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

[pleple]

"It could be a major problem, yes." But they'll have to cross that bridge when they get to it.

Preferably with more weapons.

"Preventing that means... watching out for it, in one another."

[pleple]

"Nothing of the sort, no." At least she's used to it.

[pleple]

"Absolutely. At least a few among us." Like the bald self-defense instructor, who is clearly some sort of incredibly highly trained professional. A secret agent, special ops, assassin sort of guy.

"I'll ask around." And apparently they have infinite ammo, if only for a few people!

[its_dad_sanzo]

And Koumyou sits, no argument there.

"Yes, everything can still move," though even Koumyou can't help but suck in a sharp, sharp breath when he rotates his own thumb in demonstration. "Haaaa... there are... there are a lot of nerve endings in there, you know?"

The twitching, of course, only gets more pronounced after he just pissed the wound off all over again. Tiny muscle spasms in his fingers and palm. It's only through force of will that he hasn't clutched at his hand the way instinct says he should, as if that would actually help any more than the pressure Dev's been applying in his stead.

Which he will definitely take over on applying, if the other man needs to step away at all. Just because he's stoic about the pain doesn't mean it's fun!

[pleple]

"Thank you." Even if it was a bit silly.

[nutkrusher]

"You can hit me up if you ever need a second player," Cassie says.

"I should probably be doing that instead of the gym every now and again."

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Not so much that. I'm more than well aware of dangerous situations and how to generally cope with them, but the train isn't..."

She trails off with a frown. "Isn't like my world and it's hard to explain, honestly. It's... Alien? Like the life I knew, the world I knew, has been stripped of something so fundamental to it and because of that, my reflexes and reaction time's suffered."

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Don't stress over it too much. You'll both fall naturally into whatever works for you and that's the most important thing. Plus, you do have a walking encyclopedia on pokemon here if you have any questions or need to pick my brain about anything."

Though there's a grin on her face and a laugh to her voice, she really, really does mean what she says. "And, my 'dex as well. The most important thing is to get used to each other first before you try and start anything else."

She leans back. "At least I'm not giving you homework like my parents did when they gave me Skeetah."

[knifewithnoname]

She nodded, "That do no be being too bad then, there do be being worse punishments for disobedience."

Many worse. She tilted her head. "Do you be needing help to be standing?"

[mtsilver_conquor]

"I reckon if I practice I'll at least get that down pat." She can hope as long as she wants, but she really won't. Her skills lay elsewhere.

"True- they do share a lot of crossover with true fruits and berries..." Eva says with a nod, even as she eyes the plants with a deeper, thoughtful look before she shrugs. She knows an awful lot about plants, yes, but when it comes to the medical side, Eva's really only ever retained only what was practical on a day to day basis, and with berries, that skewed towards pokemon. "That said, if I am under the weather, food from home's going to at least take my mind of being miserable and will probably earn you bonus points with Princess at least."

The last part's said with a wry grin.

[crimson_rain]

With a yawn, "There is? I guess we have to learn the rules then." As he lay comfortable on his cot.

He smiles softly too, but nap time. "If you need anything, let me know. I'll go get it for you."

[mtsilver_conquor]

Eva nods, then blinks a bit before her mouth quirks -even as the mention of Grimmjow brings up something she does want to ask Ichigo about. But first- "Possibly, though I'm pretty sure Shiro would get Parental'd. He's still a kitten, right?"

[mynameisallen]

Allen couldn't help but stare back. he didn't get what it was, but it sort of creeped him a bit out. So soon his focus was back onto the other.

"Ah, CPR practice, I guess that is a good thing to learn while on the train."

[sizedoesntmatter]

"I am sure that I will be like that in the future." But people know was something he thought was pretty much known to all. So now he is somewhat surprised all things considering.

"I am sure next time you will get me because I know there will be certain I will react like that about."

[sizedoesntmatter]

"I've tried using my deck and the duel disk as a distraction, but I found out last mission that will not always work." So he figured he needed at least one other way to be able to help out.

"It all depends on what the mission is really. Things like robots know it's not real for example."

[sizedoesntmatter]

"Oh no, it's fine. I'm being vague mostly because it's something I thought about already, but didn't think I needed to explain." His ideas and the things he could do were kind of important, but having mentioned them a few times, he figured it wasn't as important when trying to come up with something new.

But when it was someone different it was still a good idea to still mention them.

"I should really have explained. I've tried distraction, but for certain enemies, they would be able to tell. It's why I am trying to think of ways to be a support, but not just standing on the sidelines and being a cheerleader. Yes, cheering is good, but when everyone else is doing something and you feel like you aren't it's a different matter"

[nocawsforconcern]

Textiles!

[Enna swishes her cloak around herself.]

I've had this cloak since I was a little kid. Corvus cloaks are the best in the world! Sturdy, warm, and reliable.

[happyends]

"Maybe mister Piccolo?"

She doesn't seem to need a long time to think about that. Although it's mostly since Piccolo is the Responsible Adult Of Choice to go to for the blue team by now, so it's the first person she thinks of.

Especially since there aren't a whole lot of people left from the time Raven was still here, right? Madoka isn't sure if there's anyone else she'd trust to talk about it with.

"He's really smart. And he's good at listening!"

[adropofsunlight]

"But what if the person whose evil can be redeemed or there is more to them? Would you not help them?" She was just curious on that one really. Rapunzel honestly didn't know how she would react.

[adropofsunlight]

"I guess both of us have that in common at least." Not knowing what to spend the points on, it was why Rapunzel was okay with spending them on others because at least then they have something.

"Maybe we could figure out what others need."

[adropofsunlight]

She paused for a moment as she listened, giving a moment to tilt her head.

"So what reason do you play music for? Fun?"

[adropofsunlight]

"That would actually be helpful. I mean while I have plenty of time after chores..." Which for her take at best ten minutes, she has a lot of time to do other things. "I am unable to manage to look through the whole train within the time without wanting to try other things. So have someone is useful."

[adropofsunlight]

"I believe so, yes." She would know who it was, but she never wants to add onto someone else's work unless they plan something together. to her that was different after all.

"I think for them they already have something in mind. I wouldn't want to add to that."

[blitzcheer]

"She won't be bored if you're around," he gives a friendly, fun hint (a nudgenudgenudge!). "Hey, do you think you can draw Heaven? That's what she really loves - seeing people's worlds, and hearing about them! She was making a mural you know - in that quiet car that got doubled up."

Is Tidus scheming friendship here? Maybe- but scheming is such a sneaky word!

[blitzcheer]

The way Roland speaks doesn't go unnoticed by Tidus, looking over at him from the first sharp note. But he's confused for another reason, why his brow comes in, his mouth frowning. Whys and experiments put aside with the way that Roland talks.

"Well, yeah- the SCA has always been an us thing," he says slow, like he's trying to follow what Roland's saying. That is what he's referring to, right? "It's 'cause it does something to the atmosphere, or..." he waves a hand. "Keeps us protected. They work better when you're close to someone. It was doing that on Blue mission, in Irivar."