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

The handshake was comforting as it didn't give any indication over the young lady feeling down unlike those she had already witnessed beforehand. With a smile, Nike will quickly say, "Lucky! So many women in your family share the same eye color!"

It was such a rare color! One her grandmother especially have a fondness for.

Shaking her head, "Sadly I haven't met anyone with eyes like yours. I only know about them from my grandmother's stories. You see, it is a rare eye color back in my world. It has a lot of symbolism on my small island." Not to mention those with eyes as rare would be kidnapped for it alone. It wouldn't be a first to learn some eccentric nobles would make jewels out of them. "They're very beautiful," added Nike next as she continues to look at them with fondness.

Nita just... doesn't really know how to respond to that, at first.

"It's not exactly rare or anything, back home - it's related to the genotype for blue eyes, I think? Part of the spectrum between blue and green, anyway."

Look, she'd gotten into her research while figuring out how to talk her eyes out of having astigmatism and got carried away, okay??? She's picked up some things.

"But... thanks, all the same. So, Nike, welcome to the train."

She's not deliberately trying to echo Zetta's song, okay?

"I'm pretty sure you've got questions, so, which do you want to ask first? If I know the answer, I'll do my best to tell you."

Whatever information she was given concerning the way eyes work will fly right past her head. She supposes it's interesting to know blue and green creates gray eyes if she is understanding it correctly. Whatever genotypes could be?

Too bad her eyes aren't really appreciated back in her world through. Maybe a good thing too. It may mean this girl has lived a normal life without worrying about being kidnapped.

But then they move on to questions Nike may have, so she goes for it, "What is this thing on my wrist?" She'll show Nita the white bracelet-like item with a weird window on it. Not to mention, pointing to her current outfit, "And why am I wearing these weird clothes? Why couldn't I keep my white holy dress?" More importantly, she'll show Nita the rucksack, "And what's in here? I regained consciousness while carrying this too."

If Nita had known Nike was a spirit, she'd have been a little less technical in explaining - but it seemed enough for the other girl for her to move on to her questions, so Nita let it be.

Choosing to answer the last question first, she began: "Well, in that rucksack are a change of clothes and some toiletries - toothbrush, things like that - and a notebook. And maybe something from home? That's the case with most people, anyway.

"As for this," she continued, holding up her own SCA for comparison.

"It's called a Safety Control Apparatus, and whenever we're out and about on worlds it minimizes the impact of the environment so we can better endure it. It... also keeps some people anchored to this reality."

Her voice quieted a little, thinking of Tidus and how he had almost faded completely upon taking the thing off last platform.

"So if there's a medical complication or something you'd normally be dealing with-"

The mention of a 'holy' dress finally pinged Nita, so she continued, "The SCA should also help keep that in check. You have to keep it on for that to work, though, okay? I saw someone take theirs off a hundred feet underwater, once, and I had to take them back to the surface in a hurry!"

As curious as she was about the contents of the rucksack, she felt the other item was far more important and was willing to learn more about it. It has a rather odd name: Safety Control Apparatus? In other words, another contraption!

"This thing sounds amazing! It does the job of both of my most important items," commented Nike while touching her ears to find it wasn't there. Not only was her white dress missing, now her earrings too. No wonder she was feeling uncomfortable, or was a few moments ago, before meeting Nita, and she will continue to listen before allowing herself to panic, "But you mentioned, to keep this on when we're in a world, does this mean I need to keep it on in this metal contraption as well? And is this thing going to take us to a world?" She means the train as the metal contraption, it's obvious she wasn't too eager about the thing they were on.

Earrings, at least, would be easier to explain!

Nita nodded. "This 'thing' I'm standing in front of is a train. You don't have them on your homeworld, then?"

This was going to be another of those people who had a lot to learn, weren't they?

"And yes; it's taken us to several worlds, and is sturdy enough to travel through the void between them."

Shaking her head to answer about not having trains back in her world. "If anything, having large rowing sail ships is one of the most advanced inventions publicly known in my world, but the most advanced in my world, unknown to others, is the system created to control my world's weather and extend its life. It was created by a very advanced civilization 10,000 years ago," began to explain Nike over the little she did know. Thalas had shown her a vision of his civilization 1,000 years ago with all kinds of amazing artifacts that no longer exist.

Sadly, trains were not in her vision...

It was difficult to imagine the idea of traveling to other worlds. She always hoped, deep in her heart of hearts, the stars she would view every night was their own individual world. Could she have been right? Will she be exploring those stars?

"I'll trust you. Take your word for it," added Nike next while looking down, absorbing everything until asking, "...how many worlds have you been in Nita?"

Nita gave a low whistle. Some worlds never learned about other places, or machines, but were in touch with their own homes in such a way that Nike's description of weather manipulation made sense.

"Well, here it's - we don't know how void trains work, the train won't share those details, but steam trains I know run on a combination of water, fire, and fuel dug up from the ground."

As for traveling - Nita seemed somewhat embarrassed, though that was because she didn't want to sound like she was bragging.

"Dozens, definitely, though that's part of being a wizard available for travel and consultation on other planets. Beyond that, I've been brought out of my Powers' jurisdiction like this only once before, and that case has been settled."

A New Platform [Intro Post October]

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