voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post October]

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A New Platform [Intro Post October]

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!

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"Zechs Merquise," she repeated - not quite a question, but then she'd had a look at the roster. Looking for confirmation.

"I try to make myself aware of what's going on, keep in the loop. I'd say I'm well-used to weird at this point, but this train still manages to prove me wrong."

Her eyebrows went up at the name-drop, but she did her best to recover from her surprise.

"What sort of questions?"

He saw her glance, and hid a small wince. His expression remained calm, as if Zechs wasn't disquieted by saying aloud, the mere mention causing his skin to crawl in remorse and memory, "You'll see me on the roster as Millardo Peacecraft. I don't use that name."

But her remark on the weird, actually caused him to wryly chuckle. "I've already seen a few things that are entirely strange. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised Tidus called you a wizard. But, where I've been taken from? That kind of talk is madness."

Zechs' expression was serious. "He claimed you could talk to the train. So, if I understand that correctly ... this means that the train is sentient enough to be spoken with. Reasoned with. It's not a mere ... vehicle."

"Zechs it is."

Nita could understand the cause of that wince; what a name!

But the wry chuckle that comes next provides some relief for both of them.

"Some worlds have magic, some worlds have advanced science... some have both, and if you're lucky they get along."

Earth was considered a backwater in the eyes of the wider Milky Way, and for good reason; it wasn't too advanced scientifically, and was largely unaccepting and unbelieving of wizards. If it wasn't for chocolate, it'd likely have gone almost entirely unnoticed...

But the rarity of chocolate wasn't a problem here, thank goodness!

"I can sense a mind in there, yeah." She nodded. "Mechanical beings aren't my specialty, but it's definitely listening. Holding itself apart from us, mostly. And..."

Nita trailed off, knowing how what she last said sounded like.

"It's lost a crew of people before. We learned that not long ago. So it's not as if it thinks itself above us, or that it's just that at work."

Zechs frowned slightly during her whole explanation, considering. From her talk of magic and other worlds, to her supposed expertise or lack thereof, talking to mechanical beings.

“We’re a ... replacement, then, for whatever it requires,” he concluded without much sympathy at all. “Have you been able to inform it that it might’ve seen better results if it found willing servants?”

"Believe me, that's one of the things I've pointed out."

Her expression was very wry at this point.

"Unfortunately, the Void Ministry - the organization that normally stays on top of this kind of train - doesn't believe it exists anymore; the incident that killed its last crew also destroyed its homeworld. Some months back, there were Inspectors on this train, and from how the people who were on this train at the time tell it, they had no idea what was going on.

"So now the Void Ministry thinks we're criminals - or hostages. But not that the train itself is responsible, funnily enough. They think it's remote controlled, at worst."

And from the look on Nita's face, that was not the impression of the truth she'd gotten thus far.

“Hostages seems more apt,” Zechs noted, in tone much similar to Nita’s expression. Even if he was a little more unreadable.

Just a little, though. There’s not much point in hiding his cynicism here, after all.

“You think it’s acting of its own will, for some value of that word,” Zechs thought, “so would the Ministry assist us in freeing us from this captor?”

Nita shook her head.

"They sent out a blanket message to all voidcraft some months back; I can get you a transcript. Boiled down to 'do not approach'. Seems they're in no hurry to trap or attack us, wary as they are."

That got a soft snort. “Are they afraid of the train, or its passengers?”

Zechs folded his arms. “So we must determine a means for disabling the train on our own.”

"It's been a hard time finding something that can disrupt this train, I'll tell you that. People have used everything from energy attacks to drills - I even had a go at it, trying to pull information from it mentally," she admitted, her tone quieting out of still-remaining guilt.

"No dice. But, while I can't say if the Ministry are scared, let alone if the train is afraid of them in turn, there are things in the void it is scared of."

If her face was grim before, it was all the moreso now. "We've seen- some sort of shadow beings, destroy two worlds. One we've visited, while on a mission investigating a supposed threat to a kingdom; the other world was its homeworld."

“No one tried a more delicate means, such as a lockpick?” His question was mostly sarcasm, but it was a fair point, he thought.

But the greater threat made Zechs pause, his mask of calm flickering.

“More alien creatures?” Zechs asked. “What motivates them to destroy a world?”

Nita snorted.

"You'll like this puzzle - it's a solid wall. You can hear normal train-engine sounds through it, but there's no going through it. Even ghosts have tried. And no locks in sight, not even on the outside. People have tried damaging the windows too."

