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

It's not a thing where I am from, exactly, but certain theoretical physicists had ideas and thoughts about how interdimensional travel could work, even though the theories haven't been proven. It's a lot of mathematical calculations and theorems.

[ He sounds very much like this is a thrilling thing. ]

So I can't tell you how it works exactly. I can tell you the result is that we get on this train and at the end of a specified period we end up in a completely different, yet insular world. There doesn't appear to be any other way off that place.

Yeah, that sounds about right.

[He sighed, visibly deciding 'fuck it', since apparently none of this would matter to the Association back home.]

The concept goes by a few different names--primarily 'Second Magic'. It encompasses the operation of anf travel between parallel worlds, but as one of the last forms of True Magic it's the sort of thing that operates on the level of an actual incomprehensible miracle. Suffice to say, it's not something the ordinary person or even ordinary mage could ever hope to accomplish in a thousand thousand lifetimes. To say this train's existence and function is 'impossible' would be a massive understatement, and yet here we are.

Not impossible, just incredibly improbable. [ He corrects, because yes he is that person. ]

Presumably the magic of your world gets passed down through each generation so a thousand thousand lifetimes might not mean the life of one magician alone. That's how science works after all.

[ He hums, he's been there long enough that magic doesn't seem surprising to him at all. ]

A lot of people have magic on board. [ He explains. ] I figure it's a lot like a branch of science and has rules too, I just don't know them yet and that is exhilarating.

[ In other words, he studies everything. ]

It does--even then, attaining True Magic is beyond most. Not all, but definitely most.

[He shrugged.]

It's not functionally different from varying fields of science, to be completely honest. I'm an alchemist, but even that is essentially the same as chemistry with some extra steps in places. Even the basis of being able to manipulate magical energy is an innately biological thing.

[oh dear god. the nerds are taking over.]

[ yes excellent all the nerdery ]

I had the opportunity to study an alchemist's text on the last mission, it was truly fascinating. If you get a chance to speak to Hikaru, he knew more about some of the elements in the text that I didn't. It wasn't at all unlike chemistry, and of course in my world without magic, alchemy brought about the birth of chemistry, so that doesn't surprise me at all.

Also there's a girl who's going to teach some math based magic, I find it very fascinating and I can't help but want to learn more about this area of study I know nothing about.

...You know, that actually sounds like fun. God forbid I ever get a damn vacation, but on the other hand I like to think I'm a pretty accomplished teacher that loves fostering new talent.

[and there he goes]

I'd like to see what I can find out about the magecraft systems of other worlds--that might prove useful.

[ He might be a bit skeptical but his relationship with teachers is something of a bit of a strange one since he was far smarter than those that tried to teach him. ]

It's incredibly fascinating, all these different skills. Some people have healing magic as well, which I haven't gotten a handle on that works but that would really be something.

[ He sighs, his skill only go so far, after all. ]

It's a good way to pass the time. We'll be on the train now for a while, most likely.

I've got a little healing magic myself. Not much to write home about, but I went out of my way to improve it a few years back. Useful thing to know in a rough situation.

I am a horribly unmagical human. [ He smiles wryly. ]

I have a vast amount of medical knowledge, enough to create medicines, diagnose patients, treat them, including intravenous blood transfusions and I've performed surgery, but nothing as impressive as magic.

[ He sighs, he's kind of the doctor, it wasn't really what he set out to do but when there wasn't one, what choice did he have? ]

Well, I can't really magic up antibiotics or replace blood loss, so frankly the more mundane approaches are just as important. Mages tend to frown on the implication that they're no better than ordinary people in their approaches or methods, but it's a stupid mentality to hold to.

I wouldn't have considered that, it would just be nice to have magic to fill a void in skills I may have, after all I did not attend medical school, but in practice I'm a doctor, among other things.

[ He shrugs, he's accepted it. ]

But there are limits with the lack of technology in my world.

A New Platform [Intro Post October]

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