545/A Small Favor

A Small Favor
Date of Scene:	15 March 2020
Location:	Hammer Bay
Synopsis:	Victorious is assigned as Queen Lorna Dane of Genosha's bodyguard by Doom, and accompanies her and Gabby Kinney to visit the remaining refugees on the island and discuss possibilities for how to discover who is responsible for the attack, culiminating in Lorna creates a new metal shelter for her remaining people to live in.
Cast of Characters:	Zora Vukovic, Lorna Dane, Gabby Kinney

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Zora Vukovic has posed:
    Victorious has been a quiet if imposing presence as the Queen of Genosha and the agents of SHIELD discuss the investigation with her lord, though her eyes are always alert, taking in her surroundings, even in the heart of Doom's flagship. At the order that she should guard Lorna as she would Doom, she presses an armored fist to her breastplate, bowing her head in acknowledgement to hide a flicker of suprise. It makes sense, then again. If this was targeted at the ruling family, Lorna /will/ be a target again, sooner or later. She straightens, then says to Lorna and Gabby. "This way, please."

    She waits for them to catch up then leads them back out of the ship, pausing at the bottom of the ramp to turn to Lorna. "I am yours to command for the moment, it seems." the tall woman notes bemusedly. "Where do you wish to go, your majesty?" Her eyes flick to Gabby for a moment...still curious what her relationship is with Lorna, honestly. But is patient enough to not bring it up directy. Yet, anyway.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna walked with care, the helmet like headpiece was metal, and therefore floated rather than settled on her head. A benefit of her powers. There were no chances it might fall off. However, the climb down the fortress and back outside merited careful steps, and she kept her council as well. Silent and thoughtful as she finally reached the bottom and came out to the tiny remains of the refugee camp. Much of the Genoshan refugees were in Wakanda, families, children, the most needing medical care had already been brought there. Here, were those too stubborn to leave. Those that refused typical assistance and were for the most part, well enough to stay.

Though they did accept Doom's help with a few wary glances. As Lorna exited the flag ship and stood in view, multiple gazes swung in the Queen's direction and conversation quieted.

"I had a desire to see my people, and be seen, to answer honestly. People need to see that I'm alive."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney follows after with only a quick backward glance at the imposing figure of Doom and the SHIELD agents he was speaking with. As soon as she catches up she falls into step again removing her hands from the straps of her bag for the time being. Her eyes sweep over the area drinking it all in. There's a mix of curiosity in the way she surveys as well as intelligence there: She was memorizing the layout. Just in case she had to find her way back without aid. A habit, an old one, but one she didn't pay any apology for. Instead she waits till Lorna says her peice before adding her own.

"That redheaded SHIELD agent is a trained assassin. The Asian one has training, too, but different. Seems more like she's a martial artist sort. Don't know about her thoughts on killing."

Reaching out she gives Lorna's hand a quick, reassuring squeeze before pulling away again. No sense in letting her people see her get comforted even if only for a moment. "I'm sure they'll be happy to know you are, and to know they're not alone."

Zora Vukovic has posed:
    "Assassins? Hm. I would not be suprised. Assassins and spies are not that far apart in skills." Zora says simply, nodding to Gabby slightly, then murmurs into her helmet. "Apex eight. Baria protocol." On the edges of the crowd of Servobots and Doombots ministering to the refugees, eight shift from what they're were doing, smoothing handing off duties to a neighbor then shift, starting to quietly parallel the smaller group around the Genoshan royal as they walk towards the camp.

    "That is best. People need to see strength, to calm their fears. To know there is someone making things right." the tall woman says in the voice of experience as she walks slightly behind Lorna as they move, at her left hand and a step or so behind her. "People can make...poor decisions, otherwise. Driven by fear."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna glanced side long at Gabby, offering the younger mutant a small smile beneath the shadow of her headpiece. All of which projected an outline similar to her father, though not quite the same. She even wore a light weight cloak, that trailed along behind her, even if she thought it silly. She knew any visits to Genosha had to be in the formal manner, she would be seen, and that meant making a statement. People still here respected power, and determination.. they didn't want to be comforted the same way those in the Wakandan refugee camp wished.

