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

[irrationally]

Well, there's a lot of possibilities.

[ Alice shrugs. It's hard to tell whether or not she realises what kind of effect she's having on the other, but if he does, then she sure isn't showing any particular reaction to it. She seems the same as a moment ago. ]

Are you talking about memories being lost just now, or a long time ago? And what kind of memories specifically are you looking for? Those kinds of things truly can change the answer to that question.

[consider8]

[Talking to this one was making Eight's head hurt...]

Uh... a long time ago... and... all of them?

[The relativity of the answer was a bit beyond Eight.]

[irrationally]

[ Sorry, Eight.. Alice tends to have that effect on others.

And really, most people would know to slow down if someone was talking about missing memories of all things. It'd make it obvious that said person is pretty confused, at the very least, yet Alice somehow manages to miss the social cue entirely. ]

In that case, I don't think you'll find many people here stuck in the same situation as you.

[ Alice doesn't think she's spoken to anyone who was missing all their memories on the train, anyway.. ]

But if it happened such a long time ago, it can't be something caused by this train.

[consider8]

[Well... that was something she could follow at least. She nods at the words, quietly glad nobody had to experience what she did.]

Oh, no... The Deepsea Metro was owned by the Kamabo Corporation. They took my memories.

[She sighed, drawing a hand to her hair.] The situation was similar, but now I am seeing that it is different.

[Still, the similarities were stark...]

[irrationally]

.. wait.

[ It's not the train-metro comparison that draws Alice's attention. It explains why Eight would suddenly wonder about people's memories being taken away here, sure, but that's not the most important part. ]

They took your memories? [ Memories being taken and just regularly losing them are two whole different matters, after all. Especially to someone like Alice, where it hits very close to home. ] A company did?

[consider8]

[She noticed the change in energy and that anxious feeling started to build once more. Eight took a step back.]

Yes... [She kneads her fingers.] ...it was to give me an incentive to run their tests.

[irrationally]

But you didn't agree with it, did you?

[ It's hard to tell exactly whether that's the case or not from the other's words, but Alice is pretty sure no one would let their memories be erased on purpose.

.. Unless they're an idiot like Alice herself, but she's trying to not think about that too hard right now. She seems much more invested in what happened to Eight. ]

[consider8]

I don't... think I did...? [She actually has to think on that, and concludes that no... she would want her memories because even though Octopolis was no longer her home she still wanted to remember where she came from.]

No... no I didn't. I think the procedure was a part of their programming.

[Which does bring up a good question of why she was targeted and not the two other people that were dragged along with her...]

[irrationally]

[ Alice frowns, letting out a huff. ]

That's awful.

[ She seems weirdly personally offended by this, even though the anger isn't directed at Eight specifically. But she seems angry all the same somehow, despite this matter not involving Alice in the slightest. Despite them not even coming from the same world. ]

I can't believe they're just out there doing that to people! Don't people at least have the right to their own memories?

[consider8]

[Eight isn't sure where this offense is coming from, nor is she sure about why she's being offended for her... Lamenting the loss of the memories in the past is kind of silly. The only reason why she's asking is because that could be affecting things now.]

[Her hair tentacles fall limp on her face and her eyes scrunch at the question. She doesn't like feeding in confrontation, especially when the ones responsible were already dealt with.]

[irrationally]

[ Alice keeps frowning.

Though the emotion shifts a little now. The anger wasn't directed at Eight a moment ago, but considering the reaction.. At least there's a bit of confusion mixed in now too, so it's not just straight up anger by itself. ]

What, were you happy to let them do it?

[ Eight doesn't sound like she's agreeing, after all. Which makes that the main implication here. ]

[consider8]

[Eight shook her head.] Of course not.

I hate the Kamabo corporation with every fiber of my being. The director was a monster. I'm glad that I stopped them from doing... [Her face lowers and her hands ball into fists. Knowing or not, Alice is forcing her to relive one of the most torturous experiences of her life -- and the lives of 10,007 other unfortunate victims of the Undersea Metro.]

[She stops a moment, barely holding in her emotions.] ...from doing what they did to me and almost did to everyone.

[Her eyes narrow, not sure what this whole conversation was intended to accomplish. Lose her chill? Well it's lost...] I just don't see why you are angry for me. You weren't there. There's no sense making this personal. It's done. They are finished.

And so is this topic of conversation.

[irrationally]

[ .. Ah.

Eight is right, isn't she. "I just don't see why you are angry for me." Right. She let herself get carried away again, caring for other people's situations, when it's already been proven time and time again that it's simply not worth her time.

Like right now. Getting this reaction from Eight, though Alice - in her own dumb way - was trying to be sympathetic. She almost forgot, due to growing softer on this train. Sympathy often isn't worth it. People suck. ]

Fine.

[ She doesn't even say anything else. Not even a 'bye'. Alice just shrugs, and then turns away to walk back onto the train. ]

Thank you for the thread~

[consider8]

Mmmm... [That wasn't exactly what Eight was hoping for, either. Her intent was to simply get her to back off. She had every intention of rebalancing and continuing the conversation, but... well, a part of her was glad that she was getting what she wanted: space.]

[The two things that Eight liked the least was talking about her painful past and being pushed into the corner. Upon reflection, she may consider the girl's actions as her way of sympathizing, but right now all she can think of Alice as an unnervingly presence that got weirdly angry, with no real understanding of where that anger came from. Eight was a soldier. A soldier that learned to hate conflict. Fighting became just a means -- the goal being what was more important.]

[What was that girl fighting? What was the piece that she was missing? Perhaps someday Eight would find it. But not today.]

[With a soft sigh she returned to the platform, thinking perhaps she had gotten enough answers to that question.]