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

[alchemists]

Alright, follow me.

[ Elfnein guides them to the dining car, trying to point out all of the other cars they go through so they can navigate on their own later. ]

If you want I can try and find a map later so you won't get lost.

[ramengroupie]

You would do that?

[ In retrospect, she clearly would, as she's offering. But it's such a nice gesture, and from someone they'd inconvenienced, so Ken is momentarily surprised. ]

[alchemists]

Of course, the train's gotten a lot of new carts and other additions recently so it's not just new people having trouble with learning the layout.

[ramengroupie]

So there's always something new to see on the train. That will be fun, huh, Ken-chan?

...It will.

[ HOW detailed is the infrastructure supporting the Voidtrecker Express?! ]

[alchemists]

My personal recommendation is the garden, it's very quiet and peaceful.

[ Peaceful when Zetta isn't yelling at least. ]

[ramengroupie]

A garden....!

[ On a train? Unorthodox, but! ]

That does sound relaxing. I don't know much about gardens, but they're said to be a balm for mental health.

Hey, let's go see it right now!

[ And accidentally get the wrong idea, since thanks to liquid time, Zetta is presumably still out here dealing with how Everyone's A Critic. ]

[alchemists]

We can get some food and drinks first and take it to the garden?

[ That way they can still get something warm. ]

i just realized i accidentally set myself up for an "here's something warm" "thanks for it" joke

[ramengroupie]

Oh, that's even better!

[ Wormmon had warmed up just thinking about things that make Ken-chan happy. But food AND making Ken-chan happy is an even better plan!

Ken-chan is happy that Wormmon is happy, though. These two have a slight feedback loop going on.

But he also wants to understand this girl better - it's the least he can do, when she's being so helpful. ]

Do you spend a lot of time there?

I swear that wasn't my pun plan

[alchemists]

I end up spending a lot of time there without really thinking about it, it's a nice place for me to set down all of my research materials and think in peace.

we're just That Good

[ramengroupie]

Are you a professor?

[ This is the only kind of person Wormmon knows of that does research. Well, professors, and Koushirou-san.

He is not sure how to describe Koushirou-san. ]

[alchemists]

A professor? That's a bit off. I'm more of a researcher.

[ Elfnein's still a bit too small to be taken seriously as a professor type. ]

[ramengroupie]

Ohhhh.

[ Wormmon thinks about this. ]

What's that?

[ ...Ken can field this one if you don't want to, Elfnein. ]

[alchemists]

[ Hmm.. how to explain it. It's hard to put into words and there's a look of distress on Elfnein's face. ]

Um-um it's like.. a person that does a lot of reading and looking things up?

oh my god we hit captcha

[ramengroupie]

We know people like that, don't we, Wormmon?

Yeah.

[ And thinking of it in those terms also helps Wormmon make the connection. He looks at Elfnein. He's got it! He figured it out! Researchers are people who drink a lot of oolong tea and come up with clever ideas and -

Oh, but this could be bad. Oh no. Elfnein, love yourself. ]

I hope you don't hate sleep!

we can wrap it up if you want?

[alchemists]

[ Wow you just had to bring up sleeping. ]

I don't hate it, I just don't do much of it.

it's np i was just Impressed

[ramengroupie]

Researchers don't sleep...

[ Ken has a feeling Wormmon is drawing the wrong conclusion.

....But. Upon thought.

Is it actually....erroneous.......? ]

[alchemists]

Not all researchers are like me, I just feel the need to try my hardest and it can result in well.. not sleeping.

[ramengroupie]

Oh.

[ Sometimes Ken-chan cannot sleep, but that's usually because he's either gone to bed thinking or woken up with a nightmare. It doesn't happen that much anymore, which is very nice, but Elfnein's predicament isn't quite the same, is it....? ]

--Well, as long as you look after yourself. [ Ken she doesn't. Ken. ] I'll be interested to hear the results of your research.

[alchemists]

[ Ken doesn't need to know about how Elfnein doesn't take care of herself very well. ]

So far it's not very much, but I've been compiling things on my tablet that I can send if you have a form of tech that works with it?

[ramengroupie]

Ah....not at the moment. [ Ken looks sheepish. ]

I'm hoping to obtain a smartphone later. Would that work?

What are you researching? Is it cool?

[alchemists]

A smartphone will work just fine.

[ So many different research topics... what are the top ones recently, Elfnein has a hard time remembering. ]

I was working on some of the tech hiccups that have happened in the last few months. Though now I'm trying to help with the library and getting that set up.

[ramengroupie]

Tech hiccups?

[ That's...alarming. When your most important person is made of data. ]

[alchemists]

A few months ago the program that was allowing everyone to communicate without issues with a language barrier stopped for about a day.

[ramengroupie]

A program does that?

[ Where, what, how -

Oh. Ken holds up his wrist to show off his SCA. ] In these, then.

Ken-chan, you're so SMART!

[alchemists]

Correct

[ It's still a mystery as to why it stopped working in the first place. ]