voidtreckernet

[ The Doctor's clearly in the Medic car, as he promised he's spending a good amount of time there-helping to get things a little more organized and keeping any potential patients happy and generally healthy. ]

Hullo everyone! [ He smiles brightly and goes to fix his bowtie but stops as he remembers... ]

Erm... Anyways, I'm the Doctor-yes the one that was recently appointed a member of our lovely train's council. I'm not here to debate the legitimacy of the council so if your intent is to complain about that well-frankly, I don't want to hear it. I could go on for hours-possibly even weeks about why a systematic government with this many people onboard is, in fact, necessary, but I'd really rather not. Although, I suppose, if you must-come talk to me in person and I'll see if I can't ease your doubts.

There is something I'd like you all to think about-The Train. What do we all think? Because based on what just happened a few days ago I'd have to say, and my friend Nita agrees, we might have got it a bit wrong.

So I invite you all to consider this: the Train is alive.

If you don't believe me-answer me this, why haven't we been in contact with driver or conductor? Why are cars added so quickly? It also explains why we can only communicate with the train through the ICPs.

I've been mulling it around for a bit as I do have a ship that's also alive-she might even be on the other side of the wall and keeping the Train company for all I know.

I bring it up now because I think it's important that we recognize that during that last mission our dear Train got scared. It ran away-and fast from I could feel.

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So the engine care would be like it's brain, then?

[Someone doesn't even sound shocked at the idea of a sentient train.

Then again, there's far, far, far weirder on her world.]

Well, yes. Sort of. A bit.

Given how the TARDIS is-I'd say it's more of a matrix.

Sure. Train's always acted like a fal'Cie.

I'm sorry, Fal'Cie?

[She nods.] So like a few pokemon back home then.

It's better than nothing at this point, and honestly, if it is the brain or a matrix, it makes sense to protect it via whatever magic or tech's being used.

That said, it could be some sort of psychic creature with a bond to the driver, but sentient train isn't that far fetched either.

Well, I do have quite a strong bond with The TARDIS. But she is very much sentient and gets pretty easily offended at times. So it could easily be both.

Not sure if two personalities are better than one, but it is a worthwhile train of thought.

[A huff.] I think at this rate, we're going to need to make a bulletin board for everything e know about the train. I'm all for riding this to the terminus, yet... There's too much not adding up and I can't say I like it.

How can a train be alive?

Oh? What is it that isn't adding up? Perhaps I can help.

Ah, well, that's a complicated question-always best answered with another question: How can anything be alive? And are you quite sure it is a train or does it just look like one?

That makes an almost irritating amount of sense.

It’s far too early in the morning to be waxing philosophical, Doctor.

Why irritating? I think it's fascinating! [ Of course he does. ]

Is it? I'm afraid I didn't notice.

[Given it's her fault that the Doctor's bringing this up, Nita doesn't - at first - make to add anything more, simply taking note of the responses as they come in.

But she does have something to add, eventually.]

And the weird thing is, it's normally all closed-off. Not just because it only talks to us through the announcements; when Xander and I tried to meditate and reach it that way, we could feel it retreating.

[Especially when Bobo joined the mental conference call, but she's not going to mention that right now.]

It was curious, but not enough to engage. When it was afraid, though, I could feel it right up close when I reached out.

Edited (IMPORTANT BIT TO ADD, HERE) 2020-04-27 16:03 (UTC)

[ He nods thoughtfully as she mentions it, his mind already making connections. ]

We'll just have to keep reaching out to it, then.

Have you tried to contact it again recently? After all that?

I was rather under the impression that there was some measure of artificial intelligence incorporated into the train's functioning.

[The idea that it is not just an intelligence but a mind, like him, thus holds no true surprise.

Not on top of being in this whole 'voidtrain traveling between worlds' thing to begin with, anyway.]

Is it not discussing the matter - or indeed any other matter concerning our being here - with us further because it feels scared, then? Because it does not think it is safe for it if we think of it as alive?

[Webmind thought it was rather worth the risk, himself - but then, his own coming out had not been typical in the slightest.]

Mostly because, in a moment of self-deprecation, I feel silly for not coming to that idea sooner. Not that I wanted to be the first to think of it. I think it's marvelous others had the idea. I just feel a bit dumb because it really makes sense.

Gods, or something like it. Machines, crystal and magic, programmed by the creators to watch over the world. Each one has its own job to do - food production, air defense, transport...

Except, for all their power, they don't have what you'd call free will, so they have to pick up humans for those parts.

[Nita sighs.]

No, not yet. I should, but there's a chance it'll just push me out with force again.

I'd rather make sure it's calmed down, first. I'd go for a group-intervention-type situation, but then that might make it seem like we're trying to corner it...

[Which doesn't exactly foster cooperation, much as they all want answers.]

Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, dear. Sometimes, even the simplest of solutions evade the sharpest of minds.

Ah.

well, I assure you that's not what the TARDIS is-she was grown. I suppose you could aliken her to a plant-although Imagine she'd be quite offended with the comparison. She can be a bit touchy.

Thank you for that reassurance. It's helping.

As stated, though. It does explain a lot. When it ran from that last mission, that was an obvious fear reaction. But what was it afraid of? What was coming? Or failure? I wish we could ask.

Or maybe it was trying to protect us? There are a lot of questions I'd love answered.

[ A text?? How did-he scans the ICP with the screw driver to see if he can trace anything. ]

Er... maybe. It does seem to act a bit like a wild animal when approached, I've heard.

No, I wouldn't recommend that.

The TARDIS always likes when I stroke her-maybe try that? Or, I don't know-just a friendly hello might help. How do you usually get a wild animal to trust you? Because that's what we're dealing with here-I think. A wild animal-essentially.

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