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

Platform

[swansongs]

[He almost didn't notice her at first, because he was looking up at eye height, but the blue of her uniform caught his attention. After a quick double-take to make sure he hadn't been imagining things, he hesitantly approached.

He wasn't...good with crying people, but it would also feel wrong just to walk on by and pretend he hadn't noticed, so.]

Hey.

[His voice was gentle as he crouched down to be closer to her level, hesitating another moment.]

Are you okay? Is...is there anything I can do?

[spikelet]

[ She startled at the sudden voice, the motion of spine and shoulder as familiar as breathing. So to was the deliberate relaxation after it, and the turn to face his approximate direction without making eye contact. The rest she had to do on her own. ]

No, I just... Someone... [ She struggled to think of what to say; deprived of clues and context, it was hard to lie. She went for the truth. ] I don't know where I am, or why I'm here.

[swansongs]

You're on the platform for the void train. I don't know how we're brought here, but...we are.

[He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. He knew none of this was really comforting, but the least he could do was lay out the facts.]

We've been brought here to help others. There's...I dunno, probably endless amounts of worlds and galaxies out there, and we're given the chance to help some of those people when they need it.

I know, it sounds a little crazy.

[spikelet]

[ She flinches several times in that explanation. Not knowing is bad, but... helping others... She's not like that. So, if she's not the helper, then... ]

Is that why I'm here? Because it helped me?

[swansongs]

[He hadn't thought of it like that before. That maybe the train was helping them by bringing them here in the first place. It didn't make a lot of sense for him, personally, because what would he have been rescued from? Having a successful life?]

Maybe. If you were in a situation where you needed help. The train somehow knows these things.

[spikelet]

You're right, that does sound crazy. [ Her preoccupation made her frank; she quickly reached up to scrub at her eyes again, to disguise how much of her confusion was coupled with suspicion. She needs more information. ]

So... big brother's helped people? [ The translation effect might have shifted that to 'you've'... or maybe it didn't. ]

[swansongs]

[He laughed a little.]

I wasn't lying!

[A train whisking people away and know when others were in danger sounded like the plot of a movie or something.

But then-]

Um. Uh... what?

[The translation effect most certainly didn't shift it, and Dyme was easily confused.]

im sorry this month has been a time!!!

[spikelet]

[ Alas, she doesn't realise the problem, so that confusion hits different. ]

... You haven't helped people?

[ At least she's less polite in her suspicion!!! ]

It's okay!

[swansongs]

Oh!

[Suddenly, the light bulb went off. Now that he realized his confusion was probably from cultural differences or whatever, he totally understood. Mostly.]

Yeah, I have. I've done my best to help people on missions. And around the train, I guess.

[spikelet]

Doing what? [ She should be more polite, but who cared? Not this guy, he clearly didn't mind or notice that she was talking to him like an equal. She shrugged mentally, and ran with it. ]

I can't fight, if that's what they want.

[swansongs]

Oh, yeah, I can't either. I mean, I can throw a punch, but...

[He shrugged, then continued.]

I've helped out giving medical attention, [Which he also wasn't really good at, but he'd done his best.] helping people move, and keeping an eye out for, uh, well...monsters. [There was really no other way to put it.] There's plenty of ways to help, no matter what anyone's skill set is. [Mostly.]

[spikelet]

[ She considers and discards each of those rapidly, and then, reaching the end and finding his claim doubtful, grudgingly runs back through the list.

This time, she lets her doubt show. Ugh, that really doesn't sound like anything she can do. Maybe they need someone to take messages, or carry things... ]

What kind of monsters? Fierce corpses? Ghosts? Demons?

[swansongs]

Um. I'm not sure, really. They came out of the ocean and they had tentacles- [He demonstrated by waving his arms around for a moment.] -and stuff and lots of teeth. They were pretty awful. Like something out of a horror movie. But setting them on fire and stuff got rid of them.

[spikelet]

[ What the fuck!!!!!!! Those sound awful, he's right.

She slumps again, visibly discouraged. ]

I guess... I can take messages, and carry things.

[swansongs]

I'm sure you'll do just fine. And no one's forced to do anything, so don't like, feel obligated that you have to do a specific thing.

[Dyme didn't want anyone to feel like they were forced to do things; he was pretty sure they weren't. Everyone just...did what they could, when they could.]

[spikelet]

[ The tug of... whatever it is that wanted her onto the train was getting really unnerving, so she forced up a smile. ]

Thanks. Um, I feel something-- should I be going that way? [ She pointed hesitantly towards the train. ]

[swansongs]

Oh, yeah. Yup. [He nodded] The train can be a little weird sometimes, but it's pretty chill, I promise. If you need help with anything, just let me know.

[He was already feeling a little protective, and he wanted people to feel comfortable on the train.]

wraps, shoves into our bonus ac pile

[spikelet]

Okay. A-Qing thanks big brother! [ bYEEE. She oriented herself using the pull as much as she could, to avoid just heading straight for the doors, and made her rapid but careful way towards the train. She had some stuff to figure out. ]