Or Is He Both? - Day 1
Aug. 25th, 2024 08:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xp_shatterstar posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
xp_logsThe X-Men discuss two emails for help they received from Bruce Banner and Canada's Beta Flight. They decide to go investigate.
"So, we have two different emails asking for our help, from people we know we can trust, at least somewhat. If Banner doesn't want to get his friends involved then there's probably more to this than he's telling us." A finger tapped against the desk as Scott leaned back in his chair, dark eyes slowly circling the room. "We know Banner, or at least we've fought against him, I trust him not to be actively working against us, but if he's asking a favour from us then something really is wrong. I don't know much about your friend in Beta Flight, but given what they're talking about it makes more sense to reach out to us."
"It's important to be clear, the subject is a dual citizen, so while US law enforcement takes precedence here, there's normally a level of reciprocity between Canadian and US authorities in these cases, and for some reason, that isn't happening." Kane said, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "Walt doesn't have a specific outcome he's looking for - just more information why Department H is being cut out of the loop and whether it is something that they need to push. As for Banner... he's been working on some research related to my power issues. I'm willing to trust his motives, but if the X-Men aren't comfortable getting involved, I can take point on the ground. There's some advantages to waving an FBI badge around, so long as it doesn't get back to Fred."
"I'm sure there is, but I think if we've got two separate people reporting something suspicious...I'd be interested to see what's going on," Jean said, resting her chin on steepled fingers. "If the Underground wasn't able to save a mutant from dying...it's got to also be impacting the people in that area from being able to transport mutants safely. That cuts off a route. And I've worked with Bruce since our last mission. I trust him. Side effect of being in his head to bring him out of being a giant green rage monster. He says he's got a contact in the area that might be able to help too."
"So, depending on who we're meant to believe, we're looking for either some sort of radiation poisoning or a rogue mutation. Or fully intentional murder, I suppose. One mustn't be close-minded." Marius brushed a curl from his amber eyes. "If it's a mutant causing the deaths, odds are I'll be able to read it once I set eyes on them. Can't say I'd be much use with gamma, however." Thoughtfully, the Australian turned to the young woman a few chairs down. "What about you, Nica? Does that particular frequency fall within your purview?"
She grimaced. "It's not usually something I can channel, sorry. But between you and Rogue, maybe we can figure something out? Sensing it, at least?"
Rogue shrugged. "I mean, I ain't gonna be able to sniff it out. Y'all gotta get me close enough to touch, but I'm game if that's what we need to do. I just think it's so funny that we are involved at all. Like Gar said, it don't make much sense, but what do I know. I'm a lowly peon."
"I go where he goes," Jean-Phillipe agreed, nodding his head at Scott. "Unless it involves electricity or the Brotherhood, the details are best left to someone else. Docteur Banner seems like the expert on it, though." The internecine disagreements between the American and Canadian governments also seemed best left to those most knowledgeable - his preference was for concrete action to solve concrete problems.
Sooraya's eyes were just a little distant, her mind somewhere else. "It's maybe a weird thing for us to be helping out with. I've seen what radiation related death can do..." The picture of the teenager they lost was still sharp. "... and with people dying in such a way we should do what we can. Besides, if a mutant is involved somehow, if they are connected, better we are there to do what damage control we can."
"If it's- " Kyle started, and then stopped himself. "The kid died, right? Dead dead?" He rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, back in the day, we got called for a missing mutant kid, turned out he died, and... it was, not contagious, but he was... psionically inhabiting dead bodies. If whatever this poor kid is doing is spreading, we can.. I can, well, what Rogue said, only I can sniff it out. I know what dead smells like, and I know what rad sick smells like."
"From our information. Look, there isn't any nice way to put this but... we should still give it a once over. I know it's distasteful but..." He shrugged. "Anyone who said this job was fun lied to you. And it was me. I lied to you."
"I lie to myself every time I get an overnight comms slot. I get can us a radius of spread if this is some kind of mutant death power." Kyle said. "I'll do a quick re-up on the corpse scenting training in the DR, if we have time. I'm due anyway. Might be able to modify it for rad tracking too, if you guys wanna join in." He made a waving sort of gesture at Nica and Marius and Rogue.
