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

Zechs would offer him a hand up, though he wouldn't be offended or even react if it were ignored. Certainly, Quatre was no less the pilot he was before, with or without this kind of ... reaction. It only showed that he valued Barton highly, in one way or another.

He wouldn't start a conversation as they walked through the train toward the kitchen, but he would subtly make certain people who were just barrelling down the hall, possibly not paying attention, wouldn't run down the other pilot. Watching out for him in ways that he could, even if it was inconsequential.

When Zechs offered the hand up, Quatre would take it, using the other to brace himself against the wall so that he could stand. He took a moment to steady himself, using the wall for support, before falling into place with Zechs as they headed towards the kitchen.

He didn't say anything as they walked, keeping one arm around himself. He wasn't paying as much attention as he should to where others in the corridors were so he did appreciate that Zechs was paying attention for him. He was sure if he hadn't, he probably would have walked right into someone.

Once in the kitchen, Zechs wordlessly directed Quatre to sit, before finding the electric kettle and filling it. It would take just a few minutes to boil. He looked back over his shoulder at the younger man as he set it down.

"I hadn't known you were friends," Zechs admitted. "I knew you worked together during the war."

Quatre walked over to the table to sit, carefully folding his hands in his lap as he waited. It didn't really matter to him how long it took. The fact that he was doing this meant a lot to him.

"We have been quite some time. We became close after meeting the first few times."

Well, Trowa had grown closer to him. He had already felt close to Trowa.

Zechs stood by the kettle as it boiled, turning more though so he could face Quatre as they spoke. He nodded in understanding. That made sense - and stranger friendships could be made through war, it didn't seem odd that two soldiers fighting for the same goals, so vastly outnumbered on Earth, would bond.

Something occurred to him, and Zechs found himself asking, "Do you know if he even ... wanted to return?"

It would've been a ridiculous question to Zechs when he first arrived here. Surely everyone wanted to go back. Now, he realized, that wasn't always the case.

Quatre looked down at the table before back up at Zechs at the question. "I'm sure that in some way he wanted to go home. I'm sure most people here do want to go home at some point. But I know he wouldn't have chosen to do so if I wasn't going with him."

"I hadn't meant to imply otherwise," Zechs inclined his head. "I've only learned recently that some people would choose not to leave at all. It would be unlike either of you to abandon a comrade, I simply didn't know about his feelings generally on escape."

Which was a really long and awkward way of saying, "If those who leave return back to our homes ... I suppose I was attempting to find you a poor measure of comfort."

"It's alright," Quatre replied. He knew that Zechs hadn't been trying to imply anything. It was just how it was. He had wondered the same thing recently. Had Trowa wanted to go? He couldn't be completely sure, but he was certain that he wouldn't have left without him if he had the choice.

"I wish I knew how this train operated."

"Likewise," Zechs frowned a bit, and with the kettle now beeping, he would pour them each some tea. "Plenty of its decisions seem ... random. Not logical by any means. If there are operators, they seem mad; if it's run by programming, it seems to be malfunctioning."

"I agree. It doesn't make any sense at all. Collecting people from many different worlds. Sending them away seemingly at random. Not allowing us to speak to anyone in control. None of this is logical."

He sighed. "But there's not much that we can do at the moment."

"We can be prepared," Zechs told him simply, handing Quatre his mug. "We can be vigilant. We can be mindful."

Sitting down, Zechs paused, realizing that he took an effort to comfort the young pilot and turned it into work. His expression stiffened to hide his internal disappointment at himself.

"... We can watch each other's backs, as we continue through the unknown."

Quatre nodded as he accepted the mug of tea, holding it first in his hands before taking a sip. He hadn't even really noticed that Zechs had turned it into work. Work was something that took his mind off of it. Work was something that kept him going.

"Yes, we can do all of that. We can be prepared for when he have the chance to act against the train and whoever is controlling it and we can look after each other."

A New Platform [Intro Post December]

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