be rude.

"Have you found anyone else who's like you on the train so far then?"

[thebiggestguy]

"No other Roegadyn. My wife's an Au Ra, but of course she's from Eorzea too. Other than that... most people here are used to being the only intelligent race on their planet." Which was so strange as to be incomprehensible. No spoken, no beast tribes, nothing but Hyur as far as anyone knew...

[happyends]

Her facial expression drops a little as she listens to him speak. She doesn't look as bad as before, when she seemed all frantic and worried and desperate, but instead there's more something like sympathy on her face.

"I'm sorry.. That must be really odd to you." She can't even imagine what it'd be like to be stuck in a place with only people who are different than you. Then again, at least he still looks pretty human? Sure, way too big for a regular human, but still.. It could be worse. Like being the only person in a train full of Kyuubey clones.

"But you do seem nice.. So I'm sure most other people here would want to be friends with you."

[thebiggestguy]

What a cute sentiment! Dread had to smile at her trying to reassure him. "So far, everyone has been pretty nice. Of course, it helps that everyone loves my wife."

This might be the first time he's met someone and not had them immediately recognize him from Sarai's description, actually.

[happyends]

"Wife..?"

Madoka sounds surprised, her mouth forming a perfect 'o' as she stares at him. Apparently she didn't expect to hear that word, especially in this context. That must mean his wife is here too, right?

"You came here together? That's so lucky!" After all, she can't find Homura anywhere, let alone Kyuubey. Even though having either of them here would sure help her find some reassurance about her current predicament (although for very different reasons.) "I'm so glad you can still be together here!"

She mostly still looks surprised, but she does mean that very genuinely. Madoka is the type of girl who's glad just seeing other people being together and happy.

[thebiggestguy]

"It's not surprising. We get into a ton of trouble together." Behold the transformation of Dread Thunderstorm from tall, imposing figure to starry-eyed lovestruck puppy. Complete with stupid smile. "Lucky is having her in the first place."

[happyends]

Oh no. That's so cute. It's so sweet! Madoka is used to seeing people in love with each other, since her parents are still very much still in love and happy together as well, but it's still so sweet to see him speak of his wife that way..

Maybe there are some good things about this strange new place after all.

"You must love her so much.."

She's practically starry-eyed herself as she says it, her own problems completely forgotten for the moment.

[thebiggestguy]

"I really do." He really did, and it showed in how bright his smile was. "We're a team and we have been. That's why nothing here worries or scares me -- we can handle it, together."

A little reassurance there for the girl as well. Even if she didn't find her 'cat', they'd make it work somehow.