"One of them I am familiar with.." She offered gently, not stating which and leaving how in the air.

Just because Zora was playing protective detail for the moment, did not mean that the green haired mutant trusted her. Her gaze swung about and she sensed more than saw the Doombots move about to form a protective circle about her. She seemingly ignored them, and continued her steps. "They do. And people are scared and hurt. Even animals backed into corners react poorly when in such situations..." She murmured, swallowing the lump that formed in the back of her throat.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Spies? Yeah that works. My sisters had to do some espionage missions, too, before." Gabby blathers on a bit not really caring that Zora may or may not be trustworthy--At least for now. The people she spoke of were dead as it was so it would hardly be something that could be traced back to harm them at this point. She lightly hops over a pothole in the path they walk tearing her eyes away from the scenery long enough to stick her landing.

"So where are the people that are left? I'm assuming there's a refugee camp of some sort set up. Triage areas."

Zora Vukovic has posed:
    While The Doombots are there for someone alert, they remain far enough away to fade into the background...after all, it wouldn't do for the Queen to console people with her strength but be surrounded by guards, especially guards of another state entirely. Victorious, at least, isn't well known. This particular configuration seems to put most of the weight of bodyguarding on the tall Latverian, her head turning slightly to keep track of her surroundings as they walk. "So are you a spy, an assassin, or something else?" Zora asks Gabby as they walk. "And most have been moved to the tents, where they can be looked at medically, fed and given clean water. The basics. Many are probably looking for friends and family. We have begun keeping a cross reference list to be used by your people, your majesty, to help with that. Of course, the list is in their care, not ours." she adds.

    here's a slight pause, before Zora glances over at Lorna. "Animals are less imaginative about what can go wrong. They panic from immediate issues...pain, threat, and the like. Humans can imagine the threats whether they are there or not." She inhales, then says. "Respectfully, I must offer that you not get too close to all refugees. Some will not be thinking clearly, from emotional pain. They may wrongly blame you in some way. They would not be able to harm you, but it would be...poor, for others to see such attacks on you." Unspoken is because she knows Lorna won't retaliate in a way to discourage further attacks in such cases the same way Doom would.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna waved a hand in the direction of the tents, and her gaze swung about the area now that they were clear of the Flying Fortress of Doom's. There were few tents here, nothing like the camp in Wakanda, which supported rows upon rows. Thousands of people had gone there, away from Genosha's ruins. Many however, remained, the Brotherhood had arrived and stayed, and several other more fanatical types had been drawn to the island as well.

But supplies were low and this was the only such camp that remained in Hammer Bay.

"This is all that's left, Gabby.." She murmured, "The rest moved to Wakanda." She exhaled a breath, and her gaze shifted back to Zora.

"I do not fear my own people. Those that remain here are a different sort perhaps than most, but that does not mean I think they'll attack me outright." She murmured.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
The question of what *she* was causes Gabby just a bit of mental pause. What was she? Her nose crinkles just a bit both from the lingering smells of dust and debris from the attack, and from where her mind goes. "I'm free," she finally states. "And I want to be good. My sisters died so I could be free and I'm gonna make them proud. But what I am, I get to choose now." A firm, solemn nod is given at this, and she starts to grin--

It fades almost instantly at Lorna's words. There in her green eyes is a sorrow that is likely shared by Lorna herself. "Oh. Oh... no. This is terrible. All those people...."

