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]

"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.

[springforth]

"Oh--no no no, I mean, You name it after food!"

She gestures to the puppy insistently, "Like--like Olive or Meli or um--Donut. It's just another type of name. Usually names for pets are more...about what you love or they make you think of. There's a whole set of names that people kind of use just for pets."

[stillnewatthis]

"Oh, I see!" Though the bright energy of clarity only lasted a moment before Orisa lowered her head, fingers tapping on the base of her fusion driver. "But I do not eat, so I do not love food or think of it much. And I do not believe 'Microfusion Reactor' is an appropriate pet name."

[springforth]

"Well--maybe Micro?" She's really trying not to smile at her suggestion, focusing on proper scritches and pet technique. Very important.

"Anything you love is a good start?"

[stillnewatthis]

"I should name him 'Protecting Others'?"

That didn't seem like a dog name.

[springforth]

"Well--maybe something with Alexo? To protect or guard? Alexios or Alexander are names mortals use for that." She's really trying here. It's hard when she can't just name an animal after a flower or food, the two greatest types of pet names.

[stillnewatthis]

"Oh! Is that of Latin heritage? I wonder if I could find something more like an African language, to respect Numbani." But her database wasn't full of languages like that. Oh dear!

[springforth]

"Greek actually. And I'm not entirely sure I know any of that language? Languages?" She's never really heard of Africa so this is kind of doomed to begin with.

"Do you know any of it?"

[stillnewatthis]

"I am designed for defense and protection. I have modern languages programmed, but not older ones." And on the train that barely even mattered! Orisa wondered if maybe she needed to develop a hobby or two.

[springforth]

"Oh hmn.." She frowns, scratching the as yet unnamed puppy behind the ear.

"Well--maybe I could try to show you some flowers and you could see if you like them? Maybe some buttercups or daffodils? "

[stillnewatthis]

"Oh! That would be delightful!" Her puppy picked up on some of that delight, letting out a happy yip with his little tail wagging so vigorously he was lucky not to fall off his perch.

[springforth]

"Well let's see!"

She reaches up into her hair and a buttercup blooms into her willing hand. As she holds up the small flower, a daffodil sprouts over her ear, a jaunty bright yellow.

"I thought you might yellow flowers, but I can branch out a little if you like."

[stillnewatthis]

Oh, what a remarkable performance! And the flower appears to be real, too, not a holographic projection. Amazing!

In fact, Orisa needed a second to reply. "Yellow is a good color! I think it must be bright, because he is a bright and energetic boy!"

[springforth]

"You two could match!" She places the buttercup on the puppy's nose, giggling when he crosses his eyes to see it.

"But yellow, yellow." She pulls free the daffodil and hands it to Orisa. "There's dandelions, marigolds, sunflowers... And of course, some daisys, chrysanthemums, lilies. There's plenty of flowers that come in all sorts of shades."

As she speaks, flowers appear, clustered in a coronet of blooms.

[stillnewatthis]

"Hmm. They are extremely pretty names but they sound feminine." Which in and of itself was not a problem, but Orisa just felt like he needed a proper name for a good boi. "That may be a problem with flowers."

[springforth]

"Hmn, I guess they can sound sort of feminine." All the flower nymphs are female so you never run into this problem. She taps her chin and starts thinking again. Then there's Narcissus but she would not do that to a good pup.

"Aster, perhaps?" She pulls out one, white petals but a bright yellow center, "They don't really come in yellow, I'm afraid. Mostly pinks and purple. Hmn, maybe this won't really work."

[stillnewatthis]

"Aster. That is an interesting one." It sounded noble, strong but enlightened! Yes, that definitely sounded like an option. "I shall definitely consider that! Thank you very much for suggesting it."

[springforth]

"You are very welcome." She smiles and tucks the flower behind the puppy's ear. "I hope you find a good name between all the suggestions!"

[stillnewatthis]

Pooch yipped happily, again trying to assault Persephone's hands with furious licking. "I will! I have many good suggestions. He will have a name he can be proud of."