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

Around the train

[swansongs]

It might have been easier to blend in without the sitar. It caught Dyme's attention at least, and though he wasn't a stranger to stringed instruments, he had no idea what it was called off the top of his head. Still, that didn't stop him from wandering over and watching quietly. As a musician, he knew better than to interrupt.

Instead, he waited until there was a pause or stop and then spoke up. "Dude, I have no idea what that is but it's super cool."

[melodiouspacifist]

The song would end, and he readjusted, already moving his fingers to the tuning pegs. Demyx didn't mind interruptions, actually, he was used to them.

"I think so." He grinned. "It's a sitar." He explained.

[swansongs]

"Nice." He was going to pretend he'd actually heard of a sitar before.

"I'm a guitar guy, myself, but that's a nice instrument. Are you new here?" Because he was pretty sure he'd remember seeing a sitar like this around the train.

[melodiouspacifist]

"Haven't had the chance to really try a guitar. It's not the same thing though." Demyx could and would go on about the differences if he was asked, if not, well one could also just enjoy the music.

"I just got here." He confirmed. "Never would've picked a mystery train to get on."

[swansongs]

"Oh yeah, I bet. I've got an acoustic guitar here if you ever want to give it a try, though." He'd offer to teach him, but...the last two people he made that offer to disappeared, so Dyme felt a little cursed.

"Yeah, same. I mean, I didn't just get here, but I'd never pick this place to end up. Aside from being cramped and crowded, it's not so bad, though."

[melodiouspacifist]

"Oh yeah? Sure." Demyx said, a bit more cheerfully, because he'd love to fool around on some different instruments.

Heaven help them when he found the music car.

"I met someone in my room already." Demyx answered. "Not really planning on sticking around though." That was his his plan, get out of the train at the earliest chance.

[swansongs]

"Yeah, it's...four to a room. It's-" he made a face. "It's really weird, even now." He'd been there for months and he still wouldn't say sharing a room with three other people was great.

"Good luck. I wasn't planning on sticking around, either." In fact, he didn't think anyone here had ever planned on staying. "And that was, uh. A few months ago."

[melodiouspacifist]

"I don't really want any roommates." Demyx responded. He wasn't sure what to make about the whole thing.

He deflated a little bit though at the news. "Months? I'm pretty sure someone will notice I'm gone." At least, he hoped so, but maybe not. It wouldn't surprise him.

[swansongs]

"I know the feeling." He'd never had a roommate before in his life until he'd ended up here.

"And even if people do notice we're gone, how are they going to know where we are?" He'd thought about that, too. There was no way Salem or anyone else would be able to guess he'd been kidnapped by a magical void traveling train, and even if they could, they had no way to get to him. He didn't know about people from other worlds, though. Maybe in some places, traveling between worlds was normal.

[melodiouspacifist]

"Well between you and me, I was just going to call him." Demyx admitted. "He's really smart, he'll know what to do."

It was a brilliant plan, he figured, not at all doomed to fail.

[swansongs]

"Too bad you can't call out from here," Dyme said. "I've got a cell phone. I've tried. There's not even any internet." Which was the real shame, in his opinion.

If calling someone was that easy, he would've reached Salem a long time ago and they would've figured something out. Probably. Maybe.

[melodiouspacifist]

"Really? But he's the smart guy." Demyx complained. "I mean...he would know what to do. I don't know what to do."

[swansongs]

"You're welcome to try." He had absolutely no idea who Demyx was talking about, but he wasn't sure it mattered much right now. "I won't stop anyone from trying ideas. It'd be nice to figure out a way to get out of here." Even if it was only for one or two people or something.

[melodiouspacifist]

"Yeah, I'll try, but if I can't get ahold of him that's going to make it a lot harder to get out of here." He frowned slightly at that. Yeah. It would.

[swansongs]

"If that doesn't work out, there's a lot of people here who're good at planning things. I keep hoping one of 'em will figure something out." He wasn't good at planning or figuring things out himself, so he couldn't exactly help except trying to keep spirits up, but that was important, too.

[melodiouspacifist]

"Well, at least someone's working on it. I'm not that guy either." He admitted with a chuckle.

"What I know about is my sitar and that's about it."

[swansongs]

Dyme nodded. He knew that feeling. "I'm just not, uh. Academically inclined." Did you have to be academical or whatever to be good at planning? He felt like everyone who was doing planning or trying to figure out ideas was way smarter than him.

"I feel kind of bad that I can't really help, but." He shrugged. "We all have our..." he paused. "We all have stuff we're good at, that we can still do to help out."

[melodiouspacifist]

"Me neither." He hummed, he was good at planning and scheming but it was better for him if people didn't think so. "I'm just not that smart." He shrugged.

"I can play music if nothing else."

[swansongs]

"Same." He nodded. As far as music went, that was. And music could be damned important sometimes. He knew from personal experience and the shared experiences of others.

"Also, I'm Dyme," he added, holding out a hand.

[melodiouspacifist]

He brightened a little bit, because knowing someone else who appreciated music was a nice change and he took his hand. "I'm Demyx. Nice to meet you." He greeted.

"So you just play the guitar then?"

[swansongs]

"Nice to meet you, too," he said with a nod.

"I can play the piano, too," he admitted, "But I don't usually get a chance to. I'm in a rock band. Or was." Before ending up on the train, anyway.

[melodiouspacifist]

"That's pretty cool. I just play the sitar, I've been kinda busy and all that, you know how it is." He said as though other people were running around terrorizing worlds and the like for a good chunk of their unlives and then sneaking in the shadows after that.

[swansongs]

"God, do I. I love my life, but shit can be harsh." His career, he meant. Though he'd been a different kind of busy on the train. He was also bored a lot, and frustrated frequently.

"It's not very relaxing here, either. I mean, just wait until it's time for a mission."

[melodiouspacifist]

Demyx sighed a little bit. "Yeah, I figured."

He couldn't catch a break could he? Just be left somewhere for a few weeks on a tropical island?

"I'm used to it." He waved his hand slightly.

[swansongs]

"What, missions or being busy?" Because he'd only been used to one of those things before getting dumped here. Missions were kind of like having a job though, if your job changed every single time you had to do it.