voidtreckerexpress | A new platform [intro post September]

A new platform [intro post September]

For those on the train

“Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Bassoon.” The train announces the morning the month changes. It seems the train counts months in days of thirty. Team Points have been updated on the system.

The day continues as most days do, chores, eating, getting ready for another day. But those who suspect that a change of month may bring something else are correct. It is only an hour or two later that there is another announcement.

“Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void imminent.”

By now they should know to hold on as the train jerks and jolts. There is only fog outside the windows but the train soon comes to a stop. The doors hiss open.

As they exit into the fog they may notice Evie exiting from the luggage carriage door. Much like Hibiki the last time they were on a platform. She leaves the train, backpack on her back as she walks through the station. She heads no call, reacts to no words and cannot be stopped as she walks to the ticket barrier and disappears through it.

Strange. But even stranger still is that there on the platform that whole time is Evie. Dressed in purple, backpack on back, with her are others. Waiting for the train.

For new arrivals

At first all they can see if 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 your 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 very large, but it hold twelve figures all facing the tracks, all wearing similar clothing. The tracks stretch left and right into steam, or perhaps fog. Nothing can be seen to either side. There is a wall around the platform and the only entrance is a ticket barrier. It cannot be open, nor do there seem to be any staff.

What there is, is a train. Jet black and gleaming where it stands on the rails.Voidtrecker Express is emblazoned in the engine in gold. There is a hiss as the doors slide open.

Out step a selection of people, some less human than others, wearing clothes just like those worn by those on the platform.

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.

Once on board there is lots to explore. Passengers both old and new will hopefully be delighted to see the boredom of this train journey is somewhat alleviated by the introduction of a game carriage. Plenty of games, both familiar and new to play with your new travelling companions.
Each ICP shows the same message. If Red team go and look they will find a box in the luggage compartment that contains their prize. A dralite themed cake lolly each. There are enough for the new members of Red team too, share in your teams previous success!

The food stores have been topped up with new fresh food. Salmon has taken over as the primary ingredient of choice. Hopefully everyone likes fish!

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. For those who boarded two weeks ago they will know what is coming next.

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."

Hopefully someone warns you that you really want to heed that warning because a moment later there is 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 voidspace.

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That, and Fading. Only there because he'd felt he deserved the punishment of not dying.

Maglor shrugs carelessly. "That is up to you. You will have to find your own answer."

...But...

"...Not leaving me again might be a good start."

They had both been Fading long before they had acknowledged that fact. Maedhros is less bright than he should be, but that is nothing new. His flame flickers further at Maglor's words and he holds him tighter.

"If that is the best I can do, I shall do it."

The fierce hold has him sigh before giving in and snuggling close to his big brother, tucking his head firmly under Maedhros' chin. He finally reaches to latch on and cling, giving in to the desperate need to hold on tight and not let go.

He'd made that mistake before, and lost...Everything.

"Who have you met so far?" His tone is much less confrontational, just a bit shyly hoping that maybe he won't get left behind again. At least not for a while.

He tips his head back to make room for Maglor, resting his cheek on the top of his head once he is settled. The hands gripping onto him are blessings and he does everything in his power to silently communicate his approval. It is very good to be needed - even if he feels like he falls pitifully short of fulfilling those needs.

"Lightning, Luke, Eva, father, Conan, Sarai, Tony, our brother, another boy, Madoka and Evie." he is understandably rattled by meeting so many new people.

Making room for brothers is something they're both familiar with, and is enough of a good memory that he even finds a small smile appear.

"Sarai and Tony I know. Tony is...he understands. At least some of the darkness. And he doesn't care, so long as those on the train aren't harmed."

They are a pack and packs are never whole unless they are together. Maedhros feels something in him settle and he kisses the top of Maglor's head.

"Sarai promised to...see that I am fed." he is a bit embarrassed about that, but they both know he has a hard time saying no to adorable souls, "Tony does understand as well as any Man could."

Which is precisely why they'd often ended up covered in brothers while sleeping in their much younger days! Maglor relaxes slightly, slowly.

"There is much of that going around," he informs his brother. "Tony is resourceful. And very interested in creating things that will help others."

He had pretended that had been a nuisance, but he misses it dearly now. There is nothing sweeter than having feet in one's face.

"Is there?" his lips quirk, "I saw him working on a glove." his amusement fades suddenly, "I hope he isn't planning on doing anything for me..."

They both do. He hums quietly, then ducks his head, a bit shyly.

"...I've told him what happened to my hand. He's been working on a way to help."

