2834/Something About Clones

Something About Clones
Date of Scene:	08 August 2020
Location:	The Robin's Roost - Chelsea
Synopsis:	Laura is moving to the Roost and Conner has a chance to talk with her. Clone things.
Cast of Characters:	Conner Kent, Laura Kinney

---

Conner Kent has posed:
It is Saturday and the Roost should be... well, not full of people. They are a small gang, but at least with some people. So much work to set up this secret base thing and no one using it? Conner just got here through his room's skylight and now is heading down, typing on his cellphone.

He forgot Tim was injured. Well, that explains why he is not here. (And Rose? Maybe with him). Probably recovering with the bat-doctor in the bat-hospital. Humans heal too slowly.

"Anyone around?" He asks as he gets to the common living area. He could just concentrate and listen, but that feels like cheating, or maybe spying. So instead he just asks.

Laura Kinney has posed:
"I'm here." The voice, Laura's, is coming from one of the room's. One that Bart had shown her up to. The door is presently open, and Laura is busy - well, being Laura. By that, she has laid out a sleeping bag on the floor, and on a folding table is currently laying out a rather interesting collection of weapons from daggers and knives of all kinds to a pair of japanese short swords, throwing knives, and other weapons. A few have been hung on the wall for easy access too. She appears just to be finishing up.

"I was just setting out my belongings."

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner hesitates at hearing that voice. He recognizes it, of course, Laura made a distinct impression by being absolutely candid about her background and nature. And he is not even sure 'candid' it the right word there.

With a sigh, he heads to the guest room and peers inside. "Quite the collection," he notes. He would be more impressed if Rose had not a similar one (with more firearms, perhaps) and Tim didn't have a crazy 'bat-arsenal'.

"Not much furniture, are you bringing more things later?" Now he does concentrate for a second. "Looks like this place is empty. Saturdays are usually more lively, but it is still early."

Laura Kinney has posed:
"More?" Laura frowns, looking everyting over. "I was told this group is against killing. So I did not elect to bring those weapons. I am well versed in how to use firearms, including sniper rifles. So I have brought my other weapons that can be utilized for purposes of both killing as well as disabling. Though, I rarely use them they are still good to have on hand, and allow your enemy to underestimate you before they know you have claws."

Laura steps back, nodding in approval at her collection. She then looks directly at Conner. "I have everything I need. A bed. And, weapons. There is food in the kitchen should I have need to eat." She shrugs.

Conner Kent has posed:
"Let me guess, you are not going to college?" Replies Conner with a smirk, "most people have more things than a bed, food and... weapons." Which are mostly used so the enemy underestimates her. "Perhaps you should consider going unarmed for the greater underestimation," he suggests.

He was asking about furniture in the case she needs help to move it. But now he bites his tongue. Instead, "as for non-lethal gear Robin can help you there. He carries and uses quite a bit of weaponry designed specifically to stun and capture enemies."

Laura Kinney has posed:
"I have no reason to go to college," cites Laura. "However, if I wish schooling it has already been offered to me by Xavier's." She leaves that statement there, though. She only mentions to his comment about what other people have or need, "I am not most people. I am, perhaps, quite the opposite of most people. But it is enough for me," meaning her spartan accomodations.

She consider his words, and offer of consulting with Robin, not looking convinced. "Perhaps," she says, mildly. "I prefer to work with my claws, however. Or, in hand-to-hand combat. There are few targets or enemies I've not been able to defeat."

There is a pause, "Though there are some. I hope to not encounter her ever again."

Conner Kent has posed:
"Really?" Conner folds his arms across his chest. "There is a lot to learn, and not just schoolwork. Some of my friends don't understand why I go to college, you know? But I want to learn all the things others already know. I suspect for Megan is a bit of that, too."

He steps back and out, since they are talking in her room and there are not even chairs. Maybe they can get somewhere else. "For instance, the way you talk and act, still gives me the impression you are military. You speak as if you were... reporting, not just chatting."

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura considers this for a long moment, before she nods. There is a brief consideration as she conveys, "I have had more conversation in the last three years than I have the first fifteen years of my life. I was created to be a weapon. Nothing more. To ensure my effectiveness, and obidience, I was only ever instructed as to what they wanted me to do. I only ever interacted with my traniers, and the scientists in charge of my project. And, later, those that handled my contracts."

She looks back at Conner, "Now I choose for myself what I want to do. So I have chosen to try and work with this group. It will give me furhter chances to expand my abilities."

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner considers all that and frowns. "Well, sure... abilities. I suppose that is what we all do most of the time. Find a place to 'expand our abilities'. It is not something most people plan very well. It really was my motivation when I enrolled college."

