Assailant
The SHSL Shadow Alchemy Stand Using Lab Member
The sounds one would typically associate with a casino permeated the area. This was rather fitting, as said area WAS a casino. Dings from machines were loud and echoing, and the yells of those who had struck lucky were boisterous. More commonly, however, one would hear the sorrowful wails of those who had fallen from wealth with their latest gamble. Casinos were realms of luck, where all preconceptions of science and feasibility were replaced by notions of mere chance... for most people, that is. However, one man was different. The table was as silent as the rest of the building, which is to say, not at all, as a man laughed and pulled some chips in.
"Aren't you a little young for this, boy?" He said with a vaguely Russian accent as the dealer passed out more cards. The boy who sat across from him, a teenager, simply sighed.
"I suppose I was a little foolish to think I could play so well." He shook his head. "Well, we're almost done I guess." The cards were finished being passed out, and he looked around the table.
"What's your name?" The man asked.
"Max," the boy responded simply before looking around the table. He analyzed everyone's faces as the bets were placed. Soon, the moment of truth came. Many others have dropped out of the pool, but he's simply continued playing. He has a strong poker face, but his bet implies he has an even stronger hand. Given which cards have been played, I have an approximately 35.25% chance of beating him this hand... adapting for play style... 67.5% chance. Chances are favorable... but not favorable enough. Luckily, Max had played smart. He had made himself appear bad throughout the game. Adapting for overconfidence... 73.5% chance... let's go. "Call," Max said as the hands were revealed. With a stunned expression, the man was frozen as Max pulled in the pile of tokens.
"Good game." Max outstretched his hand as he pocketed the chips. A net gain of approximately $364. Not bad. The man stared, still frozen in shock for a few moments before smacking Max's hand away.
"You tricked me!" He yelled angrily. Max backed away a bit.
"Isn't that the point of gambling?" Max questioned. That didn't seem to satisfy the man, who stood up in anger.
"I do not take kindly to being deceived, boy." He swiftly pulled out a gun, his face contorted in rage. A good portion of the people at the table ran in fear, though a few still stayed. Some were angry at Max, albeit not approving of the man's actions, and one or two seemed to be standing by Max. He's enraged, but he does not seem to be convicted. Perhaps I can dissuade him from killing without using force.
"I- I'm sorry," Max said, his voice betraying some fear. Some of it was artificial, some of it was genuine fear. Regardless, he did not run. "I-I had to make some money. This is the only way I have."
"C'mon man," one of the gathered men said. He had brown hair and was wearing a turtleneck. "He's just a kid, alright? Do you think he's even smart enough to make moves like that?"
"It's the only way," the gunman yelled. "the only way he could have won like that!"
"I-I just got lucky!"
"Bullshit!" Max began to slowly walk away until a bang sounded. Screams resounded as people fled, with only a few bystanders staring in awe at what they saw. The bullet floated in mid-air only an inch away from Max's face. "Y...-you're one of those super freaks!" The gunman yelled. Max grinned.
"I don't intend to die today. Would you like to fire more? I could do this for quite a long time." The bullet lurched back and flew at the gunman, hitting him in the chest. It wasn't hard enough to do any more damage than the likes of a pinch or hard tap, but it was certainly enough to scare the gunman and few remaining bystanders away. Only one man remained, who looked to Max.
"You didn't kill him..." the man said. Max nodded.
"Of course I wouldn't..." Max began to sway a bit on the spot. The man rushed over and held him up.
"Max, are you alright?" Max chuckled.
"What's one thing any good gambler can do very well?"
"Huh?" Max looked up. His face betrayed exhaustion. It seemed that him stopping the bullet was far more exhausting than he'd let on.
"Bluff." The man picked Max up.
"Alright, buddy, let's get you out of here before anything bad happens." Max nodded and promptly passed out.
