A New Platform [Intro Post December]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

It's only been a couple of days since the Voidtrecker Express took to the void once more, and many of the passengers are still recovering and recuperating after a very hectic end to their latest mission. Nevertheless, they are awoken by a familiar message.

"Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Imagination. Points have been updated on the system."

They have indeed, and everyone can spend the morning shopping. Those who have been on the train for 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 the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform. It is warm outside with a pleasant breeze that flows down the platform, rustling the light spread of leaves that litter the floor.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Akemi Homura, Alfred the Poisoner, Donatello Versus, Chie Satonaka, Joscelin Fitzthomas, Ronan Lynch, Rose Tyler, Tangle the Lemur, Trowa Barton, Wester Mazaki and Whisper the Wolf all pass through the platform, not looking back before 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 swirling leaves at their feet, moving in flurries and rattling against each other softly. As their eyes adjust, they will see they are on a platform, cement and packed earth forming a very practical, plain-looking shelter. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single track extending both ways into thick fog.

They are standing, in clothes that are not their own and a style 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 eight 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's 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 lead to something terrible. 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 (see
'Publications'). The store rooms have been restocked with more jars of honey, the ingredient of the month of Imagination, as well as sundries.

A new carriage has been added right next to the luggage carriage. It is a second medical carriage, or triage carriage. Downstairs is more open with beds and chairs, upstairs are two surgical bays for those that need immediate attention.

For those intrigued by the claim of a parcel for every passenger they will find several large boxes filled with small blue bags. Inside each bag is ten dark blue coins imprinted on each side with a silver snowflake. Each bag has a small label with a passengers name. On the other side of the label it reads: Keep these safe for now.

Of course for any passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage as well.

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 taking advantage of the pleasant weather and the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view again 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

[mynameisallen]

Considering Allen is still recovering from injuries from the last mission. Itb was probably a good thing it wasn't a tight one either. But he turned his head quickly at the hug and for a brief moment unsure of what to say or really do.

Seemed like he had broken down briefly. But soon he spoke. That was at least something.

"A few months...I think I've been here for just over three myself."

[sizedoesntmatter]

"Sure, if it will help me." It was better than trying to figure things out for himself anyway.

"Though can you answer me this? With my skills as a strategist, what do you think I can do on missions?"

/suddenly reminded of her own quote from The Silver Arrow a few weeks back/ XDD

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita just... had to stop and blink at that one.

"I don't know about bad, but that's a new one on me," she admitted.

"It's definitely a good listener. Maybe not so much on the action end, but I don't know anything about driving in this void."

Maybe it really was just a matter of spare power/energy. Can't help with what you can't cope with, and all.

[unfavorableinstigation]

"... It can feel a lot more significant, when it's something you figured out for yourself."

Aka: yes.

"Need any spare paper, to jot down ideas?" Or did Yugi have that covered?

[luckydragonsfoot]

Woah, th' fourth?! Dang...

But yeah, las' place I was, tha' was th' pokemon one- fell right int' th' place through a wormhole from my own world, spent a few months there an' then...

[He gestures.] Train! Can't get th' whole team back though, th' one's too big...

[fashionably_strong]

"My mom is a genius inventor just like my grandfather. Between the two of them, they've made so many cool things!"

It made her a little wistful. Much as she appreciated all the people she'd met, there were times when she really missed home. Speaking of her family reminded her. Still, she kept her expression and tone cheerful.

[mtsilver_conquor]

Eva shakes her head with a grin.

"Or learn as you go. Take it from me; books can really only tell you so much, and a lot of them are generalised anyway. It'd also be a good way to see just how much you learn and what gaps I need to fill, even with the stuff I'll start you on after next platform."

[sos_pilot]

"Oh man, this story has everything!" Della hooted, clapping merrily. "Chemicals, deception, a really awful bad guy, treasure hunting, geniuses..."

[firewalled]

"It's not that I'm not a fighter, but I mean, normal human strength isn't much help, I don't think. Even with the training regimen I was on. Or, I guess I was supposed to just do PT now."

Sure, Rich is pretty buff, but that was before he went and tried to burn himself alive.

[firewalled]

"I mean, that's good to hear, at least. It makes me a little willing to do things when I'm not forced into it, I think." Which was definitely something his SQUIP hadn't learned. "Maybe I will come up with something."

[mtsilver_conquor]

Eva laughs and her eyes glitter with mirth. "Charmer. Though I guess I do look good and it's almost a shame a lot of my scars from home are faded as then you'd see what real perfection's like."

That scars being badges of Survival and the more one has, the tougher they are, might not be a universal constant isn't something she's really twigged onto just yet. "How you're still single is beyond me- but yeah. I plan on it, one way or the other."

[sos_pilot]

"Be the brains of the missions, of course!" Della answered, thinking of her kids and their skills. "Focus on the angles, and try to figure out the smoothest way to do things. There will always be people like me who go head-first into every situation... but I need people like you to pull me back and tell me what's right and wrong."

