3532/Road Rage: Did Hank Find A Cure

Road Rage: Did Hank Find A Cure
Date of Scene:	23 September 2020
Location:	Hank's Lab
Synopsis:	Hank makes something to counter the power nullifier that Vulture and Green Goblin got their hands on, and shares the news with Professor X, Scott, Kitty and Noriko.
Cast of Characters:	Kitty Pryde, Henry McCoy, Noriko Ashida, Charles Xavier, Scott Summers

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Kitty Pryde has posed:
Vulture and Green Goblin proved to be behind the mercenary attack on a convoy transporting a prototype power nullifier being worked on for use in the prison system. They got away with the device while the X-men were busy stopping the mercenaries.

Since then there has been a buzz of activity trying to work out what to do next, and track down the villains. Doug and Kitty finally managed to breach the firewall around the corporation doing the research. It was not easy, but finally they got some specs and details about the prototype that they were able to share with Hank McCoy.

The power nullifier is in the form of particles which can be shot much like a ray gun of sorts. The particles cling to the target and nullify their powers. Though the delivery system was still being developed, so is likely what Vulture and Goblin have been working on. It seemed a good countermeasure then, would be to develop something to cleanse a target of those particles. Maybe some kind of chemical spray or radiation that might leave them inert.

Another avenue of attack in finding the villains? The particles have to be 'charged up' before use, and they only hold their charge for so long. The exact amount of power required gives Kitty and Doug some possibilities for trying to identify the villain's lair by monitoring power usage spikes sizeable enough to be tests of the device.

For now? Kitty has come down to Hank McCoy's lab to see how work is going on something to make the power nullifier inert after it has hit someone.

"Hey Hank, any good news?" she asks as she comes, in a cup of coffee in hand, and Lockheed on one shoulder.

Henry McCoy has posed:
He'd been working at it for some time - trying to find a mobile and effective way to nullify the nullifier. His mind did as many gymnastics as he normally did in fights, to solve this puzzle. He'd been hunched over his workbench, perched on the stool, for days. The bench was littered with plans, half-constructed prototypes, and several (now cold) cups of coffee. Looking over his shoulder to Kitty, he nods. "I think so. It's so hard to tell without the actual particles to test on."

There was a hi-tech looking web belt on the table before him, a few components attached to either side of the buckle. "This... is what I think will do the trick." A glance to the costume accessory. "It emits a harmful radiation that should neutralize the particles as they get near it. There are some problems, of course." He taps a claw on the workbench. "The power supply isn't meant for long term engagement - it should be turned on only during that encounter. Also, it's rather fragile." A frown.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
Normally it's hard not to place the blue-haired teen, but in the lab, amongst the metal and the glass, the terminals and blue light bouncing everywhere, Noriko does alright, especially since her activity has her pinned to a stool over a nearby electronics workbench.  She's gotten hold of a tool of some sort.  Kind of hard to tell what it is since the tip is obscured from the tinkering she's doing with it...while still wearing it.  Her metal encased fingers grip the handle of the tool a bit ham-fisted, a reverse grip if it were used as a weapon.

Noriko sliiiides the tool back over to where she found it, or at least out of view.  She's not looking.  Her eyes drift to McCoy's focus, her hand absently still resting on top of the tool, somewhat outstretched over the counter.

Charles Xavier has posed:
    A faint creak of a wheelchair precedes a fourth arrival as Charles rolles into the lab, his hands tightening on the wheels to slow down as he sees the group already present. "Hank, Kitty. Noriko." he says in an easy, warm tone as he moves his chair over where he'll be out of the way but he can see everyone, stopping and resting his hands in his lap. He catches part of Hank's explanation. "Mmm. As long as it works. Hopefully the stolen prototype is as fragile and easy to damage."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty spots Noriko at work and offers a quick, "Hey Noriko, how's it going," towards the Asian teen. "What are you working on?" she asks. As Hank indicates the gear on the table, Kitty moves over, interest painting her face and temporarily banishing some of the tiredness that has come from working on this case as much as she can.

"Being able to get someone back in the fight could be huge," she says to Hank, reaching over to rest her hand on her former-teacher's shoulder and grin at him at the job well done. "Hmm. So we should probably have someone use who can protect it. Myself would make sense, but then I am not as mobile as some. Maybe Kurt, able to pop around and help anyone hit by it?" she thinks aloud.

The sound of the Professor coming in causes Kitty to turn and flash him a smile. "Hey Professor. Yes, hopefully they haven't even gotten a working dispenser going for it by the time we find them. We've got maps of the energy usage going and are monitoring for changes in power load equal to the charge up process. A lot of false positives, but we're gradually whittling them down over time. How are things, sir?" she asks him.

