voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post March]

On the Train

Luckily there are no more crises after the strange dreaming, except the ones passengers created for themselves and soon the month is turning. "Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Egret."

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 in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." 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 it is not raining this time. However it does seem to be quite blustery.

The doors open and the first few to disembark do so with rucksacks on, hoods pulled up against the wind. Amery Vallet, Steve Rogers, Darth Vader, Peggy Carter, Bran Corbie and Ash. They walk blank faced to the barriers, show their tickets and disappear.

But on the platform itself there are nineteen new faces, or rather seventeen new faces and two that some people have definitely seen before. All are stood, waiting for the train.

For New Passengers

At first all they can see is 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 ninteen figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. The air is cold and the wind is strong, blowing their hair, if they have hair, across their face. 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. If that is not enough, there are plenty of people on the platform now, to encourage them onto the train.

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 with an abundance of onions! Any of blue team who who go to check the luggage cart will find a parcel containing rainbow macroons. One for each of the blue team, including new members, come share in the reward!

Passengers who are not brand new will notice that the train has gotten yet longer again. A transparent domed carriage, with a grass aisle and soil beds, ready for the passengers to do with as they wish. Crates contain bulbs and seeds ready to be planted and there are all the tools a budding gardener would need for this task.

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. Entry into Voidspace in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

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 the Void!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

WangJi had only just arrived, having not yet able to have changed clothes. In fact, he was concerned about the very thought of getting on the train. He had in fact been paying close attention to those who were getting on and off the train, but he hadn't made the first step to talk to anyone. However, when he saw the young woman with the piece of paper, he couldn't help but be drawn over, not about to shrug off information.

He glanced at the various different pieces of paper on the table before looking back at her.

"What... sort of information?"

"What we've learned of the train's... well, if not habits, then cycles. The nature of the multiverse as it applies to our travels. The things we're working to figure out, even if we haven't had breakthroughs on them."

Nita nodded down at the leaflets.

"I haven't been to a world yet, so I can't verify how true those parts are, but there's more about what the teams seem to be for in there, too."

WangJi glanced down at the leaflets when she indicated them, listening to her words. It sounded as though the information there would be very useful. It was better than wandering the train with no idea what so ever as to what he was doing here. He was one who did like to have as much information as possible.

After a long moment, he did take one of the leaflets from the table. He didn't start reading it yet. That would have been a little rude.

"So this... train doesn't always visit somewhere?"

"There's a lot of time between stops, is all. Platforms happen more frequently than world visits, and the platforms don't really count as worlds."

Nita shrugged, waiting to see what WangJi would ask next.

"Mn." It was a rather vague sounded but in this case, it was one of understanding. He wasn't big on words a lot of the time.

"That is helpful information. It sounds like there is much we should know but have not been privy to."

That was worrisome. He did not like not being in the know.

"You mentioned teams. What is the purpose of them?"

"What I want to know is, is keeping the information from us deliberate, or does whoever's in charge here not have all that much control either?"

Not a comforting thought in the slightest, but if it meant they had things in common, that could work as leverage.

"Apart from helping us keep occupied with chores? When there's missions, they're assigned specific goals. There's nothing keeping you from joining another team's assignment, though."

"That is an interesting question, but one that is not any easier to answer." Though it was an intriguing thought that maybe they weren't the only ones who didn't have all the information here. If that was the case, the person controlling the train was as much a victim of this as they were.

"I see. So while official, in the end, it is merely a suggestion."

It was one hell of an if, but one that could change things for the Voidtreckers quite quickly if it proved true.

"Yep, that's the short of it. Nothing to stop people from making their own decisions there."

Then she sighed. "But that also means there's nothing to stop squabbling, if someone decides to pick a fight. And while some people can stand to be punched, well..."

It wasn't pleasant to overhear, when stone-cold revolution broke out on the train. At least that had just been talk.

"Yes of course. Everything one does or doesn't do has consequences, even if it is just perceived by one's own self."

As the Second Master of Gusu Lan, menial chores had often passed him by as he had been more focused on studies and because he was in charge of discipline even as a teenager. But...

"Whatever assignment my team has been given, I will do it to the best of my abilities."

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

After a year and a half... pamphlets

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