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

[dreamtamer]

It was a lot to take in. Takato watches as the screen fills with squares, but has very little idea what he is looking at. Were the little squares art?

"Does everyone have these in your time?"

[ramengroupie]

"Nearly. They're replacing pay phones."

And Koushirou-san believes they'll even replace land lines. Ken isn't so sure about that. He's the one who has to help Papa with his cell phone, after all....(Which is nothing against Papa.)

Between smartphones, though, and the Internet....Thirty thousand Chosen Children, available at the touch of a finger. A far cry from the lonely little boy playing on his brother's computer because no one else was around.

"The world's been growing more and more connected."

--Not that he imagines he gets a signal in the void, though.

[dreamtamer]

"I guess it must be! I've used flip phones before, but I mostly just use payphones when I need to call people. Its hard to imagine everyone just being able to call at any time."

Let alone a phone that was also a digivice. And that could access the Digital World from anywhere.

[ramengroupie]

"It changed fast," Wormmon admits. "But it's a good change, right, Ken-chan?"

"Hm, I'd say so."

If Takato's world develops at the same rate Ken's has, he's in for an eventful next few years. For now, however, they are void companions....

Oh, right. Gates. That's a thing he can try now.

"Have you gotten all your packages?"

[dreamtamer]

"I think so!"

Oh, right. And he'd made a promise earlier. So Takato quickly fishes a single card out of his pocket and holds it out to the two of them.

"I found my Wormmon card!"

[ramengroupie]

INSTANT WORM INTEREST.

"You did!! Ken-chan, look!! It's ME!!"

Indeed it is. Ken had believed Takato (and Gen), but confrontation with physical proof that Digimon are a media franchise still hits him with a surreal sensation.

"It really existed..."

Wormmon is not sure whether it's okay to reach for the card or not. But he wants to. Oh. He wants to.

Maybe if he does a sort of bashful forward shuffle...?

[dreamtamer]

A moment of consideration, and Takato kneels down to hold out the card for Wormmon.

"You can have it if you like," he says cheerfully."

He'd mostly wanted the option and item cards for the next mission. The partner cards wouldn't be useful unless he was actually playing someone else here.

[ramengroupie]

"Really?!"

Wormmon perks up at the thought, and reaches for it. A card! A card of him, for him! That's amazing, it's wonderful....!

He's totally sneaking this into Ken's Duel Monsters deck.

Ken, meanwhile, is touched. That's from Takato's world, and Takato is sharing it. Takato is giving up part of his requested parcel to make Wormmon happy. Just for Wormmon.

"You look good on it, Wormmon."

This. is the best day.

of Wormmon's life.

[dreamtamer]

"Of course! I have a lot of other cards."

And Takato liked making his friends happy.

Meanwhile Guilmon was sniffing at the card box.

"Takato? Can you draw a Guilmon card next? Guilmon wants to have one too."

Takato blinks and immediately feels guilty that he hadn't done that already. Of course Guilmon would want to have one two. Even Renamon and Terriermon had their own cards at home.

"Why don't we work on that this afternoon? You can help me decide what it should look like!"

"

[ramengroupie]

"Thank you~"

This is Wormmon's second most precious treasure. (The first, if there was any doubt, is Ken-chan.)

(The third is this hoodie.)

"I'm going to try opening a Digital Gate today," Ken informs the other set of partners. "It probably won't connect to your Digital World, but if you're interested, I'll report the results."

Maybe they can talk about it while jogging. At the train equivalent of six am.

Ken has been doing that every day, incidentally. It's not going to matter that some people have clocks that tell time in colors, soon. They can set their mental watches by Ken's life choices.

[dreamtamer]

Takato blinks at that news.

"I completely forgot that you could do that!" he says excitedly. "Do you think you'll be able to reach your Digital World from here?"

...Don't remind him about the 6 AM jogging he'd signed up for.

[ramengroupie]

"Honestly, I'm doubtful," Ken's not ashamed to admit. "But nothing's lost by trying."

"Ken-chan is so good at trying now!" Wormmon tells Guilmon. It doesn't matter how many times he sees the other Digimon. Every time is a good time to brag about his partner.

[dreamtamer]

Guilmon considers this very seriously. "Trying is important! Takato tries hard too!"

....Takato, overhearing this, really hopes this isn't going to be a competition.

"Well, good luck! I'd offer to help, but my D-Arc has never been able to open portals. We usually just wait for Guilmon to smell one out."

[ramengroupie]

Fortunately for Takato, Wormmon finds this last piece of trivia to be of interest. "Guilmon, you can do that?"

He has such talented friends! He is proud of them!

Of course, the most proudest-making person of all is Ken-chan, but Guilmon can have a little bit of Wormmon's impressed face, as a treat.

[dreamtamer]

"Yeah! Guilmon found one under the shed once! They smell like lots of data."

[ramengroupie]

"If you smell one here, will you tell Ken-chan? Our roommate wants to go home, and Ken-chan is helping."

"....I'm not sure that would..."

But it's the thought that counts, doesn't it? It's nice that Wormmon is thinking of Adam and his own partner, neither of whom enjoy the train.

Sort of.

[dreamtamer]

"Yes! Guilmon hasn't smelled one here yet, though."

He looks somewhat disappointed at this. Being here with Takato and new friends was fun. But Guilmon also missed some of the friends back home.

[ourtomorrow]

"There, there." Ken gives Guilmon a reassuring smile to show there are no hard feelings. It's really very unlikely after all this infrastructure was put in place.....

[dreamtamer]

"Guilmon will still try!" he says with determination.

[ourtomorrow]

Guilmon's optimism earns him another grin before Ken turns back to speak with his Tamer.

"We're supposedly approaching a new platform. Finding a place to sit might be a good idea."

They've all gotten what they came in here for, anyway. Takato looks good in his goggles. Wormmon looks good on the Wormmon card.