voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post June]

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh. So they've all just been pulled here, much like in the islands - which is not particularly encouraging. And no information about the station - also not great. And no communication with responsible parties, no proper information, no objects - yes, yes, good, jolly good, wonderful.

Aziraphale takes a moment, then clears his throat. "Voidtrecker Express. The train, I take it? Where does it go?"

"It goes to various worlds that are in danger. It gives us the barest of information about the world and then we either disembark to help or stay on the train to wait it out." 47 had never stayed on the train but he knew a few had. "The train separates us into color coded teams and each has a part to play in the mission if we participate."

"Teams?" That explains the colors, it seems. It's easy to notice that there isn't a great variation of clothing and colors all around them. "And what is the point of that?"

"Multiple tasks. The teams usually split into offensive, defensive, and logistical assistant tasks. Completing each task assigned to the different teams helps with the overall problem." Although so far they had always finished everything and succeeded in helping the locals. Who knew what would happen the day they failed in a mission. "I would say the point, then, is it simply ensures an easier time in accomplishing missions. Or at the least protecting any locals that may need it."

Since it was a common theme to help a people or planet in need. And many times there was a direct attack to them. 47 was glad to be on the offensive team and not left to protect people. It wasn't really his forte. While he fully believed he could play bodyguard, it was his nature to kill not protect.

This is sounding a bit too familiar for comfort, mostly through the assumption that, since he'swearing one of the colors, he must be assumed to simply take these orders. He doesn't even know who's giving them out.

"I see...so is this some sort of service train?" That pulls people from multiple dimensions to just...save other worlds? Oh, good lord.

47 gave that a small moment of thought. "I suppose you could think of it that way," he replied. "It certainly seems to be the intention of whoever or whatever runs the train."

It was a bit odd and ran inconvenient system, but it did feel that way when one thought about it. It seemed like it would be better to find volunteers or at the least trained people for such a job but here they were nevertheless. A hodge-podge of random individuals from all over the place.

Considering the world Aziraphale just found himself free of - a rather out of the pan, into the fire situation, perhaps -, he's not entirely too surprised at the entire lack of consideration on just how helpful any individual can be. Or is willing to be.

"Is there really no clue about who is running it? At all?"

"No," the hitman replied. "The most information we get is remotely supplied by the SCA's," he pointed to the 'watch' on his wrist and then to the one on Aziraphale's wrist, "and the ICP terminals on the train. There are daily messages and short information about the missions and nothing more of note. There was one incident however where someone not a passenger boarded the train. It occurred months ago and has not occurred since. Supposed these beings were inspectors and they came to inspect the train. They were either bionic or robotic in nature. They gave no information and forced passengers to remain within their cabins during the inspection."

So, take that information was you would. It meant about as much to 47 as it did to Aziraphale now, as it was information passed down through word of mouth. He did not meet the inspectors himself and did not get to try and interact with them. It did, however, make for an interesting story to consider about who or what ran the train though.

For Aziraphale, having only stepped on the train, most of this information does not mean much - yet. It might, at some point in the future, but, right now, he's just trying to gather as much information as he can, and will need to process it all later.

When 47 mentions the watches, he instinctively looks at his own wrist, where one lays hidden under two layers of sleeves.

"Well, there seems to be some rather...serious holes in information, I would say." And he's being very formal about that, clearly. But it sounds like they're all on the same boat, er, train, so it's not like he can expect any miracles here. "These inspectors, they really didn't have any contact with the current passengers at all?"

"There are," the assassin agreed with Aziraphale. Some very serious and very frustrating holes in information indeed. He shook his head at the question. "Not since that one time. We have no idea why or why not. It doesn't really make much sense."

Which was as close to voicing his frustration at the situation as 47 ever really got. He tended to be placid and calm on the outside, doing his best to easily get along with everyone while he was in plain sight, and trying to go unnoticed as a deadly assassin stuck on board a train with a great many people both regular and not so regular. It wasn't really much different on the inside for him but he did have thoughts, concerns, and curiosities that sometimes belied his outward calm just a bit.

Well, much to 47's luck, Aziraphale doesn't exactly have a human perspective of most things, nor does he know the man that well, so he doesn't quite notice whether or not he's playing it cool or is simply nonplussed. In fact, he mostly just nods in agreement.

"It would be a lot easier if there was some way to contact whoever is running this train." Obviously, but still said very earnestly. "They don't seem to be demanding much of their passengers." Or, you know, prisoners.

A New Platform [Intro Post June]

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