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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The long tunic and bare feet weren't the details that'll catch her off guard. If anything, it was his hair, his eyes, and whatever that was on his face will be the key details to have most of her attention. Even more so the color of his eyes.

It was more than enough to have her fidget a tiny bit. Only a bit, remembering something important before deciding to conquer his personal space to get a better look at his eyes. It couldn't be the light deceiving her right? Didn't seem to be the case because it was still red!

"I don't mind. If anything I appreciate the invitation but...." began to speak up Nike, just to show she did pay attention and not get lost in his eyes or anything creepy. "If you don't mind my asking, you aren't part of a mercenary group or assassin guild right?" began to ask next as she continues to look at his eyes, "...only those with eyes as pretty as yours...they usually fall in one of those categories back in my world. Either that or are a secret civilization!" Basically, she is wondering if red eyes are special in this person's world as it is on her own.

To say he was surprised by the sudden closeness of this stranger was an understatement, and really, he should be getting used to that but still he somehow expected people not to get quite so close to him.

"Too close." He said, stepping back, blunt and firm in tone but she'd still be able to see him, he just liked his personal space bubble. It was more of an instinctive reaction than anything.

"An assassin?" He snorted, amused. "Definitely not. Not my style, and I'm not a combat oriented person." He said wryly. "I'm not really sure what my eyes have to do with that." He was a bit bewildered that that was the trait she was focusing on.

"Oh!" responded Nike to his reaction over invading his bubble as she literally takes a few steps back. "Sorry, sorry! I sometimes forget not to do that..." began to explain Nike almost in a whisper. At least she didn't grab his face, she thought to herself.

But it wasn't hard for her to perk up after noticing his responses to her questions while all at once he wasn't demanding for her to let him leave. On the contrary, he looked amused? "It isn't just your eyes though! Your hair color is very unique too! White and green are an extremely rare color on hair as much as red eyes are," began to explain Nike before continuing on, "Back in my world, rare hair and eye colorings can be sold at similar prices as jewelry and other high-grade goods. Not to mention, if you're unprotected, you could be hunted and sold as a slave." It was one of the dark secrets of her world. How it became to be? She didn't know, but all she knew is rare colorings are connected to the original advanced past civilization.

"Red eyes, for the most part, belong to a secret mercenary group known to have extraordinary strength and speed to be considered almost superhuman," added Nike before realizing, "...colors are not considered important in your world, are they?"

"Not that I've noticed, but I'm not the most perceptive. I can tell you it's definitely unique in my world, but I don't particularly pay much attention to how I look." Senku didn't think it was nearly the most interesting thing about him.

"I'm definitely not superhuman. I'm not strong, or fast and I have little to no stamina, but I'm intelligent." He smiled a bit and shrugged it off. He wasn't offended about her getting in his space as long as she backed off when he asked her to.

"No one's really ever asked me about it. I'm sure it has something to do with my birth parents, obviously because genetics, but I couldn't tell you a single thing about them." He shrugged. "Never asked. My dad was my dad and that's it."

Many details about the fellow will catch her slightly off guard, she didn't expect him to be so...blunt. It was a rarity outside of her family or other eccentric mages. He reminded her slightly of Cassandra and other relatives with a mix of Livi.

...it still stings to think about...

With an almost forced grin, Nike will shake a finger, "Just because you don't specialize in superhuman strength or stamina, doesn't mean you can just shrug off your true talents. I believe you when you mention your intelligence!" Now if it can be considered super-human, that is for the other individual to decide more than anything else, but for the time being, "Family can be anyone you consider to be. There's nothing wrong with anything you just said. Genetics can play certain factors, but only you can decide on the type of person you want to be. I mean, one can adopt our ancestor's appearance, but not personality or interests. Hearts and souls aren't created to be predictable, just cause someone who lived before you." Why did it sound she was speaking from experience?

With that said, Nike will add, "I like you! It's so refreshing to meet someone so honest. What's your name?"

Bluntness was something that Senku was known for, but he hated beating around the bush. When it came to discussing his family he would have all the fondness and wistfulness when it came to his dad, but the ones that donated their genetic material? He had no feelings whatsoever. He literally knew nothing about them.

His intelligence could be pushing the limits of a human's potential, but that was neither here nor there. He would downplay it, a lot. "Yeah, but a lot of it comes from a drive to work hard all the time."

"I honestly couldn't tell you if we share interests or not. They were friends of my dad's, that's all I know. I'm sure he would've told me more but it didn't seem relevant. I didn't know them, I only knew my dad. Of course, a lot of people think he and I are pretty alike." He grinned, there was a bit more emotion there.

"Ishigami Senku, but Senku's fine. People are big on introductions here, had to get used to it again."

"Is there any other way to improve and master what you're passionate about?" asked Nike next after nodding earnestly. It was clear the guy was intelligent. Maybe more than she can imagine by the response alone. How else does someone master or learn -- through passion and effort!

She'll notice the proud tone over his appearance being similar to his dad. It was endearing! "Not surprising. There's a saying how we'll resemble most after the one we spend the most time with!" added Nike with a warmer smile.

But it won't be long until she noticed his introduction, wondering, "Why? Are you usually the type who keeps to himself or something?" It may be the most polite way in asking if he had friends......

