voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2020-07-01 05:50 am
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A New Platform [Intro Post July]

On the Train

Luckily for everyone the final couple of days of Fiddlesticks are quiet and mostly uneventful. Eventually though they awake to the announcement. "Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Grasshopper. 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. Also a loud pattering sound, which they will discover once the doors open are hailstones. They might want to grab their raincoats.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Ann Takamaki, Drizzt, Geralt, Huehuecóyotl, Ignis Scientia, Ivy Wakefield, Jiang Yanli, Lan Sizhui, Maebhrin Tillinath, May Parker, Nie Huaisang, Osomatsu Matsuno, Raven, Roxas, Shaw, The Iron Bull, Ultimo, Wei Wuxian, Yuki Sohma, Yuffie, Yukito Tsukishiro

But on the platform itself there are many new faces. Wearing hoodies and waterproofs, 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. The second thing they will notice is it is cold, hailstones rain down around them, though they don’t last long on the platform ground, melting into slush.

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 nineteen figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. 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.

Indeed whereas usually there is plenty time for people to be met and brought slowly onto the train, the whistles blow a lot quicker this time, as if hurrying the passengers along.

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, it seems carrots have taken over the bacon, though there are plenty of other staples.

Those from blue team who go to investigate will find a box of biscuits. There is enough for the whole team, including new passengers. Join in your team's success!

Those who are not new will quickly discover some changes made to make the train accessible to those who can’t see, including Braille translations of all the signs around the train.

There is of course the new music room to explore. A double carriage, the downstairs has instruments to learn and practice with, as well as a series of music screen points. Those who play around with the screens will soon discover their SCA’s can now store music and can choose their favourites to listen to around the train.

Upstairs is a performance area and holds a piano.

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 over the noise of the hail stones 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!
exspeariment: (brightroboteye)

[personal profile] exspeariment 2020-07-01 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Undyne's eye flared at the notion that there might not be a way back, or at least not one that Orisa knew of. She had to find a way out. She needed to.

Maybe the pull and feel of dread was some sort of thing to prevent anyone escaping from the train. Perhaps if she refused to board, she'd be taken back home. Even if it might not work, she had to at least try. It was the only choice she had if she wanted to keep her promise.

She had to keep her promise. She HAD to. It was all that mattered anymore.

She gave a quick wave to Orisa, and started to sprint away from the train, ignoring the exponentially growing pull and feel of dread. Everything is fine, she kept telling herself.
stillnewatthis: (determined)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-07-01 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh dear. Where had she gone wrong?

Feeling dreadful, Orisa paced after Undyne. Not swiftly, as she didn't wish Undyne to think she was chasing her, but if Undyne collapsed or needed help, Orisa felt obligated to be there to provide it. This was her fault!
exspeariment: (abouttopunch)

[personal profile] exspeariment 2020-07-01 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Undyne continued running, before coming to a stop. Her way was blocked by train barriers. Maybe past this was the way back.

She tried to crawl under it, but oddly, there was something preventing her from doing so.

She tried to climb over it, but again, for some reason, she couldn't.

She resummoned a spear, and tried striking the blockade with it. Nothing.

Her robotic eye flared up, and shot lasers at the blockade. Nothing.

She summoned multiple spears in the air, and shot them at the blockade. Nothing.

She tried to grab the blockade and rip it out of the ground. It didn't budge.

She gritted her teeth. She had to find a way to get past this. She was determined to.

She was so focused on breaking through the blockade, that she didn't notice Orisa apporaching her, as the pull and feeling of dread got stronger and stronger.
stillnewatthis: (stop!)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-07-01 06:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"I am sorry," Orisa said, quite genuine in her sympathy as she strode up. So much effort, all for nothing. "We have many people here, some who are very strong, and none of them have found a way. I wish I had better news to give you."
exspeariment: Wait, how is she crying out of her robot eye? (somethingfunny)

[personal profile] exspeariment 2020-07-01 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Orisa's words of sympathy reached Undyne. She ignored them, as well as the ever-growing pull and feeling of dread. Everything was fine. She'd stay here until she found a way. She was determined to. She's done the impossible before. She could do it again.

With a "NGAAAAH!", she started barraging the barrier again, with spears, eye lasers, and punches. She put everything into trying to get past the blockade. It stayed just as steadfast as she did against the pull towards the train.

She still had one last idea.

Undyne began focusing, trying to reach her save file, and LOAD back to her world. She concentrated, and with all her determination, wanted to go back.

And yet, nothing happened.

Undyne's eyes narrowed even further than before. She needed to find a way back. She WILL find a way back, no matter what. Everything is fine. Everything is fine. "Everything is fine!" Undyne yelled.
stillnewatthis: (focus)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-07-01 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Unfortunately, yelling untruths does not make them true." Orisa might be very sympathetic, but she still had a lot to learn about expressing herself better...

"I am extremely sorry for the situation. However, it may help to know that we are apparently displaced in time as well as space. That is to say, when we are now may not be right after the when that you were from."
exspeariment: (brightroboteye)

[personal profile] exspeariment 2020-07-02 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Orisa's words reached Undyne, and she stopped.

So close to meeting her goal. About to FINALLY take the punk's SOUL, and free everyone! So close to fulfilling her promise. And now, she would never do so.



No.

She would.

Her knees rose from the ground, and she returned to standing upright.

She wasn't giving up. She WILL find a way back eventually. She was determined to.

She would get more answers on the train, and begin finding a way to return to the Underground.

She'd keep her promise, and everything would be fine.

She turned away from the barrier, and back towards Orisa, the light from her robotic eye almost resembling a star.

"I'm going," she told the robot.

She started walking towards the train.
stillnewatthis: (orisa)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-07-02 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Cybernetic replacements were fairly common in Orisa's world, so she failed to register that light or that prosthetic as anything significant. She turned, an oddly fluid process that seemed to rotate her on an axis, to begin walking after Undyne.

"We have pamphlets prepared that may be of assistance to you."
exspeariment: (sad)

[personal profile] exspeariment 2020-07-06 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Undyne continued to walk towards the train, the feeling of dread and pull lessening as she did.

Just keep going, she told herself. Everything is fine. Just continue on.

"Thanks," she thanked the robot as she approached the train.
stillnewatthis: (determined)

[personal profile] stillnewatthis 2020-07-07 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
Orisa considered, running several datasets through her predictive algorithms.

"If this is forward I apologize, but I do not believe bottling your feelings up is healthy."