"So, we have two different emails asking for our help, from people we know we can trust, at least somewhat. If Banner doesn't want to get his friends involved then there's probably more to this than he's telling us." A finger tapped against the desk as Scott leaned back in his chair, dark eyes slowly circling the room. "We know Banner, or at least we've fought against him, I trust him not to be actively working against us, but if he's asking a favour from us then something really is wrong. I don't know much about your friend in Beta Flight, but given what they're talking about it makes more sense to reach out to us."
"It's important to be clear, the subject is a dual citizen, so while US law enforcement takes precedence here, there's normally a level of reciprocity between Canadian and US authorities in these cases, and for some reason, that isn't happening." Kane said, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "Walt doesn't have a specific outcome he's looking for - just more information why Department H is being cut out of the loop and whether it is something that they need to push. As for Banner... he's been working on some research related to my power issues. I'm willing to trust his motives, but if the X-Men aren't comfortable getting involved, I can take point on the ground. There's some advantages to waving an FBI badge around, so long as it doesn't get back to Fred."
"I'm sure there is, but I think if we've got two separate people reporting something suspicious...I'd be interested to see what's going on," Jean said, resting her chin on steepled fingers. "If the Underground wasn't able to save a mutant from dying...it's got to also be impacting the people in that area from being able to transport mutants safely. That cuts off a route. And I've worked with Bruce since our last mission. I trust him. Side effect of being in his head to bring him out of being a giant green rage monster. He says he's got a contact in the area that might be able to help too."
"So, depending on who we're meant to believe, we're looking for either some sort of radiation poisoning or a rogue mutation. Or fully intentional murder, I suppose. One mustn't be close-minded." Marius brushed a curl from his amber eyes. "If it's a mutant causing the deaths, odds are I'll be able to read it once I set eyes on them. Can't say I'd be much use with gamma, however." Thoughtfully, the Australian turned to the young woman a few chairs down. "What about you, Nica? Does that particular frequency fall within your purview?"
She grimaced. "It's not usually something I can channel, sorry. But between you and Rogue, maybe we can figure something out? Sensing it, at least?"
Rogue shrugged. "I mean, I ain't gonna be able to sniff it out. Y'all gotta get me close enough to touch, but I'm game if that's what we need to do. I just think it's so funny that we are involved at all. Like Gar said, it don't make much sense, but what do I know. I'm a lowly peon."
"I go where he goes," Jean-Phillipe agreed, nodding his head at Scott. "Unless it involves electricity or the Brotherhood, the details are best left to someone else. Docteur Banner seems like the expert on it, though." The internecine disagreements between the American and Canadian governments also seemed best left to those most knowledgeable - his preference was for concrete action to solve concrete problems.
Sooraya's eyes were just a little distant, her mind somewhere else. "It's maybe a weird thing for us to be helping out with. I've seen what radiation related death can do..." The picture of the teenager they lost was still sharp. "... and with people dying in such a way we should do what we can. Besides, if a mutant is involved somehow, if they are connected, better we are there to do what damage control we can."
"If it's- " Kyle started, and then stopped himself. "The kid died, right? Dead dead?" He rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, back in the day, we got called for a missing mutant kid, turned out he died, and... it was, not contagious, but he was... psionically inhabiting dead bodies. If whatever this poor kid is doing is spreading, we can.. I can, well, what Rogue said, only I can sniff it out. I know what dead smells like, and I know what rad sick smells like."
"From our information. Look, there isn't any nice way to put this but... we should still give it a once over. I know it's distasteful but..." He shrugged. "Anyone who said this job was fun lied to you. And it was me. I lied to you."
"I lie to myself every time I get an overnight comms slot. I get can us a radius of spread if this is some kind of mutant death power." Kyle said. "I'll do a quick re-up on the corpse scenting training in the DR, if we have time. I'm due anyway. Might be able to modify it for rad tracking too, if you guys wanna join in." He made a waving sort of gesture at Nica and Marius and Rogue.
