8218/Monster in the Mirror

Monster in the Mirror
Date of Scene:	08 July 2019
Location:	Dining Hall - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Beast, Cypher

---

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy sits with a few young kids in the dining hall. Some new students are visiting this summer to prepare for the fall term, and their younger siblings have come along for the day. So he sits with them, a book open. "What did that say? On the cover, what did that say? Did that say there will be a Monster at the end of this book?" "It did!" "It did?! Oh, I am so scared of monsters!"

Cypher has posed:
You know... sometimes... you just have to be fourteen again. While you still can.

Which is why outside, Doug ramsey comes skidding down the banister of the grand staircase, springs off it, lands on his feet, and he spins, as he enters the dining hall. He finger-guns at somebody he knows, before he strolls in and heads for the chow line. "I am *starving*." He says, before he grabs a shiny apple and bites into it with a crunch. "Oh, there's a monster at the end of this book! But somebody spoiled the ending for me..." He makes a hangdog expression, his head lowered.

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy starts getting into it. Getting loud about it with Grover's reactions, page by page. From the start he naturally lets the kids turn the pages, so when he reacts in Grover's very over the top way, they start laughing. He then winks to Doug. "Would you like to turn the next page?"

Cypher has posed:
"How could I resist?" Doug says. "You kids ready! Time for the last page! Grover tried to stop us, but now it's time to see the monster at the end of this book!" He reaches down, to take hold of the page, before he glances over to Hank. "You sure about this, Doctor McCoy? Yeah? Yeah. Here we go!"

"...Wow! The monster at the end of the book was Grover all along!"

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy looks at the kids, they all giggle and nod. So he nods to Doug, and when the page is turned, very slowly, he waits. "It was ME! Lovable old Grover, the monster at teh end of the book! And youw ere so scared!" "Nooooo! Grover was scared!" they all call out. "Alright, looks like your nuggets are ready, form a line, and go get your lunch, kids." They get up and dash on over. "Well done, Doug. You revealed the big blue monster at the end of the book."

Cypher has posed:
"Save me some nuggets!" Doug calls.

"Well, it's good for them to learn that much like Sesame Street, blue furry monsters only mean good things in this school." He puts his hands on his hips, and says, "How are you, Doctor McCoy? You look good. ...Lustrous. New conditioner?" His eyebrows raise. Doug is being cheeky, but only a little bit.

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy laughs, closing the book and slipping it under his arm as he follows along behind the kids. Doug gets a slap on the shoulder. "Yes, if they can get used to me, and to Wagner, they're in good shape. Though they're all siblings of mutants themselves, so maybe it'll help them connect better within their own families, too. And buttering me up? What did you do?"

Cypher has posed:
Doug blinks once, twice. "Me? Nothing. Yet."

"So did I tell you, I decided to go to law school. Just working on crushing my undergrad right now, and once I've burned through that, I'll take the LSATs." He rocks backward on his heels, and says, "Today is a good day, despite how ugly things are getting on the outside. But... I wanted to talk to you about that, too."

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy actually does go up to the line behind the kids and gets himself some nuggets, fries, and orange juice, same as the kids. He winks at the kids ahead of him "What, do I look like Grover?" Some of them giggle, and cover their mouths, trying not to say it. Then he looks to Doug. "Congratulations. That's a serious profession. And sure, let's get food,a nd we can go talk privately."

Cypher has posed:
Doug flashes a grin at the kids. "Also like Grover, Hank has a hundred different jobs, and he's ALSO a super-hero." He puts a stack of nuggets on his plate, along with a bottle of water and some fresh fruit, before he's tagging along behind Hank. Once they're out of earshot of the general population, he says, "...This issue with the Sentinels, it's getting out of hand. I wanted to talk to Tony Stark about it, but he's an incredibly busy man. I was hoping maybe you could help me with it as well. The strength of the sentinels is their ability to collect external data and adapt to it... what if that could also be exploited as a weakness?"

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy laughs and the kids giggle, but then Hank leads Doug off to a corner, while the kids pick up a new supervisor, he sits. "I have no special in with Stark," (IN THIS UNIVERSE - Ed.), "But we could approach him together. I know my way around a lab, but he has a gift. What kind of data were you looking to feed them?"

Cypher has posed:
Doug shrugs. "Well... think about it. Sentinels are Adaptive Intelligence, though I think Sebastian is trying to cross the bridge into Actual Intelligence. They interpret and respond to data. What is a computer virus, except corrupt data that, once read, starts to replicate itself? If you understood how, you could theoretically write code for a computer virus on the wall--" He points, "Over there, and once a data reader started to read and interpret it... the bad data would start to replicate itself. It's simple memetics."

