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

[patchricide]

They're doing better! These are much shorter heels than before.

[She shows them off, briefly.]

How about you? Is your suit still bothering you? You seem about ready to tear it off.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

If you really want them to feel better, you should take those heels off and walk in the surf. I think you'd like it.

[He makes a dramatic sigh and flops backward, almost tumbling off the rock.]

Gods, you have no idea. If there weren't reporters everywhere I'd probably just tear the damn thing off right here!

[patchricide]

... that's tempting.

[The surf idea, not Darin putting on a strip show. Shhhh, nothing to report here!]

Are we allowed to go swimming on this beach? I wasn't sure if it was discouraged because this island is almost entirely cliffs, or for other reasons.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I...have no idea. But just listening to the ocean is making me want to. I haven't been swimming in ages.

[patchricide]

Perhaps when we get back home to Heropa, we ought to have a beach day?

It's still incredibly cold for an outing like that... not like here, where the weather couldn't be better, but...

[This is more depressing than the memorial service. Let them swim!]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

We could...

Did you even bring a swimsuit?

[patchricide]

Just on the off chance I would get to use it — yes, I did.

[How much luggage did she pack???]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Geez, did you seriously pack that much? We were only going to be here a day or so...!

...Still.

...I wonder how quiet this place is once the sun sets.

[patchricide]

As far as we know, yes. But what if there was some delay? Besides, I've made good use of most of it.

So, what are you thinking? Should we return later tonight?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Should they? On the one hand, things have gone incredibly smoothly. And there's no reason people will be at the beach late at night! They'd have the place to themselves!]

[On the other hand...nothing going wrong usually means that it's high time something did. And getting caught on the beach in the dead of night could raise some eyebrows.]

[...Okay, a lot of eyebrows.]

... ... ...

[On the other other hand...]

It'd be a shame to have packed it and not had the chance to use it...

[patchricide]

So is this actually about taking advantage of the weather, or is this about seeing me in the swimsuit?

Because that we can always enjoy at home, with less danger.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin chokes hard enough that he falls off the rock.]

[Because he's simultaneously busted and that was one hell of a bold suggestion that could be read into way too easily.]

[patchricide]

... Darin?! What happened?!

[She jumps up to look over the rock and see where he fell.]

Are you all right?!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[He's flat on his back and beet red to boot.]

Y..Y-Yeah! Yeah just...! Just fine...!

[Does his face read 'guilty' enough to you?]

[patchricide]

Are you sure? Because if I didn't know any better, I would think you threw yourself off the rocks!

[Is he close enough that she can offer a hand to help? Because if so, she's definitely going to offer a hand to help.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

W-Why would I do something ridiculous like that??

[Like a fool, he reaches for her hand.]

[patchricide]

[She waits until she has a firm grip on his hand...]

So, I take it that's a yes on going to the beach after we get back.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Y...Yes?

Why would I say no?

[patchricide]

I'm not sure. Why would you go flying off the rocks at the suggestion?

Because I don't think it's because you hate the idea.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

N...No, of course not. I mean, I used to live by the beach. I love the beach!

[Is she still holding onto him? Is he out of the interrogation chamber yet?]

[patchricide]

[Has he actually pulled himself up, so he can stand upright on the rock? This is not clear.]

Really? ... if it meant that much to you, we could have moved to Heropa sooner, you know.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[He's clamoring back onto the rock. It's very ungraceful but he makes it.]

Yeah but...I didn't want to uproot our lives. Plus...I thought if anyone was going to move, it would have been you. Lance lived in Heropa before us. I thought you and the rest of the team would have gone there long before I got shuffled to Heropa.

[patchricide]

Even after I explained why I wasn't in a rush to move back in with the other Paladins? Honestly, though, that didn't mean I wouldn't have relocated if you truly wanted to.

Is that why you have a soft spot for fish, as well? Because it reminds you of home?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah...you got me. Guilty as charged. It's why I enjoy fishing so much too. I can't tell you how many days I'd spend just relaxing on the shore and fishing when I didn't have any work to do.

It was my favorite thing in the world aside from smithing.

[Fortunately, the subject changed from the previous, more embarrassing topic. He wasn't sure he'd get away with that one after his over the top reaction.]

I haven't gone in awhile. I've been way too busy.

[patchricide]

I never would have guessed. You've spent so much time hiding away in that forge, I was starting to think you didn't like the outdoors very much at all.

[She's also letting it drop. It's fine, everything's fine. As long as that fall doesn't end up in the tabloids, they can sweep it under the rug.]

I've never actually been. Is it hard?