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

[aggressivelygood]

Jarring as it was to see a whale floating above the ground, something about this felt familiar. Beyond having recently seen a whale someplace else, Sven recognised the creature's Speech, too. He raised a hand in greeting as he approached the beast, smiling in a way that he hoped was inviting.

"Well, hello there. I don't suppose you're a friend or family member of one Nita Callahan?"

Re: Platform

[singerofspells]

"As it happens, I am," S'reee said. This was the sort of thing that made her wonder about the lack of coincidences. Explaining Nita's relationship to her might be tricky -- humans tended to default to 'sister' as speaking of children of the same parents, which was manifestly not the case.

"Do you know her?"

[aggressivelygood]

"I thought as much. The familial resemblance is stunning." From the soft smile that colours his tone, he doesn't mean it. Though Nita and S'ree are both quite fetching in their own ways.

"She's a good friend. Quick witted, and a powerful wizard...any friend of Nita's is a friend of mine. So hello, I'm Sven."

This is the point where he'd offer to shake hands, but...whale. Sven instead smiles extra brightly and dips his head in a polite bow. "I expect you probably have questions. If there's anything you need, or need to know, I'd be happy to help."

[singerofspells]

"Let's start with the basics. Where is this and why are we here?" S'reee presumed that Nita's friend who knew enough about her to know that she had non-human friends would get the fact that wizards generally didn't believe they showed up in places for no reason.

[aggressivelygood]

Straight to the point. Sven understood--were it not for the fact that he couldn't feel his patron in this place, he would have presumed to have been brought here by the gods. In actuality, it seemed that he had been, though not one whose nature he felt at all familiar with.

"You're on a train platform, someplace between worlds. That's about as specific as I can give you, location-wise. This place doesn't connect to any other, at least so far as passengers are allowed to see or venture."

He swept a hand grandly toward the train sitting at the edge of the platform. "That is why you're here. This train is a god, of sorts...or perhaps the tool of one. It's what brought all of us here. You probably didn't sign up for this, but it has summoned you here as a protector of worlds. The train is both our home and our transport through the 'void', the space between our destinations. It takes us to places that need our help, that face doom without our intervention."

He pauses. "...I understand if this is a lot. Though you seem much more composed about this than most people."

[singerofspells]

"Well, first, I'm a wizard. That generally counts for 'having signed up for this', as inconvenient as it is. Second, this isn't my first time being pulled into some weird situation. Last time it was an 'airship', though that was just to get us back to the planet it was based out of."

[aggressivelygood]

Sven huffed out a laugh and grinned. "In that case, I'm sure you'll do just fine adjusting to the pace of life around here. Welcome to the Voidtreckers. I don't think I got your name, but hey, I'm Sven."

[singerofspells]

"I'm S'reee. But you might already know that."