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

[subcircuits]

"Later," Devero agrees. He's interested-- he's always interested in tech, even if there's a ghost in her machine-- but his brain has been stretched to the breaking point already today.

"Given the state of things around here, I'm realizing that beggars can't be choosers," he grumbles. "If I have to include a printer in my network, I'll take it." His voice is wry by the end; he may or may not be completely serious about that.

He eyes Roro where it hovers at her shoulder, then looks back to here. "Is Lele another-- what did you call it, a Rotomi?"

[crimson_rain]

Once the fog clears and there are the colors of the void, even Hua Cheng feels dizzy from a quick glance. The motion of the train was turbulent until after a while it becomes steady and it's announced that it's safe to get up and explore the rest of the train and the carriages and it's facilities.

"I heard it's a long trip. I think we can go now and check our accommodations. Do you have your ticket with you, gege?"

[subcircuits]

There's not much for her to feel. The shell of the converted device is smooth, and there don't appear to be any external buttons. Even the seam lines are very fine.

Devero does give her a moment to look it over, but eventually he nudges her with an elbow. "You gonna take the picture or what?"

[forleaving]

He nodded, looking down at his shoes. "He didn't deserve to be here; it wasn't healthy for him, but he doesn't deserve what's going on at home, either," he said. "I'd wanted to get us out of here, but I thought we'd leave together."

Together, where Adam could use his knowledge of what was happening and all the time he'd had to think on things to figure something out and help. He didn't like sitting on the sidelines, feeling helpless when he could be doing something, but there was nothing he could do from here.

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Huh. A third option, then.]

Someone who liked theme-decaling, it seems.

[Though-]

Chosen Children? Not sure I've heard that one before.

[There's a lot of Digi-lore she doesn't know, forgive her Ken.]

[crimson_rain]

Seeing his tears, he won't admit it, but he wanted to share his condolences.

"No, it's my spirit energy. I can form it into butterflies. I'm sharing my energy with you to help you."

At that, he commands the glowing silver butterflies to land on his shoulders and hands and fly slowly around his head. They are swirly with a glowing light.

[strawberryprotector]

The weight of Grimmjow leaning on him forced Ichigo to sit on his bunk, allowing Grimmjow's head to fall into his lap. He kept scratching behind the man's ear, tucking the end of the stick under the mattress. It freed up Ichigo's hand, and he cautiously reached for Grimmjow's closest hand. "I can't believe you have toe beans. I mean, they aren't like Shiro's, but still."

[crimson_rain]

He stands by the kitchen counter with a spatula in hand and he's frying rice on the pan, mixing vegetables, eggs, and dices of meat.

He smiles, and he could she wants one. "I did. It's homemade fried rice. You can have it to eat. Let me know if it's good. You can always have seconds."

[crimson_rain]

That got him curious. He figured he's not going to eat much if that's the case.

"Why do you have trouble eating? Are you ill?"

[subcircuits]

"All the trains I've ever seen are mag-lev," Dev says. He gestures with a hand, hovering it through the air in front of him. "They float."

Demyx's comment makes him snort. "I hope I'm more than just your weird dream," he says dryly.

In front of them, the doors of the train open. Dev glances once more at Demyx. "If you're going to take off--" People start to step off onto the platform. "--now might be the time to do it. Me, I think I want answers."

[forleaving]

Adam nodded, looking down. "If it's home, he's worse off than if he was still here," he said. "And if he's somewhere else, then I don't know."

He didn't know what he hoped for, except to see Ronan walk back onto the train. At least here he'd been safe, safer than home, from the sound of things. He hadn't been healthy though, and that was a completely different downside. Both options were rife with pros and cons, and Adam just wanted to fix things, fix everything, but he couldn't.

[pleple]

"It is. To familiarize yourself with it. Some feel that it's good to have a connection with a weapon, to know exactly how it moves." A Newtype like her will have an even stronger mental image of that machinery, too.

[pleple]

"It's fine, now that I'm here." Not exactly fine, of course, but she feels like a human being most days now.

[gundamofthedesert]

Not stuck. Just not having a good time of it when they returned to the train. And honestly, Quatre didn't want to wake up on the train trapped in a suitcase.

"It's nice to meet you, Hua Cheng." Still polite, even when he felt bad. "Yes, it is about that time. When it departs the first time after you've boarded, it can be a bit of a shock."

[subcircuits]

As uncomfortable as he is, Devero doesn't pull too hard. He doesn't actually want to. His fingers do curl, though, and he wraps his other arm back around himself, digging the nails of his free hand into the opposite bicep.

He can't look at Koumyou. "You just don't know me well enough. She knows me. She knows what I really am."

[pleple]

"We all find things we're good for, even those who don't feel useful at first." Ple Two is lucky that combat is so often the point.

[pleple]

"It would keep you and those around you safer." Even a gun, if you're careful.

[achickenformylove]

It's okay to cry when losing someone you care about. He knew this first-hand, having lost WuXian. He kept his hand on Romeo's shoulder as he turned to look back at the barrier.

"You will see him again. It may be sometime, but I'm sure that you will."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

Raven just gave a mild glare at the attempt for a hearty backslap. "Seriously?" A bit in disbelief, but no real malice. A few more beats of silence then "What've you heard?"

[gundamofthedesert]

When Zechs offered the hand up, Quatre would take it, using the other to brace himself against the wall so that he could stand. He took a moment to steady himself, using the wall for support, before falling into place with Zechs as they headed towards the kitchen.

He didn't say anything as they walked, keeping one arm around himself. He wasn't paying as much attention as he should to where others in the corridors were so he did appreciate that Zechs was paying attention for him. He was sure if he hadn't, he probably would have walked right into someone.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"I'm not the type to salute, anyways." Raven murmured in her deadpan tone.

[nutkrusher]

"Maybe you are," Cassie says. "What happened isn't."

She knows literally nothing about the specifics, but she feels she can speak with confidence on the notion that forcing children to become soldiers is bad.

[subcircuits]

Devero levels a blank look at Senku. "You-- you don't have to tell me anything of the sort," he says. He repeats it: "What we're good at, we should contribute. Isn't that one of the pillars of society?" With that same air of recitation, he continues: "Everyone has something to share with their community, and every contribution makes the community stronger."

C'mon, Senku, even the littlest kids in creche know that!

That blank look turns kind of horrified. "Is there not enough housing where you live? Not even visitors' dorms or travelers' quarters?"

[pleple]

Madoka seems to be a normal enough child, at least up until very, very recently. Compared to Ple Two, many people here have had childhoods at all.

"Especially with how differently people fight. I'll be very, very careful." A little touch of precognition helps too.

Finally, she smiles at Leafmon briefly. "I've been learning to have fun too though. There are good people here for that."

[pleple]

"I suppose I could use something like that in the near future, although I'm well armed for a single mission." But unlimited ammunition... she didn't doubt that it would make her life even easier.