Zora Vukovic has posed:
    "War is terrible." Zora murmurs in agreement, then glances at Lorna again. "Of course, your majesty," as she nods in agreement. She turns her attention back to Gabby. "Being free to choose is a gift not everyone gets. You're fortunate." She turns her attention back to the tents ahead, then says quietly. "I did want to talk to you directly, your majesty. My lord has not specifically mentioned it, but one of my gifts is the ability to track energy signatures, even recreate events from the residue of the same. It is possible, if I can find a strong trail, that I can track the robots back to their origin point. I cannot guarantee it; there may be some way that those responsible have acted to obscure their trail. But it is not something every mind would think of, when it comes to covering tracks."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna glanced briefly at Gabby and inclined her head, "Not many people can say that, that is true.." She murmured, and as Gabby continued, paused and noted just how few people were there, her stomach twisted. A grimace pulled at her lips faintly. Still the Queen continued on, and as she did so, people noticed, and a ripple went through the refugee camp as people noticed her and stared.

"Yes... it is." She bit back a sigh and as Zora agreed her green eyed gaze flickered back to the Latverian. She studied her, and as Zora asked a question in a rather straightforward, objective manner... Lorna nodded again, her feet coming to a stop.

"I would be more than appreciative of any attempts that you can make. Right now we have no leads. Not really. I have a bad memory of what happened, and didn't see anything useful. It's why I came here.. I had hoped to find answers."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney wears that expression of sadness a few moments longer. The it turns sterner, more determined, with lips pressing together in a thin line. "Yeah. Need to get back at them for this," she agrees with a firm nod. There was no question of that, but it was Lorna's call on what to do. "You know I'll help out if I can. Even if it's not much."

Zora Vukovic has posed:
    "Yes." Zora says simply to Gabby, nodding at her. "This cannot be allowed to happen again. If they are so blatant to attack Genosha in this way, they will do it again if they feel they've evaded retribution." She frowns, her eyes narrowing. "With your permission then, I would use our mechanized forces to overfly the island, scanning for any unusual signatures or energy remnants. We have enough to scan the island, given time, but the sooner we begin, the less the signatures will have time to degrade. I myself would go to the epicenter, where the transformed giant is." A slight glance to Lorna. "When my duties do not keep me by yourself. If not myself, Lancer is a skilled investigator as well; she can oversea the search while I remain with you." She apparently takes her duty as bodyguard seriously.

Lorna Dane has posed:
The green haired Queen nodded to Gabby and she offered another restrained smile. "I know. And that matters, thank you." She glanced back to Zora however as the other woman spoke of what she wished to do. About energy signatures and the alike. Another nod followed, and Lorna crossed her arms as she turned more fully toward Zora.

"You have my full permission and blessing to do so, so long as you promise to share your findings. I deeply appreciate your efforts to try to find who did this." She gestured about them and her expression twisted. "You are of course correct, this cannot be allowed to happen again."

Lorna paused as a survivor came up to the trio, a bandage wrapped around his head and spotted with dried blood. It had been in the process of being changed by one of the servitors that Doom had brought when he'd spotted the royal and entourage. He seemed not entirely in his right mind as he came up and fell to his knees, clasping both of his hands together as he babbled about Magneto's words and Lorna being his image returned. It made the young queen understandably uncomfortable, but she paused in whatever she had been about to say as she moved to the fallen mutant and grasped both of his trembling hands to try to pull him back up right.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
It's while they talk of hunting down whoever did this that Gabby spots that injured mutant coming over. He's not even on his knees before she's swung her bag around to unzip one of the sides digging her hand inside. There's no weapons withdrawn though. Nothing that might assume this individual was coming to harm Lorna. Instead she pulls out one of the chocolate and peanut energy bars that Laura liked so much.

She waits until Lorna helps the man up before offering it out herself. "Here, you really ought to let them take care of you. Got to get strong again, right?"

Zora Vukovic has posed:
    Zora stops when Lorna does as the man staggers down in front of her and starts to babble, her head turning to keep an eye on the man and her surroundings, then after a moment making a slightly gesture to one of the nearby Doombots, who walks over to help steady the man, with the intent of guiding him back to the medical area. Not roughly but definitely trying to guide him that direction. Still plenty of time to accept the bar though, as Zora makes a slight 'wait' gesture with her right hand as the offer is made. She absently notes she'll have to get the recording from the Doombot's perspective later...transmitting images of the queen among her people can only help calm the situation, both for those who remain and those who have been taken to Wakanda.