From the way she said it, Zechs could imagine how that had gone.

As for the other question: first, another sigh.

"Who knows. We've never gotten close enough to ask; they may be a mindless force, they may be acting out of malevolence... it's anyone's guess."

Though she had trouble imagining sources of such destruction as kind.

"I'd appreciate it more if I was better versed at breaking into things," Zechs noted. "It lends to the idea that the train is some manner of AI, however."

... That depended on the motivations for destruction, Nita.

Zechs frowned. "If we're to get anywhere, an attempt at contact with this entity should be made. Carefully. It cannot pinpoint our location, or the location of another world, if it's simply ... an animal in character, destroying out of instinct or hunger."

"It's not quite a passtime for people here, but if you ask around you'll find a laundry-list of methods people can attest to."

And can attest to not working, even.

Nita nodded. "If they're ever caught not destroying worlds, that'd be the best time. It may even be like a sentient storm; a confluence of erratic forces. Something natural, even when horrible."

Comparable to animals, yes, but not the same.

Zechs snorted, bemused. "It'd be good to know what hasn't worked."

His lips twisted. "While it could be a storm, I'd prefer if it was something easier reasoned with or managed. But we won't know unless we try to speak with it, or monitor it somehow. This Ministry ... has it been keeping records of these attacks? Are they already aware of the threat?"

Nita couldn't argue with that.

As for the question, again she shook her head.

"There's no records; only thing I've been able to get in terms of books so far is one of questionable veracity. I can show you what that one looks like, though.

"And the world numbers - how the Ministry lists worlds - don't bring up any books about them, either. So if they're aware, they're hiding it... or they can't do anything about the shadows, and don't want the blame."

Meaning the most likely options were malevolence or cowardice. Fun.

Zechs didn't look surprised at all. Through stupidity, cowardice, or malice, the results were all the same.

Arms folded, he tapped his fingers against an arm.

"Another alternative, is we locate and raid the Ministry." Zechs wasn't joking, but it was just a hypothetical. "They have information that could help us. And they already have labeled as as criminals, you said?"

Another nod, this time.

"Yes, though they've got some sort of difficulty tracking where our train is going. We don't know exactly where they're headquartered, except that it's within the void itself."

What Nita wouldn't do for a good void map...

"If there was a broadcast ... we could pinpoint the signal, if we are prepared, and have the tools." Zechs gave her a serious look.

"This information should be compiled," Zechs pointed out. "I know I'm not an expert in many of the tasks we'll need if we're determined to solve this riddle. Word of mouth cannot be the way we pass along this information. Especially if one of us can suddenly depart at any time."

"There's been all of one so far, though... I'd disappeared, that week. That happens sometimes; people disappear, and they either leave on the next platform like those people did,"

A nod in the direction of the gate and forlorn-looking building.

"Or they wind up waking up one day in a suitcase in Luggage. It's not something we control, may not be something the train controls, even, but I don't recommend it. Anyway, we know what to look for next time. And as for compiling information, I've got two bits of good news for you."

Nita stopped leaning back, a shine in her eyes. Grim amusement.

"We've got a library, though we have to figure out which books are worth ordering on our own - and we've got a computer, into which we've been putting the information we've piecemealed together these past few months. Now, you want me to tell you what's on there right now, or just where it is so you can get a look for yourself?"

"I appreciate you warning against it - but if it's not something I can control, I can't exactly follow your recommendation," Zechs told her bluntly.

The grim amusement, at least, was something he could relate to.

"I'll read it for myself. But in the future - if there are further developments, I'd like to know," Zechs said, nearly polite enough not to be a command.

Nita at least could appreciate Zechs' response.

"You will. Either it'll get broadcast on the Network, or someone will start writing things down right away and they'll spread it that way."

Though 'they' was often Nita and friends. Not all the time, but enough.

"Oh, and... people can die, on this train, and come back. That's not normal most places, but I've been in a place where one's will was enough to bring them back to life. Not that I think it's what the train's working off of, but..."

She shook her head.

"Something to keep in mind."

Zechs blinked, and said, rather pragmatically, "That'll make attempting to accomplish our goals easier."

Something to keep in mind, indeed. It gave him far more flexibility, accomplishing his own goals and helping his team on their missions, if he could put everything on the line toward a task.

Coming back after his previous deaths made it pretty easy, didn't it? Metaphorical or otherwise.

He nodded to her. "Thank you."

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A New Platform [Intro Post October]

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Wrap?

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