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

[subcircuits]

Devero rises as Rich does, though Rich's words stop him from reaching out to steady the kid. "Sorry," he says, not actually sounding very sorry. "Force of habit. I'm just trying to help, but I can stop if it makes you uncomfortable."

[firewalled]

"It's..." Rich finds himself feeling a bit hesitant. "It's not like I mind, exactly."

Maybe he should just stay sitting down. "Don't have a good track record with things that say they just wanna help me, you know?"

[subcircuits]

He probably should be sitting down, but since he's still up, Devero backs off a step to give him some space. "I understand," he says. "And in the middle of all this bullshit--" He waves a hand at the train car around them. "--I can't blame you for not taking me at my word. I get it."

[firewalled]

"It's... a lot of bullshit, yeah. I really don't wanna be stuck here. I had really important stuff to take care of back home. Getting my life on the right track and all."

He snorts. "Didn't even mean to make a pun."

[subcircuits]

Devero obliges him with a laugh, then says, "I don't really know what's going on, and most of what I've heard so far sounds absolutely ridiculous. But there's sure to be someone around here with the real story, right? Maybe they can tell us how to get back home."

[firewalled]

"It does sound ridiculous, but... I mean, I don't know if everyone's lying. Maybe about how there's no way to get off this train, but they probably believe that too."

He doesn't want to believe Galo and Eight were just messing with him, when they had done so much to make sure he healed up.

[subcircuits]

"So you've heard that one too, huh?" He heaves a sigh heavy enough to ruffle his bangs, then rakes them up off his forehead with both hands. "...I don't know what to think," he admits.

[firewalled]

"Well, yeah. I was yelling that I wasn't supposed to be hear the second I could find my voice. They probably thought that would calm me down, but it definitely just made me more antsy." He shoves his hands in his pockets as he watches the older man.

"Looks like it's the same for you?"

[subcircuits]

"I wasn't yelling about it," he says, "but I'm not supposed to be here either. I have work to be doing back home."

[firewalled]

"I get you. I have a lot of shit to fix at home too, and if I'm kidnapped for too long, it's just gonna get worse."

[subcircuits]

"Did you get pulled out of the middle of something?" Devero asks. He says it in that diffident, you-don't0have-to-tell-me way, a way that sits strangely on the guy who'd been so brisk and businesslike earlier.

cw abuse mention, mental illness shit

[firewalled]

"Well, probably not something that drastic, but I was kinda in the hospital. I was... working on healing a lot of shit. Trying to get my whole life back together, I mean, I haven't had control over my life for two years at least. Longer if you count walkin' on eggshells around my old man."

It's somehow easy to tell Devero this stuff, now that the dam has broken. He feels... a little detached, really, and god, if that's not a bad sign about his mental state.

[subcircuits]

Rich may still be standing, but Devero decides to take a seat, across the aisle from the one the kid had been sitting in earlier. Maybe if he sits, Rich will sit, because the kid's still not looking great...

He can't help but glance at the scars visible on Rich's face when he says he was in the hospital. But one thing catches his attention and he almost can't help himself: "Your old man? You have a father...?"

Why would he need to walk on eggshells around his father, if he's lucky enough to have one?

[firewalled]

Rich shoves his hands in his pockets, and after a moment of awkwardness, he does decide to sit as well. They are having a conversation, so it's... not like he's too weak to stand. Even if his stomach is twisting in knots as he curses himself for mentioning his dad.

"Yeah, I do. Is that weird?" He's pretty used to most people having a nuclear family. He's pretty sure he's an oddity, what with his mother having passed away.

[subcircuits]

"Not... weird," Devero says. His voice has gone soft and wistful. "Just-- you're lucky. My parents never claimed me."

[firewalled]

"Yeah, well... don't know if my dad wanted to claim me so much as he kinda had to." Rich shrugs. It's weird, hearing someone wishing for a father. Sure, he'd wish for maybe a better one, but...

"I'm sorry your parents ditched you, though. That's shitty."

[subcircuits]

Devero blinks at him, baffled. He's not sure with which bizarre statement he should start.

"They-- didn't?" The second, then. "They weren't any obligation, just like any other parent... Are you saying your father was forced to raise you and didn't want to?"

[firewalled]

"Uh. what are you talking about? If you're born to someone, they usually feel obligated to take care of you. Unless they put you up for adoption, but that's frowned upon."

He doesn't see any reason to clarify how badly his dad didn't want kids around.

[subcircuits]

Uh. what are you talking about, Richie? He shakes his head and holds up both his hands. "Wait, wait-- are you telling me you didn't grow up in a creche? Your parent actually raised you?"

[firewalled]

"Is... is that not actually normal? It was both my parents until my mom died. My dad did a shit job, but he was still legally my guardian. What's... what's a creche?" He's never heard of it, but it sounds like an orphanage. But that's impossible. For every kid to just grow up in an orphanage instead of with their family...

[subcircuits]

"It's-- it's where kids live! Community raised, community-minded," he recites. "They're too precious to risk in the care of just-- just one or two people!"

[firewalled]

"They're too precious in your world, maybe," Rich points out. "In mine, we have too many people in general. Who cares if a couple kids get beaten or starved to death, right?" He says it bitterly, in case Devero was worried he actually believed that.

"Sounds like your world's solution was a lot better."

[subcircuits]

Devero doesn't respond right away. Instead he asks, "How many people are there, on the Earth you come from? --It is Earth, right?"

[firewalled]

"Around 7 billion, I think? And yeah, it's Earth, as far as I know." Rich squints at Devero curiously. The reference to children as 'precious' makes him think there must be less where Devero is from.

[subcircuits]

"...Almost as many as Before," Devero says softly. He slumps back in his seat, his eyes going distant. "You're from before the pathogen, aren't you? What year is it for you?"