Henry McCoy has posed:
The Beast nods in agreement with Kitty, looking relieved. "Yes, I think Kurt or even Sam, if he's around, would be good for it." He comments. A glance over to Noriko, a slight grin. "No secrets in my lab, young lady. You're welcome to use my tools, but you should share what you're working on." A wry grin.

As Charles arrives, he nods. "Evening, Charles." He steps to the side to allow the Professor better access to his prototype. "Here's to hoping we can prevent those two scoundrels from doing too much harm. I imagine that if we can deny them the nullifier, we'll be able to manage capturing them."

Noriko Ashida has posed:
Noriko blinks as she shifts her attention to Kitty.  "Hey."  The answer to the possibly rhetorical question?  Shrug.  She looks down to her guantlet and then back up.  "Just here to play Operation on my gauntlets.  Learning.  I'm told taking care of them might be in my best interest," she says with an almost saccharine grin.  Whiff of bullshit to it, no doubt.  Not that it'd be a terrible not supposed to be here learning how to provide basic calibration and care for her gauntlets.  Noriko glances over to Xavier as he rolls further into the room.  "Hey," belatedly after his greeting.

"You said it's harmful, the radiation.  Harmful to people too?"  Noriko slides off the stool to her feet and steps closer to look at the device itself.  "I'll tell you later," she mumbles to Hank.  Back to something not her.  She opens her mouth but nothing comes out...so a beat later it just shuts again.

Charles Xavier has posed:
    "To be honest, I'm less worried about capturing the villains than denying it to any number of unscrupulous types who might duplicate it and make it available to the world at large." Xavier notes, frowning. "A ranged man portable weapon that can take away powers has terrible implications if it became widespread for quite a few groups. Destroying it, and the information, would be preferable." He sighs. "I'd say that it might be better if all the data in question was unavailable but there is a need for nonlethal weapons that can disable superpowered criminals."

    He hmms. "I would give it to the person most likely to be hit that is needed for attempting to stop this. That may be you, Kitty. After all, if you can get close enough, phasing through the weapon will likely disable it."

     He glances over as Noriko speaks. "Operation?" Charles says, raising a brow curiously at Noriko.

Scott Summers has posed:
Scott got late the meeting memo. Well, actually he read it just minutes ago. It was in time, Scott, for once, was not. He has been distracted lately.

Still, it is only about five minutes late, and Hank is pretty much his best friend. It is not even a formal planning session, just tech talk. Likely most of it will go over his head. "What is harmful?" He asks, just stepping in the lab, "good afternoon. Charles, what a surprise," he offers a small smile to his old mentor. "It has been a while since I saw you down here," he comments.

Noriko gets a questioning glance. "Miss Ashida," he greets to the blue-haired girl.

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty motions at the mention of Sam. "Another good choice," she agrees. "Hopefully whoever has it could at least undo it if used against them," she says. "This is all so untested though. I trust your work, Hank, if anyone can get this right with the piddly information we were able to glean from the company, it's you. But so much if it was air-grapped from the sound of it, kept on systems that aren't on their network. Hopefully we can get to them before they get it working."

The Jewish girl's eyes go over to Noriko and she grins at her. "Being able to fix things yourself in the field? Always a great idea," she agrees. "So best to learn it while you're sitting here able to focus, without Magneto lofting sections of railroad track at you." That didn't actually happen? Did it?

Kitty crosses her arms and sighs. "Yes, on one hand I know they are making this to be used at max security prisons. And there are those who need restraining. On the other, the thought of the tech getting out," she says. "Definitely getting it out of the villain's hands is the most important part of the missions," she agrees with the Professor.

Kitty moves to fill her coffee cup then. She glances up as Scott arrives. "Hey Scott," she says cheerfully. "Hank's doing this thing," she says with a grin, motioning towards the device on one of the counters, a belt with a few extra components, one of which looks like something must come out of it when operated.

Henry McCoy has posed:
There's a nod to Noriko, accepting her answer of later. "Harmful in extended exposure. Part of the reason the power cell isn't so potent on this thing." He motions to the belt. "It's a safety. Having this on for extended periods would be... most distressing to your cells." A slight frown. "But I've factored all that in. The battery on this won't allow for even a quarter of what it would take to damage a person." The Beast explains. A grin over to Scott as he arrives. "Evening. Just mocked up the prototype to help disrupt the ranged nullifier that has fallen into nefarious hands."

A nod to Charles as well. "Indeed. I expect that will either be captured or destroyed in the fight - I'm not sure I like the thought of such a thing being avaialble either. It could always be used for ill-intent, if it is in existance."