Lorna Dane has posed:
The injured mutant paused in his rambling babble, incoherent and glanced to Gabby as she offered him a protein bar. The man took it, looking wide eyed between his Queen and the smaller mutant. He fell silent, and as the Doombot led him away, he started to quietly sob. He was a broken man, but that was the sort that stayed on Genosha. The kind that were stubborn, loyal, and often times.. too broken and hysterical to go to the Wakandan refugee camp.

Lorna sighed heavily, crossing her arms and lowering her gaze. Her lips pursed together tightly as she struggled with her own emotions that boiled to the surface.

"I'm sure he appreciated that Gabby, it was very kind of you." She offered gently.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney watches after the man as he leaves giving him as reassuring a smile as she can. It wasn't the first time she had to do so. She was fairly practiced in it, and she nods firmly at him when he looks her way. Get strong again. Heal. Get better. She was no telepath but she tries to project that sort of strength and well wishing toward him conveyed through her expression.

Lorna's quiet reassurance to her earns a nod as well. She's quiet a moment, then speaks. "Lorna? I know you don't want to rebuild everything because it might draw more attention here. But maybe... maybe rebuild at least one building. For them," she states nodding in the direction of the refugees and the man that had been led away. "Something solid and here and can give them a sense of familiarity. That it will get better."

Zora Vukovic has posed:
    "...if it were your wish..." Zora says after a moment, glancing to Gabby. "It would be possible to repurpose some of our robots for construction. I know that my lord has always held your father in great esteem, the same feeling he holds for you in your time of need. Constructing a new goverment building could be done. Perhapes one that is more protected, carved into one of the mountains here without being...too like unto a bunker." Because that will of course send the wrong message; there is a delicate balance struck between protection and majesty.

    "At least, it would be large enough to shelter those who remain. If Doom so commands it, it can be done." The price of such, of course, would be up to her lord...but her tone suggests he may not ask as much as he would of another.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna looked at Gabby as the man hobbled away with the aid of the Doombot, and she exhaled a breath at the younger mutant's words. "If I build it, they will come here. Regardless of the safety of it." Her expression creased. "I would feel better if they left, and did not try to live amongst the ashes and bones of the dead.." She eyebrows furrowed sharply, and she bit her lower lip.

"But you're right, to an extent.. They are here regardless, and tents are no places for our people to live.." She sighed and glanced back at Zora as she offered, "Perhaps for the electrical. Plumbing. Yes. But I can more than easily put together something here for my people." She murmured, stepping out and away from the two as she lifted her hands up into the air. A green glow blossomed about her fingers, and her eyes flickered with magnetic energies as her figure lifted up into the air. The cloak billowing out behind her.

She had learned spectacle it would seem, and knew the importance of image to maintaining her power and titles..

She didn't go far, but then again, she didn't have to. The refugees stared, and as they did so, massive metal chunks of debris floated about the camp, coming with groans and metallic grinding. The metal chunks landed with heavy thunks into the ground, the pieces warping and melding together until a large, half domed structure crowded around one sides of the tent city.

With a closing of her fist, and a grunt of effort, the metal screamed and warped further. It bent down, creating a roof that tilted back to draw away any rain and shield the tents below from the heat of the sun. It was a tropical island after all. And for that reasons, Lorna left the other sides open to the air. Slowly, she landed, and glanced at Zora. "We can add more as needed.."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney doesn't really have to say anything here. This was a time when she just gets to watch. She knew Lorna's powers, but to see them in action to this extent? There's a bit of quiet right after the warping and bending of metal ceases. A hush from those that watched.

Then Gabby squeals with delight, fist-pumps the air, and starts clapping loudly. "All right! That's what I'm talking about! Queen Lorna for the win!"

