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

Enna | OC | OTA

[nocawsforconcern]

i. luggage.

[As soon as she hears the announcement, Enna's dashing down to the luggage car. It doesn't take her long to find the two bags addressed to her, which she... picks up, and starts spinning around, tossing them up and down to herself, clearly just elated.

Though after a moment of celebration, she finally does open the bags. And from them, she withdraws... A pair of gems? If they're gems. They look like diamonds, the size of a fist, if diamonds were made out of a solidified white fire. They're almost hard to look at from how bright they are, but if you manage to, you may even see a couple of strange patterns on them.

But you won't see them for long, because Enna takes the gems, closes her eyes, and places them to her chest, just below her collarbone. And the gems seem to just... Sink into her. Like they're melding into her, or like she's made of water. It's a bit freaky to watch, really. But then, the gems are gone, like nothing happened.

If anyone was watching this, Enna doesn't seem particularly inclined to explain. Maybe you should ask?]

ii. elsewhere

[You may also find Enna after that, almost anywhere in the train. Except you'll probably have to look up. Because she's flying now. Just floating above the ground, clearly having a blast.

That's it, that's the whole prompt. The bird has learned to fly.]

i

[onehandsomeslickninja]

You just got more awesome new power, huh.

[There is only one reason anyone would be absorbing mysterious gems into themselves, and that's because it's a power-gaining-thing.]

[nocawsforconcern]

Hi Edge! I did. It's Perseus and Andromeda!

[She jumps into the air, like she's excited...

And then just doesn't. Go back down. She's just gonna float up for a bit.]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Oh, nice!

[Pretty obvious what one of them does! Edge appreciates her display and the delight that radiates off her for a moment, then has to ask:]

What's the other one do?

[nocawsforconcern]

[... remember, Edge, you asked.

Enna points her hand at him, and chains manifest around his arms.

Though only for a minute, as Enna moves her hand and the chains shatter and vanish again.]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[He did ask. And moreover, he trusts Enna, so he doesn't flinch when she entangles him.]

Huh, that's sure something. What's the range on that? Is it just for binding?

[nocawsforconcern]

I dunno. I've never tested it. It's for sealing!

Andromeda makes chains, and Perseus breaks them.

ii. Library

[iamnotgod]

[While Webmind, naturally, had his own opinions about Enna's status as Captain, he wasn't going to pick a fight over it.

Either the Council as a whole would come to an agreement with her, or it couldn't figure one out among itself and the train would have to start from scratch.

More importantly, she is literally flying right now, and that's rather more fascinating than even the new book he's checking in.]

Miss Gienah Alchibah, is that right?

[He waves, one hand still holding the book, as he looks up at her.]

More to the point, are you all right?

[He sounds more 'interested' than 'concerned.']

[nocawsforconcern]

Hello person! New person. I dunno you. Are you a robot? And I'm Enna.

I'm all right! See?

[iamnotgod]

I would not say I am that new-

[New to each other, yes, but he is not new this platform!]

And I rather think I'm not, despite my appearance. I am an emergent digital lifeform.

It is a pleasure to meet you, Enna. Have you flown before, then?

[He stops waving, though he's still both looking and holding the book.]

[nocawsforconcern]

Emergent.... Digi.... Digital...

[There's a pause.]

You're made of fingers?

[iamnotgod]

[Webmind simply shakes his head.]

Meant to contrast with 'analogue', I'm afraid. Nothing to do with fingers at all.

It simply means I am not biological in origin - lacking skin, organs, blood and so forth.

[nocawsforconcern]

[Enna pauses, and then just.

Pokes him.

? ? ? ?]

Elsewhere on the train. :D

[light_of_willpower]

[Trunks is used to looking up, considering he knows people who can fly. HFIL, he can fly himself so... He's passing through the cars, somewhere between the gym and the game cars, when he notices Enna.]

Fun, isn't it?

[Wait a minute.]

Unless you don't mean to be flying--do you mean to be flying?

[Maybe she needed help?]

[nocawsforconcern]

[Enna... Does not recognize Trunks, at all. He's got completely different hair and is considerably less buff muscly than last time she saw him, after all.]

Hello new person! I wanna fly. It's fun! I've missed this for a while and now I got Perseus' power back so I can! It's like being tall.

[light_of_willpower]

[Trunks blinks at her. Then again, they hadn't really had time to introduce themselves during the final battle, and he hadn't bothered to respond to her declaring herself 'captain'. Mostly because while he didn't agree with her just appointing herself, he hadn't wanted to argue really.

Too busy playing gopher/checker-upper on medics and people. ]

Flying is fun, I agree.

[Said with an easy smile.]

I'm not new though, I've been on this train for about a month or so now. At least 2 platforms, and this was my second mission. I'm Trunks.

[nocawsforconcern]

Hi new Trunks! I'm Enna. Nice to meetcha.

[.... she's trying?]

I missed flying a lot... It's not as fun in a place like this, though. I miss my ship, too... I liked floating up by the sails.

[light_of_willpower]

"Trunks. Just Trunks, is fine, Enna." He'll try to clarify more. "I think that's one of the few good thing about platform days--usually you can get outside and fly a bit."

ii

[fun_thementalist]

[ There's someone floating around the train. ]

[ That girl. Enna, right? She declared herself captain and now she's ... ]

[ Floating. ]

What? How are you ... could you do that before?

[nocawsforconcern]

I could for a while 'til I got on the train. Then I lost it. But I just got it back!

[If Gen's paying close attention, floating might be the wrong word- It's more like she's standing on on air. It seems like her weight is in her feet and ankles still, she just... Has flying feet?]

[fun_thementalist]

[ Gen was paying attention. He wandered underneath her, ducking down a little so he could take a better look. She was wearing pants, so he didn't think he'd be accused of entirely the wrong thing. ]

[ He poked at the bottom of her feet, and then the air next to it. ]

This is just. So interesting. How are you doing it? Is it your shoes?

[nocawsforconcern]

[Enna shuffles her foot away from that poke, but.]

Nope. It's Perseus' power.

[fun_thementalist]

Perseus, as in, the guy who killed Medusa, Perseus?

[ Look, he just wanted to find out if the air that she was standing on was somehow made solid, or not. It was one idea how the magic worked! ]

You know, I'm kind of fond of that guy, he was pretty interesting.

Re: Enna | OC | OTA

[thornsofmundus]

[It's definitely freaky, but Thorne.tcai is not too bothered. She's seen stranger as part of Another World Online.]

What were they for? [she asks curiously. If this woman's absorbing them, they must be for something.]

[nocawsforconcern]

They're stars!

[...

She says that like it's the answer to everything.]