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]

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.

[najaran]

They'd probably make it one, or maybe two cars before she'd stop, confused. "This looks familiar," she said, scratching the back of her head. "Do you think that the cars just start repeating after a while?"

[sendiintheclown]

"Depending on the anticipated passenger load, multiple seating areas would be logical. Shall we see if the food is past the seating?"

[najaran]

"Sure! I've never been in a carriage anywhere near this large before! Or even a ship."

She has been in a city on the back of a sentient island that was actually a card before, but she's not allowed to talk about that.

[sendiintheclown]

"I admit I haven't been on many trains. Shuttles from Earth to the Colonies, those I'm much more familiar with."

[najaran]

Yeah, there were words there that she was unfamiliar with, but she was just going to smile. "Well I hope we find some places taller than this." she said, looking up at the celling. "But if not, I guess it is good I have experience patching a roof!" she said, cheerfully.

[sendiintheclown]

Trowa chuckled a little at that, pleased she was still staying so positive. He could almost smell the food as they got closer to the front of the train. "I'm sure that such skills will be incredibly helpful. Who knows when it will come in handy."

[najaran]

She laughed. "Well my guess would be that they'll be needed around lunch time if the ceilings there are so low..." It wouldn't be fair to not let the others eat sometimes too. Besides meals were the most fun when they were shared. At least Gargoyle didn't chew on her head like Thunderbeak liked to.

[sendiintheclown]

"Are you usually eating in places where the ceilings are too low? I don't think that would be the case for a train."

[najaran]

"Well not for me," she said with a laugh, rubbing the back of her head. "But for my friends..."

[sendiintheclown]

"I see. Well, let us hope that the train is tall enough for everyone on board." Going through a set of doors, they end up in the dining car. "Aha, I think we've arrived."