[firewalled]

Rich seems to recoil a bit, ashamed for letting his anger be taken out on people that were genuinely trying to be helpful. He sighs in frustration as well.

"I hope you're right. I really want to get back. As important as missions are... I've got people who need me to be better for them back in my world."

He wasn't about to abandon them... though he supposes he can't just leave people in need here too. He looks at Eight with slight confusion, but takes her hand anyways, wonderinf if perhaps she wants the reassurance.

"I'm not very good at being patient or passing time, I have to admit."

[strawberryprotector]

Ichigo laughed at that. "He's already sassy while being cute. It's part of him being a cat. Plus he's got Grimmjow teaching him to be a brat."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Edge was of that mind too, so no worries, Eva. Maybe not before he came on the train, but associating with all the physically badass ladies here had certainly changed his thinking around a bit.

"Because the train takes away the interested ones, and leaves the ones who are hopelessly out of my league like you and Lightning," he said, casually enough despite the sting of the first part of the sentence. "And we plan on it, right?"

[fashionably_strong]

"Oh, I didn't fight the entire army myself!" she clarifies with a little laugh. It's not hard to see how that might sound rather unbelievable.

"There was about a hundred of us fighting them together and thousands of them."

[irrationally]

There's a soft 'hm?' noise, almost surprised. Like she didn't expect anyone to have any questions about her statement, no matter how cryptic it was.

At the very least it doesn't seem like she minds explaining a whole bunch.

"Why, I didn't think any of this was real when I first showed up here, of course." And it's not like she's the only one. She's met more people on the platform with rather odd reactions to this whole deal, after all. "I was certain I was hallucinating all of this. But it would be rather odd if I was making up all these people with such complex backstories from other worlds in my mind, wouldn't it? In that case, you would all disappear the moment I'd stop thinking of you."

Her tone as she speaks of all of it is.. well, rather casual. Like this line of thinking is just normal to Alice, a road she has travelled many times before.

[flatteries]

"Oh.." At least he seems to kind of grasp the idea. It doesn't even seem like too weird of thought to him, not even odd enough to put into the 'one of those Senku things' category.

Instead he just nods.

"I guess that makes sense. Honestly, blood from most of the people in my world may look more like yours.." They're just regular people, after all. Although maybe even regular people blood is different across worlds? Inigo never even really thought about it before. "Only the royal family has this kind of blood where I'm from."

[flatteries]

Inigo nods.

"Well, of course that's fine too!"

Not like anyone is going to stop Rapunzel. Or at least, no one seems to particularly care whether or not the walls of the carriages get decorated or painted on. Inigo sure hasn't heard anyone complain about it - and why would they, anyway? Rapunzel's work is so good!

"Although you have to trust me, you could never ruin anything. You're such a good painter! If anything, anyone should feel honoured to collaborate with you."

[happyends]

"Of course! I want to be there when you're doing anything!"

It slips out so naturally, but a moment later Madoka's cheeks glow red, and she covers her mouth with her hands, as if she's worried about more words possibly slipping out without thinking about them first. Was that too much? She doesn't want to come on too strongly, but it's-- it's just true!

[happyends]

Thankfully Madoka does have some ideas about this. She's been thinking a lot about how to be useful if she's only a tiny girl, after all! And although she thankfully found her answer in archery, it's not like she doesn't have some more ideas.

"I think it'd probably be helpful to have someone who could help take care of injured people.. Even if it's just helping them drink a potion, or dressing their wounds, or looking after them. Of course injured people need to be off to the side too, so it's a good thing to do in the background!"

She's assuming Yugi doesn't have healing powers, at least, or surely he would have realised healing is a role he can fulfill. But Madoka knows it's something you can do even without magical powers!

"Or there are other ways to support people. Like casting spells that protect people.. Though that might be a little hard if you don't have magic, like me. And, um, probably like you too, right..?" She says it carefully though, not wanting to assume anything. As Madoka does.

[subcircuits]

Devero rises as Rich does, though Rich's words stop him from reaching out to steady the kid. "Sorry," he says, not actually sounding very sorry. "Force of habit. I'm just trying to help, but I can stop if it makes you uncomfortable."

[fashionably_strong]

I've been able to meet a lot of great people this way that I never would have otherwise...so even if I miss my home, I think I'm just going to try to enjoy the adventure in the meantime.

[It helps that she's seen members of her family show up on occasion in these other worlds. It helps stave off some of the homesickness.]

So the other world you were in was a world where Pokemon had always been around?

[subcircuits]

"Well. At least there's that, I suppose." Devero would be more relieved by that information if everything wasn't still so bad. "Thank you for telling me all this," he adds. "I certainly appreciate the primer."

[fashionably_strong]

"That's basically it, yes," Bulla confirmed with a nod. "And thanks to that, things turned out much differently in my timeline."

Which wasn't to say that things had been peaceful forever after, but people survived that hadn't in his timeline, which made all the difference as far as the state of the world.