A New Platform [Intro Post January]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

It’s been a month of ups and downs for the Voidtrecker Express and its passengers, but like clockwork, they are awoken by a familiar message that morning.

"Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Jelly. 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. The air is particularly crisp and clear here, the view blocked only by the fog around the platform, and while not overly cold, the temperature can best be described as brisk.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Fingon, Galo Thymos, Hikaru Aosora, Jin Ling, Lio Fotia, Minako Aino, Nerdanel, Nie Mingjue, Thorne.tcai, Webmind and Yotsuyu goe Brutus 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. As their eyes adjust, they will see they are on a platform, glass and dark stone rising in sturdy arches around them. 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; then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not large with fifteen figures scattered around, all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. To both the left and right, 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 step a strange assortment 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

After a short time, the doors hiss open again. 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 fresh ingredients, including several crates of avocados, the ingredient of the month of Jelly, as well as all sundries.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. For each member of Blue Team, a small gauze bag with their name on it contains a generous handful of sweet rainbow fudge.

New passengers will find their ticket allows 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 full of spare blankets and pillows.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers taking advantage of the fresh air, 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 itself. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.

Welcome to the Void!

Comments

[stardustofdawn]

Turning to Yugi, "Nobody knows? Do you think they have chosen to leave once they experienced what they could on the train?"

[sizedoesntmatter]

"I don't know either, I mean I would like to hope that to an extent, but then it would make us thing that we haven't...and there are those who do want to go home but yet can't. I just find this a lot more complicated."

[stardustofdawn]

Xingchen looks a little nervous. It seems it's a mystery as to how people can come and go on the train. "It is complicated. Especially to those who don't have a home to go back to. I do not."

He didn't want to worry Yugi with someone like himself. "What about you? Do you have a home to go back to? My name is Xingchen, it's nice to meet you."

[sizedoesntmatter]

"Yeah.... those who don't have a place to go back to." What happens to those people. That certainly is something he might now think about a bit.

Which might mean it's something he might worry about later.

"Me? I do have somewhere to go back to. As for my name. It's Yugi."

[stardustofdawn]

Such worrying is distracting. It's best not to worry

"Ah, that's good then." Most of the young children do seem to have a home to return to. "Your family and friends must be worried."

[sizedoesntmatter]

"I'm sure that is the case." At least his Grandpa and maybe the world would notice he wasn't there considering he was the king of games and a well known name. A celebrity suddenly vanishing would of course be obvious.

"What about you?"

[stardustofdawn]

He doesn't want the little one to worry that he no longer has any. He's dead back home.

He forces a smile, keeping it bright and genuine, "I have most of them on board. A-Qing whom I previously fostered as one of my own. Wei Wuxian is my nephew and his husband's family. So, it's nice to have a family on board. We're a big family."

[sizedoesntmatter]

"That's nice at least. To have a family on board anyway." Yugi was happy to have his friends, but he wouldn't be sure if his family could have been able to handle anything like this.

"But family is also something people make of it, people you meet you might find family in them to."

[stardustofdawn]

"Mm, and now including yourself, you're a friend also. There are so many children and friends on board." He said with gratitude.

He heard the train hissing. "Looks like we have to board on the train now as the train will depart soon. Don't linger on the platform."

[sizedoesntmatter]

"How many children are there? I know there are some, which is... honestly worrying regardless considering but it can't be as many as there are teenagers or older, right?" It depended on what someone considered a child really. For some he knew might consider those under a certain age to still be a child.

For him he knew full well he would be classed as an adult even though he was still 18, mostly because he had finished school and was planning on working before he found himself here.

But talking about the type of people who arrive on the train was a good thing to discuss at least in his mind. For all, he knew there could also be a pattern.

[stardustofdawn]

"You're absolutely right. I know a few children on this train, but they are in their teens. Some are orphans and some do have families back home. I'm well-aware this train does take people from their homeworlds without awareness and I want nothing more than for them to return back home with their families."

It's a troubling thought. "I do know we're here on the train for a greater purpose and that's to save worlds."

[sizedoesntmatter]

"That is correct, yes. At least when we have gone on missions that seems to be the case anyway." It was just bad that it took people who were young sometimes or in thier teens. It always made him wonder how people are chosen exactly.

"We all try and do our part in the mission, though it has taken me a good while to find mine."