Kenn Powers bursts into the loading dock corridor, chest heaving, the championship belt still buckled tight. Behind him, the steel door shudders with pounding fists and shouted names.
A security guard near the bay door snaps his head up from a clipboard, surprised, blocking the way without meaning to. The dock light spills over stacked pallets, a parked truck, and the hard, narrow route out.
The Security Guard
Hey, stop right there. What is this?
Kenn Powers closes the distance in a blur of muscle and panic, forcing the guard to backpedal. The corridor behind him rattles louder, and radio chatter starts to flood in from both sides.
Marisol Vega
Kenn, freeze! The title is not yours to run with!
Tempest appears at the far end of the corridor with two officials behind them, cutting off the retreat. The guard hesitates, caught between the champion and the people coming for him.
✓ Quest Accepted
Get past the security guard
“Is the security guard armed?”
NO, BUT (Unlikely, rolled 48)
The security guard reaches for his radio, his belt holding only a flashlight and keys. He is unarmed, but his hand trembles as he signals for backup.
“I punch the guard.”
FAILURE (Good Brawling, rolled -3)
Kenn snaps a fist toward the guard’s jaw, but the wild punch skims past as the man jerks back. The swing leaves Kenn off balance, shoulder twisting open to the corridor.
The security guard stumbles a half step, not hit clean, but his radio crackles against his chest. His free hand comes up hard, blocking the lane between Kenn and the dock door.
The Security Guard
Stop. Do not make this worse.
Down the corridor, Marisol Vega and Tempest close the distance, their footfalls loud on concrete. The Man on the Apron trails them, jaw tight, the championship belt still gone from his hands.
Marisol Vega
Kenn Powers, stay where you are. This ends now.
Tempest
He’s cornered. Don’t let him slip past you.
Kenn’s belt rides high at his waist, the strip of black tape still visible against the gold. Behind the guard, the loading dock door waits, still shut, still the only clear exit.
“"That was a warning." I say to the guard. "You think you can win a fight with the champ?"”
SUCCESS (Good Intimidation, rolled +0)
Kenn Powers
That was a warning. You think you can win a fight with the champ?
The guard’s shoulders tighten. He lowers the radio a fraction, eyes flicking from Kenn’s belt to the two men closing in behind him.
The Security Guard
I can win by keeping you here. But I am not eager to get flattened for this.
Marisol Vega
He’s stalling. Don’t let him talk his way out.
Kenn’s threat lands, just enough. The guard edges aside and gives Kenn a narrow lane toward the dock door, but his radio stays up and the channel squawks with a fresh call for backup.
The Security Guard
If he bolts now, I can still pin the blame on the next guard down the line.
Kenn gets the opening, but his championship belt scrapes the doorframe and the black tape flashes in the fluorescent light, a loud little tell on the way through.
Quest Complete
Get past the security guard
Skill Upgrade: Brawling Good→Great