JANUARY SWEAR-IN: DEATH ISLAND

[ghoulking]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Death Sacrifice Island, New Zealand
WHEN: 13th January
WHAT: SWEARING-IN TIME, on the beautiful Island of New Zealand, Sacrifice Island.
WARNINGS: None so far

Welcome everyone to Sacrifice Island, once known as “Death Island” (and still called so by many). Located in the beautiful country of New Zealand, and under their government’s jurisdiction, Sacrifice Island is a place where investigation and scientific development happens: it’s the headquarters for Onward Research Station, laboratories that hope to learn how to neutralize the effects on humans/animals of chemical/biological weapons.

But this island holds dark history as well. It was in this very same place that seven young imPorts permanently lost their lives on October 3rd 2008. This tragedy deeply marked the history of United States and all Heroes of the nation, and is remembered with heavy heart. With hopes to never forget these painful events but to also look for a brighter future, United States of America and New Zealand both joined their hands and decided to raise a memorial for the lives lost at the island.

This memorial will be inaugurated on the 13th January along with the Swearing-In ceremony for the new heroes who have arrived this month. Media has been invited as well as this is too a political event to strengthen relationships between New Zealand and USA. Old and new imPorts are all welcome to come and pay their respects to the Heroes who are gone, swear their allegiance to the US government (or not), forge relations with a foreign country or simply show their presences during this event. Whatever reason one has, they will be welcomed.


TRAVEL

Thanks to the interest of many, an airbus has been generously loaned for free in order to fly the imPorts to Death Sacrifice Island. The airbus includes a dining area and each imPort has their own little cubicle, with chairs that can be converted into a bed. The trip will take a while for sure, so the travelers are welcome to mingle while they are on air, meet the new faces, and try some delicious airplane food. Or they can try sleeping, if other imPorts are quiet enough.

Because it's a long flight, there will be many movies to choose from: there is a strangely big collection of Adam Sandler movies, and apparently the big hit has both Adam Sandler AND Jerry Seinfeld and tells the story of a Wasp that falls in love with a Human, while it leads a rebellion against the humankind. If you aren't into Wasp movies, well- good luck picking something else that isn't as amazing.

ISLAND

Miss the hot summer weather? Well, New Zealand certainly has a lot of it to offer. The weather is the kind that would invite anyone for a swim, even though it’s not one of the activities offered during the Swear-In; in fact, the island has no beaches as it’s surrounded by cliffs. The island itself is beautiful, with a lot of greenery indigenous to the country, forming large forests through the island’s surface and surrounding the research center. There are no animals roaming around, with the exception of some birds (do not expect Kiwis, though), but imPorts are warned not to go too deep into the island’s forests or they might get lost.

At the east area of the island, stands the top of the art Onward Research Station, near the only beach the island offers. The airbus will land not too far away, in a small flight track that crosses the green forest, and imPorts will be directed to the center where they will be greeted by scientists, politicians and, of course, a lot of media.

Onward Research Station is white, clean, and shiny. Everything looks like it has been double or triple sterilized and visitors can almost see their reflections on every surface. The technology is probably the best you’d find in the entire nation: quick silent hoover carts that transport people and objects from a section to another, trays that hoover with food, snacks and drinks, and holograms of several scientists that made a difference while working at the Research Station can be found on specific marked areas. ImPorts that wish to know a bit more about the place will have the chance to press a button for a holographic guide who will tell them the story of the Center, their researches and hopes for the future.

However, since Onward focus on chemical and biological weapon studies, much of the area is very much Off Limits to prevent accidental contamination. There will be security (physical and electronically) to stop people from snooping around and causing huge accidents.

The center has allowed local tourism to be part of this. New Zealand certainly wishes to show their own culture, and thus there will be many who are eager to share it with the new comers. Talks of their fauna and flora, their national bird as well, history of Maori who voyaged across the Pacific, good old Rugby, and of course mentions of certain really popular fantasy movies that have been filmed there – one can certainly become immerse in this lovely world. Not so far away, there is also a buffet area with a lot of variety, all typical New Zealand dishes, including Maori dishes naturally. Try Hangi, or lamb, or delicious sea food, and end your meal with good wine and cheese.

