voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2020-12-01 06:00 am

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!
10billionpercent: (Default)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-15 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm sure they are, but I don't know that we actually know who attacked us this time." Senku mused.

"If you're not a fighter, there's usually other things to do. In this particular time while they were attacking the base camp, I was repairing a sabotaged control station."
firewalled: (Things don't look any better today)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-16 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's not that I'm not a fighter, but I mean, normal human strength isn't much help, I don't think. Even with the training regimen I was on. Or, I guess I was supposed to just do PT now."

Sure, Rich is pretty buff, but that was before he went and tried to burn himself alive.
10billionpercent: (Huh?)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-17 11:29 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't know, all the fighters in my world are just normal humans with skills I don't have." Senku chuckled.

"You'll probably figure it out, but whatever missions they give you can pick the one you want to do."
firewalled: (I'm unable to go back)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-18 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"Huh. I mean, I guess that means I could help, but I haven't had much experience actually fighting anyone 'sides a couple nerds. And supercomputers, but I lost to that."

He's more interested in the choice that he has here. "Huh? So I'm not gonna get in trouble if I don't stick with the team?"
10billionpercent: (Sentimental)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-18 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not at all. I just haven't found a reason to leave the orange team yet, personally." Senku hummed.

"Since I'm strictly a non-combatant, I'm looking for something I can do without those skills. From what I understand, just let the team leads know you're going with another team and go."
firewalled: (Slowly lapsing in depravity)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-20 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh... huh. Are the orange team mostly non-combative? Funny they put me on that one, but I guess I won't be much help otherwise..."

Even if he kind of wants to fight, just to prove that he can.
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-21 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"So far, that's what I've observed, but that's not necessarily true. Some people on the orange team have combat-oriented skills. I'm just not one of them." Senku explained.

"I suppose if all four missions were ever a combat mission, I'd have to think of a plan. I kind of accidentally walked into a combat situation on the last mission through bad luck too." He was considering better ways to protect himself. "And needed to be rescued."
firewalled: (Burning myself out)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-22 02:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Huh. There still must be a reason they divided us up like this. Unless it's just trying to balance teams..."

He's kind of wondering now if there's some sort of hint they can get about the missions from seeing what kind of people were pulled in to deal with it.

He winces at the mention of the bad luck Senku suffered. "That sounds rough. Maybe there's some simple fighting you can get taught, just in case that happens again?"
10billionpercent: (This Is So Exciting)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-23 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
"We haven't yet figured out how the teams are balanced." Senku answered with a bit of a shrug. "It's one of the lingering questions."

He hummed thoughtfully.

"If I had any strength or stamina to speak of, maybe. I did what I could, but it wasn't terribly helpful against giant lazer shooting robots." Senku didn't find his crossbow helpful against Tsukasa either. One more incident and he was going to think it was completely useless at this rate.
firewalled: (Looking in the mirror)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-23 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Seems like half the things I actually wanna know are unanswered questions," Rich grumbles, before the rest of what Senku has to say grabs his attention.

"Wait, you fought a giant robot?" Okay, maybe that's something Rich would have a little more knowledge about.
10billionpercent: (This...is exhilarating)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-23 06:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ha, welcome to my world." Senku grinned a little bit and offered half a shrug.

"Ah, if you mean by hiding behind a tree and needing to be rescued, than yes, I fought a couple of giant robots." Senku snorted lightly. "Actually from what I've heard robots were what attacked the base camp, for the most part."
firewalled: (Say woah)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-25 12:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, uh, that'd be me too. I know a little about robotics, but probably not ones that big. Unless watching a bunch of mecha anime counts."

And really, what Rich does know from being a SQUIP user still might not be much.
10billionpercent: (This Is So Exciting)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-25 05:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"I know a lot about robotics and I can tell you it's not helpful when you're being shot at."

That was what Senku focused on, although someone more relaxed might've jumped at the anime discussion.
firewalled: (Gonna disconnect from the hardwire)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-26 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"Eh, you've got a point. I was just thinkin' if you had an opening to their guts, you could crawl in and hack 'em."

Maybe that's something more likely to work in an action movie, though.
10billionpercent: (Ha Ha)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-26 09:07 pm (UTC)(link)
He chuckled. "I wish. I can't run that fast though, there's no way it wouldn't get me in the meantime." He shrugged helplessly.
firewalled: (That affected talkativeness of mine)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-27 03:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, I'll admit that was probably wishful thinking. Would've looked badass though."
10billionpercent: (Slight Smile)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-27 04:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"I could see that. I've seen a good amount of action movies and mecha anime." He stretched a little bit. "My dad made me."
firewalled: (I'm unable to go back)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-28 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah? That sounds awesome! I used to watch the Muppets with... my dad."

It's still a nice memory of the time before his family relations went to shit.
10billionpercent: (Default)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-28 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"Muppets?" Senku asked, tilting his head a little bit. That might have been a bit before his time.

"What's it about?"
firewalled: (Hey mayday!)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-29 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's a kids show, mostly. There were a bunch of puppets on it. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo... they made jokes, and sometimes they taught stuff like the alphabet or whatever. It was cute."

It's a nice memory, if a little sad to think back on now.
10billionpercent: (Huh?)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-29 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ahh, yeah, I never would've sat through that." Senku said with an amused huff. "I was already reading when my dad got me, there's no way I would've been watching that, personally."
firewalled: (Watching like this for how long?)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-30 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, yeah, you're a genius. It was nice for average kids." Maybe it's silly to be so nostalgic for it when he'd hate it now, but Rich can't help it.
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-31 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"I wouldn't say that." Senku hummed. "But it wouldn't have held my interest. Maybe if it was about space." He'd been focused on space a lot as a child.

"I also liked Doraemon. It's about a cat robot that travels through time and pulls gadgets out of its interdimensional pouch."
firewalled: (Would you kindly laugh at me)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-02 03:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"I think there was one movie about space, but I don't really remember it well." He wasn't a huge science nerd as he grew up, even if he appreciated sci-fi.

"Hey, I think I heard of that one. I remember seeing toys based on it, but I mean, they weren't really showing that in the States. Sounds really cute though. Did it inspire you to get into science?"
10billionpercent: (Slight Smile)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-01-02 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, among everything else. I always liked space. I just...want to know the answer to how everything works." Senku explained. "I don't like not knowing."

(no subject)

[personal profile] firewalled - 2021-01-03 16:20 (UTC) - Expand