1688/Not Handled Properly

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Not Handled Properly
Date of Scene: 15 May 2020
Location: Hammer Bay
Synopsis: Scott, Jean, and the Professor check in on Genosha about the incident with the Magistrates.
Cast of Characters: Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Lorna Dane, Charles Xavier




Scott Summers has posed:
Things have been peaceful at New York lately. The kids used the Danger Room for games a couple times, but Scott feigned not know, since the homework was done, and... he might have done that himself a couple times when younger. So, quiet. And thus Scott was not surprised something terrible happened, like a wild Sentinel attacking New York.

Mutants can't have the nice things.

And it never rains, but pours. The news from Genosha are BAD. And Bobby's report was not reassuring. Lorna attacked first. And they were under the white flag. There was no reason, as the cargo ships were safe thanks to Iceman. This was vengeance against the Magistrates. This was what Magneto would have done. Not what a X-Men should do.

He has not been a good flight partner on the way to Genosha. Jean can almost see a black cloud over his thoughts. Only his crazy strict self-control makes Scott keep the poker face and a polite facade.

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean doesn't say anything on the flight, mainly because she knows Scott's moods. She never really needed telepathy for that, at least, as she does occasionally flash him a worried look.

Yeah, it's going to be a long flight, and Jean's just pacing herself as she's preparing to try and figure out what exactly happened. Sure, there's what Bobby reported, but she wants to hear it from Lorna first-hand.

Scott Summers has posed:
Yes, kind of boring trip. Not long timewise, the Blackbird is insanely fast, so they are at the other side of the world in a couple hours. The landing is also a quick and smooth affair, Scott is a good pilot.

"I don't even know where to start," he admits to Jean, leading her to the prefab building the X-Men are using as temporal safehouse in Genosha.

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean flashes Scott a bit of a smile, though her own expression is a bit strained as she walks along with Scott. "Well, my advice, is let her tell us what happened first. She's still... well, there's a lot to unpack with everything she went through." A bit of a sigh, "Honestly, I'm worried about her. She's been put into a position that's difficult under the best of times. Which these aren't." Her eyes flicker around, making a careful mental note of their surroundings just out of habit.

Lorna Dane has posed:
There were more people out and about in the refugee camp now, more movement in getting things done. Rubble being cleared, and more structural necessities being put in place. Every day, bit by bit, it got better and some semblance of normal returned. Though the scars were still visible in the massive amounts of ruined city that surrounded them, and the giant Sentinel that had been converted into a memorial to Magneto.

Lorna hadn't really left or gone far since the incident on the beach, too physically drained and mentally damaged from the strain of holding so much electromagnetic power in. So Scott's beeline for the temporary X-men base wasn't entirely a bad call either.

Inside the Queen of Genosha sat, not looking at all regal, as she balanced on the edge of a metal folding chair, and poked at some long cooled and congealed instant ramen. A tablet playing a video sat propped up beside her as the news toned on and on from various different national channels and radio broadcasts. She didn't look particularly well, her hair was at least combed though she still wore the same clothes she had worn for the past few days.

Charles Xavier has posed:
Navigating oneself down to the beach while operating a wheelchair was just frankly a horrible experience. Xavier took a deep breath as the wheels dug in again and then closed his eyes momentarily. Drawing in yet another deep breath he pushes down with his hands and slowly rises to his feet to begin the unsteady walk towards Lorna's location on the beach.

Scott Summers has posed:
Scott knocks at the door before stepping in. But without waiting for anyone to respond. "Lorna," he greets, sounding serious. "Where are the others?" He sent a text about his arrival. So, he hopes they are busy somewhere with important stuff, and not avoiding him.

He steps aside to let Jean inside, and looks at the redhead briefly. Sure, Jean has a point. She usually does. But Lorna choose to attempt this whole reconstruction deal. No one forced her. She needs to do a good job because Genosha has become a symbol even more than it was. "We came to talk," offers the young man.

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean pauses, since she senses an all too familiar presence mentally, thinking over towards the Professor, << Did you need some assistance, Professor? >> She says that very courteously, no condescension in her thoughts of course as she then steps inside at Lorna's invitation.

