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

[najaran]

"I probably have more questions than I can think of just now," she admitted. "I wish I could speak to the train or whoever is controlling it to get the answers..."

[sizedoesntmatter]

"I think people try, but not a lot in that area." That he was aware of. he was pretty sure if the train could speak they would know.

[najaran]

"What have people tried? Maybe I could try something different." She considered. "Has anyone given it any yummy food?"

[sizedoesntmatter]

"We've never seen them in person... So how could we give it food?" He knows that people probably haven't for that reason.

[najaran]

"Unless the train is the person!" She's seen weirder.

[sizedoesntmatter]

"I mean... for all we know that could be the case." Which was even weirder to think about really.

"But right now it's just best to see what is around and do what you want."

[najaran]

"To go home, mostly," she admitted. Then her stomach growled. "Failing that... lunch?"

[sizedoesntmatter]

He nodded slightly. "I think lunch will have to come first. I will let you go to the dining car for that one"

[najaran]

"Dining car? Sounds yummy! Or is it a thing that dines?" she wasn't fully sure what a car was but it was probably either something to eat or something that eats... which she could probably eat.

[sizedoesntmatter]

"It's where people go to eat basically." He figured that was the chest way to at least explain it.

[najaran]

"And there is food there? Alright!" She turned and headed off.... the wrong way.

[sizedoesntmatter]

"Ah, the other way. the food is the other way." he made sure to call as he had started to go after her just incase she didn't hear him.

[najaran]

"Oh! Thank you!" and with that she turned to one side, back to the exit from the train, not knowing it wouldn't open any more.

[sizedoesntmatter]

"How about I show you where it is?" because he thought at this moment it would be much easier to do exactly that.

[najaran]

"Sure! Thanks! Then we can eat together. Food always tastes yummier when you eat with someone you like!"

[sizedoesntmatter]

He nodded slightly as he started to walk, showing her where the dining car and kitchen was. "You can make your own meal with what is in the kitchen, or wait until those whose job it is this month cook something."

[najaran]

She walked with him. "Like... it is their jobs? Like an inn?"

[sizedoesntmatter]

"I guess that it is like a job we do monthly. Or whichever team is meant to be doing that job."

[najaran]

"Oh. But what if different people on the team have different skills?"

[sizedoesntmatter]

"Well it's obvious everyone doesn't have the same skill sets, but I like to think of it as learning something new each month"

[najaran]

"Maybe, but I'm not sure forcing someone who doesn't know how to cook to do so would make for a very yummy meal..." She considered then looked at her clothes. And his. "Is that why I don't see anyone wearing white? Because not everyone knows how to do laundry properly?"

[sizedoesntmatter]

"The thing is, we aren't born knowing how to cook. We have to learn. Though there are some who are really good and some that can only do very basic stuff. But you never know where you are unless you try once." They had at least reach the kitchen as he soon stopped.

"No, we have colors that represent which team we are on, not because people don't know how to do laundry."

[najaran]

"But not everything can just be learned by trying. And bad food can make people sick," she pointed out as she started to dig around the cabinets to see what they had to work with. She got to the stove and gave it a confused look, before returning to her search.