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

[10billionpercent]

"It was beeping incessantly, and so was the whole control station." Senku explained, rubbing his ear in memory of it alone. "They were out of sync too. It's like double beeping."

[sos_pilot]

"Please tell me you didn't rip it off because you found it annoying!" Bad boy genius, bad boy genius!

[10billionpercent]

"Incredibly annoying. It's not just that, it's like, I needed to think. I couldn't think." Senku shrugged. Overwhelming was a bit of a better word for it but his mind didn't go there immediately.

[sos_pilot]

Della sucked in air through her teeth, resisting the urge to smack him with a crutch. "Well... the important thing is... you're safe and sound now..." She said slowly - but it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than him, lest she lose the infamous McDuck temper.

[10billionpercent]

"Yeah, I'm fine." It would be alright if he did get mad, he could use more people taking him to task for what stupidity he pulled.

"It's just broken. I'm not sure what to do about that but I'll figure it out."

[sos_pilot]

"Have you talked to anyone else who knows more about these things?" She asked while trying not to molt from sheer stress.

[10billionpercent]

"I didn't think anyone did know more about it." He hummed. "I don't know but I can tell you it doesn't have a mute button." That alarm was just so grating, it made him want to cover his ears.

[sos_pilot]

"Well, I don't know much about it either... Save for the fact when someone I know tried to remove it, he began to fade in and out of existence." Boy, that had been FUN.

[10billionpercent]

"Hm, nothing like that happened to me." Senku mused. "There's more about the SCAs that we don't know."

[sos_pilot]

"How can you just say 'hm' at that?!" Della snapped, unable to hold back anymore.

[10billionpercent]

He blinked, a little surprised. "I was...thinking?"

She'd caught him a little off-guard that that's what bothered her. "I don't know how it works and it seems like what I observed isn't all that..."

Senku looked like he was trying to figure out what the problem was. This was a case where he bypassed the socially acceptable answer again, wasn't it?

"I...that sounds bad?" He tried.

[sos_pilot]

"YES, IT WAS VERY BAD! AND THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU!" Della began swinging around one of her crutches - she wasn't trying to hit him (supposedly), just needing to flail and vent. "I don't want you risking your life because of something that was a little ANNOYING!"

[10billionpercent]

He winced slightly at the proper yelling. "That would have been bad." He agreed with a grimace. "It...wasn't just a little annoying." He glanced away with a bit of a huff.

"But I get your point."

[sos_pilot]

Deep inhale. Deep exhale. Repeat. Repeat.

"Good... if you won't take care of yourself for your own sake, then do it for mine. If something seriously bad happened to you... I don't know what I'd do."

[10billionpercent]

That was bordering on sentimental and Senku tried not to squirm a bit at that. He just didn't know what to say when people were so passionate about his well-being.

"I'll try. I really didn't intend to get exploded, total accident. Neither Kaiba or I were anywhere near that area of the station until afterwards." It hadn't been his fault..this time.

"For the moment, mine's broken. I don't know how to fix it, but I'll try anyway." He didn't know what would happen if a mission came up and he didn't have one.

[sos_pilot]

"As long as you remember it." Della sighed. She didn't know how to fix one either, or who to even go to for repairs. She could only hope it looked worse than it actually was.

"Maybe it's high-time I stopped getting so excited about the adventure-aspect of these missions, and started actually paying attention to the train and the stuff it does."

[10billionpercent]

He chuckled. "Why?" Senku shrugged. "I don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying the adventure part."

He hummed lightly. "I like the mystery. I like to sit around and think about all the things I don't know yet. Call it a hobby."

[sos_pilot]

"I'm not saying to not get excited... I just need to balance it out." Della looked around to try and find a seat. "I have a habit of being a little too reckless... and headstrong. And irresponsible."

[10billionpercent]

He waited for her to find the seat she liked and hummed thoughtfully.

"Headstrong and a degree of recklessness isn't too bad." Senku admitted. "As long as you're willing to take the responsibility for doing it." He commented.

"I do a lot of wild things, but I also have to bear the responsibilty behind all of my decisions."

[sos_pilot]

Hearing that, Della did begin to smile. "It took me a while to learn that... and it cost me some important things." She nodded her head towards her leg, although in her opinion, that wasn't her "biggest loss."

"I'm just glad you know the same... without losing the same."

[10billionpercent]

"Well I didn't lose a leg." Senku agreed. "I've learned my lessons, there's been repercussions here or there."

He leaned forward slightly, considering that. "I don't try to think about things I've lost. I carry them with me, but I try not to focus on that stuff. Might make me mad. I hate being mad. Huge waste of time."

[sos_pilot]

Della laughed a little at that. "I wish me and my family could take that to heart! We're kinda infamous for our temper."

[10billionpercent]

"That so?" Senku asked with a bit of a grin.

"And here Taiju can't remember a single time I've lost my temper." Senku hummed.

"I try and channel any emotions really into constructive output. It really made me mad when our enemies trashed our ship, because I had to rebuild everything, but getting mad wouldn't solve the problem."

[sos_pilot]

Della grinned right back, intrigued. "Sounds like you're teasing a story..."

[10billionpercent]

"Ah, that's a long enough story." Hopefully Della was comfortable, because he was going to proceed to tell it anyway.

"It started when we arrived on Treasure Island, as I call it, and it's populated which was a bit of a surprise, but apparently the descendants split some generations ago, roughly half ending up where I found them and the other half stayed there. We sent a small group to the shore to scout a little bit. Me, and Gen and Kohaku." He hummed.

"Ibara's forces stormed the ship and they had a petrification device and proceeded to petrify the rest of us, which was...less than ideal. Then they dumped the statues overboard and took over the ship." He considered that. "Save two who weren't petrified, but they were hiding just outside the range of the weapon."

He concluded this part with, "While they had control of the ship, they just smashed everything they didn't understand what it was."

Did she want more?