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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[ That....is a new one to Ken, but the implications are enough to set him at ease that this person really does mean Wormmon no harm.

He holds out his arms to accept his partner. ]

He's usually by my side when we switch worlds. I should have confirmed his position first.

[ From the way his expression tightens at that, he does feel guilty. Wormmon - he'd never take Wormmon for granted again, would he? So how could he have, even under these circumstances - ]

I-it's not....y-y-your fault....Don't feel bad, Ken-chaaaaaaaannn....

[ Wormmon continues to cry, except now, from what one can tell between the webby sobs, he's less "scared Ken-chan isn't here" and "so incredibly relieved that Ken-chan is". ]

Is void travel something you're used to, then? And really, it's okay. I've got a friend at home a little smaller than you are, [she indicates Wormmon as she passes him over,] and he's not very used to travel. He normally rides on my head.

[Itsuki giggles softly.] His plushie impression is pretty good these days. But anyway, since I know your names, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Itsuki, Itsuki Myoudouin. And this is the Voidtrecker Express, voidtrain that travels between worlds. Welcome aboard, awkward as it might be.

The Voidtrecker Express....

[ That.....is how the train is marked, isn't it. Ken thinks through this. More people than he expected. Itsuki talking about "back home". A Digital Gate that didn't go where intended...

But with this many people.....This much infrastructure....

Wormmon thinks "riding on a head" is a good idea. He climbs out of Ken's arms and up onto the top of Ken's head. Look! He can do it too. He's gotten so good at it! ]

Was everyone here summoned?

[Itsuki's laugh turns brighter, some of the gloom she's been trying to push aside this morning fading.] Yes! Just like that. You seem right at home there!

[She sobers a little bit at the question.] Mm. All of us aboard the train were brought here just like this, appearing on a platform and boarding with our tickets. There are... a lot of questions left around that process, though.

Heheee.

[ Wormmon chuckles to himself, satisfied. Watching Ken-chan grow up has been amazing. He has gotten so big, and so resilient! But he's never stopped being the sweet little boy Wormmon met, crying alone, that day years and years ago.

Now that little boy smiles and is surrounded by people. And is large enough for Wormmon to ride.

The sweet little boy is thinking over what Itsuki's just told him. ]

So it's a train that recruits its passengers from different worlds.

[ And - tugs? At him? He's almost feeling, the more he thinks about the train, like he wants to board it. Like he has to board it.

Or is he imagining that? ]

Right! All of us come from different places, have different skills and specialties, but we've all got a common goal to work toward.

[Wormmon's cute; she lets him be for the moment. Her hoodie's thick enough, but she rubs her arms briefly anyway.]

It's a little chilly out here - would you like to continue this on the train?

[ ...Oh, it is, isn't it. That's what that sensation is against his arms. The temperature's dropping.

Ken nods. ] If you don't mind.

[ He doesn't want her to catch a chill just because he had questions. Ken will follow Itsuki onboard, since she knows what she's about.

And if he has to duck a little so Wormmon won't be hit on the entrance - well, Ken-chan is so very kind! ]

Mm, no problem! Come on aboard. [The cadence of today's platform seems... a little different, but it's no problem. She immediately feels better as soon as she steps into the passenger car, gesturing to a set of seats near the front and away from the door.]

There's food and such set out, but... otherwise, I can get you as up to speed as you would like, and then you'll have a little to explore the train before we head back into the void.

"The void"....

[ Come to think of it, he's never really given much consideration to where his body might be, en route from the real to digital worlds. Yet it's possible to redirect someone if a gate's unavailable, or if their heart is drawn a certain way, so...

Does that mean his was drawn to this train? Or is something more going on? ]

Is that the space between worlds?

[ ....This really is a surprisingly typical-looking old-fashioned train, though, isn't it. His eyes slide across it, soaking in every detail. So do Wormmon's, but with more awe. ]

Ken-chan, this doesn't look like a train where they serve you bento.

[ Wormmon sounds disappointed. He has taken the train a lot with Ken-chan, to go to different hot springs. Going super fast is fun. But so are the little lunchboxes you can buy. Ken-chan always feeds him at least half.

If there aren't going to be little lunchboxes, this train is a great disappointment! ]

Mm! It's... pretty much as it sounds. A whole lot of nothing. Don't look at it too long, it's bad for you. Most of our time is spent in the void, unless we're on a mission.

[She can't help but smile at Wormmon's comment.]

Well, it could be. You'd have to ask someone pretty nicely, though! We have to cook for ourselves. And clean up, and do laundry.

[ WHOA. Train full of grown-ups! ]

Ken-chan, can you cook and clean and do laundry?

[ Wormmon checks up on this. Yes, Ken-chan is in college now. But they go home a lot, because otherwise Ken-chan's mama would be lonely, and so would Ken-chan's papa though for some reason he isn't as willing to say that as Mama is. ]

...I suppose.

[ Or rather, he supposes he'll have to. He's - helped his mother with those chores, certainly, and goes out of his way to try not to be a burden to her. But doing things for his son makes his mother happy, so could it be he's....deliberately let her spoil him a little?

