voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2020-10-01 05:30 am
Entry tags:

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!
consider8: (Deb8)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-10-02 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh! Eight looked up from her phone and offered a sheepish smile. Raising a hand to wipe her eyes she laughed softly at Kitty.]

I think I will be okay. You caught me in a memory.

[Placing her phone in her lap, Eight tilted her head at Kitty.] I did not see you on the platform. Have you been here a while?

[It felt good to turn that question on to someone else.]
goingthroughaphase: (pic#14105706)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-03 10:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ She offers a small smile. ]

Oh, sorry. I know how that can be.

Yeah, a few months. My name's Kitty.
consider8: (Pleased)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-10-03 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
It's alright. I'm glad to still have them.

[She smiles at the introduction.] Hello Kitty. My name is Eight.

A few months? I think that's the longest I've heard so far.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971957)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-05 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ She couldn't help thinking Eight was a bit of a strange name, but she knows better than to ask about it. Instead she nods. ] It's nice to meet you.

Really? I know there are some people who've been here a few months longer than I have.
consider8: (Deb8)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-10-06 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Eight meeps in curiosity.]

Ohh? What is the longest you've heard?
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971959)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-07 07:34 am (UTC)(link)
I think around six months?
consider8: (Contempl8)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-10-08 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
...six months?!?

[With that outburst, the octogirl became very quiet. What had started as an honest inquiry had suddenly became uncomfortably real. The last time she was in the metro was no less than a day or two, tops. Could she... could she really handle being away from everyone for six months...?]

[Did she have a choice?]

[Perhaps that Zetta guy was right about trying to find a way out.]

[Unfortunately she doesn't say any of that, instead just uttering a defeated "Meeyoooeeeweee..."]
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13969459)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-08 05:47 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah. [ She frowns, watching the other girl's reaction. ] Sorry.

Not everyone stays though. There are always some people getting off the train at each stop.
consider8: (Computing)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-10-08 06:23 am (UTC)(link)
[Her tentacles perk at that. Only...] Were those the people that left the train?

[They looked so... grim.]
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971649)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-08 07:20 am (UTC)(link)
[ She nods. ] Yeah. They don't really seem to realize they're leaving, either. No one's really sure how aware they are of what they're doing.
consider8: (Ring tone)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-10-08 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
We tried to follow them, but we couldn't. [And she felt increasing dread with every step.]

Will we become like that too? [She wasn't trying to be so grim, but... but...!]

[That's the way things went on the train, it seems.]
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971676)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-08 07:33 am (UTC)(link)
To be honest, I'm not really sure. No one really knows how it's decided who gets to leave or not. But when they do, they get all zombie-like.
consider8: (Computing)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-10-08 07:48 am (UTC)(link)
[She... nods.]

Perhaps... its for the same reason we are here.

And if people who have been here for six months do not know, perhaps...

[No, she won't be content with saying 'there is nothing we can do about it.']

...perhaps we need to try harder to solve the mystery.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971677)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-09 08:11 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah. We're definitely still looking into it. We did learn a bit more about the train pretty recently.
consider8: (Assess)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-10-09 05:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Vee~? [Eight looked inquisitively at Kitty.]

What did you learn?
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971787)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-12 12:00 pm (UTC)(link)
We learned a bit about some of the previous passengers that were on the train, but...

[ She hesitates a bit, unsure of how to really explain. ]

If you're really interested, you'll wanna talk to someone named Nita. She and a couple others were the ones who discovered the information.
consider8: (Pleased)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-10-14 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
[A part of her wanted to press Kitty for more information. But if she was passing on information that was a start. So Eight will politely nod.]

Thank you Kitty. You have been very helpful.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971678)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-16 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ She smiles, even though she didn't feel that she'd been all that helpful. ]

No problem. Just let me know if you need anything, okay?
consider8: (Pontific8)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-10-18 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Mm!

[She gave a polite nod, and returned back to her phone. Memories were good, but perhaps it is possible to lose track of the present while being absorbed in the past...]