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

[adregem]

He shakes his head and watches Senku play around with the carbon fiber set. It was a risk to order it at the shop, but Roland hit it lucky this time around, actually getting what he asked for.

He peers at Senku's tinkering and ministration with a keen eye.

"How is it? Useable?"

[10billionpercent]

"Hmmm, good to know." Senku hummed a bit. Not a tree. He wanted it for lumber, obviously enough, but he was wondering if he was short on time he could process it later. It didn't sound like it. Good enough.

"Yep, should be at least a little sturdy, but we'll have to test it to see if it can hold the tension for some kind of average force. It should, that's why I recommended carbon fibre, but just in case, at the worst, we could take this apart, lose some of the length, and strengthen it by making it thicker."

Senku was talking about separating each individual fiber and reweaving it back into rope.

[adregem]

"That sounds...hard." Unhelpful, but Roland knows he wouldn't have suggested that if it wasn't at least a challenge he was ready to take on. His brows furrow in thought. "Well, I'll go with whatever you think is best. Here, let me - " His hand immediately summons the folded blueprint handed to him before the start of the Irivar mission, and in his second hand, the pistol in question.

Roland sets the blueprints down on the nearest surface first. Then with a practiced ease, as if he could do it with his eyes blindfolded, the pistol is stripped such that it would be impossible to hurt anyone even if the trigger was accidentally pressed. The lock is in place anyway. He's nothing if not safe.

This is placed on the table, on top of the blueprints. "Guess it's time for the handover. Like I said, I'm following your lead on this one. What you say goes, for me."

[10billionpercent]

"Not hard at all, just time consuming." Senku hummed, shaking his head a little bit.

"I do need a bit of time with this." He admitted, because it would take time no matter what he ended up doing, and a bit of tinkering to set everything in place. A bit of testing as well, to see if it would work.

"I'd like to promise it in an hour, but I'm not like, a pizza guy or something." Senku snickered.

[adregem]

Roland stifles a small chuckle.

"Too bad. I thought getting my upgrade late meant it's on the house." A joke he makes refreshingly, not having the chance to exchange jabs like this since not everyone would have understood. Different earths, different worlds, and all that jazz.

"Tinker away. I'm in no rush to receive it back. Mission's just ended, after all. I appreciate it a lot, Senku." He nods determinately. "Thank you."

[10billionpercent]

He chuckled at that. That wasn't a thing in Japan, of course, but his father had shared some rather interesting stories about America, so he got the reference, despite not spending much time there.

"No problem." He would accept everything then and wander off to tinker with this new project, looking a bit more like he was shifting his focus to that instead of offering a proper goodbye to Roland.

It was alright Roland, you got used to that.