A New Platform [Intro Post June]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

The days following the mission are relatively uneventful as people once more get used to the rhythm of life on the train. "Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Fiddlesticks. Points have been updated on the system."

They have indeed and everyone can spend the morning shopping. Those who have been on the train a while will be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later.

"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. It is a cool day, clouds gathering threateningly though it stays dry luckily.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Leviathan, Atsushi Nakajima, Spinel, Peggy Carter, Evie Grimhilde, Cal Kestiss, Gwen Stacey, Renee Corbin, Lan Jingyi, Waver Velvet, Aoko Nakamori, Namine, Jak and Marcus Wright all reach the barriers, show their tickets and disappear through, vanishing into the fog.

But on the platform itself there are many new faces. Wearing hoodies, in various states of confusion.

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 the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not large and it holds twenty six figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. The air is cool with a slight breeze. 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. Most are wearing the same hoodie in one of the four colours, red, orange, blue and purple though some are sporting different clothes in a variety of styles.

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 plenty more bacon as well as other staples.

Passengers who are not brand new will notice a new carriage. A second gym. This one is outfitted for training with mats, fighting pads, balance beams and even climbing apparatus to help get everyone ready for the missions ahead.

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

[salutosinedelectat]

At the sight of books, Aziraphale is immediately interested. The place he'd come from also had its own library, perhaps something a bit...bigger, but the selection was rather limited. Which, to be fair, still looked like more than he's seeing here. But wait until he learns the rules.

Not immediately spotting anyone else, he considers approaching the young boy, which he does so politely. "Excuse me."

[deductiongeek]

He places a finger on the page to mark his place, and glances up."

"Do you need something? You're one of the new arrivals, right?"

[salutosinedelectat]

"Dreadfully sorry to interrupt you," He addresses the boy very politely. "but perhaps you could tell me, is this shelf all that's available in the library?"

[deductiongeek]

"Unfortunately." His expression turns sour for a moment. "The train hasn't provided us with a library yet, although we do have a game car and a movie car. All the books here were donated by the other passengers." Here he gestures at the shelf.

"But it is an improvement over how it used to be. For the first month I was here there were no books on the train at all. Now we have the option of buying them from the train store."

[salutosinedelectat]

"Buying them?" The angel perks up, clearly interested. "What kind of collection do they hold for sale?"

[deductiongeek]

"Anything. You go to the train store, and you can either request a specific book, or ask for a random selection." Here his expression sours with some annoyance. "But the train won't always honor requests. I tried to buy a copy of the complete Sherlock Holmes, but instead it gave me something that was just similar."

Conan will never forgive the train for this.

[salutosinedelectat]

Aziraphale considers the boy's words, already making plans, but that last part is a bit of a cause for worry. "But surely you've gotten some of your orders correctly?"

[deductiongeek]

"I only tried to get a specific title once," Conan explains. "The rest of the books I just asked for some good mystery novels. I've gotten some decent ones that way, and it doesn't cost as many points to get something random. But some other people have managed to get me specific titles from their worlds."

It hadn't taken his acquaintances here long to figure out that the best way to cheer him up was to get him new mysteries to read.

[salutosinedelectat]

Aziraphale listens to the explanation, clearly quite interested and intrigued. Having no way to access his own extended, beautiful collection, and having only had access to a very limited range for the better part of a year, he really would like to get his hands on something new.

"These points you've mentioned, how do they work?"

[deductiongeek]

"No one's really certain." And Conan was still somewhat offended over that. There were so many things about the train that were still a mystery. And one without enough clues even for a detective of his level.

"Points get awarded to the passengers here about every two months, and you can spend them on items from the train shop. People who participate in missions seem to earn more, but there's no guarantee."

[salutosinedelectat]

It really does seem that most passengers here aren't quite sure how most things in here work. Which is not particularly encouraging, if you'd ask him, but it only motivates him to keep asking, just to try and stay ahead of the curve. Any curve. Whatever he can do.

"It's a currency, then?" Rewards for doing missions, and some other conditions. A wage, of some sort?

[deductiongeek]

The boy frowns thoughtfully at that. "Maybe not a currency. The points can't be traded among us. They can only be used at the train store. But I suppose it could be considered some form of payment. Or perhaps even a bribe for good behavior."

[salutosinedelectat]

"A credit of some sort, then." He does take note of Conan's comment, though. "Who distributes them?"