A New Platform [Intro Post April!]

[voidtreckermods]

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!

Comments

[sendiintheclown]

"It's alright, the fog is very thick so it's a bit hard to see." Squinting through the thick haze, he could make out vague shapes of other people but not much else. "Do you know where we are? Or how we got here?"

[najaran]

She shook her head. "No, I can't find Gooligan or my Master either and we had all been together just a few minutes ago."

[sendiintheclown]

Frowning at that, Trowa held his hand out. "I'm Trowa." She seemed concerned and it stirred a protectiveness in him usually only trigger by Quatre.

[najaran]

She shook his hand, hoping she was doing it right. She wasn't used to dealing with people all that often and usually meeting was more explosive than this. "I'm Najaran from Gilman Island." Was that all she was supposed to say in a greeting? She was trying to remember.

[sendiintheclown]

"Miss Najaran, do you also feel strongly compelled to get on the train?" It was the oddest feeling, but Trowa could have sworn he felt a tug deep in his gut toward the steam powered machine.

[najaran]

She nodded a bit. "It's like someone is calling me," she said softly. "But I can't tell who or why. I don't think it feels like a trap, though. But I was hoping to find Gooligan first...."

[sendiintheclown]

He was all too familiar with the feeling of wanting to find a friend or familiar face, but at the same time Trowa was fervently hoping that Quatre was nowhere near this mystery. Still, his part time paramour and his sister had drilled manners into him, so he offered Najaran his arm. "Why don't we go onto the train for now, Miss Najaran. Perhaps there will be more clues there and a way to find your companions."

[najaran]

She considered then nodded and took his offered arm. "And maybe food?" she asked, realizing just how hungry she is. "This many people here there has to be food somewhere, right?"

[sendiintheclown]

"I'm certain that there will be a kitchen of some sort. Would you like me to walk you to your cabin, or just meet you somewhere? That way we can look for food together." Trowa made sure to keep the young woman close to him so no one else would bump into her.

[najaran]

"My cabin?" she asked, confused. "And why meet me anywhere, we're together now, we could just look for food before we part ways?" If they were going to part ways? It wasn't like any of them had a home here, where would they even go? Would they come back out here to make camp?

[sendiintheclown]

Trowa nodded, adjusting his rucksack on his other shoulder. "Well, these bags are a bit awkward. And I'm sure there are other people around, so it wouldn't be polite of us to hit them with our bags. So if we put them up, we can also fit through the train better."

[najaran]

"Oh, I guess so..." She was used to carrying what she needed when she was away from home. Of course she rarely needed quite so much. Gooligan, her cards, and food. Okay fine and travel guides telling her which restaurants she should check out.... "We could just make another strap and wear them on our backs, though."

[sendiintheclown]

"If only it was a little longer, we could wear them cross body." Trowa had thought about that, but the bag strap didn't reach far enough. He didn't want to choke himself. "I'm sure we can squeeze the bags into seats next to us or under a table. Food would be wise." He was starting to get hungry, and didn't want to deprive the girl of food longer than needed.

[najaran]

"Okay, let's get food and put them down there to start," she said, cheered by that idea. "Then we can figure out the rest. Always best to think on a full stomach!"

[sendiintheclown]

Reaching the steps of the train, Trowa offered Najaran a hand to step up into the carriage first. "Well then, let's go find the kitchen and see what we can scrounge up."

[najaran]

She took the offered hand with a grateful smile. "Thanks." Najaran was easy to manipulate. Offer food and she'll follow you anywhere.

[sendiintheclown]

"So, do we think left or right toward food?" Stepping up inside the train as well, Trowa thought for a moment about offering to take Najaran's bag from her. But she hadn't complained about the weight of it, and he didn't want to insult her.

[najaran]

"I can carry it, thank you," she said with a smile. "I'm stronger than I look, promise." She then tried to sniff to either direction then pointed the wrong way. "That way maybe?"

[sendiintheclown]

"Then ladies first." Trowa smiled warmly at Najaran. She was refreshingly nice, and seemed to be completely without ulterior motive. Which was incredibly rare in his life.

[najaran]

She blinked a bit startled by the expression then smiled and headed off that way. "Sure. Hopefully we'll have food soon!" Not the way they're going.

[sendiintheclown]

Trowa followed along behind Narajan, though it wasn't long before he started to frown a little. "Hmm, have we perhaps gone the wrong way? This looks like a medical car."

[najaran]

"Wouldn't food have to be nearby then?" She asked, turning to face him. "People who are injured shouldn't have to walk far just to get food..."

[sendiintheclown]

"Good point. Perhaps it's just on the other side of this car."

[najaran]

Najaran nodded. "We should be close now." Ands she started walking again. Except that she had turned to face him, so now she was walking back the way they came. Because she had forgotten that she'd turned to face him. Because she is that good at being bad at finding things. Girl is getting lost in a straight line train.

[sendiintheclown]

It did not escape Trowa's notice that they were going back the way they had just come. However, since he had a strong feeling that this was the proper direction, he kept his mouth shut and followed along.