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

[reluctantjinrou]

"I did live in a remote area, surrounded by woods." Natsuno responded. "But I never really went looking for whatever kind of plants or whatever there was there. It's all gone now."

He didn't really know anything about plants, aside from the basics one learned in high school.

[so_dark_a_road]

"Ah, pardon me, then! But you weren't that interested in exploring? And. . . " Curufin hesitates to ask, but then again, he wants to know about his train companions, and most don't volunteer details unless asked. "It's all gone now? What happened?"

Most people don't know all that much about plants, but Curufin is an Elf of the First Age of Arda, and they lived lives that guaranteed they had a need to know.

[reluctantjinrou]

Natsuno shook his head. "Not much." He admitted. "But I used to run around the area, or cycle."

He paused after a moment. "Well." He scratched his head. "Sotoba was burned to the ground. The fire spread pretty easily, there were a lot of trees there. It was a dry area."

[so_dark_a_road]

"You were the active sort, then. That's good. That at least gets you out of the house." Smile.

The smile diminishes. "Sotoba was your community? That's too bad. Trees plus dryness is a bad combination. Lightening can strike. Or a camper might forget to throw earth over a cooking fire once it's put out, and the embers flare up again and flames spread to the brush and trees. Or worse, fire-breathing monsters come into the area. How did the fire start, do you know? And did everybody get out safely?"

[reluctantjinrou]

"I'm not actually sure what caused the fire, undoubtedly it was set by someone though. I don't know if it was an accident or not, but it had been a very dry, hot summer. I do know people gave up on trying to contain it and fled."

He hummed thoughtfully at that. "I can't say for sure, but I'm sure they prioritized getting as many people out as possible, not that there were many left at that point. The fire was the least of Sotoba's problems, honestly, since vampires took over the town."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Oh, right. I forgot to add arson to my list of causes. But yes, there's a time to fight a fire and a time to give up that effort and flee." He knew, having fought fires in his first lifetime and in his second.

"I hope all the people did get out in time." That was part of a firefighter's mission, making sure that everyone, or as many as possible, survived.

"Vampires? You had to deal with vampires as well?"

[reluctantjinrou]

"Yes, they came out of nowhere and wanted to establish this small town as a vampire town so they started killing as many people as they could. They got away with it for quite awhile. Humans don't want to believe in vampires." Natsuno answered, frowning, because that was still annoying.

[so_dark_a_road]

"Not good! The humans of your world don't want to believe in vampires because they appear in so much mythology and fiction that such beings don't seem believable?" Curufn could understand the annoyance. People everywhere seemed to have a tendency to disbelieve things they didn't want to believe in, even when the evidence was right before their eyes. "So, what happened?"

[reluctantjinrou]

"That was exactly the situation." Natsuno nodded, agreeing to that.

"People laughed at those who tried to say otherwise, because it seemed fantastical, and then many of those laughing died. At some point near the end, much of the town was overrun with vampires. Things like government offices were operating on a twenty-four hour clock, and they weren't really hiding anymore. The doctor managed to finally convince people by luring one, and her death set off the catalyst where the humans rose up to destroy every last one of them."

[so_dark_a_road]

"What an irony, to laugh at the idea of vampires and then die laughing!" said Curufin. "But that is good, that even though your town was overrun, the people finally rose up and defended themselves. That doctor was a brave woman, wasn't she?"

[reluctantjinrou]

"Yes, it was all very ironic and annoying, especially if you were trying to make them understand the problem." He huffed lightly. They'd tried, for whatever good that had done.

"Ah, I worded that poorly. The vampire was female. The doctor happens to be a man, and he is definitely brave I suppose. I did what I could to help him, and it worked."

[so_dark_a_road]

"People will sometimes deny until they die. Not good." He shook his head in puzzlement. Even though he did understand, having almost done it himself a time or two in his own world.

"Ah, I see. It was the vampire who died, not the doctor. How did he kill her? And how did he know what would kill a vampire?"

[reluctantjinrou]

"I know he was planning on luring her to the shrine during a festival, but beyond ensuring she couldn't control him, I wasn't there. He experimented on one. He's known for awhile, but people hear there are vampires and they just think you're crazy, which is why I knew better than to run around telling people that." Natsuno huffed slightly.

"It was effective, as she was just a regular vampire, and not one of the enhanced ones who call themselves 'Jinrou'. It's much harder to tell them apart as they seem a lot more alive, so proving she was undead wasn't difficult with cool skin and no pulse."

Want to wrap this thread, and catch up later?

[so_dark_a_road]

"The doctor must have been really concerned for his community. And what he did seems to have worked. I'm glad it did, and that the people rose up to destroy the vampires who threatened their survival."

He smiles a little. "If we train passengers are ever sent to a world that has vampires, we'll at least have you to give us ideas as to what to do."

Yep, can do!

[reluctantjinrou]

"I suppose that's true, I could be considered the expert in that regard." Natsuno said with the smallest hint of a smile, mild amusement.