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

[stillnewatthis]

Swirling steam surrounded a profoundly alien-looking silhouette, massive bulk and height emphasized by four limbs and a pair of yellow lights glowing like eyes in what might be a head.

Someone really needed to tell Orisa, at some point, that her presence on the platform was WAY too horror-movie and she needed to dial it down several notches.

As she stepped out of the steam, and the shadows resolved into a hippotaur robot, she lost a few nightmare points. Not necessarily because she looked less inhuman, but because she had a puppy sprawled on top of her head. Head up, forelegs almost in Orisa's eyes, and a bright expression on his face as he looked around and occasionally let out a yip at something that caught his eye.

As for Orisa herself? Unaware of any potential alarm she might inspire, she instead raised her hand in a wave to anyone she saw, new friend or old, as her eyeshields shifted to narrow her eyelights to a bright ^^ expression. "Hello!"

[iamnotgod]

Webmind was also out on the platform, his smaller frame similarly robotic in nature.

For expressions, all he had was one harmless projection screen - which he currently had turned in the puppy's direction.

"Hello to you as well, Orisa. I see you brought a guest?"

One he had seen on the train, admittedly, but not properly met!

[stillnewatthis]

"These stops are usually safe. And I believe new arrivals will be comforted by seeing a puppy!" Puppies brought joy and delight to everyone's life, didn't they?

[iamnotgod]

"That is quite likely!"

The only possible downside was if someone proved afraid of dogs, but Webmind was not aware of anyone with that problem currently on the train.

Webmind reached up, aiming to give that puppy a few head-skritchies if he was remotely within reach.

"Speaking of, and forgive me for never asking this before now, but does he have a name?"

[stillnewatthis]

Orisa bent down slightly, lowering her body thanks to the multiple joints of her legs, to put her doggo well within range. Said doggo gave a happy little bark at the attention, and attempted to lick Webmind's hand.

"I have not named him yet. That seems very important and I have been unable to think of a name that is suitable."

[iamnotgod]

The licking was accepted, and even rewarded with more skritches. There was only so much sensory feedback Webmind could get from that, of course, but pleasing the animal was well worth it.

"I can understand that. If there was a way for the puppy to choose his own name, perhaps things would be simpler."

But most animals weren't like that, for whatever reason.

"Is there someone back home for you that you could name him after?"

[stillnewatthis]

"I cannot name him after Efi. She is my creator, and also a girl. That would be strange!"

Orisa... did not know many people.

[sos_pilot]

No fault of Orisa's that Della was slightly wary - most experiences she had with giant robots usually wound up with them trying to kill her. Thanks, Gyro Gearloose.

Though the puppet was helping.

"So... is the puppy also a robot, or is that an actual puppy?"

[stillnewatthis]

Totally fair. She had a weapon for an arm, so obviously she was capable of harm. But her voice sounded resolutely friendly.

"An actual puppy," she said. "Omnics as a rule do not appear human."

Orisa's eyeshields narrowed, swiveled around 180 degrees, then popped open wide. "Or like any other organic being! Please forgive my inadequate conversational heuristics."

[sos_pilot]

"You're totally forgiven because I had no idea what you just said." She said, joking only slightly. A polite robot, that was new! Another leg-up on Gyro.

"Little fella up there got a name?"

[stillnewatthis]

"I have not named him yet." Orisa lowered herself, her legs folding in a bit of an odd way thanks to having an extra reverse joint, so she could bring her pooch into Della's range. Said pooch barked at her in delight, tail wagging so hard his position atop Orisa's head was almost in danger. "That seems very important and I haven't come across anything that I think is suitable."

[sos_pilot]

If that was an invitation for petting, then Della was absolutely going to take it. With a smile, she reached up and gave the good boy some scritches around the ears.

"How about... Aileron? Or Spoiler? Or even... Rudder, if he's extra playful?"

Della had never gotten over the fact that Donald had ignored the name choices she'd wanted for her kids. They were cool, dang it.

[stillnewatthis]

"I am not certain terms from aerodynamics apply to a dog," Orisa mused. No, they just didn't sound right. Well, maybe Spoiler was closer.

[springforth]

Oh my gods. This is ruining Persephone's attempts to be welcoming and present because puppy. Oh no. She slowly drifts over that way, practically bouncing at the sight.

"Oh gosh, he--she? They're adorable!" Right, acknowledge the being attached to the puppy. She smiles up at Orisa, "Do they have a name?"

[stillnewatthis]

"I haven't given him a name yet. That seems very momentous and I have not identified a name that seems suitable." Orisa leaned forward slightly, encouraging Persephone to pet the pooch. Puppy himself seemed eager, tail wagging something fierce.

[springforth]

"It certainly can be momentous. Finding a name that suits is a little tough but just go with what feels right."

She offers up her hand for a sniff, then goes right for those ear scratches. This is not her first puppy petting.

[stillnewatthis]

"I am trying. But I'm very new, so I don't have a good sense of those things yet."

Friendly pooch, eagerly trying to lick Persephone's fingers in-between scritches. Sorry about the dog breath, he kept getting bacon for food lately...

[springforth]

She is delighted, so delighted that a little crown of white blossoms poofed into existence, trailing around her ears. Dog breath is a fact of life with dogs, she cannot scold him for it. She'd be hard pressed to scold him for anything.

"Oh well. Do you have any ideas? You could name him for a flower or a fruit? A food is for some reason a popular choice for pet names among my friends."

[stillnewatthis]

Orisa's eyeshields snapped so wide open they were no longer even visible. "I do not wish for him to be food!"

She'd slightly missed the point.

[flatteries]

Orisa just knows how to draw the whole train's attention, huh. And then I'm not even talking about the weird, near horror movie levels of appearance. No, it's just the puppy. How could everyone not instantly only have eyes for that?

Like Inigo. He stares at the tiny dog for a good moment or two before his eyes finally travel down far enough to meet Orisa's actual face.

"Oh.. Hey!" It's almost as if he snaps out of a mesmerized state. "Is that a dog?"

[stillnewatthis]

Such as her face was, anyway. "Yes! This is my puppy. I have decided it is safe to bring him out."

[flatteries]

"It's awfully cute."

Yes, Inigo. That's generally how puppies work.

"Although, if you'll allow me to be quite frank, I'm sure it would be safe most of the time up there." Who would dare to mess with someone who looks like Orisa? You'd need to have a death wish!

[stillnewatthis]

"I do not wish him running off! I have trained him to stay near me when he is out. It may be that he would be transported onto the train when it left, but I do not want to test that." Pets might not obey the same rules as people, omnic or otherwise, after all.

[flatteries]

Yeah, let's definitely not test that one out, okay. Inigo doesn't want a cute innocent puppy to be harmed, Orisa has the right idea!

"Do you keep him near you on the train too?"

Because.. you know. Most people are good, but there's also a literal big spider and Naga knows what that thing even eats!

[stillnewatthis]

"I have been leaving him in my room, but he is calming down and becoming more used to the environment. Now I'll be taking him out more, so he can get used to people as well." She reaches up with her hand, gently picking up the dog and bringing him around to tuck into the crook of her fusion driver arm. "Dogs require a great deal of training. Have you ever had one?"