A soft blanket. That was the first thing Max felt upon waking up, before even opening his eyes. He felt around and swiftly recognized that he was on a bed. He opened his eyes and looked around. The bedroom wasn't very big: there was a dresser a few feet away from the foot of the bed, with a TV on it. Two doors rested within the right wall. He got up and opened the left door, leading out to a small hallway. He followed it into a living room, where the man who had stayed with him earlier sat.
"Ah, you're awake," he said as he sat up on the couch. Max frowned. The man was eating some sort of soup. "Don't freak out, I just brought you to my place to rest after you passed out." Max looked around as the man chuckled. "Ahem... you wouldn't happen to be a part of G.S.U.N, right? I don't want them to think I kidnapped you or something..." Max shook his head and the man nodded. "Good, I was worried for a second. Last thing I need is to be thought of as a criminal." Max cocked his head in curiosity.
"Who are you?" The man's eyes widened.
"Ah, right, introductions. I am David Mulhoff. You know, you were a pretty good gambler. If I hadn't already been on a losing streak, I might've been more pissed off at you. You're a super, right?"
"If that's what you want to call it." David nodded.
"Ah, supers are pretty spooky. That guy's reaction is about the best you could expect around here." He got up to get Max some water. "G.S.U.N. is too far from here, so that kind of makes sense." Max frowned.
"You said that again... 'G.S.U.N.' what is that?" David frowned.
"You've never heard of G.S.U.N?!"
"Ah, no..." David leaned back into the couch and passed Max the water.
"It's basically a heroic supers coalition. Started as part-vigilante, part-propaganda movement. Try to convince the world that supers aren't evil by quelling evil or something like that. As public opinion and union strength increased, their mission statement grew to basically a second police force, as well as a school and safehouse for supers. Pretty soon, non-supers began to join. As long as they agreed that supers were fine, and they wanted to fight evil, it was all cool." He took a sip. "The cities nearer to the G.S.U.N. are pretty much convinced that supers were pretty nice, but as you get further from the G.S.C.U, people remain mostly unconvinced. They haven't had a ton of experience with supers, and most were negative. Gamblers especially hate supers, they're a superstitious lot. Weak men believe in religion or fate, strong men believe in logic and reality... gamblers are a special lot. They believe in not logic, not fate... but chance. They're made up of the weakest and strongest men you'll ever see."
"Which are you?" David lowered his head for a few moments before looking back up to Max.
"So, you're a super? What's your power? Is it only telekinesis?"
"Nope. I use psychokinesis. I can read minds, and I remember everything I've ever seen, heard, or thought. I can also make calculations instantly in my head." David raised an eyebrow and rapidly fired off questions. Soon, he sighed and leaned back.
"Damn kid, you are good. Just by looking at you, I can tell you've got a lot of potential, but you haven't quite gotten there. You like heroics and all? Fancy yourself a hero?" Max looked down and shrugged.
"I mean, I try to help everyone I can, I guess. I certainly don't want people to suffer. I'd like to help as many people as I can." David grinned and placed down his now empty cup on a nearby table.
"Maybe the G.S.U.N. is for you then. They could train you up, and you'd get to help people." Max was silent as he stared down at the floor. Did he want to do this? He'd be in more danger than he ever would be now. However, if he could help people...
Max finally nodded. "Where's the nearest one?" David shook his head.
"You've got a ways to go. It's quite a distance. However, the nearest one is actually their big H.Q, the base to base all bases." David pulled out a map and pointed. "Right there..." Max smiled and got up. "Going already, kid? I could drive you, ya know."
"You were on a losing streak. I don't want you spending any money on me." David laughed.
"I guess you're right. Ah, that reminds me." David walked off and returned later with a wad of cash. "I got your winnings. Figured I'd, ya know, give them to you." David handed it over, and Max smiled. "Good luck kid. I hope to see you on the news some day, saving some folks." Max waved and walked out the door. "And don't die, y'hear?!" David yelled out as the door closed.