Zora Vukovic has posed:
    Victorious blinks a bit as Zorna rises up, stiffening slightly as she looks around slightly, then watches as the new structure is quickly assembled, flowing together into a solid piece quickly enough, more than enough to shelter the refugees left behind. Though her lips twitch a bit at Gabby's excitement and fist pumping as she folds her arms over her breastplate. "Impressive, of course." she says as Lorna speaks to her, then inclines her head in acknowledgement. "I shall see that the electrical equipment we brought is modified to suit it. A small windfarm should be enough to provide adequate power in this climate."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna exhaled a breath, pressing her hand against the headpiece on her temple as if to adjust where it sat on her head as she glanced over the massive metal structure on shadowing the tents below. "It's stable, but I worry with the sun that it might head up too much. We could put solar panels on the top part, and those would work nicely. A wind far might do better in Carrion Cove or on the hill tops." She murmured, glancing back to Zora. No small amount of magnetic energy sparking at her fingertips still.

She looked toward Gabby and her fist pump, and shifted her weight on her feet. Still, the survivors had noted by now what had happened and equal parts of shock and excited echoed throughout the tents.

"It's not that much.." She whispered, and glanced back to Zora. "We had a power-plant running by the rivers there," She gestured to the edges of Hammer Bay, "And there, it powered most of the city. Along with some fusion plants. Genosha was entirely self dependent on energy once.."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"It's more than I can do. It's more than they can do," Gabby points out with a wide beaming grin that she turns on Lorna, still quite clearly excited by the prospect. It had indeed seemed to help out the general mood of the survivors as well. "So it's pretty great. It's not just talk or wishing well, but doing something. Even if it's small by your standards..." She looks back to the new construction with a firm nod. "It's huge by others. You did a great job, Lorna."

Zora Vukovic has posed:
    "It is enough for them, yes." Zora echoes Gabby. "It gives them hope that things will return to normal. That they are safe now." The amazonian woman nods slightly. "And Genosha will be self-sufficient again. This attack...it struck at who you are. To abandon your lands may feed into what those responsible hoped...to shatter your home and scatter you where your unity would be fractured again."

    She motions to the refugees. "These people believed in you enough to remain. It will take time to rebuild...but it is not insurmountable. You have the support of many who rightly see the injustice of what has happened and offer their hand in friendship."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna exhaled a breath, tilting her head back to peer up at the metallic structure she'd created. Even as other survivors went about inspecting her work now. She pursed her lips, glancing about the ruins of the capital city around them. "It's a rush job. My father built the palace by hand, and many other buildings besides to be entirely metal." Her eyebrows furrowed.

"But it's gone.. I can't sense it. All of that steel.. just gone." She knelt, pressing her hand against the dusty soil of the ground and stretched her senses outward.

"I just realized it.. But there's less steel, less metal than there should be. It's like it was.. like it just disintegrated into nothing... it doesn't make sense." She muttered, and rose, clapping her hands off as she straightened.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney tips her head a bit at that. Buildings of pure metal? When she looked around there was a large amount of scrap and detris, but not that much metal. Not by what Lorna described. When she kneels down to search the earth for the missing metal she hums in thought. "Did they steal it? Or... what kind of weapons were they using, anyway?" That's perhaps more worrisome a thought. Just what would have caused that?

Zora Vukovic has posed:
    "That is...interesting. Disintegrated, you say?" Zora frowns a bit, thinking. "Disintegration of metal is certainly not a Sentinel weapon that I'm aware of. Melting, perhaps." She considers. "This happened because of the explosion at the capital? Localized there? It would make sense for them to be equipped with some sort of weapon to oppose those who could wield magnetism."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna shrugged wordlessly, folding her arms as she closed her eyes and stretched her senses out and about them, she fell silent again as she sunk deeper into the magnetic fields. "I don't know if it was disintegrated... That was just a thought. But it's gone. It's not anywhere I can sense. Matter doesn't act like that. There should be the same amount of steel, even rubble.. But not here." She pursed her lips, opening her eyes and glancing back to Gabby. "Stolen? I don't think that's what Sentinels do, Gabby.." She sighed and shook her head again.

