Who All Is Staying? [Open to Sunset Island Ranked Members, Previous Members]

Amaranth needed several questions answered: who all was still in Sunset Island, who all was going to stay in Sunset Island, and who was she going to ask to replace some of her top people if they were leaving? She didn't take any of those questions lightly, but thought especially hard on the last one. She knew through the stories she sometimes heard her family telling that blindly trusting someone was foolish and dangerous and not something worth doing. No, whoever she chose would have to be people who could prove themselves, who could prove that they could be trusted and relied on, who wouldn't betray her. For that she would have to come up with some way to test them, but that could wait until later. For now the first two questions were the ones she wanted answers to.

So, she had sent out a summon via the rune she had placed one everyone who held any sort of rank on her paradise island. She had touched her own, the 'boss' rune so to speak, and caused it to heat up which would be mimicked on everyone else's rune. The heat wouldn't be painful at all, simply like sitting in front of a cozy fireplace. All anyone would have to do of course to arrive instantly would be to focus on the rune which would teleport them there; or focus on it enough if they chose not to do that for them to be able to sense she was sitting in one of the conference rooms of her underground lab.

She was seated at a circular table in one of many comfortable swivel chairs that lined the desk. The air conditioner was going, leaving the place cool without being too cold. There were several flat screen monitors which hung from the ceiling; each positioned and showing nothing more than a repeating rise and fall of the sun screen-saver: it was meant in case someone couldn't arrive and needed to call in, or use some sort of voice/video chat. The screens were positioned so that everyone around the table would be able to see it equally.

She leaned back in her chair and waited, drumming the tips of her fingers on her chair arm and looking around the room. It was nearly empty of course, save for some weapons, including her scythe which was right next to her. The walls were made out of glass, showing the ocean beyond them. Amaranth herself was dressed as she normally was; black and red school girl outfit, and the red hooded cape. Red hair was back in a ponytail; revealing silver colored eyes easily enough.

Some strange shit going on the past few days... A bunch of people suddenly started appearing, some of them feeling familiar. The weirdest had to be an entire country just... appearing out of thin air. It was so dark that the sun's rays could not penetrate. Some sort of protection field was erected around the whole country that seemed strikingly familiar to the Dead Zone that surrounded Edge City. He thought he spotted someone flying out of there the other day that looked a lot like Alec's son Jr. Could the Kanes have been behind this mysterious phenomena?

Ghost had kept watch on this strange and creepy place since it appeared, just in case a tentacle monster or something washed up on the shores. He'd even done a complete lap flying around this place, being sure to keep his distance. The place was situated on the unused side of the island, so there would be no worry of tourists being scared away; the main beaches were facing the coast of Edge. It'd be better to look at a huge, smog filled crime riddled city than some place that looked like it came from out of a bad nightmare. With his enhanced senses Ghost could see and feel many powerful individuals, some of which seeming to have some sort of... being sealed inside of them. The most familiar of these individuals had to be Alec, and his daughter, Destiny.

If Alec was behind the mysterious appearance of this place, Ghost wasn't going to worry about it. Alec had been one of his long time friends, and had even saved his life. There had to be a good reason behind all of this, and instead of harping on it, Ghost decided to be patient and wait for someone to explain it all to him. So, upon feeling the rune that his daughter had given him begin to heat up somewhat, signaling that she was summoning him, Ghost took off. Quickly breaking the barrier of sound, he sped towards Sunset Island resembling some sort of super hero, his red cape flapping about behind him wildly.

Ghost rose out of a shadow in Amaranth's underwater office. ”What's up, princess? Is everything alright? he asked, his arms folded beneath the red cape draped around him.

It seemed like things got so bad that Alec went home. Not only that? He'd taken the entire country with him. In a visit to Makkura, Holeman came to find that there was nothing there anymore. Holeman found himself ensnared within whatever Magic that was used to transport a whole country, and once again he was upon a hot tropical beach with half dressed women, musclebound guys, and clean, clear waters that children were playing in.

This was Sunset Island. He'd spent some time here once before. The huge place across the way was called Edge City, but now there was another place on the opposite side, a dark scary looking place... Makkura? So his hunch was true. Alec went home, and somehow took the whole country with him. Holeman looked shocked... how was that even possible?

Something in his possession was heating up. He reached into his item bag and came out with a rune. Amaranth/Mitsukai had given it to him 5 years ago, the last time he was here. She'd created some kind of protection field around the island, and this item allowed the person in possession of it to get around the negative effects. It also allowed the person holding it to teleport directly to her. Figuring he should go let her know that he was here once again, and get an explanation as to what exactly was going on, Holeman put this teleportation into play, vanishing from the beach at the surprise of many nearby tourists.