Then he looks at Laura again. "So what abilities would you like to expand the most?"

Laura Kinney has posed:
"Simple. I want to become good enough at combat, and clever enough, to beat Kimura." Not, likely, a name that Conner - or for that matter, many people have ever heard. "She was my handler for one very specific reason. She is immune to any physical harm."

Laura pops her claws out, away from Conner. "These claws can pierce through a bank vault. Shred it. But they will not leave a mark on her. Bullets cannot slow her. And, a full-force punch by yourself would not even stun her. But, everyone has a weakness, and can be defeated."

Of this, Laura is certain.

"I want to get to the level where I can detect these weaknesses of anyone I face, and use it to my advantage. I will persue this until I achieve it."

Conner Kent has posed:
"Yeaaah," Conner resists the temptation of facepalm. "You have issues, girl. But you will do well here. Some of us started with... uh, weirder problems. World of advice: don't let someone you dislike to become the center of your life. This Kimura person? I bet she is not worth your time."

He does have some small experience about obsessing with someone and wasting time. So, he shakes his head. "I am not sure if you can learn more about combat here if you are already very good. Teamwork, maybe."

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura nods, once. "I have never worked with a team, before," she admits. "It will give me a better understandng of myself, I believe." She tilts her head, "Kimura is not the center of my life. She is merely a problem. She will, one day, I have no doubt, return to capture me to attempt to return me to the control of the Facility. I wish to avoid that. I enjoy my freedom."

Here, she pauses, "Also, I need to be certain to stay around to assist in protecting my sister. She is also likely to be hunted by the agency that created her."

Conner Kent has posed:
"Yes, maybe," Conner thinks for a few seconds. "You know, I was also created by a shady organization. They did make a couple attempts to get me back the first weeks. But they have left me alone for over two years."

He shrugs, "how was it for you? I was kept in some kind of tank while I grew up. I think all I had was virtual reality education, but I am not sure. Some memories could be real, but I can't trust them. So, I have focused my life in what happened after I escaped."

Laura Kinney has posed:
"I was not grown in a tank. I was grown in my mother's womb," Laura explains. "The genetic factor from which I was cloned had a flaw, and my mother - who was a scientist on the project, determined that by making me female she could fix that flawed factor. After my birth, I was raised in isolation and trained on various ways to kill people, from poisoning, to martial arts, firearms, and bladed weapons among others. At age 9, I was subjected to poison that would kill me with the intent to trigger my mutations early, which it did. I healed myself back to life, and then my bone claws were immersed in Adamantium. From there, my training was doubled, and at the age of 11 I was sent on my first assignment."

Yep. Just like a military report.
5rShe considers, "All of my memories are real. And are my own. If you wish to discover the truth of your memories, there is only one way to find the answer. Go back to where you were created, and confront those that created you. This could be done either overtly, or covertly. I would be happy to assist with either approach."

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner stays silent for nearly a minute after the 'report'. "Jesus Christ," he mutters. "Okay, that sounds pretty much like hell. It almost puts N.O.W.H.E.R.E. as decent guys in comparison. I got some amount of socializing in my V.R. world. I get the impression you got nothing. You are still talking as if you were detached from all that shit."

Confronting them? Ugh. And that is pretty much what Tim is going to do.

"Yeah, that is going to happen. Confronting N.O.W.H.E.R.E. as the Bats are already looking on it. And I am quite sure we are all going to be sorry for it. But if they are still kidnapping kids, we gotta do it."

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura nods, once. "Then I will assist." Her mind is already made up. Afterall, she would not want anyone else to go through what she went through, at all. She considers, adds, "That is what a team does, is it not? Assist each other? If nothing else, we will get you your answers, Conner."

She looks down a moment, then back to Conner, "But, I do not wish to go after The Facility. Not yet. It is not time."

Conner Kent has posed:
"We'll what we do," comments Conner. "It might end up being the Justice League who goes after them. I suppose it depends if Batman and Superman think we are up for the task. And I get the impression they are... eh, not impressed with us."

Because drugs, and stuff. Oh, he is sure Laura will hear about it, but not from him! No reports from this clone.

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura asks, promptly, "Why do their opinions matter on what we do? We are not obligated to them, correct? Therefore, we are able to act as we see best fit."

Pragmatic, and simple logic from this girl.

"There is always a way to find such an agency. And there is always a way to infiltrate it."

Conner Kent has posed:
"Because they are Batman and Superman," explains Conner. Or not explains. "Eh, you will see, I guess. Tim, Cassie, Bart and me too, in some degree, we are all following the steps of some of some big names. Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash and Superman."

