voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post September]

On the Train

The days after the holiday on Jema’Grethy tick away until they are awoken one morning. "Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Horsehoe. 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. When the doors open it is to snow, crunchy beneath their feat and falling from the sky in a light flurry.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Alice Liddell, Arataka Reigen, Dread Thunderstorm, Duo Maxwell, Fandaniel, Guy Cecil, Kaito Kuroba, Khardeen, Rainbow Dash, Sarai Thunderstorm, Victor Creed, Xiao Xingchen, Yuna, Yuuri Wakasa. They crunch through the snow, not stopping for anyone.

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, as snow flurries around them, coating the ground around them in white.

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 five 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, with… teddy bear shaped luncheon meat being the main ingredient to be found. There are plenty of other staples including a lot of fish caught from their island holiday.

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

A new carriage has been added, those that go to investigate will find a library. A double carriage it has a less formal, comfy downstairs fiction area and a more serious study library upstairs. It is devoid of books, though hopefully those who have bought books before will slowly begin to fill it.

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 braving the snow 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

He was just outside looking at the snow with a curious tilt of his head. It was an odd departure from the island they had just been to, when he heard the other man complaining.

"A train platform." Senku deadpanned. "I take it you're one of the new arrivals. It seems to happen frequently enough, this is the second one I've encountered since I arrived."

"Answering a question by stating the obvious." Cloud didn't look impressed. Even asking if he was a 'new arrival' seemed dumb. Clearly he had just appeared here. So it stood to reason that he was both new and a fresh arrival.

Though new to what and arrived where were both questions he had yet to have answered.

"Yeah, I'm not much of a bullshitter." Senku responded with a bit of a shrug, he was horribly undiplomatic, it was a genuine fault of his.

"We've all been kidnapped onto this train ride, but I arrived two months ago. It's interesting if you enjoy puzzles, it travels through some kind of a void to visit different worlds. I can't imagine how you'd feel if you don't enjoy the mystery though."

"I don't need bullshit. I need answers." None of this made sense, and the less sense it made he more it annoyed him.

"... I hate puzzles." Cloud didn't like being messed around either. He'd had enough of that through his life, and even more of that in recent days.

"I can tell you what I know, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not a lot. I don't know who's running this thing, no one does. No one's ever seen who's working on this thing at all. You get on the train, it stops in other worlds, you get back on the train and that's essentially it. They want us to save the world, or something." He huffed lightly.

"I would like a lot more answers, but they're not exactly forthcoming."

"Just the world, huh" Nothing simple. Everyone had an angle.

So some unknown thing that no one had ever seen to know even exists, had kidnapped him and brought him into the snow, to board a train with strange people, in the hopes he could help them save the world?

"Let me guess, we're not even getting paid?"

"Yep, that's it." Senku said, feeling pretty much the same about it. It wasn't like he wouldn't do it, but it seemed like an awfully big thing to ask strangers from other worlds, wasn't it?

"There is some kind of currency system, but I'm not clear on how it works. I'm not sure anyone is either. I'm not sure which actions actually pay you for things." He observed wryly. "And it kind of seems like the cost of goods is pretty expensive."

Now that was bullshit. He bit back a groan, one hand on his hip he looked around. People were coming in and out, some playing in the snow as if it was a damn holiday.

What the hell even was this place?

"Is there anything you can tell me with certainty?" Because so far all he was hearing was best guesses and theories.

"Wish I could." Senku responded, bluntly honest. "But I'm not entirely sure anyone has any answers. We're all swept away from our homes in the same boat, so to speak."

He looked like he was considering something. "I've only been around for two months, but some people have been here a lot longer. Either they're not interested in telling me anything which is possible, but unlikely, or they don't know much."

Well that sucked. No hard answers. He closed his eyes, a hand lifting to his head to rub at his forehead and the growing headache.

"Guess I'll just have to ask around." Makes a change, right? The sarcasm of his thoughts was so loud he wondered if anyone else could hear it.

"Doesn't hurt, learning as much as you can is something I encourage personally, but I don't know how helpful that will be." He said honestly. He wasn't the best person for offering comfort to people who were lost in a new world.

A New Platform [Intro Post September]

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