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

[death_from_above]

"Oh! Right! Yes! Have you seen either Adrien Agreste or Dominic Deegan?"

[sos_pilot]

"Can't say I have, seeing as I have no idea who they are." Offhand shrug. "What do they look like?"

[death_from_above]

"Human, tall. Dominic looks like a grouchy old man. Has since he was about ten. False teeth, fake leg, small glasses, dorky hair striped scarf. Adrien is a teenager, blond, green eyes, apparently looks cute or whatever other adjective Marinette starts in with before I start gagging on the lack of fish."

[sos_pilot]

Della nodded along - someone else with a 'not real' leg, nice.

"All right, I've got t memorized now. I'll be on the look-out for your friends."

How tall is she?

[death_from_above]

"Good. Now let's go on the look out for food!" he said, happily.

i'd say half the size of an adult human male

[sos_pilot]

"Okay!" Deciding he'd have a better view from above, she lifted the cat and put him on her head. "Comfy?"

You got exactly where I was going with that question!

[death_from_above]

"Yep! Don't forget my bag," he said happily. "Fish for me and all your fish also for me! You can have the spicy green stuff and the rice if we find sushi."

[sos_pilot]

Della gagged as she hoisted the bag over her shoulder. "If we find sushi, I might just barf. Let's stick to finding your friends."

[death_from_above]

"What about fish stew? You can gave the vegetables and noodles and broth."

But finding his friends would be good too. Adrien could Bend fish into existence.

[sos_pilot]

"Is there literally anything else we can talk about?"

[death_from_above]

"You mean like fish casserole?" Get him onto bad jokes, you'll enjoy it more.

[sos_pilot]

Resisting urge to punt the cat.

"How about... yarn? Cats like yarn, right?"

[death_from_above]

"Sure, I love tales about fish. And fish tails. Get it? Yarns? Tales? Man I'm on a roll with this thread!"

[sos_pilot]

Della began to walk a little faster in hopes of finding his friends sooner. "You're positive they're on this train, right?"

[death_from_above]

"Should be." He hopes...

[sos_pilot]

Good, focus on something other than fish! "Did they arrive with you and get split up after?"

[death_from_above]

"Well if this is a Storm then we've all been here for a while. If this isn't... Haven't seen them yet."

[sos_pilot]

"A storm?" Eyebrow quirk. "What do lighting and rain have to do with it?"

[death_from_above]

"Chaos storm. The place I either still am or just was has these Storms where he gathering Chaos hits in a wave, sometimes changing us, or our memories, or the world around us, or some mix. Sometimes everyone is hit the same way, sometimes we're all hit differently, sometimes only some people are affected and others aren't. Sometimes powers work during it, sometimes they don't..." He shrugged. "For all I know you're actually Connie but don't know it. Or maybe I'm the one who remembers things wrong. Usually I try to sleep through the Storms, but this one woke me..."

[sos_pilot]

"That... sounds awesome!" Della perked up instantly. "I hope I can see that happening here!"

[death_from_above]

"If we're lucky, you are seeing it here. Now."

[sos_pilot]

Della looked around.

"... Seems pretty quiet. Are you sure?"

[death_from_above]

"Yeah, one storm half the city wound up in a walled community that we didn't find till the end of the Storm. The network was down too."

[sos_pilot]

"Sounds like the plot of a horror film." But not much of a fun day.

[death_from_above]

"Oh!" So this was someone from the City. "So you remember Endos then!"