middleofsomewhere | EVENT: Into the Unknown

"Good morning Voidtreckers and passengers of the voidtrecker Express. Today is day twenty two of the month of Symphony. As you are aware we have some guests on board and our next task is to deliver them safely to the void hub. The tethering kits can only keep them tethered to this craft for a short space of time. We will be arriving at the void hub tomorrow."

Until now the scientists have kept themselves to themselves, remaining in their room and rarely exiting out. However after this announcement they emerge more and more, interested in asking about the void hub, the ministry workers and what they might expect from the situaion.

The next morning, just before lunch, the train makes another announcement.

"Approaching Voidbase now. Prepare for docking."

There is no shaking, not leaving the void: instead those who risk looking out of the windows will see a large structure ahead of them. The void turns to metal around them as they enter the structure, and for a moment, there is nothing outside the train but darkness.

"Welcome Voidtreckers." A voice speaks over the ICPs. Not the voice of the train, this is a male voice, sentient. "The filtration process takes a few moments, so please be patient. Meanwhile, I am sending some information about our void base over to your SCA's."

They will receive a small pamphlet on their SCA's explaining about the void base, this is the same pamphlet as last time but will be useful reading for those who are new, or those who didn't pay attention the last month. It explains that the base was set up as a research base and has been expanded to provide living quarters for some of those rescued from system #78961112094711. It explains that they had made the decision to invite the voidtreckers there to further unravel the mystery surrounding them. They would be quartered in ministry sleeping areas, and have free access to the ministry part of the base. Anyone who wished to visit the citizens of system #78961112094711 could do with good reason.

It's not too long before the filtration process is completed, and the doors of the Voidtrecker Express open. This time they are greeted just by the scientists who welcome them back.

AT THE VOID BASE

~ VOIDBASE INFO ~ OOC INFO

SETTLING IN

They are shown to their sleeping quarters first. They are in small suites, which match their room assignments on the train. They will be given time to unpack and rest, and told that their SCA's have been programmed to allow them access to the general ministry parts of the base.

Their time here is their own, And though the ministry hopes that they will help out with the various experiments and research programs they have going on, they do not need to. If they wish to take the time to rest and enjoy the amenities, they can.

1. MULTIMEDIA. There are a few types of lounging rooms, chairs and cushions, tables for sitting at. Slim televisions sitting on walls, a few tables - that can be lowered or raised - joined with screens that can be more privately watched. Shows and movies are available in some rooms, gaming equipment in others. There is also a more quiet room for lounging in, with access to e-books and screen readers for them, audio options also available.

Relax, or get into a multiplayer game -- games that break friendships are available in the void.

2. FITNESS AND SWIM. For those looking for more activity in their 'rest', there's the fitness gym and swimming pool. In separate rooms but nearby, the fitness gym is larger than the train's gym, and more well-equipped. Muscle training, speed; there will be a Ministry worker to show how to use the variety of equipment, so that nobody has an accident.

The same will be for the swimming pool, with a shallow and deep end. Balls, floating pads and more can be grabbed. It's a swimming pool - what's not to love?

3. TRAINING. Beside the pool and fitness gym is the combat gym, where they will find small groups already exercising in a variety of fighting styles. Voidtreckers will be left alone to train if they wish, but any who take interest in partners will be allowed to join in with the ministry training. Magic, energy, weaponry; some of them use special batons, Ministry-issued, and the Ministry workers will show how to use them. If a Voidtrecker becomes well-trained in how to use one by the end of their stay, they can be given one to use on void missions.

The Ministry fighters will also introduce them to a special training tool, the hard- and holographic courses and 'dummies'. Quite a few fighting styles can be set to a holographic opponent, or even one made to mimic a voidtrecker after fighting them - they're surprisingly quick to adapt. The hard-light partner can listen and read sign-language, and will change on command. Want them to move faster, focus on attack, dodging? Now they will.

4. GREEN THUMBS, OPEN AIR. The last room in the relaxation area is a curious one, reading simply 'GARDENS AND SIMULATION' on its front. Opening it will lead to a simple and long corridor, five more doors on each side. Four devoted to gardening, labelled Hydroponics, Hot Houses, Ice Houses, and Land. Entering, each space will be larger than should be possible. But it is, with each an indoor type growing space except for land, which mimics a farming field. There's a sky above, a wind in the air; sometimes, it might be raining when you enter.