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"Yeah.  The game?  Have you never played it?  You get buzzed if you screw up on removing some clown's guts one by one."  Noriko doesn't miss a beat responding to Charles.  "It's fun watching the telekinesis types play it."  

Scott's questioning glance bounces right off of Noriko.  Being suspicious for so long has given her a high tolerance for it.  She nods to Scott, not wanting to interrupt the ongoing conversation as she tunes into Hank's answer.  "Oh.  Cool...Stressed out cells," she murmurs the last bit, a small grin tugging at the corner of her lips at the thought of cells with legs pacing around, losing sleep.

Noriko's gaze swings back to Kitty.  Head tilt, "Sure.  I mean at this point my skill level is banging it on a cinderblock or something akin to a gauntlet lobotomy."  She looks from Charles to Hank as if, is she missing something?  "Wouldn't it be not so bad if it were easy to reverse?  Well, I guess no one wants to fall out of the sky or anything.  That would suck, unless it was /really/ easy to reverse."

Charles Xavier has posed:
    "Ah, that Operation." Charles says with a faint smile, then nods to Scott as he comes in. "Ah, Scott! Yes, I've been traveling dealing with X-Corporation growing pains, primarily. Until there's a trustworthy supervisory group to handle individual stations, I need to be helping select personnel from prospective volunteers."

    He frowns, then nods slightly, answering Noriko as she asks. "Reversible is useful, but something that can effectively disable most powered people, when they often are opposed by powered people, would give a distinct advantage to superpowered criminals, or organizations that depend on numbers over small groups."

Scott Summers has posed:
Scott hmms, "Charles is right, this could change everything," and maybe not for the worse. If normal humans can stop Juggernaut, bring down General Zor or even neuter Magneto if only for a minute, the world might be a safer place.

Although high-tech heroes and villains would still be in the game at full force. Like, say, Vulture and the Goblin. Or isn't the Goblin also super-human. Scott makes a mental note to review the file.

"We might be starting a new arms race here," he ponders out loud. "Neutralizers against shields." He looks at Hank's device, "we better get a head start."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty adds a little cream and sugar to her coffee. "As far as Doug and I could tell, the research was legitimate. Working the high max prisons specifically. So hopefully the technology won't get out any more than it has for the inhibitors that are already out there," she says. "I'm also not sure how hard it is to generate the material it uses." She looks towards Hank to see if he has any kind of guess, though their knowledge is very imperfect there with what they were able to get from hacking the company.

"At least it seems like an ethical enough company. I couldn't find any red flags on them," she adds. A sigh follows. "Well for now, we know those two having it is bad, so, hopefully we can get it back," she says.

A grin is given to Noriko. "Stick with it, it'll come. Though honestly? Sometimes banging it on a rock is just what it needs. Have to show the tech who is boss," Kitty tells the Asian girl. Then she looks towards Hank with a very innocent look. "Not that I would ever do that with your equipment, Hank," she says, knowing he can probably think of examples of when she did.

Henry McCoy has posed:
Running claws through the mane of fur atop his head, Hank nods. "The implications and applications are quite staggering. Having a way to neutralize our most deviant members of society, could be a boon. But we all know that government is in the hands of men, and men, like mutants, can go bad." A slight sigh. "I am certain the Sentinel Program was likely seen as a boon, to protect against trouble-making mutants. But... it turned out wrong."

Hank nods then to Scott. "I will do what I can. I need more data - perhaps if we can collect this prototype, or get some specs from the inventor." A nod. "I could have better success, were that the case."

There's a chuckle and a shake of his head, glancing over to Kitty and Noriko. "She's not wrong, percussive maintenance can solve some issues. Just not on my equipment." He smiles.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"It's just that when this stuff is around, it always gets out right?  I don't even need 20 years on this Earth to know that.  But yeah, if it's a race," delaying tactics are useful.  Noriko nods, now fully sucked into all this whatever is happening.  She never planned on studying for her history quiz anyway.

"It only takes one asshole to be a jerk to an entire nation, or several," Noriko says with a shrug, flipping the paradigm of danger and power on its head.  Assholes all around.  At least she didn't contradict anyone.

Noriko arches her brows skeptically at the idea that "it'll come," but she lifts her metal hand to fire off a clunky little salute.  "Oh yeah.  Works wonders...till it doesn't," the blue haired girl says with a smirk.  "I'm an expert at bangology."  She glances over to Hank, the designer behind her gauntlets and technically, kinda his equipment too.  "Don't worry. I'm real gentle," she says brightly with a grin, something just behind the eyes.

