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

[tokenloveinterest]

... So that's where the brains of the operation is?

[shadowslipping]

I don't know that it would necessarily be the case, actually.

This train...it isn't sentient in the way that I'm used to. I've certainly taken trains between dimensions, or even simply to other cities, which were shadows of another, souls of another I should note- but I couldn't detect anything near that Engine Room wall. More than likely...

...If the engine is behind that wall, destroying what's there could potentially strand us, or far worse. However this train is thinking, or acting, it isn't in a human way...but at the very least, it knows certain things could spell doom for the passengers.

Truthfully, just from what I know so far...I would say that blocking the engine room is for our own sakes, lest someone attempt something drastic.

[tokenloveinterest]

[If Judai were here, he'd have already found a way to fix this. That's what he did- Judai was the greatest. He would have solved this.

What would Judai do here?

...]

Even so, there's a way we can communicate with it. Even if it's not human, we can talk through a duel!

[shadowslipping]

[....Yuume blinks.]

Ah...not to say that the inhuman wouldn't be able to duel...but...

[Hmm.] You do mean duel monsters, I assume, correct?

...Not everyone on this train seems familiar with that- I wouldn't count on the train having a deck to duel with...

[tokenloveinterest]

What else would I mean? And everything else has so far!

[shadowslipping]

Ah. Well, speaking strictly on realms with duel monsters, duel monsters would not have always existed as such for example... [she starts, slowly speaking a bit more loudly and confidently as she enters 'lecture' mode.

She may begin to appear somewhat more familiar as she goes.] Before such conflicts could be resolved in that regard, 'Duel' often referred to a structured battle using a particular weapon of choice. The earliest of duels typically involved blades- with the end result being anything from a simple cut drawing blood, or even death. The same followed when firearms came into being- after all, there have always been those who would wish to settle their disputes more violently. I believe a duel with fists is equally common, though the actual term 'duel' was used far less for that. Naturally there would have been a period of time where 'duel' be came an archaic term, but ultimately over time 'duel monsters' would gain popularity, leading 'duel' to simply refer colloquially to 'duel monsters battles'- much as it had with 'shadow battles' in the far ancient past, a...and...

[oh no-]

A-hm...I...I should perhaps leave you some room to speak yourself, ah...

[tokenloveinterest]

[Rei just.

Holds up the Disk on her arm.]

Why would I have meant anything else?

[shadowslipping]

[wow,]

I don't know if you've noticed, but aside from many of the people on this train hailing from differing realities, many more are from differing times as well. For all I know with our uniforms, you could be from another century...

[Though she pauses, blinking at the duel disk.] Ah... ...Is that...

[Tapping her chin with her gloved hand, if Rei is somewhat perceptive, she might catch the KC logo on the glove. Yuume meanwhile...] Is...That a duel disk? I've never actually seen one but those look like card slots...

[tokenloveinterest]

You've never seen a Duel Disk?! This is the latest Academy model for Obelisk Blue students!

[she sounds incredulous.]

[shadowslipping]

Aha....

[Oh boy.] Remember what I noted about points in time..?

...I come from the year 2138...actually I'm somewhat worried about 'spoiling' matters for you now at this point- given you have a duel disk, we're presumably from similar, or even the same realm...

[.................but then again she doesn't seem to have all of her ducks in the same pond...so maybe it'll be alright? She gestures with her glove.] ...Where I'm from, we use these now. That, or a D-Gazer and D-Pad, for Augmented Reality.

[tokenloveinterest]

D... Gazer? Augmented Reality? How does that work?

[She just sounds confused.]

[shadowslipping]

'Augmented Reality' is different from Solid Vision, [Yuume patiently explains.] Essentially...instead of projecting something solid, data creates the image necessary through a screen- that being the 'd-gazer', over one eye. It's fairly thorough, so even though one eye remains uncovered, it still looks as if what's projected is real.

But unlike Solid Vision...it isn't there.

The glove duels however, are. They were created due to the interference between shadows and solid vision, [the woman continues.] Ahh...though, the matters of shadows are definitely a little much to go into...

...I suppose to keep it simple...Solid Vision became dangerous- so instead now, the spirits themselves come out for a duel. It makes things quite interesting! Some of them are quite particular, [Yuume chuckles.]

[tokenloveinterest]

[The spirits themselves come out...

Rei remembers watching the spirits of the Harpie Ladies attack.]

... That sounds awful.

[shadowslipping]

Ah...

[A...awf...] Awful..??

[Yuume stares somewhat incredulously for a moment. Certainly, there are things she would describe as awful about shadow battles after all. They're violent- it's a crude entertainment, ultimately. It's the branch-offs, things like the ceremonial duels and similar, which ultimately elevate it to an art.

But even she can't ignore the fact that ultimately, even the brutal battles are ones where most involved, human and monster alike, are having fun.

Still...] ...I suppose...it wouldn't be something easy to imagine as 'good', without seeing for oneself...

...Though ultimately, I don't think I'll be doing anything like that any time soon neh? [she laughs weakly.] As much as my deck is loaded into the glove, it would hardly be compatible...

..As it is...even just between us, there's already that difference. The chances of the train having the concept of a duel monsters match is...well...

[tokenloveinterest]

[Rei's looking at Yuume's reaction. That... doesn't seem right. She must have been wrong about something. But.

She can't help it. She's seen too much. Been through too much.]

There's no way to know without trying.

[shadowslipping]

[....she blinks.]

Eh?

[Wait]

Ah- are...you asking me to duel? [waaaaait-] I really don't know that it's a good idea...after all as I said, Solid Vision and 'Shadows' clashed to dangerous extent, and the Duel Disk was a solid vision device...

...mnh.

For that matter...truthfully, I duel more for my work, than for any recreation...

[tokenloveinterest]

No- I mean I'll duel the train. I'll try. I can't know it won't work unless I try. I don't have any other ideas.

[shadowslipping]

[Ahh....Well, she supposes she can't...stop her?] I see...

...In that case then...if it isn't too much to ask, can you promise that if it doesn't work, you'll try to enjoy what time there is here? I know...there were probably matters you wanted to get back to, like everyone neh? And as you said, compared to the world at large...

[Well yes, then it's cramped.] But so far the people I've met on this train seem kind- and those who have been here for a while, they admit that nothing of harm has come from the train itself. If we can co-exist with this being peacefully...it would probably benefit us all, mn?

[tokenloveinterest]

.... I dunno.

[Which part dos she not know? All of it. Does she want to get back? To... not existing? She does, a bit. The future is frightening. It's scary, uncertain. She doesn't know anything.

She's afraid.]

I don't want to promise anything.

[shadowslipping]

[It's rather clear that's...not the answer she's hoping for. But, she can't well force an answer anyway.

So, instead she simply sighs, ready to walk onward.] In that case...please, try not to hurt yourself. Alright?

[tokenloveinterest]

[sorry yooms it's the Depression]

... I'll try, anyway.

[Would it even matter if she did get hurt?]