voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post April!]

On the Train

Two days after they return from their mission they are awoken as usual "Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Egret. The shop has been updated and points have been applied to passengers tickets."

Those that go to check the shop terminals will find they have indeed updated, with the option to buy larger items and also animals. The morning goes on until just after noon there is a second announcement.

"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. Though the fog is thick, thicker than usual perhaps, there are patches on sunlight shining through and it is pleasantly warm.

The doors open and the first few to disembark do so with rucksacks on, hoods pulled up, silent and almost blank faced. Cu Chulain, Dio Brando, Disreputable Dog, Heiji Hattori, Loki Maedhros, Maglor, Naruto, Thor, Tobias Fangor.

They walk to the barriers, show their tickets and disappear.

But on the platform itself there are once again new faces. 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 as people begin to shift or call out it will become apparent they are not alone.

The platform is not large and it holds eighteen figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. It's warm but foggy making it hard to see much, but there are clearer patches bathed in sunlight found across the platform. 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, in case the passengers weren't bored of them yet.

Passengers who are not brand new will notice that the train has gotten yet longer again with a sixth sleeper cabin for new arrivals.

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

It seems privacy is a tall order here.

[ Yeah, this girl in purple isn't happy about it either. She sighs. ]

But I've found a spot that might be a little less overcrowded. Have you tried the back gardens?

[Gardens... That would be nice, huh?

They look a little embarrassed at being caught speaking aloud, but they brush it aside.]

I haven't gotten that far yet. This train is...bigger than I expected...

It's rare that a passenger train is this long. But it's like a space station on rails, so I guess it would have to be. Come on.

[ She starts making her way toward the destination: a rock garden, with a few lovely little ponds...and some toll booths? Most newcomers aren't quite here yet. ]

Here. It's...a lot to process, isn't it.

[They follow after her, making a note of all the different cabins they pass through. They can certainly buy this isn't like an average train at all.]

I've never been on a train before... much less one that travels through, ah, void...?

[They look over the garden - it certainly looks peaceful, even if the toll booths are inexplicable.]

It's not how I was expecting things to go.

I've only seen regular trains. This is quite the difference.

[ She sits on a larger rock at a polite distance. She'll leave soon, but she might still be able to help. ]

I don't think anyone could have predicted this...I've heard rumors of strange kidnappings, but never en masse and they're usually a lot more dangerous.

[Dimly, they wonder how many trains like this there could possibly be, but...

Well.

That's a question for another time.]

So this place is...safe? Or at least safer than being kidnapped usually is?

Someone I trust told me so, so yes. And if anything should happen, I'll work to make it safer.

Everyone we see is trapped just the same as us, apparently. The ringleader doesn't show their face.

[...]

That's very noble of you, but you should be careful not to shoulder too much of the burden on your own.

I'm not sure if everyone being in the same boat is reassuring or not...

I'm used to bearing burdens. It's not a big problem.

{ She frowns a little at that. ]

It's worrying, that others have been here for months and still don't know much. But if we work together we might just find out.

[Wow that sounds like a Big Problem to them!!!]

Being used to something doesn't mean it's right. You're not alone here - even if we're strangers, we're all in this together.

[Just!! Throwing that out there!!]

But I think you might be right. Hopefully we can find out more...

...I wish I could believe that. But there are some burdens that can't be shared. You understand that, right?

What I can share is my help, with whatever we face.

I believe there are some things we have to do ourselves, but that's not the same as shouldering a burden. Even if only you can do something, you can be supported in it.

Even if people can't know what you're facing, because it will put them in danger?

Not that it matters here. A small train all facing common foes is very different from a big society with hidden dangers.

[Hidden dangers, huh...]

If you're truly facing a threat, wouldn't they be at risk anyways? Most things don't care for things like secrecy.

That's true...but I don't want to involve anyone who doesn't have to be. Whatever criteria the train uses to abduct people...I don't think you all know how to fight.

A New Platform [Intro Post April!]

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