voidtreckerexpress | 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Rich moves to check his bag again at Galo's insistence. "Oh... yeah, looks like the ticket's in here. No clothes, though, uh, just..." He half-pulls a fuzzy looking bear out of his pack before stuffing it back in, face flushed.

"Y-Yeah, no clothes." He would be more embarrassed, but he's fortunately distracted by Eight's words. "Wait, what does that mean? How long am I supposed to be on here?" He examines the ticket for any sort of destination or date.

Galo loses some of his calm and just scrubs at his face. "I don't know. I shouldn't be here either. But, it seems like we're stuck here until we're let go. But you're not alone. We're all here too. The color you're wearing is the team color dictated by the train? I'm still learning the ropes here."

He lightly thumps his chest and drags a chair over, dropping into it. "We get sent on missions to help people and all, you can choose to go off train or not. That's one thing I've seen here, we got some choices. I can show you what people compiled later. Like I said, ask me shit and I'll tell you what I know or who could answer things that I don't know."

Eight noted the color of Rich's clothes... and ignoring the flecks of red where it appeared. "Your color means you are on the Orange team. Your leaders are Curufin and Eva. They're nice."

"I am on the Purple Team. Even though we're not on the same team you can always ask me questions. I can even look out for you if it's not too disrespectful."

Edited 2020-12-12 23:18 (UTC)

"I-I mean, I don't care about missions or teams! Like, that stuff would be fine, if I came here by choice. I want to know a way off of this stupid thing. I want to work on finding a way for us to escape. Shouldn't that be as important as the missions?"

He understands needing to help people, sure, but did he have to be kidnapped for that to happen?

He holds up both his hands. "Been looking, but I haven't found anything yet. That I know of no one has." Galo drops his hands back onto his thighs. "I think the only way to find it is to figure out why we were brought here at all. Can't exactly find the answers on the train itself."

His hands clench on his thighs. He visibly looks frustrated and rakes a hand through his hair. "It's important! We just can't figure it out now, but we will. We have to." Galo sighs and sags then forces himself to sit back up.

"So, like I said. That's the story here."

Eight nodded in agreement. For as much as she wanted to be a good team member, Rich had the right of it. If anything working hard had been her solution to try to avoid thinking about any of that. And despite how dubious the claims of being on the train were, she knew one thing: the people on board were not bad people.

She extended a hand for Rich to take. "We're doing the best we can. For you and for everyone else here."

Her lips pursed together in quiet dejection. "Truthfully we're not entirely sure why we're here or why we can't leave. A lot of the time we're just trying to pass away the hours to our next destination."

At least, that's what it felt like.

Rich seems to recoil a bit, ashamed for letting his anger be taken out on people that were genuinely trying to be helpful. He sighs in frustration as well.

"I hope you're right. I really want to get back. As important as missions are... I've got people who need me to be better for them back in my world."

He wasn't about to abandon them... though he supposes he can't just leave people in need here too. He looks at Eight with slight confusion, but takes her hand anyways, wonderinf if perhaps she wants the reassurance.

"I'm not very good at being patient or passing time, I have to admit."

"Like she said, we do a lot of passing the time. It's not great but," Galo shrugs. "It's what we got." Until he can find a way back. His world needs saving. "All we can do is keep moving. We got that and we'll find the answers eventually." He says as he stands up and gestures to the space around them.

He doesn't appear to be all that bothered by the previous displays of anger. "So, anyway. Ask questions and we'll answer. It's what we can do to help you for now."

On grabbing her hand, Eight pulls him up to sitting or to his feet, as needed. She nodded at his concern. Surely everyone here had places they'd rather be and things they need to be doing. She was no different. She was patient with Rich though: he just got here.

"I'm with you, too." She admitted. "I don't really care about the missions or whatever it is the train wants us to do." She felt bad being this selfish, but she wasn't asked. "But... the people on the train have been very helpful to me. I hope in time you can trust us."

"We didn't choose to be here either. And from what I have seen they want to help each other. Including you, now."

Rich tries to take her assistance to get up completely to his feet, though he does wobble slightly, perhaps just expecting some pain on his legs. Thankfully, he seems to be safe.

"I... I mean, you guys are trying to help me." Which does make him feel a little guilty about the possibility of leaving them hanging.

"I want to help people, too. I just... I mean, you guys are heroes, and I'm just a normal guy with a stupid computer in my head. I was supposed to work on doing... well, normal good Samaritan shit first."

Eight shook her head. "No. You were just hurt and I rushed in. You should thank Galo for doing the medical stuff."

"Just take your time, okay? And if you ever see either of us on the train, do make sure to let us know."

"I wanna thank both of you though. Seriously... means a lot that you'd do this for me."

He offers a small smile, but it's at least something. "Of course. I'll be around, sounds like."

A New Platform [Intro Post December]

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Sorry for the wait, stuff happened

s'all good! life happens

agreed! take care of yourself!

Going to wrap this up soon, kk?

works for me!