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

[pharmaka]

[ Circe gets along pretty well by virtue of two facts. The first is that she is immortal, so she expects mortal society to change over time, and is used to the concept; the second is that she is an actual Greek goddess, so her tolerance of the absurd and unexplained is extremely high.

Even so, she has moments where she's absolutely flummoxed or blindsided, like the plane earlier. ]

Not as often as you might expect. [ Spells are a lot of work, honestly. ] I am a witch, however, [ she admits. ] It seems my skills are of a different sort than most think of when they hear the word.

[janus_scholar]

[Walter nods in understanding.] Well, I have seen that word used to mean many different things.

May I ask more about your vocation? I’ve been surveying many imPorts for information about the powers and magic from their own worlds. I find it fascinating.

[pharmaka]

[ Circe can't help but laugh a little, a sound somehow charming but also devoid of feeling. ]

My vocation, as you put it, is to live as a hermit on an island inhabited primarily by wolves and wild boar. Over the years I have discovered and developed my own abilities, called pharmakeia in my language.

In retrospect, I have begun to wonder if I am not an early incarnation of what grew to be the myth of the evil witch that lives alone in the woods. It would not be wholly inaccurate. [ Given everyone keeps recognizing her name, Circe has taken it upon herself to read a good amount of mythology and folklore. ]

[janus_scholar]

[While he hasn't heard her name yet, he's getting a clearer idea of who she may be. He treads delicately with his words.]

Greek, is it not? I'm beginning to wonder if you may be that prototypal witch, as well.

[pharmaka]

[ Circe really should expect this by now. Ugh. Somehow she just can't seem to internalize that people will recognize her, and as more than the useless spinster child of Helios who got cast aside.

Some of her thoughts are visible by the dour look on her face, but it's long-suffering more than offended. ] Yes, I am Circe. I did not intend to become a fable of any kind.

[janus_scholar]

[His eyes widen. Not just at the confirmation of a living legend before him, but his own apparent misstep.]

Ah, forgive me. I meant no offense in my assumptions. My own career has made me familiar with many mythologies, including some of yours.

[His voice softens a bit.] I... doubt that anyone is ever aware of their legacy. People live to the best of their abilities, and they change the world by being a part of it.

I would not presume to know how you feel about your own fables... As you have said, witches are assumed to be many things, good and bad. But I do think that being a patron of powerful women is a worthy legacy.

[pharmaka]

[ This is more typically how mortals react when they meet a goddess, a tenor which has been absent in almost all of Circe's interactions here. But he surprises her by following up with wisdom and empathy. Not so starstruck as all that, it seems.

Circe likes that much better than awe. ]

It is not offensive, only tiresome, [ she assures him with a quirk of her lips. ] But you are right that that is the only worthwhile part in it. I have reason to believe Hermes spread tales of me, but I am sure that in them I am either a weeping maid or a barren fell witch.

Compared to that, they are not unflattering stories. I would be glad to provide a third path forward for those women. [ That she could've patroned anyone is what baffles her. That credits her with a power and a freedom Circe knows she does not have. ]

[janus_scholar]

[Well, witches are not the only ones who may have looked to her for inspiration. When deciding a name for the organization of his fellow changelings, Walter had thought of many gods. The woman who could change men to beasts and back again was a noteworthy consideration. Circe was not unlike his own creator-god, Morgana, though she was a witch of a different kind...

He smiles, feeling more at ease again.]

I believe you did. But I would guess that you are more interested in pursuing the future, rather than dwelling in histories and myths. How have your experiences in this world been, thus far?

[There's some natural small talk again. He's not interested in gawking, he'd rather know Circe as the person she is.]

[pharmaka]

[ She's still not used to being asked questions like this, though she's growing more accustomed the longer she's here. ]

Exciting and confusing, and at times overwhelming, [ she confesses, a little reluctantly. That, too, is something she's getting used to: saying her opinion and not being immediately shot down. ] I value the opportunity, however. I have not left Aiaia in centuries; to see all this, and meet so many-- I do not mind the work it takes to become comfortable here. Witchcraft is nothing but work, so at least I am used to it.

[janus_scholar]

I am glad to hear that. In truth, I am still trying to find my bearings here as well. I make a good show of it, and I'm lucky to not be facing any outright culture shock... but whether the surprises are mild or immense, I am glad for the company. It makes this all much easier.

[pharmaka]

[ What an astonishingly kindhearted thing to say. Circe is almost flummoxed. She's become so old and stern, the part of her that had once been an innocent, trusting girl has almost been compressed into dust...

Almost. But it is oddly painful, somehow, to bring her up to the surface again, however briefly.

There's subsequently an awkward pause before she replies. ] ... I do not disagree. I had not-- expected to find like company, anywhere. It has been...

[ Circe lets out a breath. ] A very long time.