Max Wayne
On the edge of trouble
Planet: Coruscant
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Max buried in face into his still trembling hands as he allowd himself to sink down onto the cement beneath him, fighting back his bodies desperate need to either scream, cry, or some combination of both. He couldn't allow himself to break down though, not now and especially not here, maybe never. Breaking down was weakness and after what just happened he couldn't afford any weakness. More importantly he needed to hide and get away. If he made any noise, it might alert others to his whereabouts. He couldn't be sure if anyone was following him just yet, but if they weren't now they would be soon.
The alleyway he had ducked into was cold, dark, and damp, and it wasn't helping to calm his shaking body but it had afforded him the minor luxury of stopping to catch his breath and try to come up with some sort of plan. He needed to focus. Focus on escape, focus on getting away, far away. He couldn't allow himself to think about what had happened...
What the hell had happened though?
He had left his little bolt hole that he currently called home this morning, like every morning, in search of work, or at the very least food. Supplies had been low for the last few weeks and three days ago his rations had finally run out. Despite Max's best efforts to stretch them as long as possible, reaching the end was inevitable when he hadn't managed to find enough luck to resupply. He had tried slicing into one of the smaller banking terminals that few people ever frequented. Just his luck though, security had been increased significantly. It was almost like they felt they needed the few credits that Max "borrowed" more than he did, and he couldn't get in. It wouldn't have been a problem if his last client hadn't tried to pay him with a blaster bolt rather than the credits and stash of security spikes they promised when they hired him. Now he didn't have enough resources to pick up another gig, get more security spikes, nor the credits to get his own basic necessities of life. He hadn't been this screwed in... well at least a year.
So it was only reasonable that he had resorted to less flashy means to get food. Max wasn't above petty crime, after all he had started out his independent life as a pick pocket before graduating to Slicer, and it had been a long time since he needed to resort to shoplifting.
Desperate times called for desperate measures...
He had chosen a smaller shop that sold sandwiches, drinks, and treats, that sort of junk. One of those local family owned places in the lower city that was busy enough the staff were too occupied to watch him, but not so much patrons in line would be bored enough to take note of him either. He would have prefered to pay for food at a place like this, even if it was with stolen credits than steal from them, but the loud growl of his stomach had reminded him that he just needed fuel to make today more successful than the last few had been. Maybe later he could come back and pay for the food if he had some success taking from the well off rather than a struggling business like this one. His current state hunger however, had won out over any minor principals he possessed. He just needed to eat, and after being turned away from everywhere that offered a free meal to those that needed it, this was his last option.
What happened after he tried to leave with the small sandwich though was confusing and a blur as his mind and memories were whirling with a tornado of fear and confusion.
The man had yelled and grabbed his shoulder before violently yanked him around, sending the food to the floor. Normally this wouldn't have been enough to frighten him, Max would have easily talked his way out of the situation, said some snarky remark, or at least ran for it. Days without any food though had left him weak, and more frightened than he had been since the first time one of his foster patents had decided to give him a good beating for one of his snappy comebacks. He had reached out his hands in fear, trying to stop whatever blows Max thought was coming, when lightning had sprung out from his hands. He watched in horror as the man flew backwards into the crowd that had formed to watch the shoplifter being brought to justice, and arches of energy streaked out into the throng hitting each of them in turn. There was loud bangs, screams, and crashes that filled the air before an eerie silence took over the whole place.
For a moment Max just stood in stunned silence, before meeting the eyes of the equally shocked people that miraculous still stood standing. The whole shop looked like a bomb had detonate, the scene was even punctuated with small fires all around them. Small sparks if energy still danced on Max's fingers as he held them up in confusion. It wasn't until a woman screamed, that he was able to break out of whatever trance he had been lost in, just enough to run.
Max ran out into the street, not caring where he was going, just that he needed to get away. He ran and ran until his already weakened body threatened to give out and he ducked into this alley way.
"What am I going to do?" Max groaned to himself as the fear and grief threatened to consume him.
