voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post December]

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A New Platform [Intro Post December]

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!

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For Alley, it was like coming face to face with a ghost. A ghost she'd let down, failed... not even just once but twice. One of the very first people she'd ever sworn to protect, and...

Different enough, at least, that she knew this wasn't him. The shape of the face, the voice, the posture, none of it matched. Just the hair and the eyes, and the height.

She narrowed her own darker blue eyes, lifted her chin, and set her jaw, "No."

That was absolutely not an invitation to pry, either, and she moved to stride past him.

... Hm. Perhaps he simply reminded her of someone. Zechs considered, for a moment, what it would be like to see the particular likeness of someone he'd known in the past - but it wasn't them.

Then, he considered what would happen if the dead from his past actually arrived on the train ... and had to push the idea aside.

Zechs followed her, expression far more serious this time.

"As a start," Zechs told her, "everyone here is from different places. Different realities, though that might be an unfamiliar concept. The place they've been taken from might be very different from the one you left - with different sentient species, technology, or even magic, as impossible as that sounds."

"As impossible as what sounds?" Alley glanced back, one eyebrow lifted.

And then her attention went back to the train as they got closer, wary. Shoulders tense, stupid bag still lashed to her shield arm, misshapen right hand twitching in its glove like it wanted a weapon.

Zechs snorted softly. "Of course, you would be from a world with magic. I'm beginning to believe it's those like my own that are outliers. What magic does seems illogical to me - but given ample evidence, I cannot deny it exists."

He drew up alongside Alley in front of the train, and didn't push, didn't try to reassure, didn't coax. He only said, matter-of-fact, "I think we nearly have a hundred and twenty people on this thing, now. The train is barely large enough not to feel too crowded."

... To someone used to tight quarters on colonies, anyway.

Oh good, he's in range in case she really did decide to use a human to do a shield bash against the side of the train. How considerate of him.

Alley takes in his comments about being from somewhere without magic, and wonders privately what Solas would think of such a place. If he'd thought the people of Thedas were like the Tranquil...

Hm.

Right, she should probably actually speak.

"...That's a lot of people for an oversized wagon."

"It's the reason it's pretty oversized," Zechs told her, straightforward. He could see her obvious trepidation, and it would seem understandable enough, considering her unfamiliarity with the technology. But offering pragmatic reasons as to why something was the way it was, why something existed, would likely help.

And, well. Other cold truths. "Any passengers who remain on the platform die when the train leaves. I'm not exactly certain why. But after death, we're revived and wake up in the train's luggage compartment. Undignified, but more convenient during a battle than being permanently removed from the roster."

In other words - one way or another, she'll end up onboard that train.

"I'm not refusing to get on," Alley glanced at him side-long, eyes narrowed. "Maker knows I don't see any other options available to me right now. But that doesn't mean I'm going to do this shit at a run. Is it going to take off all at once without warning? I assume if that was the case, you'd already be back on it."

She was feeling a bit cranky, but who could blame her? All things considered.

Zechs returned her sidelong glance, calm and unsurprised. He pointed out, "I hadn't known your intentions, since this situation seems entirely foreign to you. Personally, I had waited until the last moment to board the train, because I was curious."

As one does.

"The train sounds a horn before it departs, and you begin to feel a sense of dread," Zechs explained. "The dread intensifies, to a greater and greater extent, which might make you feel as if you must board the train, or something terrible will befall you."

He paused for a moment. "So, whatever forces brought us here, also have the ability to manipulate our emotions, was my general conclusion."

"Fantastic, I love having my shit manipulated. Who doesn't?"

Ugh. But since there's time before she'll have to board, she's going to get a good look at this fucking thing first. Tapping the bar standing in for her left arm here and there, bending to peer under the train as much as she could with the edge of the platform in the way. Squinting at the writing down the side of the engine.

"It's been the best part. When you're on board, don't look out the windows for long if you'd like to avoid headaches and a tremendous sense of dread," Zechs warned her wryly.

He watched her inspect the machine, still not rushing her, since that feeling that they needed to be on board now hadn't started.

"Oh, fantastic," Alleyana's damaged voice could have never contained the sarcasm in those two words, even if she'd tried to.

But her eyes were still on the train, and she backed up a few steps, eyes going... up.

What's up there? What can be seen from up there?

One way to find out.

The Inquisitor ran at the machine and jumped, grabbing onto a handhold with her one hand and hauling herself up. This was both easier and harder without armor -- less weight, but less reinforcement for her extremely damaged fingers, too.