"No, not at all, hard work is always required." Senku said agreeably, everyone he knew worked very hard at their talents to continuously improve them.

"Heh." Senku shrugged a little bit, amused. He'd spent enough time with him, anyway.

"No, not at all, but in my world there's no real need for family names anymore. There aren't enough humans around to worry about that, so we very nearly never introduce ourselves that way." Senku hummed. "It used to be a very formal thing before humanity was frozen in time."

In Nike's case, it was quite the opposite, she is surrounded by already highly remarkable individuals who don't need to practice their skills to improve them. Unlike her, the talentless one.

"There aren't?" asked Nike while listening to him speak about his world which may leave...her looking paler now. What happened to his world? What does he mean frozen in time? This may be hitting a little too close to home. That anxiety may be seen in her face. Too clearly. "What happened to your world for it to change like that?" asked Nike looking very concerned.

Oh, that, right. Senku sometimes forgot that people weren't up on his world's state of affairs when he spoke.

"All of humanity was petrified for 3700 years or so until I broke free when I was a teenager." He explained.

"Most of them are still petrified, I'm working on it."

"Petrified?" repeated Nike as she....tries to make sense of the word. Wasn't there a story of a woman with the ability to turn those into stone whenever they look at her? Did his world have a similar situation?

It was tough to imagine.

And yet this guy was making it sound like coming out a cocoon, of sorts.

Or was she just assuming?

Hm.

"How long have you been freed from petrification?" asked Nike as she observes Senku from head to toe. "You don't look old, to me," commented Nike wondering if he was Kara and Kitora's age instead: 19 years old.

"It's been about three and a half years." Senku answered. "I'll be twenty soon enough in my world." He said with a wave of his hand as though that wasn't terribly interesting.

"Physically, anyway, I've been awake the whole time."

Watch as Nike begins to do math with her fingers to create a timeline before multiplying by what 3000 years???? His next admission will grab her attention again,

"Awake the whole time?"

Does that mean.......?

".....rocks are aware!?" exclaimed Nike next, almost having a hard time imagining it. HOW WAS HE AWAKE FOR 3000 YEARS WHILE BEING A ROCK? ".....what was it like...?" asked Nike next because SHE IS REAL CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO BE A ROCK FOR 3000 YEARS! HOW IS HE NOT INSANE?????

"You misunderstand." Senku said, in his patient teacher voice. "Rocks are not sentient and are not aware of anything, they're a gathering of dense minerals with no ability for thought."

"Even those petrified in my world are not aware. I was aware, and so was Taiju, because we are incredibly stubborn." He blinked. "It was exhausting." That was probably the best way to put it.

"The human mind doesn't have that kind of capacity naturally, and roughly every 800,000 seconds or so, I was drawn closer to the cold sleep everyone else experiences. There was nothing to see, nothing to do but to count and think, that's all it was." He didn't feel anything physically, it was like being in a void of only darkness.

The explanation was so simple! Even she understood everything, which was a rarity. Science wasn't her strong suit unless it is connected to meteorology. Her cousin was better in hydrology than anything else.

Senku's experience in being petrified for a long time while remaining aware of his surroundings and being unable to see, feel, or hear will leave a chill go down her spine. It reminded her of the time she was possessed by another evil spirit. Only being mentally aware because the spirit was absorbing her very soul....it was beyond uncomfortable especially after regaining her body and returning to reality. The image of the destroyed country, of those searching for the bodies of their dead relatives, and knowing everyone was willing to forgive her for it...

Ah, it was hurting her heart. A hand will be placed on her chest, looking down,

"I'm sorry. I...never considered that possibility neither. To be aware while remaining inside a void of darkness. It's like being dead all at once..."

She'll shake her head, forcing a smile to form, "It's good to hear you're the stubborn type! Now I know I can trust you to help me out of binds whenever I find myself in them! Or to ask for advice on stuff!" After all, "Your explanation! It was really good. Even someone as dumb as I am understood it. Have you ever thought of becoming a teacher before the whole certification thing happened?"

When Senku slowed down and wasn't overly excited about something, he could explain things very simply - it was second nature by now, by virtue of the fact that the people he lived with were woefully uneducated on the subject. When he got excited, he rambled off on tangents that no one could follow. He was used to that.

He wasn't sure what she was feeling but she looked upset maybe? He hummed a moment. "No, being dead was more like...nothing." He informed her, as if that was normal information to have. "Your mind isn't even there. Maybe cold sleep is like that too, that I don't know."

He smiled a little bit. "Getting around things with science is kind of my specialty these days." He grinned. He snorted at her question though. "Hell no." He chuckled.

"Before all of this I was kind of an anti-social guy, wrapped up in my experiments and little else. I had two friends, and our activities involved them mainly hanging out while I did what I wanted. I, ah, now live with a lot of people who never set foot in a science class before? So for me to rebuild society, I need help and for them to help me I need to explain to them what I need on some level. Ultimately, I've kind of been teaching people for about three years now. I do...a lot of different, unexpected jobs. I wanted to go to space, not lead a village, teach science or act as a doctor, but here I am." He offered a shrug and a smile.

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A New Platform [Intro Post October]

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