The year is 2347, Common Earth Era [CEE], and all the world was at peace. The war of the StarCourt versus Chaos ended centuries before. War dared not exist. All was well...
until a new enemy force, the Darkstrom, somehow rose to power in post-war Eastern Europe.
The Clandestine Rebellion rose up, out of a few rebels to the destructive government, to attempt to overthrow the Darkstrom. Despite the growth in numbers as far as Clandestine Rebels were concerned, the Darkstrom overtook the underground regime and, separating families and friends, sent rebels to various Nazi-inspired concentration camps throughout Eastern Europe. A few remaining Rebels hid in the Underground and set up the Trans-Underground Express [TUE]. They also turned the Trans-Europe Express [TEE] into a secret life-saving route that would reconnect the few lucky escapees of the concentration camps with their hometowns and/or loved ones [if any remained]. Most of the Rebels however were imprisoned or killed, either in battle or within the haunting four walls of the concentration camp.
Among the handful enlisted in the Rebellion were half-human robots--humans who, not wanting to lose their lives having been mortally wounded, had their bones replaced with metal, and most of their organs replaced with wires and the most advanced technology available. They were often termed humanoid cyborgs, and were still mostly able to have human senses. The human never really died, as the operations would be successful. These humanoid cyborgs looked human, and it would never really pass to the Darkstrom that they would've been anything but human. Their main purpose was to serve and protect escaped Rebels onboard the TEE, and sometimes even after the journey homeward ended.
The TEE originated in 1957 CEE, and was mostly abandoned by around 1984. After the Rebellion was organized the TEE was revived, and served as the Rebellion-escape-route version of the EuroCity [EC], which replaced the TEE in 1987.
[The Passengers of the Trans-Europe Express: The Düsseldorf Quartet]
[The Düsseldorf Quartet formed after one of the leaders of the Düsseldorf Order of the Clandestine Rebellion was captured along with her younger sister and two of their closest companions. The Quartet grew up together, in the same neighborhood, the youngest being Rebekah, just a month younger than Johannes. The young women soon met Team Kʁaftvɛɐk, who each took one of the ladies to their care and protection on board the TEE back home to Düsseldorf.]
Elizabeth Korinn - Elizabeth is a German young woman of American descent. Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, she was brought to Lisbon, Portugal after the Darkstrom overtook most if not all of Eastern Europe. She was among the leaders of the Düsseldorf Order of the Clandestine Rebellion, and was captured by the Darkstrom along with her younger sister, childhood best friend, and next-door neighbor [known as the Düsseldorf Quartet]. Generally sincere and touched with humility, she has the wisdom that only 26 years alive can provide her. However, scarring those years is bearing the witness to the death of her and Johannes' parents at the hands of Darkstrom soldiers at the beginning of the invasion. To this end she's tried time and again to suppress those memories, but she's also realized she can't do this without the help of her friends and, especially, her Trans-Europa companion.
Anneke Weldenta - Anneke has been Elizabeth's best friend since they attended Kindergarten, and is the resident jokester of the Düsseldorf Quartet. Always prepared with either a joke, an answer to a question, or even at times a question itself, she thinks well of herself and the Quartet. She also has a tendency of being short-tempered which, given the proper circumstance, can prove rather useful. Usually she keeps a gun with her, in case the resident sharpshooter of the gang needs it [which, surprisingly, is Rebekah].
Rebekah Zordenoff - When she was younger, Rebekah, Elizabeth and her younger sister's next-door neighbor and the one in the Düsseldorf Quartet most likely to hit the PANIC button at the first sign of a crisis, was trained in archery and sharpshooting by her father, and while at school, she was on the Archery team. Despite her panic-happy nature, she is usually positive and is always there for her neighbors when they need her, and because of this she also can be very courageous when need be. But the singular quality that sets her apart from the others is her healing power she was blessed with as a child, which also designates her as the resident nurse of the bunch, and is the reason why she is sometimes nicknamed the "Secret Florence Nightingale of Düsseldorf."
Johannes Korinn - Johannes is Elizabeth's younger sister and, while possibly the dearest of the Düsseldorf Quartet, is the only one enduring a tragedy. She was born blind, so she often has to be accompanied by either her sister, Anneke or Rebekah. Miraculously she can find her way around on her own if she's alone. She hopes one day to finally gain sight, though--despite her hope for the Quartet and the freedom of Eastern Europe--she doubts herself in a lot of things. A surprising quality about her is her intuition, as well as an awareness of what is going on around her--a "sixth sense" if you will.
[The Guardians of the TEE: Team Kʁaftvɛɐk]
[The main guardians of the TEE in the story is Team Kʁaftvɛɐk, more known as Kraftwerk. After a near-fatal accident, each of the reborn bandmembers were 'roboticized' and given identification codes, which were tattooed on the inside of their right forearms. Each of the Guardians is unique yet alike in some sort of manner. Their purpose in this case is not to make music, but to aid the Clandestine Rebellion in the liberation of Eastern Europe. They opted to be Guardians of the TEE and, in the process, personal guardians of the Düsseldorf Quartet, each taking one of the young women under their wings.]
Florian Schneider [KW070447] - Known as being the somewhat secretive noise-aholic of the bunch, Florian's elusiveness is made up for by his intelligence. Philosophical and intelligent, he can also at times be amusing. His favorite instruments are the flute and the electric violin.
Wolfgang Flür [KW170747] - The relatively outspoken of the bunch, Wolfgang is a very curious individual and likes to ask a lot of questions. He questions the group's existence and meaning, while struggling to understand everything there is to understand. Sometimes his inquisitive nature tends to get him [and even at times his friends] into trouble--and even danger. He's also the resident playboy of the Mensch-Maschinen, which leads to some unnecessary trouble all its own. The verbal sparring with his friend Karl have proven to be some of the most amusing within the gang. His favorite instrument is the electronic drum.
Karl Bartos [KW310552] - Often cited as the sometimes-bored, sometimes-frustrated [and even at times ill-tempered] of the bunch, Karl makes up for it by his humble but lovable quirkiness. He is also, with not much help from his short temper, armed with a tendency of being accidentally destructive--i.e. knocking over a table or falling over someone, causing that person to fall back on someone else, etc. Usually most of his verbal assaults are aimed at his friend Wolfgang, and the two get into a verbal spat on a regular basis. His favorite instrument is, basically, any electronic percussion instrument.
Ralf Hütter [KW200846] - Noted as the rather talkative of the bunch, Ralf likes to sing. Okay, make that, loves to sing. Since his robotization [after a cycling accident in which he was hit by a drunk driver and nearly died] his mental wiring's a bit off, and because of this he doesn't understand everything. In spite of this he believes in the good of the world, and because of this he can come across as kind and nurturing. His favorite instrument is the synthesizer.
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