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

[goldtoxicity]

[ They're really the best thing he could pick to hide behind. Nobody's gonna mess with this, right? Then again he really doesn't know. The culture shock is real and disconcerting.

But death? No way. Death feels like an old friend at this point. ]

Thanks. I appreciate it. [ you should probably introduce yourself to the person you're using as a human (?) shield though. ] I'm Josh.

[glowsferatu]

[ Part of the purpose of Kanaya's disguise, beyond masking her identity, has been to put a kinder, if mysterious, face on Death to people who are likely to face a lot of it. Meeting someone who's already made their peace with it is a rare but pleasant occurrence. ]

I am called the Psychopomp. [ They almost offer him a hand, but think better of it, not wanting to make him expose a gold hand to onlookers. ] It can be overwhelming, I have found, to find oneself in thy present circumstances. How hast thou met it thus far?

[goldtoxicity]

Cool name. [ That's the problem with being bright and shiny, every move catches attention. Great when he was sixteen and wanted people's attention (or blinding them if they were annoying him or just to BE annoying), less so when all eyes always seem to be on him. ] I'm okay. Just trying to get my feet under me still, I guess. Not crazy about this whole "registration" party thing, but the food's good and the non-camera company is great.

[glowsferatu]

Whilst the concept of registration may carry an ill omen, the circumstances of it are less dire than thou mayest assume.

[ Now that she thinks about it, there was a post on the Network from him about this. She didn't respond then, because it would be a very telling move from her, and probably wouldn't have convinced him anyway. Now that the subject's coming up in person, it has to be addressed somehow. ]

Many dangers await us in this land, but the American government has not been among them. Which is not to say that they derive no benefit from our presence, but the Stolen present a greater risk to them than they to the Stolen.

[goldtoxicity]

[ The Stolen. That's... well, that's an accurate, if not incredibly discomforting, name for them. ]

Sorry, I don't really buy that. Call me paranoid but I've never run into a government that had the best interests of people like us in mind. [ he can't quite keep the bitterness out of his voice. registration just leaves a bitter taste in his mouth, makes him think of 45 graves on school property and how people had been beating down their door to monitor the handful that were left - or the new restrictions sure to be put in place because mutants dared to come back from the brink of extinction ] Like don't get me wrong, I'll help out if I'm needed. But like a [ he fishes for the word, doesn't find the one he's looking for and just substitutes what kind of sounds right ] mercenary?

[glowsferatu]

Ah, but a mercenary receiveth compensation for his efforts. [ A hand breaches the layers of their robes to wave a finger, not unlike a schoolmarm. ] Of any who would fight crime in this land, those who are paid are only members of the organized collectives, which is rather the opposite of what you propose.

[ It isn't easy being jokingly pedantic when you're actually this pedantic on the regular, but she's sure trying it. ]

Nonetheless, I take thy meaning, but it reflecteth not the circumstances into which we are placed. To act in such a manner as a free agent, or to act not at all, is common among the Stolen, regardless of registration. No obligation of service is accepted in the act, as five years of history will demonstrate.

However, to take up mantle as a vigilante without registration leaveth one vulnerable to legal scrutiny, so if this is the decision thou wouldst make, such an endeavor is one I would discourage. Exceptions are often made for times of crisis, and on those occasions the assistance of so free an agent will surely be welcomed.

Do not think that I keep any illusion of this government's altruism because of this. Nay, I trust them only to seek their own interests, but, in the time of the Stolen, those interests have been to keep us placated. For that I can not find it in me to bear them ill will. It is not our worlds, nor our people, that are under the greatest threat in these times. To thee, ahead is an evaluation of how thou wilt interact with this world, and what it will mean to now be here. Shouldst thou do no harm to the innocent, those choices art thine alone to make, and I begrudge thee not if we reach differing conclusions.

[ This Psychpomp's a talky one, that's for sure. ]

[goldtoxicity]

[ The talking is appreciated. Like listening to some wise world-weary sage, or a quest giver for an RPG. ]

I don't think I really have to worry about being a vigilante and getting in trouble. I mean - I think I'm now technically a licensed doctor? And my powers are healing. If I'm on site its because someone needs to be put back together after everybody else does their thing.

[ It's a lie, but its one said smoothly. Lies you wish were the truth come out the easiest. He'll gladly be just a healer, because anybody that knows the extent of his powers isn't here... Well, not counting Psylocke. Until someone forces his hand he can be just a healer, and he'll take dropping from exhaustion over dropping corpses.

For now, he just snags a handful of salami off of the table to snack in peace behind the giant spectre of death. ]

But... thanks. I appreciate the no judgment... I'd just rather keep my loyalty to me and my people - which, I mean, I guess now is everybody else who was Stolen. It's not that I wanna go all supervilliany or like, riot, [ well, not here. ] I just want to be sure that any choices I make are good for me and everybody around me, and registering kind of muddles that. I want to make choices because they're right for my moral compass, not because someone is forcing it in another direction with obligation.

[glowsferatu]

Again, the only obligation involved resteth in the perception of the beholder. It is not inherent to the process. The system as it existeth at present doth little to allay such confusion, [ But then, in order to do that you might need a source of information that imPorts wouldn't immediately distrust, which is probably why the government doesn't bother trying. ] and thus to decline on first offering is a very reasonable reaction. Is it not a decision that can be made only once, and carrieth a dire weight when it is made. As thou growest in familiarity to this world, shouldst thou reconsider, there will be opportunity to do so.

And shouldst thou see no need to, it will be better for thee to have trusted thy instincts. As it is, so shalt it be. [ They say this last bit with a shrug, fully aware that they just adapted a modern colloquialism into a more archaic speech pattern. It's giving up the game a little, demonstrating that their entire deal is a well-practiced affectation. ]

Thy gifts as a healer are of far greater consequence, as I am sure thou wilt face many opportunities to employ those gifts. As they become better known, a demand may appear for them, even to a degree that overwhelmeth thee. Know thy limits, and whatever costs may be intrinsic to the use of thy gifts. What is necessary to managing them, and maintaining thine own self, and fear not delaying or denying thy gifts to one, shouldst thou find it needed.

But perhaps these are things known to thee already, and mine advice is unsolicited, and unneeded.

[goldtoxicity]

I appreciate it, really.

[ He musters a smile, even if some of that hits so close to home it's almost painful. His teenage years were spent elbow-deep in the viscera of most of the people he cared about at one time or another. Where was this advice when he was a kid and he actually needed to know it was totally okay to not have the weight of the world shoved on his shoulders?

Ah, whatever. He managed. ]

That's the problem with having powers and being different, though - people expect you to use it to benefit them. And if you put yourself first, then they think you're just being selfish. [ He's okay with selfish, mostly. ] So if it doesn't really matter except for legal stuff then I'll just lawyer up if things get dicey, I guess. Or just... I dunno, book it to Tibet or something.

Have you been here a long time then? You seem to know what you're talking about.