maskormenacelogs | JANUARY SWEAR-IN: DEATH ISLAND

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JANUARY SWEAR-IN: DEATH ISLAND

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Kairi's ended up noticing the mice, while looking around the area of her seat. She's already touched most of the buttons she has near her, accidentally calling the flight attendant once and also turning on the cool magic air machine over her head. So she's taken to looking at her surroundings.

Which leads to her becoming engrossed in the little story the mice are putting on.

So sorry if it seems out of no where, but she's going to let a little slip, not realizing she's saying it aloud. ]

Go! You can beat 'em!

[ Maybe this is the intended story of the mice, or maybe she's just imagining it herself, but it is definitely about a knight going up against the evil cookie wizards ........ right. ]

[There's a moment where the mice all pause to look at Kairi. She's talking to them? ... she's talking to them!]

[Spurred on by the additional member of their audience, they jump into the scene: a showdown between the big, bad boss of the cookie wizards and our hero, the tiny snack knight! They clash a few times, cookie wafer wand being parried by pretzel sword. And then...]

[Suddenly, the preztel sword snaps! The knight is disarmed! And the wizard prepares his final spell, a soda typhoon—]

What? No, not my drink! You'll make everything sticky!

[— ... erm... that is, a jellybean barrage! It's like fireballs or something. Just go with it.]

[Suddenly, one of the smaller cookie wizards jumps in front of the knight. It's taking the attack for the knight! Oh no! It falls over in a dramatic faint.]

[ Oh no, Kairi is so into this. This is way better than the movies she could be watching on the TV.

She leans in a little as she watches, kind of actually tuning Allura out because she's so interested in seeing what these cute little mice do. Sorry ...

And then the fireballs happen! Or rather, the jellybeans, and Kairi ... gasps when one of the cookie wizards takes the attack for the knight. What a kind little guy! See, he's not all bad! He just took the wrong side at first, right!

But she's worried about him now. ]

Oh, no! Can you save him?

[ Through some sort of fantasy magic thing?! Or is he not really dead?! ]

[Aren't they far better actors than Adam Sandler?]

[Friend and foe set aside their differences for now, as the knight and the two remaining cookie wizards all gather around the body of the fallen mouse. That one is putting on a dramatic spectacle, a death scene truly worth of a Shakespearean production...]

[The third cookie wizard won't stand for it! She produces one of the sacred sunflower seeds that had started the conflict in the first place, and... uh, something something, magic and cookie wizardry... it's a revival item now! The knight administers it, and the fallen wizard is okay! They can be friends now!]

[As the first act ends, they take a bow. Please feel free to tip the actors in the form of more snacks.]

[ Oh gosh ... How heartwarming ... Kairi is moved!!

She places her hand over her heart as she watches the scene, very clearly engrossed in what's happening in it, and then she's so happy to see the little mouse wizard lived. And when they bow, she claps, laughing a little. ]

Wow, that was great! I'm so happy he lived! Here —

[ And she'll go ahead and take some of the sunflower seeds she'd had sitting around on her own little plate off to the side, and reach over to offer them to them. ]

So you'll always be able to bring each other back.

[ She thinks it's a fitting thank-you gift. ]

[Ohhhh yes! All four are running up to go collect their seeds. They're all very excited, and... squeaking?]

[Yes, they're squeaking a lot at Kairi. Almost like they're trying to communicate with her.
But there's a warm chuckle from Allura, as she turns to address the girl.]

All of them, they're trying to ask what your name is. So they know what they should be calling their new friend!

[Everyone knows that the way to a mouse's heart is through the stomach.]

[ Kairi can only laugh softly at their excitement. She's happy that they're happy. It helps that they're really cute, as well. Maybe she should ask Sora and Riku if they're cool with her getting a pet mouse .......

But regardless, she gives a smile to Allura too. ]

Oh! Really? [ Addressing the little mice. ] My name's Kairi. It's nice to meet you all. [ And she'll go ahead and give one of them a soft pat on the head. And then she'll turn to Allura. ] You can understand them?

[ Not weird at all, she's just really impressed by it, and it shows in her tone. ]

I can! We can speak to each other telepathically.

[Starting with the largest:] This is Platt, Chuchule, Plachu, and — our starring hero of the story — Chulatt.

[Most of them wave as they're introduced. Plachu, on the other hand, seems to have a bit more of a cool, aloof thing going on, and just nods like sup.]

And as long as I'm making introductions — I'm Princess Allura.

Wow ...