Max looked out over the street stretching before him. He hoisted his backpack, which he'd grabbed on the way out, and placed the money in there. He had a long journey in front of him... but he knew where he'd have to go. He was ready to face anything. He was sure he'd face trials along the way, but he finally had a goal. He wasn't just surviving anymore... he had something to live up to.
He was going to be a hero in a way he never could before.
"Aren't you a little young for this, boy?" He said with a vaguely Russian accent as the dealer passed out more cards. The boy who sat across from him, a teenager, simply sighed.
"I suppose I was a little foolish to think I could play so well." He shook his head. "Well, we're almost done I guess." The cards were finished being passed out, and he looked around the table.
"What's your name?" The man asked.
"Max," the boy responded simply before looking around the table. He analyzed everyone's faces as the bets were placed. Soon, the moment of truth came. Many others have dropped out of the pool, but he's simply continued playing. He has a strong poker face, but his bet implies he has an even stronger hand. Given which cards have been played, I have an approximately 35.25% chance of beating him this hand... adapting for play style... 67.5% chance. Chances are favorable... but not favorable enough. Luckily, Max had played smart. He had made himself appear bad throughout the game. Adapting for overconfidence... 73.5% chance... let's go. "Call," Max said as the hands were revealed. With a stunned expression, the man was frozen as Max pulled in the pile of tokens.
"Good game." Max outstretched his hand as he pocketed the chips. A net gain of approximately $364. Not bad. The man stared, still frozen in shock for a few moments before smacking Max's hand away.
"You tricked me!" He yelled angrily. Max backed away a bit.
"Isn't that the point of gambling?" Max questioned. That didn't seem to satisfy the man, who stood up in anger.
"I do not take kindly to being deceived, boy." He swiftly pulled out a gun, his face contorted in rage. A good portion of the people at the table ran in fear, though a few still stayed. Some were angry at Max, albeit not approving of the man's actions, and one or two seemed to be standing by Max. He's enraged, but he does not seem to be convicted. Perhaps I can dissuade him from killing without using force.
"I- I'm sorry," Max said, his voice betraying some fear. Some of it was artificial, some of it was genuine fear. Regardless, he did not run. "I-I had to make some money. This is the only way I have."
"C'mon man," one of the gathered men said. He had brown hair and was wearing a turtleneck. "He's just a kid, alright? Do you think he's even smart enough to make moves like that?"
"It's the only way," the gunman yelled. "the only way he could have won like that!"
"I-I just got lucky!"
"Bullshit!" Max began to slowly walk away until a bang sounded. Screams resounded as people fled, with only a few bystanders staring in awe at what they saw. The bullet floated in mid-air only an inch away from Max's face. "Y...-you're one of those super freaks!" The gunman yelled. Max grinned.
"I don't intend to die today. Would you like to fire more? I could do this for quite a long time." The bullet lurched back and flew at the gunman, hitting him in the chest. It wasn't hard enough to do any more damage than the likes of a pinch or hard tap, but it was certainly enough to scare the gunman and few remaining bystanders away. Only one man remained, who looked to Max.
"You didn't kill him..." the man said. Max nodded.
"Of course I wouldn't..." Max began to sway a bit on the spot. The man rushed over and held him up.
"Max, are you alright?" Max chuckled.
"What's one thing any good gambler can do very well?"
"Huh?" Max looked up. His face betrayed exhaustion. It seemed that him stopping the bullet was far more exhausting than he'd let on.
"Bluff." The man picked Max up.
"Alright, buddy, let's get you out of here before anything bad happens." Max nodded and promptly passed out.
A soft blanket. That was the first thing Max felt upon waking up, before even opening his eyes. He felt around and swiftly recognized that he was on a bed. He opened his eyes and looked around. The bedroom wasn't very big: there was a dresser a few feet away from the foot of the bed, with a TV on it. Two doors rested within the right wall. He got up and opened the left door, leading out to a small hallway. He followed it into a living room, where the man who had stayed with him earlier sat.
