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

[dreamtamer]

"That isn't exactly what I meant." Although it was pretty neat. Takato frowns a little as he tries to figure out how to explain it. "Between the real world and the Digital World there was a place where there were no rules. No physical laws like there are in the real world. It was like... there was no up or down or right or left, or that every direction was both up and down. Until we decided which direction was down, and then gravity existed."

Takato smiles. "I would like that. I wonder if its lonely."

[iamnotgod]

"No; the void does not seem to respond to will in that manner. The Voidtrecker Express, whatever its origins, seems to be technological in mechanism if not source."

Webmind puts especial thought into that one. "It might well be; it has never admitted as much. Most of its official communication sounds just like that: professional, not personal. But I believe it is well worth the attempt."

With that, Webmind starts leading them out of the hallway and to one of the various screens.

[dreamtamer]

"I'm not sure what that means? What do you mean by source?" But Takato follows after him with no clue where they were going.

[iamnotgod]

"We've had recent reason to question if the being running the Voidtrecker Express is actually either a form-shifted or memory-downloaded... organic being, I suppose; not all Voidtreckers are human."

Webmind taps his own robotic frame.

"You have your ticket, yes? This will be more streamlined if you're the one signing in."

[dreamtamer]

Here Takato goes fishing through his pockets.

"Found it!" he calls out.

A frown. "Recent reason? You didn't think that before?"

[iamnotgod]

"Until we visited one Jema'grethy island, we'd only had reason to believe an artificial intelligence of some sort was piloting the train, at most."

Apart from the idea of it being remote-controlled, but Webmind had not paid that thought much respect.

"While there, some of our number received memories, of a being that had lost everything. All senses, emotion... being left only with a purpose, and knowledge that they could only go forwards."

With the ticket inserted into the ICP, the default screen came up with its date and several programs - and a few texts in a scrollable box.

[dreamtamer]

"That's... so sad." Takato silently resolves to talk to the train. Whether it was an AI or whether it used to be human... with a story like that it must be terribly lonely.

He peers at the screen. "What's that?"

... If Takato is going to do Odd Things with the network, would he try them here?

[iamnotgod]

"This train uses its own calendar - I suspect it's a precaution, given there is otherwise little indicator of how much time is passing in the void. But what's most relevant for us right now is the Feedback&Suggestions page; can you find that?"

If Takato pages to the announcement for Horeshoe, he'll be able to find the appropriate function.

He's probably going to wait on odd things until he gets his D-Arc back

[dreamtamer]

It takes him a moment (unlike the other Tamers, Takato had never been very skilled with technology), but he finds it.

"What is this?"

Fair 'nough.

[iamnotgod]

"It is how most of us write to the train, though this method thus far has only garnered generic responses."

Webmind shrugs.

"Some prefer to physically approach the engine wall, seeing as that is where any 'driver' is supposed to be."

Soon

[dreamtamer]

"Does it ever write back?"

s o o n okay closer to two weeks, but. ;)

[iamnotgod]

"A thank you for the feedback, but nothing further. While the train also produces text announcements that are more verbose, they are not personal addresses, excepting the one time there was a wedding onboard."

That was the most obvious exception, anyway.