[ She thinks it's so cool that she can talk to them like that. And she listens carefully to their names, watching their cute little waves, and then Allura's and — oh. ]

Oh — it's nice to meet you too, Princess Allura.

[ And she gives a little bow to her. She doesn't know a lot of royalty but she knows Mickey and despite how friendly he is, people still tend to be respectful. So she should, too! Even if she's technically a princess herself — she just doesn't flaunt it or really think about it much, and she probably shouldn't say it to people considering the danger it can put her in. ]

[Allura looks both flattered and embarrassed when Kairi bows. It's not often here that people break out the formalities one would expect for the Princess title. After all, Princess or pauper — we're all imPorts here, aren't we?]

[Then again, maybe it's good practice. From the sound of it, this memorial service is going to require a lot of formalities. More than the usual Swear-Ins, at least.]

[Let's just keep talking about the mice, shall we?]

You know, the strangest thing isn't being able to speak with them telepathically. It's how it all started: I was sleeping in a special stasis pod, not knowing that the mice were inside as well. And when I woke up...

Somehow, we were all connected.

[ Okay, that is especially cool to hear. Granted, she doesn't know how long or why Allura was in that pod — but it sounds cool right now!! ]

Whoa, really? Do you think it'd work if you tried it with others, too?

[ Like going back and forth into the pod to gain telepathy with other creatures! Like a cat! Or ... another person! ]

You know, maybe it could?

But I'm not sure we have any stasis pods here. And I'm not sure I would want to try it again, just to see.

I should have mentioned that it wasn't just overnight. I was sleeping for many years.

[She'll leave out the number of years, because the only things that sleep for 10,000 years are genies and ancient evils. It tends to freak people out a bit.]

[ Oh. Well that changes things. ]

Many years? [ She sounds a little shocked. ] Yeah. It's probably best not to try that again. [ It sounded like a fun idea to have a whole bunch of telepathy until she learned how long she'd have to sleep for it.

And she smiles at the little mice. ]

Besides, it looks like you got some great friends out of it already.

[ So even if she can't get a bunch of telepathy friends, she's already a winner! ]

The very best. And wherever I may go... having them with me is like having a little piece of home, as well.

[They all look quite proud of themselves now. And all the more adorable for it. Aren't mice just the best?]

And they're quite smart, too. I don't think security technically allowed them on this plane... and I feel bad for it, since I'm sure some of the other imPorts must have had to leave their own pets at home.

[ She smiles warmly when she hears that comment about them being a little piece of home. ] I know how you feel.

[ She feels the same about Sora and Riku. They're her best friends, and just being with them feels like she's at home, even if it's far away. She's sure this would be a different experience here if she were here without them, and she's ... just so unbelievably happy that she gets to live with them here.

But wow. ] So they made it on here themselves?

They did! And quite easily, from the sound of it. They're the ideal stealth operatives, since no one keeps an eye out for mice.

[At that, all four mice do a cool team pose.]

You wouldn't believe how much gossip they can gather, with how easy it is to eavesdrop.

Wow, I hadn't even thought of that. So they could find out anything you wanted.

[ She laughs a little at that. It sounds kind of fun to use, honestly ... Kairi isn't the type to use something like that sinisterly, but she could have a lot of fun with it nonetheless. ]

Have they found out any secrets about this plane?

[ She's curious okay ... Maybe there's some secretly really good food, or something. ]

Secrets about this plane...?

[She looks down at the mice, as if waiting for them to provide an answer. One of them holds up a handful of the snack props they were using for their performance]

No, I don't think where they're hiding the 'best snacks' counts. They'll serve those to us eventually, won't they?

[Another one pipes up. It doesn't try to play charades, which is something to be thankful for--]

They were doing what in the bathroom? I don't think she — or anyone — needs to hear about that. Some things are private for a reason!

[It looks like a bust. There simply isn't all that much going on aboard airplanes. But then...]

Oh? There's a stewardess that has a crush on one of the pilots? Which one?

[ Kairi just cocks her head to the side a little when she hears about ... whatever was happening in the bathroom. Like a confused puppy. Kairi doesn't think about the sort of things that that most likely is, so she doesn't ... catch on, really. But she's not sure she wants to hear about anything that could be happening in a bathroom anyway. Sounds gross regardless.

But that last bit sounds exciting, and Kairi leans in a little, smiling. ]

Really? Yeah, who is it? [ Laughing softly. ] Maybe we can help set them up.

[ This is an excellent way to waste time on the plane. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

JANUARY SWEAR-IN: DEATH ISLAND

travel!!

travel!!

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