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

[so_dark_a_road]

And Curufin had to smile again. Yes, the train was like a living thing! Or at least a sentient thing.

"Something like that. Someone ought to write a theme song for Void Warriors." He hums an intro and then sings, "Void Warriors, Void Warriors, trekking about the universe, we'll save you, we'll save you!" Giving it an action movie kind of tune and a rah-rah! sort of lyric. Then he lifted a fist and struck a pose, managing to suggest a superhero with cape blowing in the wind, face stern and serious, ready to battle Evil at any moment. Nevermind Curufin, he's a natural clown.

"Yes, it's all very space opera. Especially that last mission." He shook his head and laughed again. "Say, are you a space opera type? You'll certainly get your chance, if as you say, you're up for it."

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo listened to him and tried very hard to keep his grin in check. It wasn't working. The song was one thing. The guy's pose after that had him doubling over and laughing. It was beautiful. It was amazing. He wished to the gods he had a camera!!

"Oh man... you... that was brilliant!" He gasped out once he was able to speak again. "That's our theme song for now and always!" And he would fight anyone who said otherwise. At the further questions though, Duo grinned. "I was born in space. Wasn't much of an opera, but I'm more comfortable there than on the ground."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Thank you!" said Curufin, with a showman's smile, taking a theatrical bow.

"Yes! Maybe I should write the rest of the song. I'll cheerfully accept a co-writer, if anybody's got ideas." And with respect to Duo's history: "You were born in space? Like, on a space station? Or in a spaceship? I can certainly believe that would acclimate you to living off-world. What did you do after you grew up? By the way, what's your name? Not meaning to pry or anything, just needed a moniker for you."

[maxwellsdaemon]

"Hey, don't look at me, buddy! I'm no song-writer! You look like you're doin great on your own though." Not that the little ditty the guy had came up with was complex, but it had been fun and funny and that was the main thing.

"Space station." Duo nodded. The 'after you grew up' part had Duo laughing. Technically he was still a teen. But he'd been forced to grow up a long, long time ago. So it was something of a loaded question he wasn't too sure how to answer. "Duo Maxwell's the name. As for what I do... guess you could say I was a pilot, of sorts."

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin laughed. He loved to write songs, though he didn't consider himself to be a bard of the quality his brother Maglor was. "I guess I could manage on my own," he said. Fun and funny was his forté.

Elves had different standards, since they considered adolescents to be an adults as soon as they were old enough to choose a vocation. And in Curufin's era, young Elves had had to grow up very quickly because of the constant wars and the need for most Elves to be trained warriors. War certainly did force a person to become an adult swiftly!

"Pleased to meet you, Duo! You were a pilot? Of what sort? What kind of aircraft or spacecraft did you fly?"

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo tilted his head as he thought that question through. It wasn't the easiest to answer, since he wasn't sure just how knowledgeable this guy was about fighting machines. He'd already had a hard time explaining it once. But Curufin knew at least enough to ask, so maybe...?

"I can turn my hand to most things." Duo grinned. "But my main mode of transport was a giant mechanised robot from hell."

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin was familiar enough with flying machines to know there were many types serving many purposes, fighting being one of them. He had taught himself mechanical and electrical engineering in another world, specifically so that he could help one friend to build an airship and another to build a generator so that they could have electric lighting. And in the Voidtrecker mission of the last month, he had flown a couple of spacecrafts, one of them a fighter.

"I'll bet you can do most things," said Curufin, with an answering grin. "You seem the type. A giant mechanized robot? I'm not all that familiar with robots, though I've known a few who were or are humanoid types. Was your giant robot of human shape, or something else?"

[maxwellsdaemon]

"Human in shape, generally... Just on a bigger scale." Duo smirked. "And wings." At least his souped up Deathscythe had winds. He really loved that version. Stronger and faster. Deathscythe Hell was a vast improvement on the original. And he wished he had access to it here. If he was supposed to be a 'Void Warrior' he needed to be armed.

[so_dark_a_road]

"Your robot had wings? Amazing. So, like you said, it was a flying machine as well as. . . a walking machine? How big was this thing, by the way?' He was interested, despite his being from a world that was not mechanized and having incomplete knowledge of what was possible in all the worlds -- not having been to all the worlds! His start on the engineering sciences had inspired him, and he continued to learn wherever and whatever he could.

"So, you're obviously Team Purple. They get fighting assignments pretty often. And on our last mission, we all had the opportunity to fly. I'm going to bet that you get to fly a fighting machine in the future, even if it's not your big winged humanoid robot."

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo had to think about that. "About 17 meters tall, and yeah it had legs to walk. But thrusters to make it fly. And yeah, looks like that's my team." Duo was pleased to know that his team would be doing some kind of fighting. And getting to fly? He looked very happy about that prospect. "Look forward to showing what I'm made of then!"

[so_dark_a_road]

"Seventeen meters! That's an impressive machine. You called it a robot from hell, and that must mean it scared the hell out of your opponents."

He smiled, understanding the importance of appearance as well as function.

"I am sure you will show your team what you are made of, and they will be pleased to have a Purple of your caliber."

[maxwellsdaemon]

"I like to think we put fear into the heart of our enemies! Isn't that what heroes do?" He replied with a laugh, but knew it wasn't far from the truth. They wouldn't have been hunted down so viciously if they hadn't scared the shit outta the bad guys.

"I'm looking forward to it!" Duo gave a big grin. "But I think I've taken up way too much of your time! I still have a train to explore. I'll see you around though, yeah?"

[so_dark_a_road]

"That's right." Curufin grinned brightly and raised an enthusiastic fist. "Because we're Void Warriors, Void Warriors, heroes of the multiverse!" He resisted the urge to write the rest of the song on the spot, though it was tempting.

"Don't worry, I do this most months. It's time well spent, getting acquainted with new people. Especially you. Anyway, yes, you'll see me around. Happy exploring!"

[maxwellsdaemon]

Duo laughed, highly entertained. "Void Warriors of the Multiverse, it's growing on me!" he winked and started to walk away, a hand lifting in a wave.

"I'll definitely see you around, Curufin! It's been a joy and a pleasure!" And off he went, fading into the crowd to continue his exploration.