A New Platform [Intro Post October]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

"Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Horsehoe. Points have been updated on the system and new stock is available."

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. The first thing they may notice is that this platform is inside a basic shelter, making it warmer than the last couple at least.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Adora, Alex Hashimoto, Catra, Cloud Strife, Elizabeth Midford, Feanor, Gerome, Gladiolus Amicitia, Glimmer, Ifrit, Isabella D’Oro, Maru, Nari Reno, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Prompto Argentum, Scorpia, Siobahn Chereshei, SXT-2, Tamamo-no-Mae, Tony Stark, Uta, Zidane Tribal

But on the platform itself there are many new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours 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 gloomy, even without the steam and fog. They are in a wooden building, open to the tracks on one side. It in a creaky shelter, cobwebs hang from the rafters and there is a peculiar whistle as wind finds its way through the cracks.

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 gloom 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.

A new carriage has been added, those that go to investigate will find a room full of lockers, designated as the Armoury. Even for passengers without weapons it is somewhere to secure possessions. There are instructions on how to use the lockers and enough for everyone to claim one.

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

Ken Ichijouji (& Wormmon) | Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna | Orange Team

[ramengroupie]

[ I. Platform ]

--This is...?

[ ...Not where he was expecting to emerge from the Digital Gate. In contrast to the other new passengers, however, this young man in orange doesn't look confused. Instead, he's drawing himself up tensely, taking it all in.

His gaze flicks across the total headcount, across the matching clothing everyone's wearing; the first signs of consternation show themselves when he completes his assessment and discovers a few people he'd expected to see were missing. ]

Why only me...?

[ He moves towards that train, to continue his investigation, but the pack on his back has begun to. Uh. Wriggle. Violently. ]

Kn-shn.....!!!

[ A pause. ]

KN-SHNNNNNNNNNN!!!

[ Ken turns to try and swing that pack off his back, but he's too late. A green hornworm-like creature explodes out of the top, multiple sets of legs splayed, eyes closed in desperation. The worm flies through the air with a mighty, needy whine - ]

KEN-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN~!!!

[ Right towards. Somebody else. Because the bug'd been behind the person he was aiming for and didn't know it.

Ken stares, but there's nothing he can do to save that other person.

Giant, clinging bug incoming. ]

[ The Train ]

[ Landing on someone who wasn't Ken-chan had been more traumatic than ending up in another new world, so Wormmon is now riding atop his partner, nubby legs holding fast to Ken's head.

Ken has paused in his exploration of the train to read a pamphlet. (He is in whatever car it's most interesting for people to tag him in. It's a voidtrain; time is fake and so is space.) ]

"Orange Team", huh...

This world came prepared. Isn't that nice, Ken-chan?

...I suppose.

[ Ken doesn't look convinced as he continues to read. ]

[ Departure - Cabin 3:D ]

[ Ken is in a top bunk, unpacking his supplies to see what's been provided for them. Once again, it's true - this world has much more infrastructure than his past experiences, which means....they really have been at this for a while? Or - some more active involvement on the part of the being that summoned them?.....but he's also distressed at what he's NOT finding in his pack. ]

...But that's...

[ Entrance to the Void in three, two ---

Ken does his best to steady himself in his bunk, but tips forward. Wormmon, on his head, thinks fast: ]

Sticky Net!

[ And now Ken's fall is cushioned by a giant web stretching across the bunk. He smiles up at his partner. ]

Thank you, Wormmon.

Ehe.

[ The partners share a fond, sappy moment as the train nyooms into the void. Neither of them has come to the realization yet:

they're stuck. ]

the train

[blitzcheer]

[ Tidus didn't really do much with welcoming newbies, but it's not like he can avoid them, or anything. Because it's a voidtrain, and time and space are truly a lie, and everyone must meet everyone eventually.

With this meeting happening in the games car. Maybe. Who cares. What matters is the spark of inspiration that seems to hit Tidus as he sees the pair; the thing on the guy's head particular, his gaze lingering and then widening. ]

Oh-- [ he knows this, he knows this! Pointing up at the green thing-! ] Is that a... pokeymon?

[ He got it!!! ]

there are two kinds of monster canon fan

[ramengroupie]

[ Wormmon is a slower reader than Ken so he has not gotten to that part of the pamphlet yet. He pulls himself up, self-righteous. ]

I'm not pokey! I'm a Digimon!

