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

[laurefindil]

"Ah, yes, I am." Glorfindel smiled more at him. "I have an abundance of spiritual energy, visible to the eye most of the time. On a day like today when people are quite stressed out, it can have a soothing effect. If they let it," he added with a quirked grin.

"As for the void, I don't know who named it, but the Train is the VoidTrecker Express, so I suspect it predates any of us here."

[forleaving]

Adam nodded, like this was a perfectly normal thing to hear. All in all, it didn't sound too weird, actually. Definitely less weird than other things he'd experienced, and less weird than ending up here in the first place. He didn't feel soothed, himself, but he was also worried and wary right now, and wasn't thinking very soothing thoughts.

"I'm sure it does," he agreed, on the topic of the void. "Does anyone know why void travel even exists?" Was it more efficient or something?

[laurefindil]

"There are several books on the subject in the Library," Glorfindel said. "Several passengers, especially Nita and Webmind, do everything they can to search out more information on the Train, the Void, the Void Ministry, etc, so they buy books with the points they earn. As far as why void travel even exists? My suspicion is that someone discovered they could do it and it sort of snowballed from there." He smiled again. It wouldn't be the first time he'd seen that happen.

[forleaving]

Me made a mental note to check out the library as soon as he could. "There's a Void Ministry?" What did they even do? Coordinate the kidnapping of unsuspecting people? It was more than he could've hoped for there to be actual books on these subjects on board.

The man had a point though; a lot of things that existed did so because someone had found out they could, so they did.

[laurefindil]

"Yes. In theory, what has happened to us isn't supposed to be possible. Only people who have volunteered and undergone testing and training are supposed to travel the void. But the Train, or whomever controls it, feels we are necessary. The Void Ministry, however, suspects we are a threat and may be in cahoots with whomever it is who is responsible for this mess." He gave a shrug to indicate he did not know the truth.

"We have been uncovering, bit by tiny bit, clues of things that are going on in the background. We recently discovered that, despite what the Ministry believes, this is the Legendary VoidTrecker Express, and that something quite traumatic happened to it and its previous passengers. It has been quite intriguing, living inside a mystery."

[forleaving]

He raised his eyebrows. He was pretty sure he'd remember signing up for something like this, or being in cahoots with a train or whoever was in charge of it. No one had directly accused him, but he didn't like the implication that he could be a liar.

'Intriguing' was one word for it. Adam would have gone with 'worrisome'. Sometimes, history had a tendency to repeat itself. "So long as the same thing doesn't happen to us," he said. He wondered what made them so special then that they'd been snatched away without warning, if void travel was supposed to be done with volunteers.

"I don't like the idea that we might be part of someone else's plan without knowing what it is."