Laura has probably heard about them, right? Or did the Facility hide the existence of such people from her? "You can also check the Wikipedia, I guess."

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura looks at Conner, almost blankly. "I know who they are," she answers, "But simply because they are termed heroes and you wish to follow their example does not mean you cannot do what you choose to do. Or are we required to clear all missions and tactics we choose to go on with them?" She doesn't seem to think so, by her tone.

"It is a matter that directly involves you, Conner. If you wish to find out, and be involved, then I will assist. If you do not wish to confront this aspect of yourself, I will respect that."

Here, Laura frowns. "But if you wish to find this aspect of yourself and allow yourself to be held back because someone else does not want you to, then I will lose respect for you. I do not know about you, but I have learned to enjoy my freedom. I will do with my life as -I- want to. That means helping people. My friends. And my new team. Not sitting aside because someone else I do not know demands it of me."

Conner Kent has posed:
"Hah, you have no idea of who they are," replies Conner. But he also noticed this time she didn't sound so distant and dry. "If I go after them is not because what they did to me, but because of what they are doing now. Which seems pretty nasty. So yeah, I don't care that much about my past. But we have to stop them. And I am going to be confronted by my past ready or not, willing or not."

That the Justice League is looking over their shoulders is an old issue, really. Maybe new for Laura, but not for Conner. "The important thing is that they are stopped, though."

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura nods, once. She agrees, "I would not want anyone to go through what I have. If it is that important to you, then talk to Superman and Batman. And tell them that you intend to do this, whether or not they approve. That is my suggestion. Either way," she declares, firmly, "I will help if you want it." A nod finalizes that statement of that declaration.

Still, she disagrees, "I do know who they are. I have not met them. And I am certain that either of them could, and would, defeat me in an encounter. But I am neither scared of them, or intimidated by them. Not enough to have them tell me who to fight, or when. I will do that as I choose, with whom I choose, Conner. I have chosen this team, along with those at Xavier's who first took me in. These associations will be enough to keep me busy."

Conner Kent has posed:
"It is not about fighting them," since the first thing Laura mentions is that they could beat her in a fight. Which is true, and yet not really relevant. "Although I am a little intimidated by them, maybe because I know them."

And now they are not minors anymore (well, maybe he is, because speed-growth is likely) so technically the Justice League has no say in what they can do or can't do. But ironically, there is much more respect involved. "I am not sure how to explain it. Do you have any father or mother figure in your life?"

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura considers, "The Facility utilized a conditioning technique to make me kill my own mother for her betrayal of them. Logan is, perhaps, the closest to a father figure I have. He is well known. And ferocious. I am his clone."

She watches him a long moment, "However, by your expression I gather that is not what you meant."

Conner Kent has posed:
There is a vague expression of confusion and horror when Laura admits (reports) she killed her own mother. So yeah. Probably not what Conner meant. "You sure you don't want to tackle the Facility first? Because I think I want to punch them all the way into orbit."

"You know what? I think you should meet Superman, Batman and the others as soon as possible," decides Conner. "And you will see why Tim and me find very hard to go against their opinions. Maybe you shouldn't mention you were forced to kill your mother in their presence. Or you might find the Facility is no longer there when you decide you feel ready to confront them."

Laura Kinney has posed:
"It was the first time I cried," Laura confides to Conner. "I did not like it. She was the only one there who had shown me any kindness." Again, Laura frowns as she thinks more on the moment when it happened.

She shrugs, "I will meet them, if they wish it. Though I would think given their status they have more important things to do than meet a mutant with claws." Still, she nods to Conner, "As long as you promise to confront Superman about going after NOWHERE if that is indeed your wish."

Still, the two seem to have come to some understanding, and this seems to have satisfied Laura well enough. She offers Conner a brief, but sincere smile. "You are not alone, Conner. Being a clone does not mean anything bad. You are still your own person. I am very different from Logan in many ways. I am like him in many ways as well. But I am not him. Do not regret your past. It is a part of you. Use it to make the best of yourself that you can, now. That is what I am doing."

Conner Kent has posed:
"I think it is different for me," explains Conner. "I was never sent to kill anyone," or was he? His memory is suspect. But he is -quite- sure the clone tank didn't open until he kicked it open. "My life started when I reached Metropolis, almost completely amnesiac and wearing the big red S on my chest. My mistakes and my regrets are all my fault. And coping with them is what everyone does." He responds to her smile with his own. "Hey, I try to remain positive about things, and the future."