[ Ken has reached the part about the "pokeymon", though, so he offers Tidus a nervous smile. Close! ]

...Well, it seems the idea might be similar....

orange

[blue_ice]

Either the best team or the worst team, depending on who you ask.

[ It's another person in orange, the only difference being the card shaped locket he wears. He's mildly interested in the spider on his head. ]

Some of that pamphlet's very recently outdated, but the bulk should be accurate. I can answer questions.

[ramengroupie]

[ This is the most accommodating multidimensional adventure Ken's ever been on. Usually it takes like 2/3s of a season for someone to swoop in and start infodumping.

He looks at Kaiba, then back at the leaflet. Considers the offer. He doesn't want to be a bother right off the bat, but if this person's offering.....

Ken has to ask, doesn't he? ]

....I don't suppose the train's rationale has been discovered.

The Platform

[dreamtamer]

This was the first time the train had stopped at another platform since Takato had started traveling on it.So of course he had come out to the platform to see what was happening.

He'd been busy looking around the platform when he turns at the sound of someone screaming, and almost by accident manages to catch him. Of course Takato being Takato, that overbalances him and he ends up tripping over his feet and landing on his back.

He lies there for a moment, blinking up at... something he recognized?

"A Wormmon?"

[ramengroupie]

This is not Ken-chan! This is something easy to knock over, and not Ken-chan at all!!!!

Wormmon turns around on Takato's body, apparently oblivious to the fact that the object cushioning his fall is, in fact, a person. "Ken-chan! Where did you go?"

"I'm here." Ken kneels to scoop up Wormmon, who clings to his shoulder. This accomplished, Ken then offers Takato his other hand.

"Are you all right?"

Wait. This child....?

He knows this child.

platform;

[sunbloom]

[Job one: look for Erika. Nope. Job two: look for new purple team members. Itsuki's working on that when she hears the brief mumbling from a rucksack next to her and is immediately reminded of, say, Chypre or Coffret stuck in a bag. Potpourri would probably not be this polite and would have started screaming.

...speaking of screaming, boy, that rucksack is sure getting loud- oh, no.

That's as far as she gets with the thought before the top of the sack bursts open and there's a suddenly a green thing in front of her coming toward her. It probably isn't a threat, so instead of swatting it away she treats it like she would one of her team's fairies: quickly raises her hands and attempts to catch it. Her reflexs are good! So she makes the catch, but for a moment almost drops him because he's heavy. And then she takes a look and-]

-you're not a fairy. [Blink, blink, confused headtilt.] Um, hi?

[ramengroupie]

[ Blink blink back. Then, Wormmon bursts into scared tears. HE DOESN'T KNOW THIS PERSON! ]

Waaaah! Ken-chaaaaan!!

Wormmon, I'm here....

[ Ken jogs up, looking from Itsuki to Wormmon. Things had happened rather quickly, but: ]

You helped him, didn't you? Thank you.

Platform

[consider8]

[Eight didn't show it, but she was tense. The last time she was abducted like this things got very antagonistic very quickly. As she was wandering the platform trying to get a better sense of where she is, a strange green creature burst forth.]

[She was ready.]

[In a swift motion, the Octogirl sprung onto her heel, twisting a foot to intercept. In the next moment the green thing was taking a boot to the... everything.]

[She'll be apologetic for the reaction... maybe.]

[ramengroupie]

EEYRRRGHH!

[ And back Wormmon flies, whence he came. Ken darts forward to catch his partner, making sure he's beneath Wormmon so the Digimon can drop gently into a safe, waiting embrace.

Partner thus re-obtained, Ken turns Wormmon around in his hands, shifting his grip until he has him held carefully. ]

Are you all right, Wormmon?!

Oooh.

[ Wormmon's eyes are crossed. Did anybody...get the license plate number...on that boot...? ]

Platform

[namethattune]

[Siebren has had about enough of the mysterious platform and is also heading towards the equally mysterious train, partially out of an innate compulsion he cannot explain and partially in search of answers. What he is not expecting is to be accosted by a flying bug-]

[He reacts almost without thinking, raising a palm-]

[And the critter stops in midair, a scant six inches away from Siebren's face (an impressive leap, honestly, given Siebren's height). Siebren blinks for a moment, then catches sight of the young man staring.]

Is this yours?

[ramengroupie]

--I'm sorry.

