A New Platform [Intro Post September]

[voidtreckermods]

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!

Comments

Platform

[nutkrusher]

Cassie, as she does every two weeks, is taking the opportunity to get some air, practice flying, and, of course, welcome new passengers. The new teammate making his way tentatively toward the train catches her eye.

He's a little more purple than most of them, actually.

She descends gently next to him.

"So, yeah...sorry to bother you, but I'm guessing you want an explanation for this whole 'suddenly boarding a train' thing?"

Re: Platform

[light_of_willpower]

He seems neither surprised to see her, given the snow is making visibility hard, nor to see her flying. "I mean, if you have one? Please..." Said with a little self-conscious laugh. "I'm used to some strange situations, but this is a new one even for me."

[nutkrusher]

Cassie smiles softly. "Yeah, same."

Well, being imprisoned in another dimension technically isn't a new one, but she won't get into that.

"Short version is, you've been pressganged. Someone - we don't know who - is taking people from different universes and bringing them here, to the Voidtrecker Express. It travels between various planets and dimensions in distress and tasks its passengers with protecting them."

[light_of_willpower]

There's a blink, and then another--but he doesn't seem like he disbelieves it. On the contrary, after a second or two there is a resigned 'sigh'. "Don't suppose it occurred to whoever's behind this to just ask for help, huh?"

[nutkrusher]

"You'd think so, but no," Cassie says. "We've even had to establish a general chain of command ourselves. We didn't even have a quartermaster corps until this week."

[light_of_willpower]

"Quartermaster?" Military term right? Trunks couldn't remember which kind though. "So then we're mostly left to our own devices?"

[nutkrusher]

Cassie raises a hand and waves. "That's me."

She gestures toward her clothes, noting the color of her outfit. "The train assigns color-coded teams based on a system none of us can figure out. We're told what our missions are and where. That's it."

A slight smirk crosses her face. "Looks like they chose your color pretty well."

[light_of_willpower]

That still didn't necessarily tell him what a quartermaster was. The--tease? she was teasing him right? had him ducking slightly, and hoping he wasn't blushing. "Looking around I mean...maybe I just got lucky?"

[nutkrusher]

"Looks like it," Cassie says. "Blue was always more my color. But I'm Purple's quartermaster."

[light_of_willpower]

Blue, specifically, the blue bodysuit that went with the white and gold saiyan armor, had been what Trunks was wearing before this adventure. "Alright, so," One hand reached up and rubbed at the back of his neck awkwardly. "At the risk of sounding dumb, what's a quartermaster?"

[nutkrusher]

"Basically, I'm in charge of people's supplies and loadout when we go on missions," Cassie says. "If you need something, ask me about it. I also keep track of who's got what, especially when it comes to weapons."

[light_of_willpower]

Ah, that made sense he supposed. "Do we have a lot of missions where we'll need weapons? I can be counted on for broadsword skills. Also hand-to-hand."

[nutkrusher]

"We've seen combat, yeah," Cassie says. "They don't hand out guns here, but there are ways of getting swords and stuff. I got a pair of tonfas from another passenger."

[light_of_willpower]

"I don't need a gun." When you could shoot ki-blasts, a gun kind of became superfluous. "How often do we have missions with combat?"

[nutkrusher]

"Most people would say they're nice to have," Cassie says.

"But we usually get something every couple weeks. Sometimes your team's assigned mostly relief work, but...well, they bring in people like you and me for a reason."

This guy looks like he's in good shape and can handle himself. Not that she's been...looking, or anything.

[light_of_willpower]

He's been oblivious to her looking or looking thankfully, or he'd be bright red and ducking his head again. "Just means it's one more for someone who uses 'em instead of me." Relief missions? Well if they were really trying to help different worlds...

"I can help with basic relief too. My world isn't in the best shape, and I'm kind of used to having to do multiple roles."

[nutkrusher]

"If nothing else, it's gotten me to learn how to use my qi better," Cassie says.

"But yeah, a lot of us here have seen some shit. Back home, I've got to be prepared for anything."

Good thing "Ki" and "Qi" sound roughly the same huh?

[light_of_willpower]

"Sounds like me, only you sound like you're better at the being prepared." But the mention of ki brings a half-smile to his face. "That why you were practicing flying out in the snow? Can be dangerous if you're not careful."

[nutkrusher]

"Pretty much, yeah," Cassie says. "There are people here from worlds that know a lot more about it than mine does. I was born with the ability to use it, but no one from my universe figured out how to use it to fly.

"Guy named Piccolo taught me how. So there's one silver lining about the whole interdimensional kidnapping thing."

[light_of_willpower]

Piccolo? Piccolo was here? That had Trunks turning his head slightly, stretching out his own sense to try and find the Namekian's signature. Piccolo was here!--Trunks would have to figure out where in the timeline they were, respectively. Hopefully Piccolo was at a point where he knew who Trunks was, at least.

"If he's green, and an alien called a Namekian then I know him too. Not sure if he'll know me though until I talk to him."

[nutkrusher]

"Yup, that's him," Cassie says. "You train under him? He's pretty fuckin' good at it."

[light_of_willpower]

"I haven't yet, but he trained my master." Trunks took a look at the train, even as impressive as it was, then back to Cassie. "Must be hard for him in such a confined space though to train."

[nutkrusher]

"It's pretty hard for me sometimes, to be honest," Cassie says. "I swear half the reason I even go on the missions is to get some fresh air.

"But there's a gym car, at least. If you ever need me, I'm as likely to be there as anywhere. I think Piccolo tends to hang out around the gardens."

[light_of_willpower]

"That sounds like Piccolo." Trunks agreed, and looked at the train again. "I don't blame you for wanting fresh-air. How crowded isit? And when you say gym car, give me a description. I'll probably be there too." This was all comfortable, and he felt like he'd found a kindred spirit. It had been a while since Trunks had experienced that...

"I'm Trunks by the way."

[nutkrusher]

"Cassie Cage," she says, extending a hand. "Just call me Cassie.

"There's actually two gyms, one of them especially for training. They've got mats, dummies, and pretty much any equipment you'd need."