A New Platform [Intro Post November]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

The morning after the Halloween party passengers are once again woken by a familiar voice.

"Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Imagination. 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. But through the fog comes sunshine, causing patches where the light shines down to warm the concrete. Looking up passengers will not be able to see the sun through the fog, or much of the sky at all.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Bryn Pendragon, Bucky Barnes, Colden Rollins, Elena, Fai D Flourite, Jiang Yanli, Juliette d'Aubigniy, Misa, Peter Parker, Samata Mahto, Satou Kuroneko, The Doctor, Tohru Mutou, Zuko, 10 Vigilant Gaze Purges The Horizon. They all walk silently and do not look back as they disappear through the barriers and into the fog beyond.

But on the platform itself there are 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 the thick fog, penetrated by beams of light. As their eyes adjust they will see they are on a platform, behind them are a set of barriers and in front of them is a single track.

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 five 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.

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 and Honey is the newest ingredient, jars of honey stock the shelves and the ICP's in the kitchen have recipe ideas for the month.

A new carriage has been added, those that go to investigate will find a small but function-able spa, complete with a small hot tub and even a steam room. It is a relaxing room with sun lamps and relaxing music or nature sounds available through the ICP. There are a couple of massage tables, with a course for how to give massages for those eager to learn.

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 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

Train

[10billionpercent]

"You wouldn't be alone, a few people haven't seen trains before." Senku answered instinctively.

He tilted his head. "If there is a whistle, it's likely in the engine carriage, which unfortunately, we don't have access to."

He had a habit of answering questions, even if they might be rhetorical.

Re: Train

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Well, I've seen them, just never in person!"

So they existed on his world, at least.

"It did the chugga-chugga-chugga when it pulled up to where I was. But does it ever do the choo choo?"

[10billionpercent]

"Probably it does, but not that I've ever noticed." Senku admitted. "Either I tune it out or we can't hear it on the train. I never thought about it."

He looked like he was thinking about it now though. "I'll have to pay more attention to that."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Train horns are supposed to be super loud though, right?" Yes, this was exactly what he should be worried about right now, thanks for asking. "I bet the conductor has just forgotten to do it!"

[10billionpercent]

"Possibly, but I'm not sure there is a conductor on board. One of my theories is that someone is directing the train remotely, as we never see any staff around here." Senku responded, still looking like he was thinking.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"So they may not even know they haven't been tooting the horn!"

Yes, that was Koumyou's takeaway here.

[10billionpercent]

"I can't say that's their biggest concern." Senku answered. "Some people think the train is an entity. I'm not ready to believe that."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou plopped down onto a seat within easy speaking range, "So... you think it's like... a giant shikigami?"

[10billionpercent]

"A shikigami like someone conjured it? No." Senku shook his head. "It's more likely to be working within an AI system, or through a remote control centre."

He paused and then hummed, moving to sit too, because he didn't mind chatting away. "Granted, that's in my world where those things are folklore there is a good deal of magic around here. I suppose I'll have to acknowledge it could be a being like that, but I've seen no evidence to support it. It's incredibly tangible for one thing, aren't shikigami typically ghosts?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

"They're more like puppets, where I'm from," Koumyou folded his hands together in his hoodie pocket, getting comfy. "Usually quite solid, with something buried in it to act as the focus for the caster's chi. Then they can control the shikigami from afar."

[10billionpercent]

Senku accepted the correction without complaint, filing the possibility in his memory as it being more of a puppet.

"Sort of, but I think it's more of a mechanical nature rather than a spiritual one, for a lot of reasons. I'm a scientist." Senku offered.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Ohh? How fancy!"

Not many scientists in Shangri-La.

Other than Koumyou's former pupil, anyway.

"I don't see why it couldn't be a machine and a shikigami," Koumyou added, and then considered, "although... I've heard science and magic tend to mix... poorly, which is why we don't have a lot of it in Shangri-La. That's what people say, anyway!"

[10billionpercent]

"I would agree with you, there's not any magic in my world, but what I've picked up about magic around here is that a lot of them do have principles like science, as though it's some kind of offshoot, or some parallel study. It's fascinating, actually. I would love to know more about it." He admitted readily.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Well, I'm pretty good at it, if I don't say so myself!"

Which was a huge under-statement, being one of two (2) whole priests he'd ever heard of who could cast spells or manipulate chi without needing to chant to build focus first. It was extraordinary to be able to just... snap that kind of concentration out of thin air like he could.

"But I don't actually understand it all that well. I just do it."

[10billionpercent]

He blinked at that. "You do it, but you don't understand it? Why not? Wouldn't you ask how it works?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Well, I know the basics, of course," Koumyou waved that off with an elegant gesture of one hand, "like how everyone has chi even if they don't know how to use it. But if you want deep theoretical stuff I'm just not the guy for it!"

[10billionpercent]

"That's unfortunate." He would, very much, like the deep theoretical stuff. That was a little disappointing.

"In your world everyone can use chi to perform magic of a kind?" Senku leaned forward a bit, that was just as interesting.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou snapped his fingers and produced a tiny golf-ball sized orb of crackling electricity that hovered in the air.

"With enough training, I don't see why they couldn't. Everyone has chi -- it's like, uh, life force?"

[10billionpercent]

"Is that so? What kinds of things can you do with your magic? How does training work? Is it something I could learn, even if I wasn't from your world?"

Senku wasn't willing to chance touching the electricity, he could see what it was, but it was interesting. What could one do with it, and could they change and mutate magic with innovation?

[its_dad_sanzo]

Without any seeming order from Koumyou, the little ball elongated and stretched into an eastern-style dragon, only a few inches long, and flew around playfully in their little corner before vanishing.

"Uhhh well, there's attacks, and wards," Koumyou ticked them off on his fingers, "and the shikigami of course, but I've never actually done that one myself. And there's utility, like ways to punch through someone else's barriers. And probably a bunch of stuff I haven't even heard of."

[10billionpercent]

"Very interesting." Senku answered with a bit of an amused hum. "I wonder if there's any limitations to the magic in your world, like if someone came up with something you don't know how to do, does that seem possible or likely?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

"You mean, do I think I could figure out a way to do it?"

Koumyou considered for a second, and then shrugged.

"Maybe? I'm pretty lazy, though."

[10billionpercent]

"Hm. You're not the least bit curious?" It was maybe that, more than anything else, that confused Senku. A lot of people were like that, they accepted things as they were, as they appeared and for him it was never enough.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou laughed at that, "I learned a long time ago to let things go if they're too troublesome, that's all."

Not that it had mattered, in the end.

"What sort of thing would you have me try?"

[10billionpercent]

"That's a good question that I can't answer because I don't have the scope of knowledge that you do about chi. The concept in my world is linked to a religion certainly, and to some martial arts, but not magic so I can't say what you can do."

Senku exhaled. "I never was much into religion so, I'll admit I didn't spend much time studying it."