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

[firewalled]

Trunks' response to his very helpful informattn is an indignant yell, as Rich hastily shoves the teddy bear he was cuddling under a pillow in an attempt to hide his shame.

"Uhhhhh! Yeah! Yeah, I guess I am a new roommate!" Rich laughs a little nervously, trying to play off his screaming, though chances are he won't be able to. "Nice to meet you, uh... there's a book that stays here?"

What.

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks will just pretend he saw nothing. Easier that way, and he wasn't going to judge. "Zetta. Apparently he's trapped in the form of a book, says he's an overlord. He is pretty powerful, but mostly just annoying." Just as if he was commenting on the weather.

"No one explained things to you yet?"

[firewalled]

"That's... pretty weird. You are aware that's an extremely un-normal thing to just mention right off the bat, right?" Sorry, but Rich comes from a fairly average world. There's no such thing as evil overlord books where he's from!

"Um... they explained the basics? We're all trapped on a train, can't get off, don't have a choice about leaving. Nothing about magic books or whatever the hell."

Granted, they might have been focused on making sure he didn't pass out.

[light_of_willpower]

"Very little about this train is 'normal', considering all of us are from different worlds." Trunks responded with a shrug. As if it was all normal. "Basically yes, we're all trapped here on the train, kidnapped essentially. We're all from different worlds, too, so what might be normal in your world isn't necessarily normal in others. Including people. We have Della, who's a duck for example. Rarer in my world, but not unheard of, but new to most people apparently."

cw drugs

[firewalled]

"I mean, I guess you're right about that. Maybe I'm being a little... racist-ish? Something like that. I'll try to keep that in mind."

Rich shrugs in return. "Sorry, man. Just thought I was still high on painkillers."

Re: cw drugs

[light_of_willpower]

"It's a lot to take in, and it sounds like you came in in rough shape." Trunks replied easily, with no judgment or offense. "Just try to keep an open mind. I can help answer questions for you, since I'm here."

A pause.

"Name's Trunks. Like I said, we have one female room-mate, Cassie Lang, and then Zetta--who's usually in the form of a book. I'm not sure if he can take any other forms, but he does have minions that look kind of like penguins."

[firewalled]

"Yeah, a little bit." Rich decides it's best not to go into more detail, though it's pretty obvious just from looking at him. He still offers a small smile.

"I'm Rich. Rich Goranski, like on the sign, I guess. Sounds like we get a little more room in here, though, if one of the roomies is just a book. Do his uh, minions hang out here?"

[light_of_willpower]

"Depends on Zetta's mood." Trunks answered with a shrug. "It's nice to meet you, Rich. So they gave you the basics about being kidnapped and on a train that travels the multiverse to have us play heroes? I'm sure you still have questions."

[firewalled]

"You can say that again," Rich mutters. "Like, why did they pick me for that? I'm not really hero material. And what kind of missions are they sending us on? What happens if we don't do them?"

[light_of_willpower]

"Depends on how you define 'hero'. As for missions, I've only been on two. The first one I went on, to Irisvar, we were called to help this world that was having its magic crystals be corrupted, and it was affecting their health and animals and so on. So some of us purified crystals, some of us fought crazed wildlife, some of us fought corrupted magical monsters, and some of us just helped around the townsfolk. Healing and helping them with their daily lives. We all were acting like adventurers, as that world wasn't void-aware."

Trunks is aware this all might be a lot to take in.

[firewalled]

"Well, I'd define hero material as not someone who nearly dosed a whole school," he mutters, half under his breath. "I mean, uh, I'm just kinda an asshole."

And he was planning on doing better about that, before ending up here...

"I don't know if I could do any of that stuff. Like, I'd like to help a little, but I'm not really... I mean, my world is normal. Not full of crazy monsters, really."

[light_of_willpower]

"Don't seem like an asshole to me." Trunks shrugged, coming in to lean by the doorway. "Then again, we just met. And no one is expecting you to be an expert already. It's okay to learn--you want to help, that's the most important part.

[firewalled]

"Eh, you'll learn soon enough. And... yeah. I at least wanna help with finding a way back home. Don't know yet if I really want to play along with whoever kidnapped us."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks raises an eyebrow. "If you manage to be half the asshole my father is, I'll be impressed." With only a hint of snark. "I'm not sure who's on figuring out how to get home--we're still not even sure why we're here. Or who's in charge, or more about the train at all."

cw abuse mention

[firewalled]

That actually gets a bit of a laugh from Rich. "Fucking dads, right? He's one thing I'm not gonna miss from back home. Honestly, if I head back to his place from the hospital when I'm back, he's going to send me right back there."

That's... probably not a great joke, so he focuses on the rest of that. "Ugh. Is anyone even trying? Everyone I've talked to seems to act like there's no point in leaving this place."

Re: cw abuse mention

[light_of_willpower]

I'm not sure--the last mission ended up real bad for a lot of us, and trying to survive and keeping us all from fighting have been the big priorities.

[firewalled]

"How bad is real bad? Was it... did anyone get killed?"

He almost didn't consider that these missions could be that dangerous.

[light_of_willpower]

"One passenger dead. Several injured and near dead. Most everyone exhausted and worn out so morale is seriously low." Trunks saw no reason to sugarcoat it.

[firewalled]

"Right... and they got a regular-ass person to come here to help with missions that dangerous? Jesus." Rich isn't sure how he's possibly going to help without becoming a casualty himself.

[light_of_willpower]

"This one went bad because we were ambushed in base camp, and unorganized." At the very least. "The one we went on before went fine, and there was plenty for non-combatants to do. You'll find a way to help. And if you don't want to, and stay on the train, that's fine too. You've been kidnapped--no one can really force you to participate."

[firewalled]

"I mean, that's good to hear, at least. It makes me a little willing to do things when I'm not forced into it, I think." Which was definitely something his SQUIP hadn't learned. "Maybe I will come up with something."

[light_of_willpower]

"We do have lots of people willing to help teach and train you, too."

[firewalled]

"That's a good point too. Maybe I can find someone to teach me once I'm settled here."

[light_of_willpower]

"Depends on what you want to learn, but we have a lot of different skills among all of us. Anything else I can answer for you?"

[firewalled]

"I guess... how long do you think we'll all be stuck here? I probably said this before, but I'd really like to get back home."