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

[shutupnail]

"My whole life," the Namekian responded. And there was no lie. Piccolo had been literally born with the intention of killing another and that revenge focused the young Namekian to train from the day he hatched from his egg. As for any time before that, Piccolo couldn't remember fully. Both Kami and King Piccolo had trained their fighting skills to keep them strong though so Piccolo assumed he had fought and trained most of his life before them as well.

[aggressivelygood]

That must be some dedication. "So," Sven ventured. "If a guy like me wanted to learn how to fly without my charming glider right here, where would I need to begin?"

[shutupnail]

"With basic martial arts," the Namekian replied blatantly. He did, however, deign to go on. "The key to actual flight is learning the techniques to manipulating ki. If your strength and concentration is great enough you can start with ki manipulation."

Knowing a martial art style though would help considerably. Mostly due to the nature, the flow, and the skill required matching up with the techniques for ki control.

[aggressivelygood]

So straight forward...somehow Sven doubted it would be easy to reach the level of control that would allow somebody to fly with ki, but the path to learning seemed uncomplicated. Although...

"I don't genuinely believe a regular bozo like me could learn to do what you do, even if I gave it my best shot..." He laughed. "I've known a lot of great fighters, but I've never once heard about somebody getting so good at martial arts that they could fly. This might be one of those world-specific kind of deals. But, the theory fascinates me. And I could probably use to finesse my hand-to-hand combat. Do you teach?"

[shutupnail]

"I do," he answered. "And I've seen people I never expected to be able to fly master it in much less time than I would have expected."

Granted, Videl already knew the basics of martial arts when she started. She was rather good at it, her technique much better than her joke of a father. She simply lacked as much strength as the rest of the Dragon Warriors. What she lacked in raw power, however, she had made up for in determination and strength of will.

It helped that Gohan had taught her and he had much more patience than even Piccolo.

[aggressivelygood]

"You mean...people who came from your world originally though, right? I'm just saying that my world had many great and legendary warriors...but I've never heard of a single one who could fly without the help of magic or a blessing by the gods."

He smiled as he pondered to himself. "I guess it's possible our greatest warriors just couldn't match up to the same standards. But it might be something only people born on your world can achieve."

[shutupnail]

"Anything's possible. It could be either way. I've seen people from a multitude of universes with martial arts and techniques of similar power. You see, I participated in a Universal Tournament a while back where the greatest fighters from multiple universes came together to fight for a grand prize." He's going to skip some detail here because it might be awkward to go into but never mind all that. "So coming here to another universe--while unexpected--wasn't much of a surprise to learn about."

Except maybe that he'd been told there were eleven universes total and that clearly wasn't the case. But there might have been a reason the gods omitted the details on that subject. He was very low on the totem pole when it came to divine entities so he didn't expect to be told a whole lot on that spectrum, especially these days.

"As for your first assessment? I have students here on the train learning ki techniques already."