Doug strokes his chin, and says, "So, say... patterns of light, or sounds, that when interpreted by the Sentinel's adaptive intelligence, take advantage of that process and cause... maladaptive behavior."

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy digs into his nuggets, nodding as he eats, and listens. Washing it down with some juice, he nods. "Depends on how intelligent they are. Ideally we'd find some way of testing the scope and nature of the AI developing, and find something to exploit. Do we have any tracking data on a large scale that can be analyzed?"

Cypher has posed:
"That's the problem. I need that information." Doug strokes his chin, thoughtfully. "I was hoping you could help me with that. If wr could just get our hands on one of their processors, intact, I'd be able to slave it to a computer and run all the tests I need. I could simulate it using the Danger Room too, that Adaptive Intelligence is even more advanced... but that carries with it the problem of flapping a red flag at an Adaptive Intelligence with the possibility of accessing a ton of stored combat data. I don't want to be the guy who set the Danger Room loose and turned it into a Kaiju."

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy nods. "And you think Stark might have it. I don't think I do. We can make this a team effort. I wonder who else around here might have this information? Talk to Lorna Dane as well. It's not out of the question that she'll have access to a database we don't, that you could use in putting this plan together. But I'll help in any way I can."

Cypher has posed:
Doug glances up to Hank, and then sighs. "Scott and Sam have both been nudging me to step up. And... I'm reluctant. But they might also be right. I have to commit myself, totally, right? But I can't do these things alone. I think Stark might have it. He also has a computer network I can use to get it. God, if we could just capture one intact, or yank one that hasn't been activated yet out of factory storage! I know I could do this."

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy sits back, nibbling a few more nuggets, and considers the man. "Doug. You're what, almost 21? You'rea lmost old enough to drink legally. That means you should step up, but to be perfectly honest, you shouldn't hesitate to come to folks like me for help, and reassurance that you're doing the right thing. It's a learning experience."

Cypher has posed:
Doug gives a faint grin at that, and then he says, "It's nice to be reminded of that." Then he says, "Almost twenty one, but physically about 18? I don't know if I should count the time I was dead or not." And isn't that a trip. "Intellectually, you may be the person I respect most in the world, Doctor McCoy. It means a lot to me to hear you say that. And not just because I'm amazed you still talk to me after the pranks I used to pull during your lectures."

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy rubs the back of his neck, before dipping another pair of nuggests to eat at once. Using that as time to delay, he smiles "Thanks. I'm glad I can help. And I hate to break it to you but kids are kids, and I constantly remind myself of that. At least none of you are turning yourselves blue."

Cypher has posed:
Doug rocks backward on his heels, flips a chicken nugget up with his thumb, and catches it in his mouth. He chews in silence for a long time, and then he says, "...You know," He says, "We could rig up Bobby's showerhead so it shoots strawberry syrup. You could turn him into a sno-cone..."

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy shakes his head and facepalms. "Doug. Doug doug doug... watch yourself. That's all I have to say to that." He then laughs and finishes off his nuggets.

Cypher has posed:
Doug gives a sly little grin, and pats Hank on the back. "Hey. The best way to show someone you love them is to play a prank on them. Do you remember that time in your chemistry class when Lockheed farted and the bunsen burner you were using shot this *jet* of white fire all the way up to the ceiling, and Ororo had to spend the rest of the day airing the first floor out? I uh... may have objected to something Kitty said, and then fed Lockheed three pots of black coffee... and a triple order of Harry's five-alarm chili. And a pack of cigars... and a whole bunch of raspberry yogurt." He gestures. "She never figured out it was me. I always figured you knew. I just..." He snorts, "I remember how your eyes got real big and your pupils got real *little*--"

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy finishes off his juice,a nd sits back with a sigh, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. "Yes, i remember that. But to be fair, I..." he pauses as the origin of that story was explained. "Well you see, Doug, the trick is when you play pranks, to make sure everything you do is reversible. Everything."

Cypher has posed:
Doug blinks, lightly, and then he says, "I understand. Teach me your ways, sensei." He strolls along, behind... the imp. He always seems so innocent, too...!

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy gets up, and slaps Doug on the shoulder again. "Step one... removable mounting tape is your friend. Stays on as long as it is needed, looks permanent...."