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

[najaran]

She was getting more comfortable with showing off her skills as a Cepter. So she nodded. She rested her hand outside her hoodie pocket and a card into her hand. She smiled at it then tossed it in the air. "Come on out, my little devil," she said affectionally, unaware the word had meaning for him as anything other than slang or theoretical mythology.

The card split apart in a burst of light which resolved into a small creature resting on her extended arm. It lifted its scaly head to give him a grin full of sharp teeth.

[salutosinedelectat]

It's alright, on that word - he's been around English speaking humans to be well aware of its common usage, so it doesn't even register.

He does, whoever, look very surprised as the creature emerges from the card, just short of taking a step back. Looking at it, he could swear it was one of the less humanoid-looking demons down in Hell, including one poor damned fellow he saw destroyed before his very eyes.

"Oh my." That sure was a thing. "Hum, that was...rather impressive."

[najaran]

"He is," she said, stroking his scaled head. "Gremlin, our new friend needs help with this odd machine, like you help me. Could you?"

The creature bobbed its head in a nod then scrambled onto the top of the machine and looked questioningly at him.

[salutosinedelectat]

"Oh. Hum." The angel pauses, unsure of how to proceed. But the creature seems amicable enough. "Well, I, er, was looking for any sort of map or some more information about the train and its nature."

[najaran]

The creature bobbed its head in a nod. It scrabbled fingers over the screen. While he did that Naja pointed to a sign on the wall. "Not sure if there is a map, but my friend put up signs that says what is in which direction. I..." she looked sheepish "Kind of keep getting lost."

[salutosinedelectat]

Aziraphale looks up at the sign, taking note of it. "I suppose I'll have to memorize the order of the coaches. Good thing they're all in a straight line." Entirely unaware that their number and order may change. "Well, er...how about more information about the train itself?"

[najaran]

She looked if anything more embarrassed. Because she kept getting lost in said straight line. She leaned back against the wall as Gremlin pulled up the information post for him.

"We're pretty sure it is alive, but I tried to give it yummy food and nothing happened. But it takes us all sorts of places and gives us missions to try and help people..."

She looked down at her device in her wrist, playing with it.

"Sometimes."

[salutosinedelectat]

Aziraphale blinks, apparently stunned by a specific, very worrying piece of information. "Excuse me- did you say this train is alive?"

[najaran]

"Well we're pretty sure. One of my friends thinks it is like a child. I think it's more like a Card without a Cepter." Which was unusual, but not unheard of, at least not for her. "It sure seems alive sometimes, though. And it does sort of communicate. A little bit. Sometimes it apparently asks questions with these things," she said, nodding to the device hat Gremlin was sitting on. "And there is a way to buy things too, but I haven't quite gotten the hang of that yet."

[salutosinedelectat]

Aziraphale has no idea what she means with the comment about the card, but he's otherwise preoccupied with processing the idea that they might be inside a living creature. It takes a bit of effort just to let that sink in.

"It talks? Are you sure it isn't someone else sending messages, perhaps?"

[najaran]

"Nope, not sure at all. But whoever it is they don't seem to appreciate yummy food," she said sounding a bit put out and a lot confused by that.

[salutosinedelectat]

"Well that's a bit..." He pauses for a bit too long. "Disconcerting."

[najaran]

"I know, that food was totally yummy!"

Not the point, Naja.

[salutosinedelectat]

He clears his throat and smiles pleasantly. "Right."

Looking back at the machine, he thinks about what else to ask. "Is there a way to check our next destination?"

[najaran]

"Not that I've ever seen," she said considering. "Gremlin?"

The creature shook its scaled head.

"Sorry," she said apologetically.

[salutosinedelectat]

"That's quite alright." He'll just have to wait and see, he supposes.

"Erm, what else can we use this contraption for?"

[najaran]

"Um... buying things, talking to people... I think that's about it, maybe? I don't know, I'm still learning too," she admitted, then brightened. "We can learn together!"

[salutosinedelectat]

Aziraphale smiles politely at the endearing sentiment. "I suppose we can."

He glances at the screen again. "But buying things, you say? What sort of things?" 

[najaran]

She considered. "Well Duo bought a cup. I tried to buy a belt and some cards, but nothing came out. So I'm not sure."

[salutosinedelectat]

"So there's a shop?" Aziraphale has heard about how people can order things over the internet, but he didn't quite assume that this train had a similar system. Where would they be getting their things?

[najaran]

She nodded. "I'm still not fully sure how it works though. Like I said, nothing seems to have happened except my points went down."

[salutosinedelectat]

"I see..." Aziraphale makes note of looking for said shop. While there's not much he needs, perhaps they'll have something useful.

"Well, thank you very much for your help. And yours too, of course." Nodding at the little goblin creature.

[najaran]

Gremlin nodded and bounced back to Najaran's arm.

She gave him a bright smile. "You're welcome! I wish I could have helped more, though."

[salutosinedelectat]

"Oh, you've helped plenty, my dear. I'm afraid I'm not very well versed with gadgets this, erm, advanced."

He folds his hands and smiles politely. "I'll surely see you at some later time. Do take care."

And off he goes.

TY for the thread.

[najaran]

"Neither am I," she admitted. Then gave him a warm smile. "Okay! you too!"