The lunchtime crowd is just filtering out of the Second National Bank of Teckleville, when you and your two coworkers walk in. You’re all wearing masks, but that’s normal, these days. COVID has been a godsend to people in your profession. You’re ${character.name}, and you’re a bank robber.
When you reach the counter, you draw your Glock, and point it at the teller’s face. Her eyes go wide. She’s young, and pretty in a buttoned down, corporate sort of way. “Relax.” You tell her. “Just do what we say, and everyone goes home alive.”
Behind you, Karth opens his overcoat to reveal a pump-action shotgun. He moves to cover the front door. Vaughn draws his own pistol, and heads for the manager’s office.
There are a few customers still in the lobby. A couple of office-worker types in suits, and an old man in a tan windbreaker. At the sight of the guns, everyone freezes.
“Everyone down on the floor!” You command. No one wants to argue.
You hand a big shopping bag across the counter, and the teller- Allison, on her nametag- starts filling it with packaged bills. Vaughn drags the bank manager out of his office, and hustles him towards the vault.
“Nice and easy.” You tell everyone. “This is almost over.”
So far, so good. No alarms, no one trying to be a hero. Matasan’s out front, idling the engine of a stolen late-model SUV. A few more minutes, and you’ll all be safe, and rich. But any one of a thousand things could go wrong, between now and then.
Like the uniformed cop that just walked in the front door. He starts to shout something, and goes for his gun. And then everything happens at once.