voidtreckerexpress | 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah? Here.

[She draws a card from the top of her deck and shows it to 8.]

...

...cute.

[But then she looks the card over from various angles. She tries to figure out how to weaponize it and dare not try to use it in the event she attacked Rei.]

How do you duel with it, though?

Like this!

[She activates her Disk, and places the card on it, letting the dog appear.]

[Ah! That makes more sense. So if the device could summon the creatures that were depicted on the cards, that could be like having an entire army at your fingertips!

[...Okay she couldn't help it. The dog was too cute and precious an animal to let that go unpetted.]

[She is sadly disappointed when her hand passed right through.]

...its not real. [There is SUCH disappointment. And confusion, now that her original idea of how these things worked appeared to no longer valid.]

Yeah, it's just a hologram. But it's still cute, right?

[She's grinning. She knows that feeling, 8.]

[She pouts as she's kneeling, raising both of her hands to her cheeks as she sort of... glares at the cutest doggie that she cannot pet.]

...it is, I'll grant. But how do you use that in a fight?

... Like I said, it's a card game.

[Processing... processing...]

[Ding!]

So it's not a weapon?

Right. It's just a game.

[Except for all the times it's not.

But she's not going to think about that right now.]

Why is it called a Duel Disc, then? Maybe a holo-gauntlet would be more appropriate?

[Though she'd have probably called it an Octo-gauntlet, but details.]

Because... The game is named Duel Monsters?

[Oh.]

I see.

... Honestly, now that you're making me think about it, it's the disk part that's weird to me. It's for dueling, but what part of this is a disk?

It has round shapes. It can be disc-y!

[That wasn't so much the issue. She's more disappointed it wasn't a weapon. More like... a glorified holo-projector wristwatch.]

Oh! Can you watch movies or play music with it too?

[Rei looks... a bit to the side...]

Well.... Not legally...

Veee~?

[There's an expectant gleam in her eye.]

I won't tell. [She whispers.]

[She... leans in... conspiratorially]

If you jailbreak the Disk, you can download stuff... The Disk's onboard memory isn't enough to hold a lot, but some students like to use it to make cool background music for their duels...

Clever! [She looks at the hologram.]

Still... it sounds like whoever made this wanted to create holograms at the expense of everything else. It looks powerful, but it's really quite limited, huh.

[Still. She sees the utility! Even if... it's primary emphasis appears to be to run a card game...]

Well, there's all sorts of legal problems... The company that makes it doesn't have the rights to use any music or movies, so the card game is all it's for.

We have other stuff for movies and music most of the time, anyway.

Oh? Like what?

[She's waiting to be impressed again.]

Computers, theaters... Well, if you don't mind the tiny screen, even our PDAs.

That sounds a lot like what we have in my world.

Makes sense, doesn't it? People always try to go for what works.

Or, perhaps, that great minds think alike?

Same thing, isn't it?

(no subject)

consider8 - 2020-10-10 07:35 (UTC) - Expand

tokenloveinterest - 2020-10-10 07:37 (UTC) - Expand