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]

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?"

[stillnewatthis]

"I believe that is what the evidence suggests." Orisa had played cautiously, not risking disruption of the timeline by providing too much information to those who identified themselves as being from Earth.

[sos_pilot]

"And this somehow doesn't mess with time itself?" Because as every movie ever showed, messing with time = BAD THINGS FOR EVERYONE.

[stillnewatthis]

"We are traveling through space in a bizarre manner, so it makes sense we are able to do so with time as well. They are simply dimensions, after all." So far nothing had broken?

[sos_pilot]

"But what about when we go back? That kinda information about future stuff is way too dangerous."

[stillnewatthis]

"I have been careful to share no meaningful details with anyone who could come from my Earth." And she seemed to be the furthest ahead...

[sos_pilot]

"So all we can do is trust that we'll have enough sense not to blab?"

Della... was not all that confident about herself and others.

[stillnewatthis]

"I would not be surprised if harming timelines is impossible, but I do not know any details. However, those who leave do not appear to be doing so of their own free will, which may imply something." The news just kept getting better, huh?

[sos_pilot]

Della made a long "Oouuuughhhh" sound as she scratched the back of her head. Now she was definitely concerned.

"That's... okay... I guess..."

[stillnewatthis]

"It is not okay, but we have no real way to proceed. So we must have faith that all will work out." When in doubt, become philosophical about it all.

[sos_pilot]

"Oh, thank goodness, I wasn't sure how to fake cheerfulness about possible impending doom." Or at least impending doom she couldn't handle.

[stillnewatthis]

Orisa brightened up -- slightly literally, because eyelights. "I hope you will not need to fake cheerfulness! There are many reasons for good cheer here."

[sos_pilot]

"Don't worry, nothing keeps me down for long." She said with a gentle fist-pound to her chest.

[stillnewatthis]

"Resilience is a valuable trait, one I strive to develop myself." She was giving herself too little credit there, but then again, she had little data as of yet to properly self-diagnose.

[sos_pilot]

Speaking of data, Della suddenly realized something.

"My new metallic buddy... we've forgotten something of grave importance."

[stillnewatthis]

"IS there trouble?!" Orisa straightened up from her slight lean-crouch, raising her fusion driver as she looked around as fast as the puppy on her head could safely tolerate.

[sos_pilot]

"We... have not introduced ourselves!"

See, just having some fun. She stuck out her hand to shake.

"Name's Della Duck!"

[stillnewatthis]

Oh. Uh, stepping down combat protocols.

"My name is Orisa." Hopefully that was Della's left hand, because Orisa only had the one to shake with.