Not that this would stop her. She wedged her foot... somewhere, and lunged up for the next thing to grab.

"What -"

No, that question was largely useless. Alley had decided she wanted to start climbing the train. Which was ... hm. Not the worst idea, aside from perhaps being a bit less convenient when it was time to board the train again. Perhaps she'd be able to see something interesting about the craft from that vantage point.

...

... Was he seriously considering climbing up on the train himself?

...

He was.

Zechs considered if the benefits would outweigh the risks as she climbed further up the craft.

It was never as hard to get down as it was to get up onto something, at least. One way or another.

Especially when you were climbing with one hand.

But the Inquisitor did it, eventually standing on top of the train and then starting to walk along the length of it, jumping the gap between two cars. Better think fast, Zechs!

"Huh."

Was he doing this? Apparently, yes. Zechs started to climb up the train, using the same path Alley had taken, strong and even a little more nimble. Soon, he was on the train itself, looking over the craft.

... Interesting.

His inspection was far more sedate. On top of the cars, it was very unlikely that he'd loose track of his newest team member, so he could investigate what was up there himself.

"Fog, fog, and more fog," Alley cursed under her breath in another tongue, and kept going. Up towards the engine, which she would absolutely also climb on if nothing stopped her.

"Why is the Fade always so full of bullshit."

“Fade?” Zechs asked, hearing her running commentary as he got closer. “Does your reality have a place similar to this one?”

Alley changes her mind at the last second, not jumping onto the engine and instead moving to climb down the other side of the train. Let's see if it's all just fog over here like it looks!

Down is easier than up, anyway, especially with one hand.

"My reality has layers, the Fade's just where the really weird shit happens."

"If we're somehow in a layer of your reality - for all the realities that have found themselves in this place," Zechs pointed out evenly, "I'd be very surprised."

He followed her down on the other side, more curious than anything else. It appeared much the same as the first, except here, the space to the invisible 'barrier' was much shorter. This much, Zechs had explored before.

"Or it simply overlaps wherever you're all from, too."

Assuming they're not simply part of the Fade.

Alley walks along the barriers, dragging the bar standing in for her left arm along the invisible wall, looking for any openings. When she doesn't find any, she finally hisses out a curse and goes to untangle the bag from the bar, and crouches down to rifle through its contents.

"Doubtful," Zechs said, full of skepticism, because, "for to the extent of what I understand my reality, it follows the laws of physics and is bound by reason. Strange things such as this can't be found there."

"Doesn't mean the Fade doesn't reach it, even if you never perceive it," Alleyana's focus stays on digging through the bag, finding something solid at the core of the mess of cloth in the middle. She struggles to untangle it with only the one hand, the bar standing in for her other supporting the bag.

"Do you dream when you sleep?"

"Of course I do," Zechs answered her, "from time to time. Everyone does, even if they don't remember it. A random consequence of -"

He paused, because while he'd been puzzled by the non-sequitur, it made a lot more sense if he considered - the train's oddities let him consider the illogical idea - "you mean to say, when you dream, it's this Fade? You don't simply have normal dreams?"

"I mean, normal's subjective, isn't it? But before... yes, when most people on Thedas dream, they're actually visiting the Fade without knowing it."

It's gotten a little more complicated for Alleyana, ever since she grabbed that stupid orb at the conclave. Even now, with her arm gone, her dreams...

"That's the most interaction most people will ever have with it."

At least, if she can stop Solas from ripping the Veil down.

"That must be one way in which our realities differ," Zechs told her with a nod. "Ours is simply our subconsciousness, such as it is. Random eye movements, brains misfiring and constructing thoughts and ideas, creating scenarios based on memories or out of whole cloth."

He explained, "There's nothing in our dreams but what our minds bring into them. Certainly not a place one can visit, like the Fade in your reality."

To be fair, most people have no idea their dreams are tied to the Fade. It's mostly the mages who know otherwise... and Alley, thanks to the Anchor.

And since the Fade responds to mortals, not the other way around, they'd never have a reason to know better.

"Right," Alley just grunts that in response, and finally pulls free the thing she found in her bag. It's a mace, the head of which is made of sculpted gryphons with their wings half-open, creating three blunt edges to the heavy end.

Bright red energy crackles around the weapon, crawling over its surface like the inside of an angry storm cloud.

"Thank. Fuck."

She'd have rather had her shield, but this is at least something.

Edited 2021-01-08 13:52 (UTC)

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zechs_isonfire - 2021-01-10 04:42 (UTC) - Expand

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inquisitor_lavellan - 2021-01-13 02:59 (UTC) - Expand

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