voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2020-04-01 05:27 am

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!
so_dark_a_road: (rainy day in the forest)

[personal profile] so_dark_a_road 2020-04-24 04:17 am (UTC)(link)
Curufin had been in a similar situation in his own world. He had believed that there was only earth, the realm of the gods, and the Everlasting Darkness outside. It had certainly broadened his perspective when he found out about the multiverse.

He laughed. "If the team colors have magical meanings, I hope orange is good, too. Of course, it might be the color assigned to the unregenerate fools and idiots." No, of course he doesn't believe that. He thinks he's one of the smartest, most savvy people on the train. And Leviathan's comments show him to be the same.

"I wonder about that, too. If the train entity wants to offer help to planets in trouble and needs Void Warriors, why doesn't it open an academy and advertise?" Smile. But he's being serious.

[personal profile] beastofthedeep 2020-04-25 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
Leviathan couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sure there are those who think I've been a horrible fool and an idiot, and I can't blame them for it." No, rather than being upset, he loved them.

"A very good question. I'm sure there are plenty of individuals who would be eager for the chance to help others and to travel to far away places." In fact, he might have been one of them if he'd been given the choice. "I can't imagine they would have any sort of shortage."
so_dark_a_road: (among the contending princes)

[personal profile] so_dark_a_road 2020-04-26 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
Curufin laughed with him. "There are those who think I'm an idiot, too. Some of them are my relatives. I can't exactly blame them either." Snicker. "What's your story? How do you qualify for the idiocy award?"

"Exactly! The Academy of Void Warriors! If they really went all out to get the word out to all worlds that are connected with the Ministry of Void Travel, then I'm sure you're right. They'd have so many volunteers that they'd have to have a thousand trains to accommodate them all."

[personal profile] beastofthedeep 2020-04-26 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
"Mmm. It's a rather long story, but let's just say that there are people in my life who were right about some very important things, and I should have listened to them but didn't. It took me entirely far too long to realize that." And though he couldn't be blamed for all of it, he knew now that he could have handled things better.

"It's a shame that people like you or me aren't in charge of things then; things would be run better in that there would be at least no kidnapping." He paused for a moment. "Not me, personally, but, someone with these ideas." To at least prevent kidnapping.