She gives the green-haired mutant a warm smile, though her eyes reflect obvious concern, "How are you holding up?" Even though she can clearly see the answer is, not very well at all... well, best to ask Lorna what she's thinking right now.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna glanced up at the knock on the door, reaching out to tap the pause on the news she'd been watching.. or more zoning out to. She blinked once as Scott entered.. and Jean.. and the Professor. Her expression immediately turned wary and on guard. It was one thing to expect Scott to arrive via the Blackbird and supplies. She'd fully expected an earful.. But all three of them? Together? That was a different story.

The green haired woman didn't exactly give permission, it was an X-men base after all. Just also the only place she'd been sleeping in recently.

"Uhm... they're out? And uh... is this the intervention bit or the 'we're kicking you out' bit?"

Charles Xavier has posed:
Walking slowly, Xavier moves himself along the sands of the beach where the incident took place, eyes working to see what others saw. To be present in the place as others had been. The presence of Jean's voice is responded to, although far weaker than normal for Charles. <<That is alright. I wished to see the place of the incident first before coming to see Lorna. I will be along shortly.>>

For several moments longer he stands looking out, blue eyes reflecting sadness felt before a measured turn begins the return back towards the retreat of the sand towards more solid footing, to the accursed chair, and the hasty voyage to where the others are gathering. That was how he had come to be present when they walked in, with Xavier only a few moments behind the others and back in his chair wheeling along. The soft sympathy of his eyes falls on Lorna as he keeps rolling forward and motions to her with a beckoning gesture, the one a parent offers a child when perhaps they are in need of a hug.

Scott Summers has posed:
"Professor," says Scott surprised to see him here. But the X-Men have other means than the Blackbird to travel. He can't be too surprised. Still, he defers to the old man, and drags a chair closer so he can sit down. Then he turns to Lorna.

"Well..." he starts, hesitantly. "It could be. We need to know what happened exactly and why you decided to attack and sinks those ships. In a way so many people died."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna pursed her lips together, and shifted in her seat. Defensive and not at all looking like she was ready to apologize or say she was sorry either. In fact, it wasn't a stretch to say she looked downright cagey. She crossed her arms, her shoulders hunching faintly. "They arrived on our beach with warships. They told us that we had twenty minutes to give them a place here, or they would fight for it. They had anti-mutant tech on board, and then they threatened that they had mined our supply ship. Which had necessities we needed." She exhaled a trembling breath, feeling at once, an angry prickle spread over her.

"Magistrates. People that had enslaved and hurt countless mutants. They weren't opposed to doing it again either. They made that much clear. I had to make a choice. Genosha has been attacked by Hydra, pirates, looters, thieves... and I have tried to negotiate when possible." Her voice took on an edge to it, but warbled on the end.

"And the Magistrates wanted to come back to Genosha. The same people that enslaved Ellie back at the school! That took a child and tortured her for their own selfish desires." Her voice climbed in pitch and then lowered again, and she exhaled a shuddering breath.

"I am //not// sorry for drawing that line in the sand." She whispered.

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean listens intently to Lorna's explanation as she takes a seat next to Scott, leaning forward slightly with her hands steepled in front of her. "So the Magistrates were coming to finish what they originally started, before Magneto kicked them out?" One eyebrow arches, ever so slightly, as she has no judgment in her tone. Instead, she's just seeking clarification, though she did notice the cagey look from Lorna...

... and honestly, seeing that look bothered her more than the actual incident, in some ways.

Scott Summers has posed:
"Well, first of all the Magistrates were just the police force, not the politicians making the laws or the scientists that developed the mutate process," reminds Scott. "Second, if there is the need to fight, which is often the case, every effort should be made to avoid casualties. You had with you some powerful mutants. Was there no other way to solve the problem that force those ships to crash with each other? If Quicksilver hadn't be there the death toll would be over a thousand. And the cargo ships were already safe thanks to Iceman's actions."

Charles Xavier has posed:
"Scott," Xavier says softly, "Right now may not be the time to apply tactical analysis. Right now is a time for recovery. I think it might be best, if for the moment, we all take a few moments and catch our breath. To be thankful that our friends are alright. And then when we have had a chance to regain our footing, we can examine possible alternatives that could have been taken."

