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

[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.

[sos_pilot]

"Plane terms can apply to anything and anyone." Della retorted, confident in this really absurd matter. "I would've named my kids that way, if I could've."

[stillnewatthis]

"You are a duck," Orisa observed. "You are naturally more tied to concepts of flight."

Was that species-ist? Orisa's programs contained no information or protocols for intended to respect to anthropomorphic animals. Except for Winston.

[sos_pilot]

"Yeah, it's in my veins!" Della replied eagerly, not realizing Orisa had meant ducks as a whole. "I've been flying planes even before I could walk!"

[stillnewatthis]

"That is an impressive age to fly planes at. Although I wonder if it is not against several licensing rules." But then again, maybe ducks had a special knack for that.

[sos_pilot]

"It is, but Uncle Scrooge managed to smooth things over with the cops the first couple of times."

What was the original point of this conversation, again?

[stillnewatthis]

"And the rest? I hope you are not a criminal." Not that she had law enforcement here to turn anyone over to.

[sos_pilot]

"Only if having fun is against the law!" Pause. Glancing around. "Actually, considering this is another world, maybe I should look into the real laws here..."

[stillnewatthis]

"We have a Council which leads the train, but they have not passed any laws yet. I recommend obeying common sense for now!"

Orisa showed her naivety in that statement: the common sense of a duck who went flying as an infant should not be relied upon, but she had yet to learn that.

[sos_pilot]

Common sense was not Della's BFF.

"Sure, no sweat. The only trouble I get into is the natural kind that comes with adventuring!"

[stillnewatthis]

"You are an adventurer?" Orisa's eyeshields opened slightly wider. "You must have many amazing stories!"

[sos_pilot]

"Lady, I have so many stories, you should call me the world's tallest building!" She then grinned, expecting the absolutely awful joke to land.

[stillnewatthis]

Orisa was too busy being surprised at being called a lady.

"I would very much like to hear them."

[sos_pilot]

Look at that face! Clearly feminine!

"Where do I even begin? ... Oh, well, the last one I had was helping defeating moon people from taking over the earth."

[stillnewatthis]

"The intelligent apes?"

Guess what lived on the moon Orisa knew.

[sos_pilot]

Della blinked, wondering where that idea had come from. "No... the Moonlanders. But most of them were intelligent!"

[stillnewatthis]

"Oh! You are clearly from a different world also named Earth, of course." Now Orisa could stop struggling to understand how a duck fit into the worldview of Earth at any point in known or projected history. Whew!

[sos_pilot]

"Oh, well, duh." At least it seemed pretty "duh" to Della. "We're all from different worlds, some things are bound to be the same... and also INCREDIBLY different."

[stillnewatthis]

"That is true, but evidence also suggests we are from different times as well as places." Several people came from an earlier year in Earth time, as it happened.

[sos_pilot]

... Hold the phone.

"Wait, what?" She asked, looking thrown off. The only way people would know they were from different times was if they came from same worlds. Ergo...

"... Someone I know could be here, but they'd be from the past or future?"