Train Quest
- Locked due to inactivity on Aug 4, '16 4:28pm
Thread Topic: Train Quest
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Posts will take a bit longer from now on. Foreword. Sorry for the length here, too.
>Follow him.
You figure things can't get any crazier than they already are. Mentally steeling yourself, you leap onto the ladder. The wind rushes through your hair as you climb higher, eventually coming to stand on the top of the cab. The wind is incredible, so fast and powerful it covers your body. You can barely breath as it rushes into your mouth and over your nose. It's like standing in water.
You hastily place a hand over your mouth, and try to stand up. The wind pushes you down onto your knees, but you try again, finally breaking through the barrier and standing tall. A sudden jump in the train causes you to slip, feet swinging out from under you and you tumble towards the edge of the cab.
A hand catches you just in time, lucky, and you stand up again. Ryan just smiles reassuringly, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it." You're not sure you want to.
Your jaw drops as you wipe the water out of your eyes and look around. There's just...nothing, as far as the eye can see. Pitch black sand rises and falls in gigantic dunes, nearly twenty times bigger than the train itself. And that's all there is. No tufts of grass, no small animals, no rocks, not even a sun to shine down on them. Just an endless black desert of dust and grime that vanishes over the horizon. For a second, you think you can see something move in the sand as the train whizzes past, but that's probably just your imagination.
And this isn't even what Ryan wanted to show you. Slowly, like a father directing a child, you shows you the train itself.
It doesn't end either. The carriages stretch into the distance, so far that they vanish in the horizon, so far that you can't even see the smoke from the engine. There just doesn't seem to be an end, just hundreds and hundreds of perfectly similar cabs. You turn around hastily to see the exact same thing stretching behind you.
There is only the desert, and the train.
You rush back inside the cab and take a seat. Where the hell are you? Where the actual f--- are you? You cradle your head, trying to find some memory of yourself, and finding a blank.
Ryan comes back down a minute later. "No one leaves the train, Lucy. I've met people who've spent their whole lives here. You don't leave. It just doesn't happen. Do you understand?"
You nod. Ryan nods back, "So what are we going to do now?"
>"You mentioned other people earlier? Take me to them."
>"I'm still hungry. Eat first, think second."
>"Who's in charge of this train? Maybe we can speak to him."
>"I want to remember who I am, any help there?
>Other (write in.) -
Who's in charge of this train?
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how do the people get food for the train?
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Take me to the others.
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>Who's in charge of the train?
>I'm still hungry.
"Who's in charge of the train? Who's the conductor?"
Ryan just sighed, "Firstly, there's a difference between a conductor and a railroad engineer. One supposedly drives the train, the other kicks off people who aren't supposed to be here. Secondly, just give up. Even if he did exist, do you really want to walk all the way to the front carriage to try and chat with him? Ridiculous."
Silence was king in the cab for a minute, before a weird sound overthrew it. Like the clicking of the wheels beneath the cab or the hammering of metal against metal. Occasionally the noise would stop, and a loud whir would appear, before vanishing just as quickly. If it was dangerous though, Ryan didn't show any fear.
"Hey, you said you were hungry, right? Better decide what you want, steward's coming up."
"What's a steward..." You start, before the answer makes itself clear. Despite the fact that 'she' was completely harmless, you couldn't help but hide behind Ryan.
It was like a human skeleton made of brass. It's empty skull smiled down at you, teeth bone white against its skin, but no malice was on its face. Its chest was completely covered, but the clicking noise came from within, betraying metal mechanisms. In it's bony hands was a small tray, carrying biscuits and tea.
Ryan was quick on his reply, "Steward, could you fetch me a bacon burger for dinner, please? And Lucy here will have..."
>A sandwich. Sandwich sounds good.
>Same as Ryan. Please...please leave.
>I'm suddenly not hungry.
>Other (Write in your delicious food of choice.) -
Same as Ryan.
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(Is it too late to join? I read everything up to here.)
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Same as Ryan.
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Same as Ryan.
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The more people the merrier. Hell, I don't even care if you've read it all.
Sorry it took so long. Events conspired against me.