Holeman appeared in the underwater office with Amaranth/Mitsukai and her father Ghost. He looked much like he did the last time he was on this island, except now he'd piled on a large amount of muscle due to his 5 year training regimen with Spook, making him a hulked out midget. There was a large and well inked tattoo on his right upper arm 幽霊 (Spook) to show who'd trained him. He wore a white wife beater, green ankle length slacks, red sandals and red fingerless gloves. Medical tape was tied around either forearm. His familiar Du-rag was tied around his head so that it covered his eyes, and red headphones covered his ears.

Holeman scratched his head. ”Kinda confused right now...” he said. ”I figure some kind of explanation or something is coming, so I won't start blurting out a buncha questions, and just wait and see what comes...” He took a seat at one of the many chairs around the table.

Amaranth blinked and looked over towards the shadows that she could hear her father's voice coming from; his method of arrival caused her to grin and giggle. She then looked over as Holeman arrived via teleportation into the lab. She leaned back in her chair comfortably and with a single hand reached forward. The top of the table glowed softly and a keyboard came into view as her hand passed over it: motion activated. She pressed several keys which caused the screens that hung from the ceiling to spring to life with images of Makkura. "Nothing's wrong per say, but I figured everyone would like an explanation; and I talked to Niala before she returned to Edge and got the whole story. I also wanted to see who all was around since it's been a really long time since I called one of these meetings."

She nodded towards the screens. "Holeman, I'm sure you've guessed this is Makkura. Dad... this is the village that when everyone was over in the other dimension they fixed up and lived in. It's the village that the organization that my grandad started, the Dark, was opperated out of." She took a deep breath, going on with her explanation. "I guess grandad got tired of everyone talking big but doing nothing. No matter who he kidnapped, no matter what he destroyed, no one stepped up. Many people joined Makkura because they were prodigies who did everything for their villages but got nothing in return, but they got that recognition in Makkura. So, in the end he got tired of it all and wanted to come back to our world. But, he wasn't going to just leave everyone behind so he took them, the village, heck the whole country, back with him. I'm not exactly sure how he did it given everyone's power over there is stunted, but that's what this dark place is; The Land of Shadows."

She pressed several more keys on the keyboard which caused the pictures to change to different angles of Makkura before switching to images of Niala arriving and the pair of them having a conversation. "Niala, when the country showed up, went and investigated it and found out what was going on. From what she told me grandad is staying in Makkura because the place has grown on him. So, he's going to control Makkura. Probably good they're staying there anyway; him and Avery had a daughter while over in the other dimension named Artemis, so it might take her a while to get used to all of this. Now, in the other world Uncle Junior was the one in charge of Makkura, but grandad has passed control of Edge onto him so that's where he's at."

She paused for a moment to both take a breath while also figuring out what else she needed to bring up. "I contacted mom, she'll be back as soon as she's finished fixing her new... pet, weapon, whatever it is. Over in Makkura mom stayed in her lab a lot doing experiments, making things. But, she's going to be going back and forth." She pressed another button on the keyboard which caused the screens to show the city of Shinkai Shigai; or now known as Velo City. "Now, as far as my cousin Nova goes... well, him and his sister who I've never met have taken over Shinkai Shigai and renamed it Velo City." After a moment or so of leaving the images up she pressed another button on the keyboard which caused the keyboard to fade from view and the screen-saver to pop back up of the constantly rising and setting sun.

"So, it's looking like we've lost some people and I wanted to make everyone aware of it and to see who all was around. I'm sure if anything were to happen more than enough people would show up in an instant; but as far as members on the island... well, it's looking like it's just us three."

The story got back to him about how Alec encountered a visitor from another dimension, who turned out to be the “him” of that world. He was also told of how Alec got bored and went to this dimension himself. Alec, along with Destiny, Demi and Jr, went and shook up this world, and got no response from its ninja inhabitants. Apparently he'd taken over a village and started an organization similar to The Company, called “The Dark.” By some means he'd even gotten cozy with a female and had himself another child with her.

Ghost guessed that Alec was considered evil in this other world. He guessed that the “good guys” of that world were afraid to stand against Alec, and were mostly all talk. So instead of leaving and deserting the country he'd built upon, he decided to bring it with him back here. Alec must have loved the place if he sent Jr to run Edge so that he could stay behind. His earlier hunch was also correct: the protection field that was raised around the place had to be another variation of The Dead Zone.

Finally, she said something about Nova, Alec's nephew and Amaranth's cousin, taking over the city of that woman Himitsu or whatever her name was, and renaming it Velo City.

”Ahh... i'm sure it'll all make for a pretty cool story,” said Ghost. ”I think i'll hafta go take me a visit to this Makkura place and check it out for myself sooner or later. As far as security on the island goes, i'm still here, and haven't gone anywhere. If I do leave, it won't be for very long.”

Holeman already knew the whole story. ”There was a peace conference... Alec and his folk did some bad things back in the days, like cutting the leg of my Kage off, and I kinda helped with their villain stuff by doing some surgeries on them, but they were honestly trying to put their evil ways behind them. Alec sent Jr because he thought showing up himself would cause trouble. Some dude named Kenta started mouthing off though, and made Jr rage. He went to this village in the snow called Korigakure. Me and Mits found the place... Jr and Alec blew it off the map, to send a message to the rest of the villages.”