"Ah, you're awake," he said as he sat up on the couch. Max frowned. The man was eating some sort of soup. "Don't freak out, I just brought you to my place to rest after you passed out." Max looked around as the man chuckled. "Ahem... you wouldn't happen to be a part of G.S.U.N, right? I don't want them to think I kidnapped you or something..." Max shook his head and the man nodded. "Good, I was worried for a second. Last thing I need is to be thought of as a criminal." Max cocked his head in curiosity.
"Who are you?" The man's eyes widened.
"Ah, right, introductions. I am David Mulhoff. You know, you were a pretty good gambler. If I hadn't already been on a losing streak, I might've been more pissed off at you. You're a super, right?"
"If that's what you want to call it." David nodded.
"Ah, supers are pretty spooky. That guy's reaction is about the best you could expect around here." He got up to get Max some water. "G.S.U.N. is too far from here, so that kind of makes sense." Max frowned.
"You said that again... 'G.S.U.N.' what is that?" David frowned.
"You've never heard of G.S.U.N?!"
"Ah, no..." David leaned back into the couch and passed Max the water.
"It's basically a heroic supers coalition. Started as part-vigilante, part-propaganda movement. Try to convince the world that supers aren't evil by quelling evil or something like that. As public opinion and union strength increased, their mission statement grew to basically a second police force, as well as a school and safehouse for supers. Pretty soon, non-supers began to join. As long as they agreed that supers were fine, and they wanted to fight evil, it was all cool." He took a sip. "The cities nearer to the G.S.U.N. are pretty much convinced that supers were pretty nice, but as you get further from the G.S.C.U, people remain mostly unconvinced. They haven't had a ton of experience with supers, and most were negative. Gamblers especially hate supers, they're a superstitious lot. Weak men believe in religion or fate, strong men believe in logic and reality... gamblers are a special lot. They believe in not logic, not fate... but chance. They're made up of the weakest and strongest men you'll ever see."
"Which are you?" David lowered his head for a few moments before looking back up to Max.
"So, you're a super? What's your power? Is it only telekinesis?"
"Nope. I use psychokinesis. I can read minds, and I remember everything I've ever seen, heard, or thought. I can also make calculations instantly in my head." David raised an eyebrow and rapidly fired off questions. Soon, he sighed and leaned back.
"Damn kid, you are good. Just by looking at you, I can tell you've got a lot of potential, but you haven't quite gotten there. You like heroics and all? Fancy yourself a hero?" Max looked down and shrugged.
"I mean, I try to help everyone I can, I guess. I certainly don't want people to suffer. I'd like to help as many people as I can." David grinned and placed down his now empty cup on a nearby table.
"Maybe the G.S.U.N. is for you then. They could train you up, and you'd get to help people." Max was silent as he stared down at the floor. Did he want to do this? He'd be in more danger than he ever would be now. However, if he could help people...
Max finally nodded. "Where's the nearest one?" David shook his head.
"You've got a ways to go. It's quite a distance. However, the nearest one is actually their big H.Q, the base to base all bases." David pulled out a map and pointed. "Right there..." Max smiled and got up. "Going already, kid? I could drive you, ya know."
"You were on a losing streak. I don't want you spending any money on me." David laughed.
"I guess you're right. Ah, that reminds me." David walked off and returned later with a wad of cash. "I got your winnings. Figured I'd, ya know, give them to you." David handed it over, and Max smiled. "Good luck kid. I hope to see you on the news some day, saving some folks." Max waved and walked out the door. "And don't die, y'hear?!" David yelled out as the door closed.
Max looked out over the street stretching before him. He hoisted his backpack, which he'd grabbed on the way out, and placed the money in there. He had a long journey in front of him... but he knew where he'd have to go. He was ready to face anything. He was sure he'd face trials along the way, but he finally had a goal. He wasn't just surviving anymore... he had something to live up to.
He was going to be a hero in a way he never could before.
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