"I don't know what happened, it's just leaving me with more questions than answers."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Well, maybe not, but they have to make the sentinels out of something, right?" Gabby reasons as she lets her own mind wander. "Or maybe your did did manage to escape? He could have like bunkered up with all the steel around him and just been blown off course somewhere..." Here she pauses as she lifts her hands to make a sort of 'boom and fly away' gesture before realizing what she was saying. "Uh. Just a thought. Sorry."

Zora Vukovic has posed:
    "It's not impossible it was transported rather than disintegrated." Zora allows. "Honestly, if that was so, it would be ideal. Energy necessary to teleport that much material would leave a broad trail for me to follow. So would enough energy to knock that much metal a significant distance away." She looks to Lorna. "Enough that I might be able to get you close enough to feel the steel in question and more precisely locate it." she says slowly. "Though I would...be hesistant to risk you in such fashion. While I do not deny your power, your people need you as well."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna glanced at Gabby and pursed her lips together briefly. "I don't know, I doubt that he would willingly part with the island if we were attacked. My father was many things, but a coward is not one of them." She murmured softly, keeping her voice low. Still her green eyed gaze swung back to Zora again as the other woman spoke. An arch of her eyebrow followed and Lorna shifted to settle a hand on her hip, falling silent for a moment in thought.

"But to where and why? It sounds like an awful lot of effort to go through for steel." She drawled, and shook her head, "I would not wish to slow you down in your efforts. They are kind enough indeed, and I appreciate them." She offered, diplomatic through and through.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney considers that a moment longer before nodding. "Yeah, you're right. I still think that's not a bad idea about them taking the metal somehow for building supplies. I mean, if you were to attack somewhere that has a log of a certain resource that would help you expand your army, that would seem pretty much a two-fer." That thought however causes her to look back toward the refugees. "Which also means finding them sooner rather than later is probably a good idea."

Zora Vukovic has posed:
    "It depends if these were recently built, or if these were Sentinels that were claimed to have been destroyed but were not." Victorious notes, frowning. "In some ways, that would be better...if they were not being built new, less of a chance of another swarm of them. But if someone has established a factory, that is very problematic, yes." She nods to Lorna. "As you wish." she says simply, not arguing the point. "Lord Doom has pledged his aid, however you need it."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna glanced at Gabby and she exhaled a breath. "There's more places than Genosha to get steel. And it's foolish to attack the island when my father and I were both here... Just for that? And slaughter millions.." She shook her head, "No, I doubt that." She scuffed her foot against the soil, kicking up dust as she started to pace, away from the line of sight from the survivors as she moved.

"I can't date any of the metal from the Sentinels, if your tech can, then I'm sure it will be picked up with your scans of the giant Sentinel." Which was now a massive tribute to Magneto.. but oh well.

"If there is a factory, or something else entirely.. yes, it would be troubling indeed to say the least. But no one has found anything like that. Where ever these things came from, they were well hidden. Or at least, those around them certainly aren't talking."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney had just meant the steel be taken as a spoils of war situation... but Lorna knew more of this outside world than she did. After all she'd only recently been freed from the labs that had made and raised her. "Fair enough," she responds with a little nod as she turns her attention to the Sentinel-turned-statue.

Zora Vukovic has posed:
    "It's good to keep an open mind." Zora say to Gabby. "So ideas like that are always good to air. Some are more likely than others, but since we know little about the opposition, it is good to not be locked into one way of looking at it." She smiles faintly at her, then turns back to Lorna. "Shall we see about getting your people settled, then? I'm sure they will want to thank you for the more sturdy quarters you've created, after all" She motions to the shelter where refugees are starting to gather. "Ah, but there is one other thing." She floats up towards the structure, then reaches out a hand, purplish energy surrounding it, before a fan of energy rushes out from it, washing out like a stamp as part of the metal sinks inwards, forming the symbol of Genosha.

    "There." she says, returning to land. "Shall we?"