It might be a shocking experience for some, the first time round.

The last six rooms simulation rooms are less specific, but with plenty more options. Rooms of prayers, beaches, cities, open valleys; with some time spent learning the menu, people can recreate a realistic area. The rooms can be set to private, but some people may leave the spaces they've created - on purpose, at random, or on accident - free for others to wander into. Sharing is caring, and there's only six of these rooms, you know.

EXPERIMENTING

A lot has happened since they were last here and the scientists of the base will be happy to share their news as well as here reports on what the voidtreckers learned in their last mission.

PROGRESS They have done a lot of research into time and they think they have managed to replicate the Voidtrecker Expresses' ability to respond to catastrophes, they currently have a test crew on a new voidcraft furthering that experiment. They also believe they have found a way to stabilise the tethers of the Voidtreckers enough to loop them to the void base, this will give them an extra level of protection should anything happen to their craft. They are also very interested in speaking to the scientists found on system ##3721010010.

They will once again take any help in research or experiments and will be very interested in doing health checks on the newer voidtreckers.

2. REACHING OUT. At the top of the void base is an area with a clear domed roof, allowing in the light of the void. Here voidtreckers can attempt to reach out, to strengthen their connection with the train and through it try and find those that have left the train.

For those that did this last time they will find it easier now, practice and a lot of atuning make it feel easier to do, easier to reach out towards those specs of light. Those who put in a lot of work feel like they can almost touch them now, just a bit further and they could reach out and pluck them from the vastness.

It is still very hard work. It's easy to get lost in the void, though the room has ministry workers who are highly trained and will be able to help anyone who needs it.

They do say it might be easier to go in pairs, to meditate together and help guide each other, using each others tethers as a touch point. Anything is worth a try.

OOC NOTES

~ Questions.
~ This part of the event runs until the 19th August (Day 25)
~ Part Two will go up on the 20th August

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Doctor peers over and gives something of a look that reads, he's had a crew before, and they're gone now.

"... Yeah."

Maybe, eventually, he'll find someone else to whisk away with him. He still wants to try and that is a good thing but he's also not sure how many more times he can.

"Make sure you get on that," Cassie says. "Whenever that happens."

She lets her gaze drift over him toward the database for a moment.

"Meantime, hope you have better luck on that search."

Then gives Cassie, 'you too' with that sort of look and then just gives a head nod, "Just a question of when, really. Whut human wants to come along."

"I tend to think 'going into space' is a pretty easy sell," Cassie says. "For however many you end up needing to, like...I dunno, do whatever it is you need to do on the ship."

"You'd be surprised not everyone wants to." He recalls how Dodo, Victoria and The Brigadier, how being in space was not for them.

"I mean, sure, but do non-cool people really count?"

"I'm sorry, whut? Yes! They do because they're still people that I don't want dead."

"I was trying to make a joke to unwind you a little, but...fair enough."

"Sorry was that supposed to be a funny - thing?" So rude and not ginger, and in a calmer tone, "Everyone's life has value. I don't know why you humans put labels on yourselves."

Cassie sighs. "Obviously. But some people are adventurous and some people aren't. And to be honest, I think people who take chances get more out of life."

A brief beat so she can roll her eyes.

"Honestly, if you have to explain it..."

"If you're wanting me to unwind - I certainly won't say no to a party."

"I've got some experience throwing those on the train."

"Oh? You have quite the task. The last one I was at was in 17th century France. And - MY GOD! Do they know how to party!"

There's that impossible enthusiasm, that doesn't keep because he made himself miss Reinette now. He could see himself having stayed with her on the slow path, had the worst happened. Maybe even having had children with her. There's a look of longing on his face of wanting to be with someone like that.

"I'll bet. But it couldn't have been that great if I wasn't there."

"Oh, oh, oh!" The Doctor makes silly challenge sounds, "Really now?" Why, yes, he is teasing.

"Yeah," Cassie says, clearly stepping to said challenge.

"No one works harder, no one plays harder."

EVENT: Into the Unknown

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