voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post July]

Entry tags:

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I gave them an order, they're supposed to carry it out! Not bungle it." No practice whatsoever.

Della clicked her tongue, and held up a finger. "Junior Woodchuck rule 76 - if you can't lead, you don't succeed."

Sorry Zetta, but this MILF's a nerd.

"The music car was just announced today, so clearly you didn't give them time to practice, because you needed to make your first impression ASAP. And now you've made an impression, all right..."

Zetta regarded Della for a moment from beneath lowered eyebrows -- then quarter-turned back to yell at his minions.

"INCREDIBLES 2 ON ICE! NOW!"

The truck practically exploded into the air as the minions surged out from beneath it, scrambling off into the depths of the steam whooshing around the platform. Moments later, two came in, doing that mock-slide step one does when pretending to skate. Turning lightly on one foot each, they came together, then stuck out their hands as another pair did a leaping twirl in to join the crowd. Two other minions swept behind them, followed by three Prinnies, stacking up gracefully into a human pyramid. Two more minions hopped into the arms of the one on the bottom, who passed them up to the next row, and then the next -- till, atop the three Prinnies at the top of the tower, they each produced half of a large roll of canvas. With two synchronized flips of the wrist, they unrolled the canvas in perfect unison, turning the entire minion performance troupe into a giant sign that read "THE SCREENSLAVER IS STILL OUT THERE".

"They just made that up," Zetta said, sidelong, to Della.

... What in the actual hell just happened? Even if their worlds had the same movies, Della hadn't seen in any in years due to... the moon.

"... I think I lost this argument, I just don't know how."

"Because they're basically idiot savants or something, I don't know. But I've been leveling them for years now, so it's not like they're as pathetic as they act most of the time." Which made the patheticness they DID show even more irritating.

"So when they're not 'pathetic', they should be praised!" So Della began to head towards the minions to give them head-pats and hugs. Mom's gotta mom.

"Great work, guys! Way to go. I'm very proud of you!"

The minions accepted their due happily, going in for hugs. Della might find herself in the middle of them, and they don't seem too interested in letting go.

Della didn't mind being mobbed, laughing happily as the hugs went around. "I guess somebody's been a little cuddle-deprived! All right, no worries, you'll all get a turn!"

Mob. Mob. MOB. MOB. MOB! MOB!

"Uh... don't crush her, guys."

"Sheesh, when was the last time any of you got hugged?" She'd blame Zetta, but then again, he did lack arms.

"Demons don't do hugging!" Zetta said, from his spot way outside the mob.

Della smirked, raising her hands and ominously wiggling her fingers.

"Hug pile on Zetta!"

What followed looked like one of those Goofy on Football shorts, in which a dozen minions piled onto Zetta in a vicious hug-tackle, followed by three Prinnies hopping onto the top of the pile and clinging on for dear life.

"Awww, look, they do care." said Della - not joining in the pile, since there didn't seem to be any room.

Zetta had an answer for that, which he couldn't yell at her because he was under a pile of minions.

Then he remembered he was telepathic.

They're only doing it because YOU asked!

"I didn't ask, I suggested. There's a difference."

One could argue she didn't exactly suggest it either, but this was more about fun than learning.

If you want to split hairs, you ORDERED.

Hey, careful. Now that I know they'll obey me, there's a lot of potential...

Zetta at last manages to squirm out from beneath the pile, flopping glumly onto the floor.

"Where did you learn evil?"

"Pragmatism and evil aren't always the same thing." Although sometimes they are. "And that I learned from my uncle."

"Okay, sure, but torturing others is totally evil." Even torturing Zetta!

"Hugs and tickle aren't torture... sheesh, you're such a ham."

Zetta slowly began lifting back up into the air. "Uh, I'm a demon, they totally are. We don't do that sort of thing, you know."

"Maybe you should do it more often, then you'd learn to like it!"

"Not if it's my minions! You're welcome to feel me up, but they're -- THEM!"

(no subject)

sos_pilot - 2020-07-12 10:29 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

badassfreakingoverlord - 2020-07-14 13:12 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only