Photographers, journalists, paparazzi will be everywhere. Not just for US ImPort Heroes, but due to the political connotations this meeting has as well. It’s no surprise that apart from “who are you wearing”, heavier and much more serious questions will be asked, involving politics, past events, current political feelings, where and for whom imPorts stand for.

The nearby beach isn’t amazing, but they worked really hard to change that. The whole area was cleaned as well, with new, white and shiny pavement that leads visitors to a special area: the memorial. There is a huge marble wall with the names of those imPorts who’ve lost their lives; there is a screen as well, and whenever someone touches one of the names said screen will activate show a video of the selected imPort while a voice tells the visitors a little about their life and death. Nearly, there is another holographic guide who, when activated, will tell the story of Death Island.

MEMORIAL

Anyone can access this history by checking out the Memorial, but in the afternoon, everyone will be invited to the beach. Here, imPorts and everyone else will be taught the dark history of the island by a spokeswoman dressed in white, while the screen on the Memorial Marble wall shows the lost imPorts.

“A scientist who held hatred for the imPorts used this island as his private base of operations, where he built a deadly ray and threatened to use this weapon against the United States. Seven imPorts heroically followed to investigate, only to find this ray permanently end their lives. These heroes and their tragic deaths are today remembered by us all, a memory of a dark and sad past – but we too hold on to hope, hope their deaths were not in vain, and hope we can rebuild and move forward.”

The speech is met with solemn nods and soft applause, while the names of the Heroes show on the screen:
DAVID GREEN; Chosen, age 19
MAGENTA MOVELLO; Mauve Avenger, age 17
IRA BRAUNSTEIN; Power Prince, age 21
JUDE BYEON; Bludgeon, age 17
CAROL "CARRIE" KING; Reign, age 18
MASON LOCKLEAR; Entropy, age 16
MALIK ISAIAH MARCHETTI; Journey, age 40

After, the woman will give stand to few more people who will give their own words about the memorial and the events of Death Island, including a New Zealand Minister and also an imPort: Tohru Adachi.

Once speeches have been spoken, people are welcomed to leave white flowers near the marble wall and learn more about the personal lives of each lost hero by touching their names and watching the movie about each. For those who don’t wish to stick around, the buffet area is always open, and people are more than welcome to return to their activities.

RETURN

The event will be over late night, and all imPorts will be brought back to the airbus. Since there are records who came on the airbus, it’s better not to try to stay behind – as welcoming as they were, those who work at Sacrifice Island have no plans to accommodate everyone more than necessary.

Media will be the first to leave, followed by imPorts and finally every politician involved. Once up in the air, the airplane lights will be turned to minimum, to allow imPorts some well needed rest. That is, if they want. Sorry if your neighbor is noisy.

Comments

Alphonse Elric | OTA

[sonofgold]

Transit

[Al is alert and excited for a good part of the trip over. He's never been in an airplane before, and the sights are almost overwhelming. The imPorts are traveling in the lap of luxury, too. He's fascinated by the individual cubicles they all have, takes the time to savor the meals and snacks they are served, and spends a lot of time just reading descriptions and scrolling through the movies on offer.

This Adam Sandler must be a big star, he thinks, finally settling on a movie. However, the longer it goes on, the more people can hear him exclaiming in disbelief at the plot of a human falling in love with... a wasp.]

Do people really find this entertaining??


Island

[Al has savored the taste of a good meal ever since he regained his flesh and blood body, and so the buffet is one of the first places he heads after he politely gives some attention to the press. He's going to be an Aegis representative when need be, of course, but he's going to enjoy himself in the meantime. He also watches the available guides and videos of New Zealand's history and culture with interest.

He gives alchemy demonstrations for the watchers upon request, redoing some of the decorations or giving people small wooden cats he creates.]


