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

[10billionpercent]

Senku was a bit distracted with looking through the microscope but then he got an uneasy feeling, like someone was watching him. Intensely. For some reason.

He turned his head and glanced around. "Hey Airavata." He greeted, when he solved the source of the intense stare.

He saw her crutches. He absolutely knew nothing about those repairs, nope, he definitely didn't consult on them even though he didn't break his promise exactly, he didn't do any repairs himself. He didn't even touch it!

As for his condition he was looking a little more normal, he wasn't confused or dragging, in fact his mind was back to being sharp. A couple of days' rest took care of what was going on with him. Magic healing saved him weeks of recovery.

[sos_pilot]

Oops. "Well, guess I shouldn't consider a career in being a ninja." With the lame joke done with, she began to hobble inside.

"I just wanted to check in on you, see how you're doing..."

[10billionpercent]

Senku snickered appropriately when she came closer. "Probably not, for one thing you're not dressed all in black. I hear that's how the ninjas do it." He tended to err on light teasing.

"Better." He softened slightly. "I only sort of remember our conversation, which is weird, but not much I can do about that, I took a hit to the head."

[sos_pilot]

Della frowned upon hearing that. "In that case... are you sure you should be up and around?"

[10billionpercent]

"Yeah I'm probably fine. I got magically healed." Senku pointed out gently. "Took care of the broken bones and smoke inhalation too."

Someone told her it was a semi-serious set of injuries right?

[sos_pilot]

"But what about the head?" Della tried to point to his skull. "Are you sure they healed the concussion?"

[10billionpercent]

"It doesn't hurt or anything, and I'm at least finishing my thoughts again...so probably." Senku hummed. "I'd be a lot more confused for a lot longer if she hadn't."

[sos_pilot]

"Probably is not a very comforting word!" Geez, for a genius, he could be thick in some places!

[10billionpercent]

"Ah, don't worry Airavata, I'm feeling better." He told her honestly. "If it was my own explosion I'd have been ready to dodge but it kinda snuck up on us."

He sighed. Oh well. No point in dwelling on it. "That's not why people are mad at me though." This time he knew exactly why, but he also didn't agree. He wasn't sure how to explain things so he didn't try. Let them be mad.

[sos_pilot]

Della exhaled deeply, hobbling further inside to try and find a seat.

"And why are people mad at you?"

[10billionpercent]

She hadn't heard about that?

"For removing my SCA." Senku answered. "It's completely smashed from the explosion too. We'd lost it, but Siebren brought it back to me."

[sos_pilot]

Judging from her wide-eyed startled expression, no, she did not know. "You took it off?! Why?!"

[10billionpercent]

"It was beeping incessantly, and so was the whole control station." Senku explained, rubbing his ear in memory of it alone. "They were out of sync too. It's like double beeping."

[sos_pilot]

"Please tell me you didn't rip it off because you found it annoying!" Bad boy genius, bad boy genius!

[10billionpercent]

"Incredibly annoying. It's not just that, it's like, I needed to think. I couldn't think." Senku shrugged. Overwhelming was a bit of a better word for it but his mind didn't go there immediately.

[sos_pilot]

Della sucked in air through her teeth, resisting the urge to smack him with a crutch. "Well... the important thing is... you're safe and sound now..." She said slowly - but it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than him, lest she lose the infamous McDuck temper.

[10billionpercent]

"Yeah, I'm fine." It would be alright if he did get mad, he could use more people taking him to task for what stupidity he pulled.

"It's just broken. I'm not sure what to do about that but I'll figure it out."

[sos_pilot]

"Have you talked to anyone else who knows more about these things?" She asked while trying not to molt from sheer stress.

[10billionpercent]

"I didn't think anyone did know more about it." He hummed. "I don't know but I can tell you it doesn't have a mute button." That alarm was just so grating, it made him want to cover his ears.

[sos_pilot]

"Well, I don't know much about it either... Save for the fact when someone I know tried to remove it, he began to fade in and out of existence." Boy, that had been FUN.

[10billionpercent]

"Hm, nothing like that happened to me." Senku mused. "There's more about the SCAs that we don't know."

[sos_pilot]

"How can you just say 'hm' at that?!" Della snapped, unable to hold back anymore.

[10billionpercent]

He blinked, a little surprised. "I was...thinking?"

She'd caught him a little off-guard that that's what bothered her. "I don't know how it works and it seems like what I observed isn't all that..."

Senku looked like he was trying to figure out what the problem was. This was a case where he bypassed the socially acceptable answer again, wasn't it?

"I...that sounds bad?" He tried.

[sos_pilot]

"YES, IT WAS VERY BAD! AND THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU!" Della began swinging around one of her crutches - she wasn't trying to hit him (supposedly), just needing to flail and vent. "I don't want you risking your life because of something that was a little ANNOYING!"

[10billionpercent]

He winced slightly at the proper yelling. "That would have been bad." He agreed with a grimace. "It...wasn't just a little annoying." He glanced away with a bit of a huff.

"But I get your point."