voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post April!]

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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

He wasn't expecting her to react in such a way. He wasn't sure why either.

"A... Cepter? What's... that exactly?" he asked a little confused. he already guessed the cards weren't the same as the ones he had currently, more so considering her reaction as well. They must be something very, very important to her.

"I will take a guess the cards are at least precious to you, which is great."

"Of course they are," she said softly, calming now that he wasn't reacting like he wanted to fight her or take her cards. "They hold the hopes and dreams of everyone who handled them," she said with a find smile. "They are parts of the Book of Creation. The Culdcept. Cecpters are those of us who can use the cards to awaken what lies within. My cards are very dear to me," she said gently.

He couldn't help but smile. There was passion in her voice or at least that's what he assumed anyway when she talked about them. Plus the whole hopes and dreams thing was nice too.

"I'm glad they are dear to you. It makes it sound like they are like close friends or family almost."

"They are," she said warmly. "Some of them have been with me for as long as I can easily remember. Others came to join us more recently. But they're all family. Them and my Master and Gooligan."

"That's great and at least you still have that family here, even if it must be strange for you." He figured it was the best form of comfort at least.

"Is there anything you might be confused about or want to know about where you are?"

She nodded. "So long as no one tries to arrest me for being a Cepter, anyway," she said sheepishly. "I'm kind of confused about everything here," she admitted. "I was looking for food when the floor started moving."

"I am pretty sure you won't be. I myself have no idea what that even is or why it might be bad" Though looking and talking to her she didn't seem like a bad person to him, so he still couldn't figure out why she would get arrested.

"It isn't bad on its own," she said with a sigh. "But some Cepters have abused their cards and used their cards to hurt people. So some people started to hate and distrust all Cepters. Even Cepters that just want to help or be left alone..." she said, a bit sadly. "And sometimes I wonder if that leads to more Cepters feeling justified in using their cards to hurt people."

It was kind of sad to hear and he couldn't help but feel bad for her. Was she just wanting to help people but she wasn't trusted at all?

"The ones who abused their cards shouldn't mean all should be treated in the same way..." Everyone should be given a chance, including those who might have done wrong but were willing to change.

"At least here, you won't be hated or distracted. I know I don't. You seem nice to me after all."

She gave a small nod, thinking of Zenith. Would he have been such a jerk if he had grown up like she did? Why hadn't he? His master was a friend of her master and a good guy who clearly did a lot to make sure he was alright. What had happened to Zenith?

"Even being a Cepter?" she asked, trying to sound teasing, smiling a bit, but mostly she came out sounding wistful.

"I don't think anyone here would judge you for that." He said with a smile, at least he was pretty sure a lot of people might not know what Ceptars even were to judge them for it.

He didn't see the point so long as they were kind and polite that's all that mattered.

"Must be nice," she said softly. "My MAster told me that people outside our Island hated Cepters, but I never really believed him. I do now, though." She sighed a bit.

"I bet you most here won't know what one even is to hate them, so I hope you'll see that." Because he for one didn't see a reason to at the moment.

"Though did something happen before you came here to make you realize that though?"

"A Searcher town was attacked by a Gargoyle. Didn't know why then, but I kinda get it now..." she said, feeling the need to run her fingers over the card pouch she held, lovingly. "I tried to defend them with Knight, and Gargoyle left, but then the townspeople arrested me for being a Cepter. Said I was a danger and couldn't be trusted with my cards. Alta and the others broke me out that night, but I spent a while just thinking about what it had to be like for other Cepters," she said softly. "I wonder if some of the people I met who were jerks at first only were that way because of how they were treated, you know? I mean, most of them got a lot nicer as soon as someone was nice to them. So maybe if we could all be nicer to each other in general.... the worlds would be nice as a whole, right?"

Najaran was, of course, in part, right. But as usual was selling herself short. For most of them it wasn't just someone being nice to them, it was her and the effect she had on the people around her.

Yugi listened to what she had to say, it was definitely something he was going to think about as well even after she finished. he knew what his honest opinion was at that moment at least.

"That's sounds awful, but I do agree with your thought process, though it does ultimately also depend on the person. Some might be different if shown a bit of kindness, but others it might take time." he knew this because even though he was always kind or polite to Kaiba it had taken them a long time to reach where they were now at least.

She nodded. "Tell me about it. Zenith's been a jerk for ages. But in Bisteam he actually helped out against the Dark Lord. His Juggernaut card was amazing!" And she still didn't know what to think about him having the Flame Lord embedded in his arm. "He's still not the nicest, but at least he's no longer attacking random people. So that's an improvement."

Of course with what her Master had told her about Zenith as a baby, she wasn't sure WHAT to think about him any more...

"It's better than still attacking random people at least, so he's I could consider that an improvement." It was nice to know that people really could change so long as they tried or in most cases actually want to change.

Yugi knew with Kaiba it would still be work, but he believed he could change for the better. Not fully most likely, but at least in some areas.

"Hey, have you explored the train yet?"

She shook her head. "Not really. Found the kitchen once, but I kind of lost it again..." she admitted sheepishly. She was all too happy to drop the confusing topic that was Zenith the Dragon-Eyed.

"So you've only been here and the kitchen, huh? I know we have a gym too. I can always show you where that is." Not that Yugi ever really used it personally.

"We also have a garden. You might like that."

"A garden might be a good place to do laundry..." she said, nodding.

There was a bit of sadness there, though. She was used to having Gooligan's help with the wash. She made a good stirring stick and a drying rod. A very useful friend.

"I think there's an actual place to do laundry, you won't need to do it in the garden"

Sure his chores weren't about doing that just yet, but he was at least aware it was a thing that exists.

"Oh good, I was wondering how I'd hag them dry on a place this enclosed!"

Someone is from a world without washing machines....

"I guess you'll find out when you need to do laundry." He was wondering if she knew what they were considering what she was saying before. So that's certainly going to be a new experience for her.

"But I guess there will be a lot on here that will be new for you."

She nodded. "But that was true on my world too! I'm still learning all sorts of new things, and there is still so much I've never seen or heard of before," she said, cheerfully. "And even better, all kinds of yummy foods I've never tried!"

He smiled and nodded slightly.

"I honestly think we never really stop learning." Even now when he was done with school he still was going to learn what kind of games might be best to make and things like that. Always figuring out what might work and what seems like fun.

But that was for home. Here he was learning new and different things too.

"And I am sure we can learn together"

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