"Your music..." he knows how it must hurt to play the harp or any other instrument. Maedhros lightly touches Maglor's throat, murmuring:

"Your voice hasn't been taken from you."

"I still play," because of course he does, pain or not. He doesn't shy from the touch to his throat, Maedhros wouldn't strangle him.

"No." It's recovered in the last two weeks from very little use, so there's that.

"Through the agony?" he sighs and rests their heads together, thinking hard about solutions. Eru help him,he would settle for comfort.

"These worlds we visit, however briefly, might have a cure. We should keep our sights set on herbs and their various properties."

"Of course," the confused little frown should say it all. Why would he let a bit of pain stop him from playing?

"We will." Silly Nelyo. Maglor leans against his brother. He just doubts they deserve to find a cure.

"Rest your hands between songs, please." he values his brother over his music, okay?

"Are you injured anywhere else?" Maedhros looks over what he can see of Maglor, frowning, "Don't hide anything."

"I alternate between singing and playing." Because even he isn't a complete idiot. :|

"The hand is the only one that keeps bleeding," he answers dutifully.

"My Kano isn't a dimwit after all!" he teases, his lips quirking, "Because you do not give it time to heal."

Or perhaps that is the Silmarils lasting curse. Maedhros doesn't want to believe that.

Maglor knows better. He frowns at the tease, and at the clear ignoring of the obvious.

"It bleeds because of what we did, Nelyo. I have been alone for thousands of years. If it could heal, it would have by now."

He is struck by the amount of time Maglor has lived. Alone. All of the color leaves his face and he feels...cold. Wrong.

The fire of his fëa dims as if caught in a strong gust.

He sighs, seeing the recognition and realization in his brother's face.

"...Why else would I ask you not to leave again, if I had not been alone for a long time? I am tired, Nelyo."

Maedhros presses his forehead against Maglor's shoulder, needing the contact - and maybe his Kano does too?

"I was tired too."

He still is in a way that no sleep can touch.

"How have you...lived? What has kept you in existence?"

He lets his cheek rest against his brother's head.

"I didn't throw myself to fire," the edge is there, but muted. "Nor did I let myself drown, though I threw my jewel to the sea. Let Ulmo have it!"

How? Maglor tiredly reaches a hand up to play a bit with his brother's hair. Then answers with words not his own.

"Tears unnumbered ye shall shed; and the Valar will fence Valinor against you, and shut you out, so that not even the echo of your lamentation shall pass over the mountains. On the House of Fëanor the wrath of the Valar lieth from the West unto the uttermost East, and upon all that will follow them it shall be laid also. Their Oath shall drive them, and yet betray them, and ever snatch away the very treasures that they have sworn to pursue. To evil end shall all things turn that they begin well; and by treason of kin unto kin, and the fear of treason, shall this come to pass. The Dispossessed shall they be for ever.

"Ye have spilled the blood of your kindred unrighteously and have stained the land of Aman. For blood ye shall render blood, and beyond Aman ye shall dwell in Death's shadow. For though Eru appointed to you to die not in Eä, and no sickness may assail you, yet slain ye may be, and slain ye shall be: by weapon and by torment and by grief; and your houseless spirits shall come then to Mandos. There long shall ye abide and yearn for your bodies, and find little pity though all whom ye have slain should entreat for you. And those that endure in Middle-earth and come not to Mandos shall grow weary of the world as with a great burden, and shall wane, and become as shadows of regret before the younger race that cometh after. The Valar have spoken."

He shivers as if he has been plunged into the deepest cold. Maedhros had sought the fire to counteract the chill or maybe he thought he would end up like Fëanor anyway, his fëa burning through his flesh and bone. Either way, his body had felt like too heavy of a burden and one that he needed to be rid of swiftly.

How foolish.

"They spoke of those; not he. You are not meant to carry the burden alone."

Had he, once again, gone against the Valar's plan? Doesn't his death ensure his brother's misery and loneliness?

Yes.

"Stay with me here. My selfishness is partially undone aboard this contraption. I can stand beside you and we can find a new home."

There is just the hint of bitterness in Maglor's voice. "What choice was left me? You, my last brother, left."

Still, he nuzzles his brother's hair, holding on. "There are four of us now. And there are people here who are friends."

"It should have been us. Not just you." he repeats, tucking himself against Maglor in a way that must surely make his back sore. But he doesn't care.

"All the more reason to make our new home here or on one of these worlds." his brow furrows, "The Valar do not want us, so let's be done with all of it."

"Yes," he agrees, short, sharp, and cool. But Maglor still curls around his brother, with no intention of letting go this time.

"It's a nice dream." It will just take a while for him to believe it.

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