Ben Thano
Never tell me the odds.
The beat of his feet hitting the ground, mingled with the panting of his breath and the pounding of his heart was just about all Ben could focus on. His mind instinctively blocked out the distractions around him - the chatter of the crowds as he ran past and through them, the automated, mechanical voice signaling the mag-lev schedule, and especially the loud, angry voices behind him that kept calling out for him to stop. It wasn't as if he was trying to pretend not to hear them, he had no intention of stopping whatsoever, after all, he just preferred to not worry about how they seemed to be growing increasingly angry as they followed after him. At least he knew it wasn't long before he'd leave them in the dust - he'd timed it perfectly, he was far enough ahead that he'd be on the mag-lev train and gone before they could get aboard.
They had their rights to be angry with him, at least. The crew on his tail, a pair of Devaronian twins, an Aqualish, and an Abednedo, had brought Ben in on a job a getaway driver. Of course, he'd taken off with the goods as soon as they were loaded, fully expecting the crew to be snatched up by the authorities so that he was left with the take. Alas, the local sector authority had been particularly incompetent that day, it seemed, and now they were looking to collect on a debt that Ben had already spent, clearing his other debts. Frankly, Ben preferred to avoid even considering how the conversation might go if they learned the money they'd tracked him down for was long gone, so running had seemed the better option.
There wasn't much further to run now, either. Barging through a group of travellers, Ben jumped up and onto the wide rail that divided a pair of stairwells down to the platform, sliding past the crowds and steadily picking up speed as he heard the shouting grow steadily more distant behind him. The train was on the platform, just a few more seconds, and he'd be on it.
Leaning back, he began to press his weight against the rail to slow himself as much as he could as he got toward the bottom of the stairwell, stumbling a little when he landed back on his feet at the bottom - just in time to see the doors closing on the train.
"No, nonono, come on!" He sprinted to the doors, banging a hand against them and attempting in vain to peel them open before the train began to move - within a few seconds, it was already streaming down the rail and out of the station. Well, he hadn't timed that quite how he hoped, but he still had a head start, he could find another way. He turned around - just in time to see the four thugs reach the bottom of the stairs and start closing on him, cutting off his exit.
Okay, no more running, time for words. The Aqualish grunted and snapped at him in its sharp, guttural way of speaking, and Ben did his best to let a smile he thought was charming spread across his lips as he held up his hands and spread them out slightly. "Utonk, buddy! I wasn't running from you, I would never! Matter of fact, I was just on my way to the safe house where I stashed our take from the Velek job..." Sharper, more aggressive grumbling left the Aqualish, and Ben did his best not to seem like he was on the back foot when he heard it. "Wh- Rakston told you that? You know he's got no clue what he's talking about, right? I wouldn't pay him a single credit of your score, ever!" He would, and he had, and they knew it.
Stepping up quickly, the Devaronian reached out to snatch Ben's jacket collar, a furious expression framing his already unpleasant-looking face as he glared at the cornered swindler. "How's about we break his legs and let him catch the next train from down on the rails, eh?" Panic was starting to settle in now, and Ben could feel his heart pounding far more intently now as his eyes darted this way and that in search of an escape. This was the exact sort of situation he would have wanted some muscle with him, but he hadn't been out on a job, and none of the Mynocks knew where he was at all. As much as he needed a savior, he knew no one was coming for him...
They had their rights to be angry with him, at least. The crew on his tail, a pair of Devaronian twins, an Aqualish, and an Abednedo, had brought Ben in on a job a getaway driver. Of course, he'd taken off with the goods as soon as they were loaded, fully expecting the crew to be snatched up by the authorities so that he was left with the take. Alas, the local sector authority had been particularly incompetent that day, it seemed, and now they were looking to collect on a debt that Ben had already spent, clearing his other debts. Frankly, Ben preferred to avoid even considering how the conversation might go if they learned the money they'd tracked him down for was long gone, so running had seemed the better option.
There wasn't much further to run now, either. Barging through a group of travellers, Ben jumped up and onto the wide rail that divided a pair of stairwells down to the platform, sliding past the crowds and steadily picking up speed as he heard the shouting grow steadily more distant behind him. The train was on the platform, just a few more seconds, and he'd be on it.
Leaning back, he began to press his weight against the rail to slow himself as much as he could as he got toward the bottom of the stairwell, stumbling a little when he landed back on his feet at the bottom - just in time to see the doors closing on the train.
"No, nonono, come on!" He sprinted to the doors, banging a hand against them and attempting in vain to peel them open before the train began to move - within a few seconds, it was already streaming down the rail and out of the station. Well, he hadn't timed that quite how he hoped, but he still had a head start, he could find another way. He turned around - just in time to see the four thugs reach the bottom of the stairs and start closing on him, cutting off his exit.
Okay, no more running, time for words. The Aqualish grunted and snapped at him in its sharp, guttural way of speaking, and Ben did his best to let a smile he thought was charming spread across his lips as he held up his hands and spread them out slightly. "Utonk, buddy! I wasn't running from you, I would never! Matter of fact, I was just on my way to the safe house where I stashed our take from the Velek job..." Sharper, more aggressive grumbling left the Aqualish, and Ben did his best not to seem like he was on the back foot when he heard it. "Wh- Rakston told you that? You know he's got no clue what he's talking about, right? I wouldn't pay him a single credit of your score, ever!" He would, and he had, and they knew it.
Stepping up quickly, the Devaronian reached out to snatch Ben's jacket collar, a furious expression framing his already unpleasant-looking face as he glared at the cornered swindler. "How's about we break his legs and let him catch the next train from down on the rails, eh?" Panic was starting to settle in now, and Ben could feel his heart pounding far more intently now as his eyes darted this way and that in search of an escape. This was the exact sort of situation he would have wanted some muscle with him, but he hadn't been out on a job, and none of the Mynocks knew where he was at all. As much as he needed a savior, he knew no one was coming for him...