Charles' eyes turn to Lorna then, "Are you alright Lorna? Aside from the stress of the situation? Physically you're alright?" He pauses for a moment then adds, "The injured, have we been able to get them the help they may need?"

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna glanced briefly at Jean, "I can only assume they wanted their island back. My father is dead. The person they ran from is gone. Genosha looks like relatively easy pickings. There's only a handful of us left here. They're not the first or only ones to think that." She pursed her lips, her eyebrows pinched.. and then Scott spoke up. Her guilt warred with her anger.. and she went with anger.

"I doubt their victims will remember such a difference. Or should I go grab Ellie back at the school and ask her if she thinks that difference matters enough to her. I swear Scott, if you tell me that they were just following orders.." She was practically out of her seat, her teeth gritted as she glared at him.

Then the Professor spoke and she sat back down, her throat tightening as she glanced away and crossed her arms. She shrugged at his question on whether or not she was alright. She didn't know. "Fabian boosted my powers past anything I've ever had before. It.. it's made my memory spotty, and everything hurts.." She grumbled, and shrugged again. "I'm fine. I guess." She exhaled a breath. She wasn't sure about any of the injured.. because no one had informed her either way.

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean frowns a bit, "Might want to be a bit careful about that... that sort of boost might have side effects." She does give Scott a bit of a reproving look, shaking her head a bit as she sighs, "And this, is where it gets tricky since you're also a head of state, with the responsibilities that entails." She hmms, looking a bit thoughtful.

Then she says, "Lorna, have you tried to take some time to talk to T'Challa? I mean, he balances being an Avenger with being the leader of his own country, after all... he might be able to provide some guidance in ways that we... well, we just can't." She does pass a look towards the Professor at the news about Fabian, not seeming to like that at all.

Scott Summers has posed:
Scott crosses his arms across his chest, frowning behind his visor. "There is no danger of them doing that. The X-Men defeated them once when they were strong, and now they are a shadow of what they were. They have no chance to rebuild Genosha as anything resembling what it was. There was a good reason they kept their crimes a secret and Genosha disguised as a free country. The international community might harbor little real sympathy for us, but few countries would trade with an openly slaver nation. And even if the X-Men didn't exist, the Justice League or the Fantastic Four would have moved against them."

Charles Xavier has posed:
Charles glances at the others before returning his eyes to Lorna, "While I am glad you are safe Lorna, you know I always worry about pressing ourselves into new frontiers without care. And since we do not know the side effects, I would just ask you be a bit more careful going forward, yes?" The tone remains the Xavier calm one as he wheels a bit closer towards the green haired woman. "When was the last time you ate child?" A look is given back once more to Jean, "Perhaps we could see about getting some food, some tea for us all?"

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna grimaced, looking first to Jean and shifting in her seat. "Bobby and Pietro are better off than I was.. Bobby mostly said he felt really good when he'd been boosted. He told me what happened.. because uhm.. I don't remember." She exhaled a breath, "It's all jumbled up like I was on a really bad bender.." She bit her lower lip.

"Look, nowhere else on Earth is a country expected to allow people that show up on warships and make demands for land going to be seen as anything other than an act of war. If I showed up off the coast of New York, with battleships, do you //really// think the US government is going listen to anything I have to say?" She arched a brow, and tilted her head. Scott's commentary earned a scowl.

"Seriously? No danger? I have people to protect here Scott, that would willingly die if it meant those Magistrates never set foot on Genosha. I have a duty to them. To protect them. We can't afford a protracted war. And the Fantastic Four? Don't make me laugh, they haven't so much as glanced in Genosha's direction once." She was nearly building herself up into a rant again.

... Which all came to a screeching halt with the Professor's question about her having food. She glanced at the cold, congealed instant ramen on the metal folding table beside her. "Uhm.. I think I ate some crackers last night." She'd thrown up the soup she'd tried. Her migraine had been too much.

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean nods, "You do have quite a lot thrust on your plate unexpectedly here, Lorna." She glances over towards Scott, shaking her head slightly in his direction, before she looks back at Lorna.

"And no one here is saying you don't have a right, a duty, to protect your people. But, the Professor's right, in that you're... well, honestly Lorna? You look like your hangover is second only to mine after my 21st birthday party." Ah, crazy youth... even if that wasn't /too/ long ago.