Holeman looked at the screens, still wondering about the advanced technology of this world, just like he'd done in the past. ”I guess the message was received, because nobody wanted to fight or war after that. Well, besides an incident involving my former Kage and one of Alec's Dark agents named Kinzoku, who was a missing-nin from my old desert village. The guy has this Iron Sand stuff that he can control, and I think it's alive and has a mind all it's own because it protects him too, even if he wants it to or not. I heard it'll even stop him from committing suicide... A girl that belonged to the same clan that Jr was in in my world appeared over there, and Kinzoku kidnapped her. My old Kage – his name was Strafe – tried to stop him, but ended up with every bone in his body broken and the village half destroyed. Strafe was stronger and faster than Kinzoku, but it seemed like he had no trouble crunching him up in that sand stuff of his. He woulda died if I didn't go save him, but now i'm wondering if that was even a good idea.”

It made Holeman frown, thinking of all the idiot moron leaders of his desert home. Perhaps it would have been better to leave him to his fate, for always trying to play a hero when it appeared that he was weak an an incompetent leader. But ah well... that was a matter in a whole other world; a world he didn't plan on returning to.

”...But yeah... after a bunch of kids left their villages because their leaders were neglecting them, Makkura became the strongest village in my world. A bunch of weaklings in the other villages got scared, so Alec decided he wasn't gonna mess with them anymore, but he made friends with one, Kumogakure. I guess it got too boring and frustrating for him to handle, so he came back home... I'm pretty sure it's for good this time.”

Amaranth nodded to her father; she knew he always would have her back, and since he had never mentioned plans of leaving Sunset Island she figured that likely hadn't changed. Still, it was good to hear. They had a lot of spots open now, and she wondered who all was going to be interested in filling them up. Time would tell of course, and Amaranth had a lot of patience to wait.

She then focused on Holeman as she listened to him go in greater detail about everything. About how there had been the Kage Summit where Junior had tried to make peace, how that had been thrown back in his face and threats and insults hurled back. How in retaliation and to prove their worth Junior and Alec had gone over to Korigakure and blown it to pieces. She listened as he explained about how the only conflict that happened afterward was between Yokuchigakure's Kage and Kinzoku who could do what Emiko could only with metal sand instead. She listened as he told of how the Kage had been crushed and was only alive to this day because Holeman had gone and saved his life. Then, she listened as he went on to explain how a bunch of kids left the villages because their leaders were neglecting them and how Makkura quickly became the stronger village in that world. Finally, how Alec had made friends with Kumogakure; Amara and Gemma's village.

Amaranth momentarily pondered who all else was going to end up showing up in their world from the other before she just shook her head. "I hope it's for good; too much of a headache to go back there. No point in it really; if no one will fight. Has to get pretty boring; especially knowing that you're staying somewhere where your powers are stunted to begin with. I have no intentions of going over there, but I am curious as to who all else is going to show up. I mean... Aella was in Niwa last I heard... I wonder if she even realizes what's going on." She looked over to her father; figuring she should explain who Aella is. "Aella is Aisling, the other version of Demi's, daughter. She's really smart, and has a powerful beast, a bijuu, sealed inside of her. She was one of the people that grandad kidnapped and no one did anything about - 'cept Aisling, she went over there quick as could be, but it turned out okay because she knew grandad wasn't going to hurt either of them and Aella was happy enough and getting stronger every day she was in Makkura."

It all sounded interesting. Same old Alec. From the sounds of things, he went to this world of ninjas and created a “Murder INC” of sorts. They were considered villains in that other world. Alec did some of the things he used to in INC and the Chaos Squad, designed to provoke those villages, to no response, besides some guy Kenta mouthing off. Alec and Jr blew up a village to scare the others, and it seemed that it worked.

There was some guy named Kinzoku who could control Iron Sand, who injured the Boss, or “Kage” as they called him, but besides that nothing went on. So Alec got bored, left, and teleported the entire country with him. Alec decided to remain behind in Makkura, and sent Jr to Edge to run things.

Amaranth voiced her concern for others who'd possibly been pulled here, such as a girl named Aella. Alec kidnapped the girl, but seeing as Amaranth said the child had been happy, and knowing Alec, he'd probably convinced her to come with him. ”I'll keep my eyes open for someone that doesn't look familiar,” said Ghost. ”If I happen to come upon some girl that looks like a space alien or something, i'll be sure to let'cha know.”

”Me too,” Holeman added. “I'll probably be between here, Makkura and Edge, but i'll be here for the most part, if you all need me. I know there isn't much need for a medic in this world, seeing as a lot of you can just heal yourselves, but i'll stick around. I think i'm gonna go get familiar with the surroundings again, alot's changed in 5 years...”

Holeman got up from the table and began to make his way back to the surface...

[Exit]