[ Ken steps forward to see if he can retrieve Wormmon - one part to not inconvenience a stranger, one part to make sure Wormmon is all right. ] He didn't mean any harm.

Ken-chan? [ Those little legs basically rotate in midair. Wormmon looks around, too - where's his partner, where's his partner, this is kind of exciting and kind of scary and he wants his paaaaaartneeeeeerrr. ] Ken-chan! I'm flying! Ken-chaaaaan!!

train

[myblueskies]

"We're setting off soon!" Romeo was skipping along the aisle of the standard coach. "So you should sit down so you don't fall!"

It was important information, and Romeo tried to make as many people as possible safe before they started flying. He never got to everyone but he tried his best!

He grinned at the man and the... bug? They are definitely new. "Hello sir! Hello bug! You don't want to fall over so you should sit down to read!"

the train

[happyends]

[ Madoka isn't exactly the most sociable person around today. It's not a great day, after all. The girl isn't entirely sure what to even do with herself - she's so restless, and staying in the same spot for too long just makes her think of all the people who disappeared. And being upset in front of all these new people isn't a great idea.

So Madoka's eyes nervously dart around, trying to find something else to pay attention to that isn't her own worried thoughts.

And so her eyes land on Ken, or, well, more particularly on Wormmon. Partially since he's cute, but also since Madoka has seen Pokémon before, and wow, this must be another one! It sure looks like one!

So the girl carefully approaches Ken, looking up at him as she meekly speaks up. ]

Um.. Sir..? Did you show up here together with your friend..?

The train

[sendiintheclown]

Trowa was on his way to the greenhouse, his preferred location for taking off, when he saw the young man. Taller than Trowa himself, and with some sort of green caterpillar on his head. Amira mewed from his shoulder, and he reached up to stroke her as he nodded a greeting. "You're new to the train, aren't you? That's a very interesting friend you have there."

Platform

[stillnewatthis]

HALT!

[Orisa whips her fusion driver up, launching a pulsating green blob of energy out. As it shot past the monster, she detonated it, and it erupted in a gravitational pulse to yank Wormmon back to it in midair.]

Train

[laurefindil]

[Glorfindel looked at the young man who was reading the pamphlet. After a moment, he smiled at him.]

I see, that is a friend, not a part of your head. Please excuse my curiosity. My name is Glorfindel, welcome to the Train.

The train

[strawberryprotector]

Ichigo was on his way to get some coffee before going back to his work in the med car. He was working on some basic charting, getting things set up for his next plan. Seeing the young man with the over sized grub clinging to his head. "Need that growth on your head looked at?"

Platform

[goingthroughaphase]

[ Kitty has been through and seen a lot in her life. She'd fought against many strong opponents, and risked her life countless of times. Since her powers first manifested, she's gotten used to a lot of things.

Bugs are not one of those things.

The exclamation is all the warning Kitty gets, and as she turns in that direction, she just manages to catch a bug-looking creature in the face.

And then the platform echoes with the sound of a piercing shriek. ]

The Train

[10billionpercent]

Isn't the orange colour blinding?

[ That's why he's not wearing his coloured t-shirt, but rather a beige tunic that he bought from Dread Spider fashions, and he was wandering around barefoot, at that. ]

It's horrible.

[platform]

[bloomingblossom]

[ [Tsubomi had come out to meet the new passengers on the train, but she'd not been prepared for what was currently flying towards you.

Life, as they say, comes at you fast.] ]

Wh-huh?!

[Tsubomi is short enough that Wormmon ends up hitting-and clinging-to her face, causing the girl to flail her arms about wildly.]

Ehhh??!!

Platform

[alchemists]

[ Elfnein was out and about looking for new orange teammates when the small green worm lands right on her face knocking her down. ]

oww

Train

[only_one_wei]

Ecxuse me, but were you aware you have a...bug in your hair?

[Wei Wuxian is wearing a long black robe with red trim, carrying a flute with a red tassel.]

Platform

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Well if there was one thing Lea wasn't expecting on the platform, it was being glomped by a caterpillar the size of a small dog.]

Hey, what the-!? Oof!

[Too late for questions as the bug made contact with his chest... and clung there. Lea shifted a hand to partly support the caterpillar's weight while the other somewhat awkwardly patted his head.]

...Uh, no offense, little guy, but I think you've got me confused with someone else.