Scott Summers has posed:
"You are not the US Government, and this is not even a similar situation," replies Scott. "Nor do I think the US army would have attacked while a white flag was raised. But that is besides the point. Even if striking first would have been justified, the deaths of those men..." He pauses, looking at his two companions that seem more interested in Lorna's health than the humans she killed. Or the repercussions of the incident for mutants worldwide. "It looked like revenge, Lorna. Not self-defense."

Charles Xavier has posed:
Xavier's hand touches his brow momentarily and then he breathes out slowly, "If the purpose of this gathering is to reflect on what has gone wrong then I suspect this is not a wise use of our time." Looking back to Lorna, Charles goes on, "We can deal with the situations as they arise, but right now we need to focus on recovery and healing. No matter who is injured." That part is said softly, "Compassion will help, but more than anything there is no point in attempting to help a nation recover if their leader is too weak because they are not even eating or resting. So... perhaps we should leave here and get a small bite to eat. Your people need to see you Lorna."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna dropped her gaze as Jean spoke, and shifted in her seat. She wasn't prepared for kindness or questions regarding how she felt. It took her off guard and lowered her defenses a good deal. As much as when Bobby checked on her and didn't lecture or yell as she'd expected. "I think its worse than the time I went hard on New Years and was still drunk the next day.." She mumbled faintly. When Scott spoke however, her anger spiked again, and her gaze narrowed.

"Seriously? Shall we take a look at the newspapers on any given week on how many innocent mutants or even hell, humans get shot by cops while they plead for their lives? Because that's part of the US government Scott. And it happens a whole lot. I don't think a little white flag would mean shit to them." She shook her head an exhaled.

"I know how it //looks// Scott. And I will deal with the fall out from it where I can." She exhaled a breath, and looked to the Professor as he spoke.

"I slept!" It was about all she could try to do yesteday. She'd been miserable.

Scott Summers has posed:
"What some corrupt policemen do in America has no bearing on what you did here," points out Scott. "At least I hope it doesn't." But this is starting to feel like arguing with Magneto. He could always justify any crime because some human, sometime in the past, had done much worse.

He raises his hand hopelessly. "We have to be better than... that," he concludes, and heads out. Jean and Xavier are talking about Lorna's health, and right now that is not something he cares about too much.

Jean Grey has posed:
Jean looks over at Scott, "Scott, she's the leader of a sovereign nation. If she has to determine that the magistrates were initiating a casus belli, that's a bit beyond what the X-Men handle." She frowns, "I don't think anyone here is arguing that it should have been avoided if possible, but... it's done. All we can do now is look at picking up the pieces." She glances back at Lorna, and makes a mental note to herself to look into this Fabian Cortez. The frown grows a bit as Scott leaves the room, and then the redhead sighs a bit, shaking her head.

Charles Xavier has posed:
Charles nods to Jean, "If you need to speak with him..." he trails off and looks back to Lorna, managing a small smile, "In my younger days I may have apologized for him, but... he is his own man and makes his own decisions, as we all do." He then manages a soft chuckle, "And if you snap at me again about having already taken a nap, I may put you in time out without any ice cream."

Lorna Dane has posed:
As Scott spoke and got up, turning to leave, she bit her lower lip and avert her gaze. Lorna swallowed the next several responses she'd had and she slowly exhaled a breath as Jean spoke. "I'm tired of being the better person." She whispered, and sighed heavily. She didn't argue further though, and simply looked to the Professor.

"Bobby made sure I drank some water?" She offered lamely, instead.

Scott Summers has posed:
<<No Jean>> replies Scott, from outside the small building. <<She can't claim she being the leader of a nation she can kill whatever she 'deems necessary'. That is the kind of arguments Doctor Doom uses. That is the kind of shit that made us. The X-Men. Come to Genosha and work to topple the previous regimen. Because being a head of state doesn't mean they can kills, enslave or destroy whoever or whatever they please.>> Scott sighs, unseen by the others. <<Rulers need to be EXEMPLAR. Because their citizens will follow their example. By breaking the white flag truce, by using overwhelming force, Lorna has shown her people that kind of behavior is appropriate. And the world has seen it too.>>