>Same as Ryan
You quickly mimic what Ryan said, too concerned to actually think of your own response. The thing, a body wrapped in metal wrapped in clothes, paused for a second; probably contemplating a response, before it bows suddenly but keeps the tray level. Understood.
It whizzed past you suddenly, clicking down the aisle and disappearing into a door at the end, as Ryan pulls you to a seat. His grip is still cold, but you cant feel it through the burning in your face. You cant tell if its because youre losing blood in your face, or gaining it. Ryan is looking surprisingly calm, a great contrast between the awkward fear on your face.
The steward returned hastily, handing you a warm burger. Despite your attitude towards therobot, you admit it smells delicious. Nodding as it walks away, the steward manages to stop just long enough to say, "Enjoy your meal. We will be arriving at the destination shortly."
Dont know why they always say that. Its a pretty big lie. Ryan said, digging in. The foods fine, by the way, you can eat all you want. No one knows where it comes from, Im guessing nanobots.
At your confused look, Ryan explains further, There are cupboards between each cab, when you or I open them, theyre always empty, but if you ask a steward for something, nothing too complicated, mind you, they pull them open and theres just hundreds of whatever you asked for.
You nod in silent agreement. It makes just as much sense as anything else you've encountered.
>So, I can just ask for anything? Anything at all?
>What are thosestewards? Theyre not people, are they?
>So, the conductor and engineer
>Remain quiet. -
So, I can just ask for anything? Anything at all?
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>So I can just ask for anything? Anything at all?
You take a small bite of the burger in front of you. It tastes just as you would expect a burger to taste, and you berate yourself silently for thinking it would be different. But then again, could anyone blame you? In a ten minute span you'd woken up on a train you couldn't leave, lost your memory, drunken something that looked like toilet cleaner, been greeted by a robot and even made a friend. You were under a lot of pressure.
But these stewards... "So, I can just ask for anything? Anything at all? And they'll pull it out of these...cupboards?"
"Well..." Ryan put down his food, rubbing the back of his head, "Not really. Simple things aren't a problem. Food is easy, towels are easy, first aid stuff is easy. Just things you would reasonably expect to find on a train. Anything complex, like a weapon or complex machinery just makes them...well, disappear. Wander down the train. It's generally assumed the train does have them, but they're not stored in 'our' pantries, so to say, so the steward has to travel to ones that do."
Taking a bite of your burger, and savoring the taste to sate your hunger, you feel a little safer knowing you won't at least starve to death on this ride. Hell, if everything is provided, it can't be that bad.
Ryan looks over at you again, clearly seeing your curiosity. "Any more questions?"
>"What are the stewards? People?"
>"So, the conductor and the engineer."
>"I've been so selfish; tell me about yourself, Ryan."
>Remain quiet. -
What are the stewards? People?
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>What are the stewards? People?
Your meal is interrupted by more clicking as another steward passes through your cart. This one looks different from the one your used too, but still somehow manages to be just as creepy. It was like they started walking down the uncanny valley and never stopped.
Motioning at the machine, you pop the first question on your mind. "What are the stewards? They're not people are they?"
Running a hand through his hair and getting any strands out of his eyes, Ryan explained, "Nah, not people. At least, no one thinks they are. They're courteous and friendly, but make terrible conversation partners. Only met one who could actually give an opinion, and he had wanderlust."
"Oh." You quickly reply. A moment passes where the only noise is the clicking of the steward; eyes just staring at you as you ate. You shrink a little into your seat, "Hey...they're not going to hurt me, are they?"
"Who, the stewards? Nah. They're completely...weak? Docile. They're docile. Won't even lash out if you attack them first. Could even kill one if you wanted; use its body for metal and such."
"That's terrible!" You exclaim.
"Sorry, sorry. Just a point to note. Besides, no matter how many you kill, a new one shows up in exactly one weeks time. Again, I think it's nanobots."
"You have any proof?"
Ryan shook his hand, palm facing down, "It's an untested theory."
Pick 2
>"I've been so selfish, tell me about yourself Ryan."
>"So, the conductor and the engineer..."
>"Meals done. You ready to show me the others?" -
Meals done. You ready to show me the others?
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