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

[reluctantjinrou]

"I'm not really sure." Natsuno admitted. "I have a heartbeat, my skin is warm, I breathe, I can eat regular food without it making me sick, I can wander around in the sunlight..."

He thought about it. "It's not unlike being a human except that I don't need to sleep and I have a host of powers and a need to drink blood, or I will get very weak and sick. I don't think it can kill me though. I think the difference is just less ways to die."

[light_of_willpower]

"Huh." Trunks murmured, filing that information away. "I'm sorry that happened though, and especially the way it did." Natsuno's world had DEFINITELY been changed dramatically.

[reluctantjinrou]

"Thank you." Natsuno said in acknowledgement for his kind words.

"But by then things were already in motion. I could protect those that were helping me, but no one else. My mother disappeared and I expect it's because she was killed. My father went insane." Natsuno sighed.

"It took time to get people to believe, and they're all dead now, I think. Including me. I took Tatsumi out with me."

[light_of_willpower]

"And then the train brought you back, as it were." Trunks offered. "Was your friend from the same point in the timeline as you? or earlier?"

[reluctantjinrou]

"Earlier." Natsuno answered. "He was turned awhile before me, which is how he ended up killing me."

He took a sip of tea. "That was horrible more because afterwards he wouldn't stop coming by the house, crying. I never want to hear him cry again."

[light_of_willpower]

"He couldn't fight it, huh?" There isn't pity in Trunks' tone--just sympathy.

[reluctantjinrou]

"I don't think so. We're different kinds of vampires." Natsuno said with a shake of his head. "He needed blood to live. I wanted him to take it I just wanted him not to give into them and be their pawn."

He looked more sad about this than anything. The truth was, he loved Tohru and hadn't liked seeing him like that at all.

"He died, eventually, with the nurse. Staked, of course, but frankly at that point it was just putting him out of his misery. He cried and brought flowers to my window for weeks. I couldn't tell him I was alive."

[light_of_willpower]

"Do you think it would've made a difference?" Trunks was honestly curious, and the question is asked softly. Gently, and it's okay if Natsuno doesn't want to answer.

[reluctantjinrou]

"I'm not sure. Probably." Natsuno admitted. "I think he was into the vampire thing at least more than I was. I don't think that part of it bothered him so much."

[light_of_willpower]

"Does it bother you? Being a vampire?" Trunks should probably be afraid; he wasn't. He knew a monster when he saw one, and Natsuno wasn't a monster.

[reluctantjinrou]

"Yes. I didn't ask for this and I don't want it." Natsuno responded, nodding. "That's why I had no problem dying again. I'm already dead."

[light_of_willpower]

"And yet, here you are, stuck with something you never wanted or asked for, but you have to deal." Trunks gave a soft little snort, and crossed his arms, leaning against the counter with his hip. "That's often life, from what I've experienced. Not the most optimistic sentiment, I know."

[reluctantjinrou]

"Ha. Do I seem like an optimist to you?" Natsuno asked with a bit of a huff.

"I suppose that's a valid point." He had to concede that because there was nothing he could do about it.

[light_of_willpower]

"Dunno, do I seem like one to you?" Trunks asked, with only a hint of snark and his eyebrow raising.

[reluctantjinrou]

He let out a little huff of amusement at that. "More than I am, if nothing else, not that that's a high bar to clear."

[light_of_willpower]

"How old are you, anyways?" Trunks asked curiously, after snorting in amusement at Natsuno's comment. "I'd call myself more of a realist, with a heavy dose of believing in hope."

[reluctantjinrou]

"Sixteen, at least I was when I died." Wasn't that all that mattered? He couldn't possibly age or change, could he?

[light_of_willpower]

"I remember being 16." Trunks murmured, as if it wasn't only a few years ago that he'd been 16. "I almost died then--by all rights, I'm pretty sure the only reason I'm alive is I'm entertaining." Can you hear the snark on that comment.

But he shrugs his shoulders. "Then again, I was also really stupid, and lucky I didn't die from it. It's a hard time, even if you don't add growing up in a world under siege from homicidal psychopathic androids into the mix."

[reluctantjinrou]

Natsuno snorted, like he was so much older than him.

"Entertaining? To whom?" Natsuno asked, blinking. "Not that you aren't, I find you amusing enough but we don't exactly live in the same world."

He listened and nodded. He wasn't sure what to make about the android bit. "I'll admit I don't know anything about your world."

[light_of_willpower]

"Those same androids. I'm the 'mouse' to their 'cats'." Trunks explained, sounding far more casual about it than he felt. Natsuno might pick up the hints of deep anger and frustration in the undertone of his voice.

"Do you want to know about my world? We were talking about how your personal world has been turned upside down twice." Another shrug of his shoulders and a hint of smile. "I'm just trying to help."

[reluctantjinrou]

He was very familiar with that trick, he used it himself.

"I know." Natsuno said with a sigh. "I gave you pretty much what happened, I think. I wouldn't mind knowing more, but you don't need to tell me."

[light_of_willpower]

"It's not exactly a good story, but you probably guessed that already." Trunks replied. "It starts a bit before I was born, with the death of Earth's greatest Hero. Taken down by a simple heart-virus--a cure was developed, but not in time to save him. It means later, when a monster unleashes his creations androids 17 and 18, Goku isn't there to help stop them. Unfortunately, the fighters who are left--including Piccolo and my father, are no match for the pair. Goku's teen son manages to survive, but everyone else who went up against them died."

A beat.

"I was 6 months or so old, when this happened. Gohan--Goku's son--for a long time was, was the only one who could even give them any kind of challenge. 17 and 18 hate humans--they used to be human until Dr. Gero turned them into monsters. They killed him too, and run around now doing whatever they please, terrorizing my world."

It was the short, short version, and hit the major points.

[reluctantjinrou]

"Sounds really unpleasant." He admitted easily enough. "I'm sorry for your loss." Natsuno meant that, but he wasn't going to dwell or pity him. Alice didn't like that sort of thing and neither did Natsuno for that matter.

"Is there no way to stop them?"

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks nodded with the condolences, but didn't comment otherwise. Sympathy was welcome, but not necessary. "I've since found one, by time-traveling, but also found downsides to it. So at this point, I'm pretty sure the only way to beat them is to get stronger than them. Which I'm working on."

"Gohan was my master, but also like a big brother. I trained a lot, and truth be told I think Mom didn't want me to, but knew she couldn't stop me. I was convinced, also, if I became a super-saiyan like Gohan, we could beat the Androids together. I trained hard, but it never came...not until I was 14, and one of the worst days of my life."

[reluctantjinrou]

"What happened then?" He asked, curious but hedging a bit. If Trunks didn't want to tell him, he didn't have to. He did react by sipping his tea as well.