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

[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?"

[flatteries]

"No.." He says, but then quickly adds, "It's not since I don't think they're cute though!"

Granted, he's never considered having a dog in the first place, but that was more because of his circumstances never allowing that kind of thing more than anything else.

"Although I guess I'm not sure if I'd be the right person to train a dog either. You seem much more patient."

[stillnewatthis]

"I am still new and learning many things myself. How could I be upset at a puppy who is the same way?" But some advice on dog-training would really help. Too bad Inigo didn't have some tips.

[flatteries]

.. aw, that's such a sweet way to think though. That's just the first thought that shoots through Inigo's head, since he can always appreciate it when others show compassion. Even if it's just towards a puppy.

But then he slowly seems to realise something else about what Orisa is saying.

"New.. to the train, you mean?"

[stillnewatthis]

"I had only been online for a few months before coming to the train. It isn't the same as being born, since I was fully programmed and my AI fully realized at that time, but still, I have much less life experience than I need."

So of course she's sympathetic to those who need to learn.

[flatteries]

.....

Usually Inigo might at least try to cover up his confusion. But this is too much. His brains are giving up. There's just too many words in that sentence he doesn't understand at all. All he can parse is those last few words, really, and even then he's not sure what they mean in the greater context of what she's saying?

Sure, Orisa doesn't exactly look human, but.. what?

"Wait, so you have only been alive for a few months now?" That's literally the only faint conclusion he can get from this.

[stillnewatthis]

"Yes, that's correct." Orisa had to wonder if she could have explained it better. That seemed so surprising to him!

[flatteries]

"What?! But you're so.."

He makes some vague gestures with his hands. (Big, he means big. That is not how babies work!)

"Does it work that way for everyone where you're from?!"

[stillnewatthis]

"Not humans, of course. But how else would an omnic come to be except by assembly and programming?" Ordinary biological means sure couldn't work!

[flatteries]

This whole assembled deal is still so weird too. At least he gets that she's not a human - that much was obvious from their very first interaction! - but she's on a whole new level of strange even compared to the weird animal shifting people where he comes from...

"And you guys can already talk and walk and do everything even when you're only a few months old? That's.. impressive." And strange.

But look, he's trying to be polite and most mention the positive side of it here!

[stillnewatthis]

"It's like if you were born into an adult body and knew how to use it. You have knowledge and the ability to move, but not experience. That is what being a new omnic is like." She thought, anyway. Hopefully she was explaining it well.

[flatteries]

"That.. must be such an odd experience."

That's apparently the best conclusion he can reach after thinking about it. Thinking about it hard too - he's frowning and all for a moment. But in the end his expression turns sympathetic as he looks at her.

"So in a sense, you're almost like a child?"

[stillnewatthis]

"In a sense of having few life experiences. But my mind is completely developed." More like an adult with amnesia?

[flatteries]

So more like a blank slate protagonist then, huh.

Still a difficult concept for Inigo to wrap his mind around though. Does that mean she knows about things, but just hasn't experienced them yet herself? Weird. But he's at least trying to be sympathetic about it. Emphasis on trying..

"It must be rather odd then to have one of your first life experiences be being thrown onto this strange train."

[stillnewatthis]

"Actually it is somewhat the opposite. Since I have very few experiences, all of them are unique. I wonder if I'm not better equipped to handle this," Orisa mused, "than those with more experience who are more set in their understanding of how their world works."

[flatteries]

"I guess you're right.." After all, if you don't even know what's normal, then you wouldn't be able to realise that all of this is so very strange.

"But it hasn't been overwhelming to you at all? Seeing all these different things, meeting all these different people.. There are some things I'm already used to due to experience back home, but I imagine having to see everything here as new and unique could get to be a lot really fast."

[stillnewatthis]

"It has not been at the limit of my processors to handle. Of course, I am a combat model, and consequently I require a great deal of processor speed!" Which was oversimplifying matters greatly, but she was trying to be respectful of his unfamiliarity with omnics. TRYING.

[flatteries]

The attempts are appreciated.. If he even knew she was trying to dumb it down for him. It's still pretty complex for a boy who's never encountered robotics of any form, but he too is trying..

".. You're a combat model? That's a surprise."

Well, Orisa looks ready for combat, since she's so big and all, but..

"You seem so sweet."

[stillnewatthis]

"I am intended to protect and defend others. It is much harder to do that if people do not like you!" But make no mistake, her first principle was armed defense. One of her arms was a weapon rather than a hand, after all!

[flatteries]

"Oh, you would be surprised what some not very likeable people back in my world manage to accomplish.."

He may be having some 'pick a god and pray' flashbacks. Thanks for nothing, Frederick!!

"Although I have to admit I like the idea of a friendly defender more. Besides, it makes you.." He pauses, his words trailing off. It's just weird, okay. He usually says this to human girls to flatter them, not to.. whatever Orisa is! But it's just true, okay, ".. cute?"