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

[worthallthis]

Happy to prove that awful guess right, Raven. Soldat continues to steadily fold, keeping their voice even. "Cryofreeze. Any time I wasn't on a mission or in training. I was on ice."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"...Mr. Barnes had an ice phobia. We were on a winter mission together, and I helped keep him from getting buried in the snow." Raven hoped that using the last name might help put some distance between Soldat and the name he obviously wasn't fond of. "I'm an Empath, so I could also tell he was a bit more stressed on that mission than he might otherwise be."

[worthallthis]

That's not an iteration of that name they've ever been punished for, so they blink, tilt their head, and nod with absolutely no twitching. Nice. That's interesting to know. "Yeah, I'm. Not too fond of the cold, either," they allow, and a couple plates in the metal arm shift. "Though I did kind of get used to snow over two winters in Beacon. Had a couple blizzards." Ugh. Those had been awful.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

To go back to an earlier topic... "Unfortunately, space is at a premium on the train. Not really much space to roam. Sometimes there is on missions, sometimes not."

[worthallthis]

"And on missions you're not there to enjoy the scenery," Soldat agrees. The origami comes together as an owl, at last, which they then set on the seat beside Raven's knee. A gift for you, helpful girl.

And then they start another, still taking it slow and steady. It's clearly helping, as their breathing is normal and the stress screaming in the back of their mind is mostly gone. Not entirely, they still don't know what it is about being on a train that is freaking them out, but it's ignorable for now. "In general I like being around people. So in general. Might not be a problem. We'll see."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

The origami owl is very cute, so Raven lifts a hand gently towards it. Dark-energy surrounds her hand, as she makes the owl levitate and flaps it's wings. Raven might have a small smile on her face while doing so.

He's not Bucky, and Raven misses Bucky. But Raven likes Soldat so far, and she's glad to see the stress going down.

"I like being around people on my terms. They can be exhausting at times, and I'm used to copious amounts of alone time." A pause. "I meditate a lot, to help cope, among other reasons."

[worthallthis]

Soldat catches sight of the flying owl out of the corner of their eye, and they look up with a blink, staring just a little-- not in a bad way. It's surprising and kind of amazing, too, but not everyone is as open with their magic at Raven is, back in Beacon. They flash her a quick smile for the "play", then get back to work on their own second piece.

"I know people who are like that. Exhausted by people." And sometimes Soldat knows that feeling-- but their exhaustion comes from interacting with them. They hate being alone, but don't necessarily want to be required to talk. "This is pretty much what I do to cope."

Second origami is a little dog, which they set on the seat behind their head. "This and cooking."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"You'll be very welcome then, for the cooking. Even if it's not your team's assigned chore." Raven said with a hint of smile. "I can't cook, myself. I can make tea though. So I try to help with clean-up, when Purple is assigned cooking chores."

[worthallthis]

That's a relief. "Don't mind cleaning. But should have people work to their skills, and not everyone has cooking skills. I'll find someone on the cooking team to swap." They nod, finally relaxed enough to try the tea rather than making a third origami animal. They're better equipped for a new place, this time. They know how to act around actual people, now, they have things to help them calm down. It'll be okay. (No. It will, Asset. We'll make sure. Handler. ... I know, Asset. I miss her, too.)

They focus back on Raven. "Are there. Other important things I should know."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"You don't really have to stick with what your team's assigned. Either for missions or chores." Raven answered. "You should keep your ticket on you at all times, as it's the only thing that lets you into your room." Pause. "Unless you can move through walls. We have at least 3, counting me, who can do that I think."

What else was important. "Do you know why the train kidnapped you? kidnapped all of us?"

[worthallthis]

"God, no. No magic or anything. No walking through walls." Good to know that someone can, though. That's going to make them a little on edge, probably, until they figure out who all can do that and determine if they're marginally trustworthy.

Testing the Lembas, frowning a bit at the odd bread texture, they answer the last question: "No idea. Last place it was random. Is there a pattern to this one?"

