voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post November]

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Yes I got to know him lots more and I've been helping mister Ken and Takato make signs so Wormmon and Guilmon are on their room doors and I did lots of cooking and Elfnein spends lots and lots of time in the library now so I got to remind her to come out sometimes and do other things!"

He grinned, "But we probably got another mission soon, right? What plans do you got? You always do lots and lots of things!"

Pfft. Ahh, always good to remember how much energy Romeo has, listening while taking a bite out of what seems to be some kind of meatball.

"You're one to talk! You do so much stuff I don't think you took a breath there!" Haha- "But man, now I gotta sound busy, huh? There's seeing the food's prepared, setting up the fridge in here... me and a friend got a guy this thing called a model kit. You heard of them?"

"A model kit? Is that to make something?"

He knows what a model is at least! "Is it like legos?" He knows those as well. "Did you get it for him as a present?"

"Yeah! Since," leaning in, whispering! but not too low. "--don't tell anyone, but he loved putting them together as a kid! He's shy about it, but it's that kind of shy where you know they'd really love it, but they're stopping themselves. You know the look?"

Are you old enough Romeo to tell when a person is being difficult about their hobbies?

"Yes! Some grown ups, they forget what fun is or they don't want to remember..." He thought for a moment, "They think it's important to pretend to not care about friendship or games or anything like that."

Those grown ups were wrong, but he knew so many of them!

Tidus is nodding, even fondly at Romeo's perception. He's not wrong though. Adults can be a drag!

"Some work so hard, they forget there's room for anything else. --but Roland isn't that bad thankfully. He's always got some dorky thing to say. But," he'll say, like he's chagrined to say it!, "that's a good thing, I guess."

Sigh. Having to put up with dorkiness!

"But- anyway, you said legos? Do you put them together? 'Cause that's what this kit thing is like. But everything's trapped first in this weird wire and you have to snap them out."

He holds up his hands like holding one of the wire frames, even points at imaginary pieces. "So there's the head there, an arm..."

"Oh it's for mister Roland? He's really nice!" Romeo doesn't think he has forgotten how to be friends or how to have fun, so he is sure he will like the model kit that Tidus had bought for him.

"Yes they are bricks and they come in lots of colours and you put them together and can make things."

He listened carefully as Tidus explained the model kit. "So you make a person out of it?"

"That's right! It turns into a big robot!" He doesn't have it right now, but- "You wanna see it before we give it to him? It's not done up, that's the fun of it, but the robot it's supposed to look like's on the front of the box!"

Heck! "You can join in if you think it looks fun!"

Why not. Make it a small fun party. How can he exclude Romeo if the kid likes the look of it?

"Will mister Roland not mind?"

Because Romeo loves making things and would very much like to join in! But Roland might want to make it all by himself!

"Roland? No way! I bet he'd love it!" But-! "But I'll ask him first, once we tell him we've got it. Then we're saving it for once the mission's over!"

So there's more time, and it's also a mindless way to relax immediately after.

"Oh! Is it a surprise?"

That's exciting! Romeo liked surprises and he would be very careful not to mention it to Roland at all!

Tidus nods animatedly!

"Well, he already knows we ordered it. But what we're gonna do, see, is slip him the instructions before the mission- since he's gonna be busy thinkin' about it. Then when we come back, it'll be the perfect way for the guy to relax!"

Romeo nodded, that was a great idea. "That's a really good way for him to relax! So he can think about doing that and not any scary things that might happen on the mission!"

Scary things often happened on missions so having ways to keep their spirits up afterwards was very important!

A New Platform [Intro Post November]

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