Memorial

[Truth be told, Al's not big on wanting to attend the memorial- it reminds him way too much of people like Hughes and Martel, casualties of Father's attempt to play God- but as a member of Aegis Force, he feels obliged to. Part of him is watching for danger the entire time, half wondering if some villain is going to take advantage of the somber mood to come back and perhaps try and raise the body count. Villains certainly weren't above it. Anyone who knows him will notice he's in a somber, quiet mood in general, and he seems relieved when the ceremony is over and it's time to go back to the buffet.]


Wildcard

[As above, ping me on Plurk at shurimon or Yedong#9491 on Discord if you want to hash out a prompt with Al.]

Island!

[plentystrong]

[ Catra, as it happens, is also mostly hanging around the buffet, as large varieties of food are somewhat of a novelty for her as well. But her attention is especially attracted by... whatever it is the blonde young man over there is doing. She saunters over to him. ]

Hey! Whatcha doing there? Some type of magic?

[sonofgold]

Sort of... it's called alchemy.

[Al smiles at the question, then demonstrates by taking a glass of water. He claps his hands and places them on either side of the glass; the water inside solidifies into ice, changing into the shape of a fish.]

Alchemy lets me change matter into different forms. Not just water- pretty much anything, as long as I know what it's made of.

[plentystrong]

[ Catra's eyes widen -- this is something she is completely unfamiliar with. ]

Is that a power they gave you, or did you have it before?

[sonofgold]

It's something I was able to do in my world. In this world, I can also use it to heal. It's really handy to have.

[plentystrong]

How does it work? Can you do it just like that, or do you need some kind of object to give you this power?

[ Nosy Catra is nosy. She doesn't quite trust magic, and this looks enough like magic to make her uncomfortable. ]

[sonofgold]

It's powered by tectonic energy- that's the movement of the plates beneath the planet's crust. Most people who can do alchemy need to draw a transmutation circle first.

[Al is obviously prepared for this lecture, as he takes a small notebook out of his pocket and shows a drawing of a transmutation circle.]

It acts as a blueprint of sorts- different circles will yield different results. Also, I can't make something from nothing. We call that equivalent exchange- to obtain, something must be lost.

transit!

[merging]

[Ezra's in a cubicle nearby, trying to enjoy his own extremely good movie experience when he overhears Al. Pausing his flick, he peers over at what the other's watching.]

That's the wasp one, right? [There's literally a cartoon wasp on the screen, so yes.] I haven't watched that one yet, but the uh remote one's decent so far?

[He's watching fake Click.]

[sonofgold]

Uh-huh. It's... about a human and a wasp falling in love.

[Al crinkles his nose.]

I guess the description should have clued me in, but I half thought it was joking. Like someone put the wrong description in for a prank. I might change to that remote movie if it's better than this...

[merging]

Huh.

[He watches for a few moments, figuring he'll give it a chance before he jumps to any judgments.]

Well, I guess the size difference is an issue, but they're both sentient? So uh... if they're happy...

[sonofgold]

There is that much going for it- they're both willing participants. I think I've seen enough, though.

[Pausing, he grins.]

We had movies in my world, but they weren't common yet, so I hadn't seen many. I guess eventually we'd get to human-wasp romances, if people needed ideas.

[merging]

We've got holodramas back where I'm from, but I never had time to watch them honestly. I'm sure there's ones with interspecies romance, though? But... probably not with wasps.

[But he's still trying to be openminded!]

Oh, uh, I'm Ezra. Ezra Bridger. Nice to meet you...?

[sonofgold]

[Al chuckles.]

Holodramas sound interesting, though. But I understand not having much time to watch them, either- even if we had the technology, I've always liked to read, anyway.

[Al offers a hand to shake.]

