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

[yukibunny]

I have more than enough, thank you. [His cheeks coloured.] Well, yes...

[Oh he hoped he wouldn't actually get into trouble for doing that, not that it had been under his control to start with of course.

When a pillow was waved at him, Yukito gave a happy laugh and took it from her before hs scooted himself back until his back hit the wall and he put the pillow behind him to rest against. He unfolded the leaflet he'd been given to look over it's contents.]

There's a lot of information here. I'm not sure I understand it all myself... We're on a train travelling through the Void, whatever that is. And... oh, I wonder what this person was angry about when writing this? [He blinked as he read, it felt a little aggressive to him. He was a gentle soul, after all.]

[spikelet]

[ She keeps her pillow in her arms, enamored by the sensation of hugging it, and wriggles back. She catches some of the writing out of the corner of her eye, but it's nonsense. Familiar but totally incomprehensible characters. That one means... 'keep out'? No. But it's painted near doors sometimes, maybe.

She wriggles until she's properly wrapped up again, and doesn't bother facing towards the leaflet at all. ]

The Void's 'a place between universes'. [ she knows that because a weird talking doll told her; it's very obviously a quote, with odd enunciation. ] Why, are they swearing a lot?

[yukibunny]

Huh? Oh! No no, just a lot of underlined and blocked in words. I understand the message, though it does feel a little forceful about it. Though it could just be me! [He'd laugh and give a shrug before returning to the leaflet.]

We have... missions each month it seems. And teams that lead us. And it is stressed very strongly not to assume anything. [He brought his hand up to look at the what he had assumed to be a watch on his wrist and then back to the leaflet.] These are SCA. We're supposed to keep them on during those missions. Oh! [Yukito reached over and gently tapped the band around A-Qing's wrist, since she couldn't see what he was looking at.] This thing here. It's important to always have it on.

[spikelet]

"These"?

[ It was a genuine question, she'd been too busy picking at the seams of the pillow to keep an eye on him. But then he tapped the manacle on her wrist, and she blinked. ] Oh, that. What's it do? And, what teams?

[yukibunny]

It uhm... just allows us to come back aboard the train during an emergency, it seems? It says here it's 'vitally important', but we don't always need to wear it on the train. Just off. It keeps us safe. And three taps will bring us back here. [So far as he could tell that was all he could see on the matter. Yukito glanced at the SCA and then shrugged.] I suppose that means they are only important on these 'missions', whatever they are...

Ah, teams... Yes, well it seems we're all assigned a colour. I'm Orange and you are Blue. [He smiled, not too sure what it all meant really and how colours were chosen.] It says here that there are leaders for those teams and we should say hello to them. Your leader is someone called Ignis.

[spikelet]

[ She frowned, doubtful. So, what, they were just handing out powerful spiritual tools? She'd heard of the ability to travel instantly from one place to another - a cultivator used it once, appearing in the lower market and almost overturning a stall in the process. She distinctly remembered the lady swearing when she realised the item had broken.

And now she was wearing one around her wrist. She tapped it twice, but hesitated to complete the third tap. Just in case. ]

Ignis... Is there anything else about that person? How are we supposed to find them?

[yukibunny]

Uhm... No... I can't see anything more about him. It just says 'we will introduce ourselves'. So maybe he'll come and see you? Or she... I'm not sure. This seems to stress I'm not to assume anything!

[He shook his head and laughed softly.]

They have a council of people, and this Ignis person is one of those as well, you're in luck. It seems your leader might be a well known person so should be easy to meet.

[spikelet]

[ She immediately made a note to avoid them. Helpful strangers were one thing, but anyone in power wouldn't give her the time of day. Better to stay low until she could figure out their angle.

She shuffled around to face him and the incomprehensible leaflet. ]

Who's your leader? For, uh, Orange?

[yukibunny]

Let me see... Oh, well I appear to have two leaders, three with a question mark? I think I've met one already. [A rather brisk woman who had given him his leaflet right after falling from a great height. It was a little amusing, thinking back on it.]

I'm not sure about the other two. Curufin and Charlotte... I hope I said those names correctly!

[spikelet]

[ Gee Yukito, how come your team lets you have three leaders. ]

I wouldn't know-- anyway, they're not here, so who cares? I won't tell.

[ Hmm. ] How many teams are there?

[yukibunny]

[He laughed happily and really he had to agree. They weren't there for him to embarrass himself so what did it matter?]

Thank you for keeping my terrible secret. [There was laughter in his voice along with the playful tone.]

Well, let me see? One, two... four technically, though there's an unofficial fifth team. So we have red, orange, blue and purple... and then team black. It... really doesn't say much about what these teams do, or why they're coloured. I suppose it will come clear eventually.

[spikelet]

Seems like a pretty big thing not to explain, after we all showed up dressed in weird clothes...

[ She turned away, and, after a moment's hesitation, leaned back against the wall - and his arm, as if by accident. ]

What else?

[yukibunny]

You could be right. I suppose these would all be things we should discuss with our leaders?

[Not knowing anything else all he could do was make an assumption.

His smile was kind and gentle when A-Qing leaned against the wall beside him, and didn't mind in the slightest when she leaned against him also.

He skipped over the team stuff and moved on down the page.]

Everyone is different, don't assume... [A chuckle] Nothing can be assumed, it seems. They are really driving that point home.

[In a way he could almost understand it. To look at him no one would think he had any hidden secrets. But Yukito was more than happy for people to assume he was just a normal human.]

This is... strange. I would say some common sense and some... Well here, listen. "Come of us come from worlds where we were held captive and they might not want to talk about it, please don't push." And "Yes, we have proof and yes there really are children from other cultures onboard." [A mild look of amusement crossed his face then.] "Prepare to rework your definition of 'people'..." Could that not be offensive? And I think that is a little late. I saw some very strange people when I found myself on that platform. I think even some kind of duck person?

[spikelet]

Sounds like they have nothing better to do but write weird stuff and make us read it.

[ His shoulder is as comfortable as she thought it might be, so when he didn't comment, she committed and began tucking her blankets back around herself in her new seat. ]

Is that all? 'Don't talk to people about bad things'... isn't that common sense?