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

"So, which is what?" Gen asked, moving so he could look at the plants along with her, at her side. Willing to peer in at the plants and take a closer look, as she pointed them out. "You mentioned one was citrusy and spicy, right?"

"That's an oran," she says, pointing to the blue orangeish thing that looks almost ready to harvest. "That's a kurabo," she points to the red cherry-tomato looking thing that's also almost ready to harvest.

And then she grins and points to the yellow ones she's collected. "That's the pairu. You can eat it as is -though the skin is a bit on the hard side like jerky- and it's probably better, as then you get a burst of sour with the spicy. But we'd need to cut it into bite-sized pieces first."

Each is roughly seven to eight centimetres long; easily the biggest of the three berries.

"I'm excited to try them all, I'll be honest with you!" Gen told her, and might just slip one of the yellow berries she'd already collected into a sleeve, playfully. He wasn't quite as smooth as he could be, because it's meant to be a game right now - but if she didn't notice, he'd reveal it with a flourish later on.

"Unless any of these aren't really good for humans, since I believe you mentioned these are primarily meant for your pokemon," Gen noted.

Oh she notices alright and the only reaction is a raised eyebrow, then a shrug.

If he wants to practice magic with berries, let him. It is a trick she will try herself later on, too. "They're safe for humans to eat; it's only that we won't get the benefits of any effects they have. Or if we do, it's minicule at best."

Edited 2020-12-08 05:51 (UTC)

"What sorts of benefits?" Gen asked, noticing her notice, and giving her an innocent wink. He produced the berry he swiped with a far smoother flourish, this time an effective little trick. "If I have this, will it increase my lucky status and help me find better items?"

His bright smile showed he was teasing a little, though. If there was anything to magically improve their luck, Gen wanted to feed Senku smoothies of that every day for the next month straight.

"Nothing like that- and nice magic by the way," Eva said with a grin before nodding to the berry in hand.

"The one you're holding's popular as it's used to increase a pokemon's Defence or Toughness -depending on which industry you ask, ugh-, but otherwise, it's mostly used in cooking and it can be dried and crushed for use in medicines, though I'm not sure what role it actually plays. I'm not in that profession, but I wouldn't be shocked if it's a source of vitamins or something of the sort."

Or you know, a natural thing that can help boost the body's immune system.

"Why, thank you," Gen grinned at her.

He hummed. Two words for the same thing? Interesting. Gen quipped, joking along with her, "Vitamin C, probably, that's what a lot of fruits tend to have. So if you're feeling under the weather, I should run out here and pick you a bunch of these?"

"I reckon if I practice I'll at least get that down pat." She can hope as long as she wants, but she really won't. Her skills lay elsewhere.

"True- they do share a lot of crossover with true fruits and berries..." Eva says with a nod, even as she eyes the plants with a deeper, thoughtful look before she shrugs. She knows an awful lot about plants, yes, but when it comes to the medical side, Eva's really only ever retained only what was practical on a day to day basis, and with berries, that skewed towards pokemon. "That said, if I am under the weather, food from home's going to at least take my mind of being miserable and will probably earn you bonus points with Princess at least."

The last part's said with a wry grin.

"Hey!" Gen told her cheerfully. "I'll never discount the importance of comfort food. Or on how being happy and feeling relaxed and safe really helps your physical as well as your mental health."

Gen pointed out, "After all, when we're feeling stressed, we're more apt to become sick and run down, aren't we? So improving our spirits when we're ill is very important. That's why, if I'm ever feeling sick, you should find a lot of candy for me."

"Now there's an idea for the next Orange meeting at the very least," Eva says with a grin.

"Who knows, maybe I'll even have more berries. Dunno about you, but I'm sick of these ones. And if I'm honest, I'd rather have ones that work on pokemon over what tastes good."

"Meeting attendance is always higher when you offer free food," Gen agreed brightly.

He tapped his chin. Honesty? Gen wasn't prone to that often. Which is why he said, "Well, so long as you don't get rid of the old varieties, my friend. Speaking personally, since I'm not a pokemon, I do prefer the ones I would enjoy eating more."

The wink that followed showed that he might be kidding around.

"Yeah; it's one of the perks of meetings, honestly. Free food or at least food you don't have to make yourself."

Eva grins, her shrug somewhat exaggerated as she appears to think. "I don't know if I would; these ones are helpful for pokemon at least... I'd have to think about it."

"And, everyone knows - if you're having junk food at a meeting, it doesn't count!" Gen joked, being entirely ridiculous.

Gen thought a little more about it. "These sweet and spicy ones ... are they only good raw, or can you cook them into things? That could be another way you use them, and give them to others. I'd think they might make a pretty good pie ..."

A New Platform [Intro Post December]

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