Scott Summers has posed:
"Would our alumni help?" Asks Scott, addressing Xavier's problems of personnel. Most of the school alumni are college age, of course. But there are a few very bright individuals there. "Otherwise... maybe Genoshans. Many are disenchanted after Magneto abandoned them, and unemployed."

Capturing the device is going to be a secondary objective for tomorrow's mission. But to be honest, it will likely be destroyed if Scott sees it aimed to one of the X-Men.

Charles Xavier has posed:
    Charles nods to Noriko, giving her a pleased smile as she reasons it out. "That is also true. So coming up with effective counters in advance, before it can spread any and delaying the spread to refine those counters is to our benefit." he agrees. He frowns a little at Scott's reminder, nodding slightly. "X-Corp has been doing what we can for most of the refugees, but Genosha is not particularly liveable after all that's happened to it. Desperate people who think they have no options are more likely to resort to criminal activities and violence. Hopefully we'll be able to provide the refugees with more options that will channel their energy constructively."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty falls a bit quiet as talk goes back to Genosha. Some might have expected a period of hope to dawn in her after the word that Brainiac had been responsible and abducted portions of the island instead of killing the people. Hope her father was one of them.

But it hadn't seemed to inspire much change in Kitty, and indeed he did not number amongst the survivors. The topic of the island tends to bring on quiet periods from her though, as she's filled in for people at the school and let them handle helping the refugees.

She fills the moment with refilling her coffee, and glancing around while giving a little shake of the pot to see if anyone else wants it. "Hank, you have the best coffee," she comments to the very well-cultured man. "It's always a struggle to not come in here and raid it now and then," she says.

Henry McCoy has posed:
The Beast listens in, nodding at the varying points and counterpoints. "The Alumni might help, I suppose." A run of his claws through his fur, looking weary. "I have this belt ready, I could possibly prep one more." He looks to the others. "But as I mentioned, they are delicate - they won't take a hit. And they have a short battery span, for safety."

He grins to Kitty, then looks to his workdesk. "I drink too much of it, so it needs to be good. That said... I should retire, and sleep for a day or so." A wry grin. "I'll clean up in here tomorrow."

Scott Summers has posed:
"Please, do so," replies Scott. Two belts. One needs to be for Rogue, as her losing her powers while flying might be lethal. One in reserve. They have a day to figure out the best X-Man to protect.

He noticed Kitty's reaction, so no more talking about Genosha. He will email Lorna, though. After all the X-Corporation is handling a lot of the logistics with the island. "I could use some coffee, myself." He concludes.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"Finding out how it's made," Noriko tilts her head toward Kitty, connecting the dots perhaps implied earlier.  "Could help in locking down the recipe for this supersoaker. If it's hard to make...or make it hard to make," Noriko shrugs, freely piling on her thoughts after the encouragement garnered from Charle's reaction.  It's subtle, but the rise in engagement is detectable by anyone who cares to pay attention to that sort of thing.

Genosha just isn't Noriko's fight on a personal level.  Her world has been a might smaller.  She's on the outside looking, but she doesn't bother gracefully filling the time.  Instead she just reaches up and scratches the crown of her head idly, her other fist planted against her hip momentarily.  Catching on late from Kitty's assessment of the coffee (catching on to remembering that there's coffee that is), she looks sidelong to Kitty and nods before moseying over.

"I'd volunteer to help with this thing but-" Noriko scoffs at her own control of her powers, even with the gauntlets.  They're there to keep her and others safe, but that doesn't mean they're a silver bullet for everything.  "Yeah my speedrunning is still getting there..."  Eh.  It's accurate to say she's been practicing.

'One to two days?  Just enough time to forget about /later/,' the blue haired girl thinks, subvocalizing smugly, conveniently forgetting about the existence telepathic abilities.

Charles Xavier has posed:
    Luckily for Noriko, Charles doesn't habitually read people's minds...more their emotions. Though the smugness does draw a look from him and a slightly raised brow. But, no longer headmaster! So he doesn't have to worry about whatever Noriko is plotting. That's freeing. Scott or Jean can certainly manage. "Well, if you've got things taken care of, let me know if you need assistance. I'll be happy to maintain a telepathic link if nothing else for communication should you all need it."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty pours a cup for Noriko before replacing the coffee pot. "Well, there might be ways you can help if you're willing," Kitty says. "We might need a lot of eyes to spot them, or even to do some things while we keep them busy," she offers.

The girl from Deerfield nods towards the Professor. "Appreciate your help, Professor," she says. "I should probably get back to seeing what the search is turning up," she says. She gives Lockheed a pat, he's tired from her being up all night and has stayed curled up and at least appearing to nap for most of the conversation. Kitty looks at the equipment Hank made and says, "I sure hope this works," before heading out.