Is that going to cause trouble for the other people on the train?

Ken is trying not to look worried now. ]

If you can't, it's okay! We'll teach you if you don't know how and want to learn. Or you can... probably get away with it if you'd prefer not to. There are several people that don't seem to do their chores, so I'm sure it's fine.

[...he's a little older than she is, is this really okay? Well, then again, there are all kinds. She privately hopes he does know how, though, and just chooses not to. It'd be weird to teach someone older than her.]

--I'll manage. Thanks, though.

[ This train is a community. Ken has to step up and do his part for the community. It'll be a new experience, he's gotten so used to the community he was already in back home...

....He's nervous.

But no, he can do this. If he did it once, he can do it again. He can acknowledge that it's intimidating but not let that stop him. ] It sounds like a close-knit group.

Certainly. We're pretty easy going, but... when things get rough, we have to depend on each other. That tends to bring us together, which is probably a good thing. It's a little stressful sometimes, of course. Still... I don't mind it. And making new friends to add to that group is always fun!

New friends....

[ ...There's a little flutter of trepidation again, but when she puts it that way.... ]

Then, I look forward to working with you.

That's great, huh, Ken-chan? New friends already!

Mm! Same here. Please ta- [Ugh, nope, too formal, even given his own response; she shakes her head softly and smiles.] I hope we can be good friends.

[She glances at Wormmon with some amusement.] You too, if you don’t mind me?

[ HIM TOO? Wormmon squirms, self-conscious with joy. ] I don't! I'm happy....

[ Ken is looking around the platform now, checking up on the circumstances. There's this strange......Oh. He can just. Ask his new friend. Can't he.

He's going to figure out this friendship thing sooner or later. ]

I'm feeling compelled to board the train. Is that normal?

[ The squirming stops. Wormmon looks down. IS KEN-CHAN SICK? ]

I'm glad! [And she finds she really is, honestly. Gotta pay attention to more than just the person, when they have a partner, no matter the shape.]

Mm, eventually the train will leave the platform whether everyone's on it or not - it's a train, after all. And the SCA you're wearing links you to it, in a way, and helps protect you from certain things. Like the train leaving without you, incidentally. But it'll make sure you know you're going to be left behind first.

SCA?

[ Ken looks down, notes what's on his wrist, lifts his arm for a better look (and to show Wormmon.) Wormmon peers at it too.

So this is his tether to the train.... ]

Safety Control Apparatus, I'm pretty sure it was. [She concentrates on the words to make sure they come out right.] It translates our words so we can speak to each other, gives you a map while we're on a mission and lets us communicate across distances... oh, and you can use it in an emergency to return to the train if you're in danger, without fail. There are other things, too, but those are the most important.

[She smiles.] We don't know as much as we'd like, but something is clearly trying to keep us safe, if we're going to be doing this. It's a start.

[ So it's like a Digivice, but you can wear it. Which is convenient, since that will free up Ken-chan's hands for other cargo. ]

I'll protect you too, right, Ken-chan?

Right.

[ For example - Wormmon.

Ken likes Itsuki's interpretation of the presence of this device, though. It's reasonable, and encouraging, besides. ] It sounds like there's plenty of time to investigate. We're not much, but we'll contribute what we can.

And I'll protect him!

[ Someone is perhaps mildly defensive that the train thinks Ken-chan needs a Get Out Of Danger Button. Getting Ken-chan out of danger is the important part, but, BUT!

Don't take his job, train!! ]

I'm not much of an investigator, either. I'm more of a... watching people's backs kind of girl. Not that it's stopped me from trying, of course, but I know my specialty. I think the train does, too - purple seems to be the color of protectors, as I understand it.

[She grins at Wormmon.] So maybe we should get you a purple hoodie, huh?

The colors have significance...

[ Ken glances around the platform. A lot of orange and purple. They need this many protectors? What about Ken and Wormmon make them best suited for the other task?

Wormmon thinks about Itsuki's suggestion. ] You could. But I want to be on the same team as Ken-chan, so I'd rather have an orange one.

[ Ken's eyes fall on the orange collar Wormmon's wearing. So that's what that is for... ]

They do. We're not entirely sure, but we've got some loose ideas. Red seems to be hardest to nail down, simply because there are so few of them. In any event, orange seems to be more for people that think through problems instead of punching them or keeping other people from being punched by them.

[Itsuki has a lot of respect for that answer from Wormmon, even if she kind of expects it from someone's partner. Potpourri... would probably give the same if asked.] Then we'll see what we can do. But that's a good answer. I'll be counting on you to fill in the things I have trouble with. [A glance at Ken.] Both of you.

[ Ken nods. Right now, they aren't really in a position to be punching people or keeping other people from being punched...

But there's always something he can do, isn't there? Even if he and Wormmon only have themselves (and each other), that's plenty. He can still contribute. He has his own mind. He has his own body.

He's needed. ] Same to you.

Leave it to Ken-chan!!!

[ Wormmon is very proud. Oh, but. ]

And me.

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