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

[theturksway]

"Hah! You better not!" he said with a playful punch to her arm. It was kind of hard in that brutal way of his but not enough to do any true damage. They were on friendly terms after all. And Reno could use all the people on his side that he had these days.

He relaxed back into his position with a faint smirk. She'd probably done what no one else could do at this point. His eyes flicked over the people practicing, but he too wasn't really ready to get up yet.

"A rookie is a newbie. Greenhorn. Someone new to the job and inexperienced. So they probably get a lot of things wrong while learning the ropes."

[spikelet]

She was used to adjusting to blows, but didn't bother for this one; guessing correctly that it was more bark than bite. Instead, she stuck out her tongue, and made a half-hearted grab for his baton.

"So what'd she get wrong to make you call her that?"

[theturksway]

Reno reacted swiftly despite his relaxed position. He swept forward to engage her before she could reach the baton. He laughed as her fingertips brushed against it but he prevented her from getting a grip on it. All in play.

"She used to reveal all kinds of information to our enemies because she talked too much when nervous. Hell, she still talks too much sometimes."

kitten attacking adult cat like:

[spikelet]

"Sounds like she's nervous a lot." Foiled. She went still for a moment in his grip, considering seriously whether to bite or scream, ingrained instinct, and then deliberately - visibly - relaxed. Pouted, cheeks inflating as she jabbed just off the section of his wrist that would loosen his grip. A lesson the previous month.

It was, after all, play; motions she'd practised, taking refuge in their usual. She had enough attention to spare to ask, with perhaps undue interest, "Tell me about your enemies?"

[theturksway]

"Not surprising," he responded. He reacted to her jab with a knee-jerk reaction, shaking his hand as if shaking away the pain. There wasn't really any. He backed off though for reward that she had gotten the move accurate this time.

He dragged his baton back with him as he went to lean against the wall. He tilted his head at her as he considered her question.

"Which ones?" he said with a small laugh. "We've had plenty over the years." He shook his head. It was obvious though wasn't it--the ones he had mentioned were the ones in question. "A cell of the terrorist group called Avalanche. We followed them for a bit, engaged in combat with them a few times. They--"

He trailed off. "It's a long story." And then left it at that.

[spikelet]

"Terrorist group?" Was her face ever going to smooth out, or was it going to remain scrunched in confusion? Time would tell, but the outlook was bleak.

Actually, no, it smoothed immediately as she realised he was refusing to tell her the story. What, he didn't have time? Here? She scrambled and pulled herself up to her frankly unintimidating full height. "Do you have somewhere else to be? Tell me, ah!"

[theturksway]

"Heh. Cute."

He stared up at her.

She wasn't exactly wrong about having somewhere else to be or having anything else to do. There wasn't much to do on this train. And he wasn't interested in what little there was. Not at the moment.

He sighed and settled in.

"It ain't that, kiddo. It's just-- that was two years ago, ya know. And why drag up the past." Why think about what he missed.

[spikelet]

"Is it because you lost to them?" She guessed, encouraged by his getting more comfortable. Since he seemed to be going nowhere, she also dropped back down into a cross-legged seat and leaned forward. "Bad memories?"

[theturksway]

Reno gave her a stare caught between deadpan and a glare. Bullseye. And he didn't like to admit it.

Then again, it could have been worse. And in the end it didn't matter.

"Ain't that bad. They never wiped the floor with us, and we never took them out completely. Nah, it just-- like I said, it was a long time ago. A lot has changed since then. Not because of them. But because of our mutual target: Sephiroth. He did a lot to try to destroy the Planet and it changed everything about it."

[spikelet]

The stare rolled off her like water from a duck's back, a-Qing far too practised with not reacting to expressions to admit to such petty emotions as nervousness. Still, it was good he took it so well, she'd not found his limits yet.

"So everything was different, after-- ah, he was the Meteor guy!" Right? She tried to remember. "Big sis mentioned that once?"