You, too. I'm Alphonse Elric.

island

[pharmaka]

[ Circe's interest suddenly sharpens as she sees Alphonse transform something. This is the first time she's ever, in her whole life, seen someone else mimic her own abilities. Even here, she hasn't run across it before. ]

Are those permanent? [ she asks, when there is an opportune moment, not the type to rudely cut in. Circe is dressed practically, in sensible boots and a long skirt and sweater, a blue scarf tied around her hair as a headband. ] I can tell they are not an illusion, but I have never seen something transformed that way.

island

[sonofgold]

[Al smiles at the woman's approach, and he sounds eager to discuss his alchemy.]

They are, unless I choose to change them back. It's called alchemy- it's an ability I had back in my world as well.

[pharmaka]

[ Well, he sounds friendly, or at least tolerant of questions about his work, which he clearly enjoys.

But she's surprised by this response. It takes a moment for the translation to quite parse, so it's a little delayed. ] Chēmeía, like the Alexandrians? I have heard tales, but I have not witnessed it. Though I imagine what I have heard of would not be entirely the same. [ Just as she is not like the gods others know from their own homes. ]

[sonofgold]

[Al furrows his brow in confusion, but nods to the second part of her statement.]

None of that sounds familiar to me, unfortunately. In my world, alchemy came to my country from a man we simply called the Philosopher from the East- centuries ago he came to Amestris and taught people how to do it. Where HE got the knowledge from... well, that's mysterious even to me. I've gladly enjoyed the gift, though.

[pharmaka]

[ Circe smiles slightly, managing to seem somehow opaque despite the veneer of friendliness this gives her. ]

I feel much the same way about my pharmakeia. There is so little to explain it, but I have enjoyed it without complaint. It allows me to transform things as you do, with a different process. I have not seen another do it at all before.

[ Considering how old she is, this is a pretty broad statement for her to say so mildly. ]

[sonofgold]

Pharmakeia... like pharmacy? Can you use your powers to heal?

[He sounds eager to hear more.]

I was given that gift when I arrived in this world- healing, I mean. Alchemy can be used to heal in my world, too, but the people in my country mostly used it for combat purposes. Something about that always bothered me, but I just never had the chance to study how to do it any other way.

Island

[monster_san]

[Fuu notices the flash and the zish, a familiar noise, but she's pleased to see it in a much less harried setting than the running battle through the moonbase.

She stops near Alphonse, plate of hors d'vores in hand, and waits until he's finished with his current demonstration.]

It's very obliging of you to do that, Mr. Alphonse.

[sonofgold]

[Al smiles cheekily and takes a bow.]

I like to give the people what they want now and then. I mean, the photographers came all this way to see us.

[monster_san]

[The cheeky smile coupled with the bow makes her grin.]

Yes, it would be a shame for them to go home empty-handed.

[The cheerful but cheeky attitude reminds her of a certain other person's reaction to being on the public stage. She thinks for a moment, and then decides no time like the present.]

Mr. Alphonse... do you know of anyone else from your world being here?

[sonofgold]

And I'm nothing if not an obliging gentleman.

[He then turns serious at her question.]

Nobody is at the moment, but I heard from someone I trust that people I knew back home have been here in the past. My brother, my good friend, and some of my military comrades. I've even been to this world a few times, though I don't remember it at all.

[monster_san]

[Fuu nods. She's relieved that she knows about it already--although that he himself has been here multiple times and lost his memory of each one, well, that is a more than disturbing prospect. It does little to endear Miss Porter to her, although admittedly Miss Porter hasn't done much in that way at all.]

I see... I'm glad that you've been informed about it. I'm not sure what I would feel about being here myself without knowing anything I did... [ah, but.] But I did recognize your name when you introduced yourself on the moon, because I met your brother Edward.

[...]

But it's strange. I'm sure he said you were younger than him....

[and alphonse is clearly the bigger one. perhaps it's a time disparity?]

[sonofgold]

I try not to think too much about it. But I know it has to be true, because I've looked back at the network and found some comments here or there. I guess... it's just one of those things the Porter does that we can't comprehend yet.

[Al perks up at the mention of his brother, but he has to laugh at Fuu's remark.]

I am- we're about a year apart. But Brother has always been on the shorter side, even when we were little kids. He's a tad sensitive about it.