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"The train is kidnapping us from all places, to be 'void heroes'. In other words, it'll stop at worlds in danger, and we're expected to help out these worlds. Some are void-aware, some aren't, so that can affect how much we have to blend in or not."

[worthallthis]

Ah. So there's a goal. Soldat considers it while they chew, then nod. "Okay. I can do that. Maybe not always blending in." They wiggle their metal fingers with a whirring of internal parts. "I can wear a glove but it's always kind of noisy. Where do we get gear for the mission?"

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"When it's needed, in the dressing car. Usually whatever we'll need is supplied."

[worthallthis]

They look hopeful. "Weapons, body armor?" Frankly, they feel pretty naked right now, in an unfamiliar place without the tactical vest, half a dozen knives, and at least one gun.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"I want to say yes, but I'm not sure. You can buy weapons from the Train Store, but it's expensive. At the train-wide meeting, someone else also brought up armor so I assume that's available too." Raven couldn't really give him a better answer, sadly.

"Which team are you assigned to?"

[worthallthis]

Better than nothing, anyway. They have another bite of the Lembas before going back to the tea. "Not sure." They look between their new purple outfit, and her purple... part of the outfit, anyway, since the cowl clearly isn't standard issue, and guess, "Purple?" It might not be named for color, but they've seen a lot of the same colors scattered about so far.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"I mean, I probably should've guessed." Given all the purple between them. "That means you'll want to look for...hmmm" Trying to recall, as they'd only met recently, briefly. "Cassie Cage I think? She's purple's quartermaster."

[worthallthis]

"Okay." They nod over their tea. "I'll do that. Thank you." They consider what other questions they probably ought to have answered. "Do people. Mostly. Work together here?" That isn't the question they really mean to ask, but they can't find better words for it, and the frustration with the inadequate phrasing does leak a little into their expression.

(Cooperate? No. Mission. No, Asset. Consume? Definitely not. C'mon, that's practically the opposite. It's just more complicated than that, is all.)

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"For the most part yes. It's kind of amazing there isn't more trouble or strife. I think it's because all of us recognize none of us are here by choice, nor should we make life too uncomfortable as we're all crammed together."

[worthallthis]

"Some people might take this situation. And lash out at others," Soldat points out blandly. "Frustration or fear. Or isolate themselves and not help. Or try to take control, thinking they're better than others. That we need their leadership." If that isn't happening here, then this is probably a pretty decent group of people. Even in Beacon, there'd been agitators, people who thought themselves superior, who made things harder for everyone else. Not many, especially near the end... but still there.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"We have our occasional agitators, and we don't always all agree, but for the most part, we all work together. We all seem to have sense enough to recognize we're stuck in this situation." She shrugged. "Not everyone is happy about it at all, and there's definitely unrest. But it's not a big deal usually if someone doesn't help as others make up for the slack. So far the only one who's really tried to take control was Tony Stark, and even he had advisers he listened to. We just grew out of a system where it needed 1 leader."

[worthallthis]

Soldat gives a startled little twitch, and if half the tea hadn't been gone, they would probably have spilled it. "Stark? Howard?" (Not-- not Howard. She said Tony. Who the fuck is Tony? How should I know! But she didn't say Howard.)

[azrthmtrnznthos]

Raven blinked, and replied calmly. "No, Tony." A pause. "I'm guessing you have some uncomfortable associations with his family." She was only half-guessing, her Empathy backing up that guess. "I'm sorry I startled you."

[worthallthis]

"I don't know a Tony. But. I knew a Howard." They have two whole memories about him. One of them is almost pleasant, as much as anything in a brutal war can be pleasant. And one of them is horrifying. They set their expression back to neutral. "It's kinda complicated. They might not have anything to do with each other." But with their luck, maybe they do.

(Only one way to find out. Not sure I want to.)

But they do ask: "Can I meet him? Tony Stark?"