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

[sizedoesntmatter]

"I honestly wouldn't be surprised, but I can't say for sure that I know." Not that he has ever played every single game that was known to man after all. But didn't mean on here he wouldn't at least try.

But an earth mage? Given what he was describing it makes sense as to what he would think one was. "So does that mean you have a connection with earth then? Sounds like an obvious question, though so ignore it," he said adding a slightly awkward laugh.

"So you can also pick appearance... That's not something I ever would have thought for a power."

[emerald_mirror]

"I do! The ground, so pretty much everywhere I go--but it's weird here. Like...temporary? I suppose that makes sense if we're supposed to be going on the train, and it's going who knows where, right?"

Xander shrugged. "More like I asked for a flying familiar. I suppose I could've gotten a bird, too, but a bird strikes me more as a familiar for an Air Mage. Lots of bats live in caves, but she's not...exactly a bat, either. She's a Kiroptyran, they're one of the native species where I grew up. Artepus."

Not that he really expected anyone to know where that was. It was all right, though. Everyone had to come from somewhere!

[sizedoesntmatter]

"Yeah we don't know where it is going next. The last place was in space somewhere." And that was certainly an eye-opener for someone like him to want to learn new skills so he could actually help a little more next time beyond knowing how to bandage people.

Yugi did seem puzzled, mostly down to the fact those were names of places he had never heard before. "So...She looks like a bat but is a native to where you are from... I think I understand it, but at the same time I don't know what a Kiroptyran is or where you grew up is."

[emerald_mirror]

"Artepus. It's Earth-like, and at least so far as I know, there are portals to Earth, there. I've never been to Earth, though. My mom's originally from there, though..."

His brows arched at the news that the train had been to space. Oh, Xander was aware that a lot of places had interstellar capabilities, but...

"Well...Kiroptyran are just a lot like bats, I suppose. Seems like some Earth scientist was having a laugh when they classified them. As far as I know, that is. I'm...not much of a scientist, myself. So I couldn't tell you the difference if there was one."

[sizedoesntmatter]

He nodded, listening to the other so he could understand the best way he could at least. He was at least now really understanding just how many different worlds was really court there. It was to say the least interesting.

"I will thank you for taking the time to at least try and explain. I appreciate it."