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Max buried in face into his still trembling hands as he allowd himself to sink down onto the cement beneath him, fighting back his bodies desperate need to either scream, cry, or some combination of both. He couldn't allow himself to break down though, not now and especially not here, maybe never. Breaking down was weakness and after what just happened he couldn't afford any weakness. More importantly he needed to hide and get away. If he made any noise, it might alert others to his whereabouts. He couldn't be sure if anyone was following him just yet, but if they weren't now they would be soon.
The alleyway he had ducked into was cold, dark, and damp, and it wasn't helping to calm his shaking body but it had afforded him the minor luxury of stopping to catch his breath and try to come up with some sort of plan. He needed to focus. Focus on escape, focus on getting away, far away. He couldn't allow himself to think about what had happened...
What the hell had happened though?
He had left his little bolt hole that he currently called home this morning, like every morning, in search of work, or at the very least food. Supplies had been low for the last few weeks and three days ago his rations had finally run out. Despite Max's best efforts to stretch them as long as possible, reaching the end was inevitable when he hadn't managed to find enough luck to resupply. He had tried slicing into one of the smaller banking terminals that few people ever frequented. Just his luck though, security had been increased significantly. It was almost like they felt they needed the few credits that Max "borrowed" more than he did, and he couldn't get in. It wouldn't have been a problem if his last client hadn't tried to pay him with a blaster bolt rather than the credits and stash of security spikes they promised when they hired him. Now he didn't have enough resources to pick up another gig, get more security spikes, nor the credits to get his own basic necessities of life. He hadn't been this screwed in... well at least a year.
So it was only reasonable that he had resorted to less flashy means to get food. Max wasn't above petty crime, after all he had started out his independent life as a pick pocket before graduating to Slicer, and it had been a long time since he needed to resort to shoplifting.
Desperate times called for desperate measures...
He had chosen a smaller shop that sold sandwiches, drinks, and treats, that sort of junk. One of those local family owned places in the lower city that was busy enough the staff were too occupied to watch him, but not so much patrons in line would be bored enough to take note of him either. He would have prefered to pay for food at a place like this, even if it was with stolen credits than steal from them, but the loud growl of his stomach had reminded him that he just needed fuel to make today more successful than the last few had been. Maybe later he could come back and pay for the food if he had some success taking from the well off rather than a struggling business like this one. His current state hunger however, had won out over any minor principals he possessed. He just needed to eat, and after being turned away from everywhere that offered a free meal to those that needed it, this was his last option.
What happened after he tried to leave with the small sandwich though was confusing and a blur as his mind and memories were whirling with a tornado of fear and confusion.
The man had yelled and grabbed his shoulder before violently yanked him around, sending the food to the floor. Normally this wouldn't have been enough to frighten him, Max would have easily talked his way out of the situation, said some snarky remark, or at least ran for it. Days without any food though had left him weak, and more frightened than he had been since the first time one of his foster patents had decided to give him a good beating for one of his snappy comebacks. He had reached out his hands in fear, trying to stop whatever blows Max thought was coming, when lightning had sprung out from his hands. He watched in horror as the man flew backwards into the crowd that had formed to watch the shoplifter being brought to justice, and arches of energy streaked out into the throng hitting each of them in turn. There was loud bangs, screams, and crashes that filled the air before an eerie silence took over the whole place.
For a moment Max just stood in stunned silence, before meeting the eyes of the equally shocked people that miraculous still stood standing. The whole shop looked like a bomb had detonate, the scene was even punctuated with small fires all around them. Small sparks if energy still danced on Max's fingers as he held them up in confusion. It wasn't until a woman screamed, that he was able to break out of whatever trance he had been lost in, just enough to run.
Max ran out into the street, not caring where he was going, just that he needed to get away. He ran and ran until his already weakened body threatened to give out and he ducked into this alley way.
"What am I going to do?" Max groaned to himself as the fear and grief threatened to consume him.
