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

[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.

[melodiouspacifist]

"Missions." Demyx explained. "They're a total drag, aren't they?"

[swansongs]

"Kind of," he agreed. "They're also kind of stressful. I never feel like I'm helping out enough. Or they're dangerous." And he didn't want to die just as much as he wished he had actually useful skills instead of singing and playing instruments.

[melodiouspacifist]

"Ugh, dangerous missions are the worst." Demyx complained. He sighed softly.

"Oh well. Guess we'll see how it goes, if I'm still here."

[swansongs]

"They really are." He hated everything about them, more or less, especially seeing other people get hurt.

"What d'you do? That you're used to missions, I mean."

[melodiouspacifist]

"Oh nothing really interesting, just some missions for a guy. He was just a pain in the ass." Demyx complained lightly, to brush off the question.

[swansongs]

"Uh-huh." Dyme could take a hint sometimes, at least. He knew when someone didn't want to elaborate on something, and wouldn't push for more information. No matter how curious he was. "I imagine a lot of jobs--and people--are a pain in the ass," he said. "Of course, I'm just imagining. I've never actually done anything besides music." But he'd never want to work retail or anything else like that.

[melodiouspacifist]

"I don't really know, I've mostly just had the one job for the longest time and never really liked it. But I totally quit." Demyx said with a grin. "So I don't really have to worry about it anymore."

[swansongs]

"Good!" Dyme nodded. "I hope you find something better to do. You know, when this whole mess is over."

[melodiouspacifist]

"Here's hoping. I have no idea what I'm going to do when I'm out of here." He looked like he was thinking about it for a moment. Was he worried? Definitely, but he didn't really want anyone to know that.

[swansongs]

"I'm sure you'll figure out something." Dyme believed in people, even strangers. "You've got family? Friends?" People who could help him out until he got a new job?

[melodiouspacifist]

"Oh no, nothing like that." Demyx shook his head. "Well. One friend. Maybe. If we're friends. I'm not actually sure." He shrugged lightly. He didn't know what Ienzo thought about him really.

"Mostly he just tells me not to touch anything in his lab."

[swansongs]

"Oh." Well, that wasn't the kind of answer he'd been expecting. So much for his planned 'support in friends and family' line. "Well...I'm sure you'll end up with friends here, at least." It was surprisingly hard not to make friends on the train.