Maverick Effect (Chapter 22)

THUD!

SLAM!

Maverick moved across the floor of his rage room. It looked similar to a dojo, but had several “opponents” around the room. They ranged from a simple punching bag, to a carbon composite of a man, to a stone pillar. Maverick stood at the “man” going through forms. His hands were gloveless, he hit the dummy full on. His hands were already bleeding, but he seemed oblivious to the pain. Blood dripped from a shallow cut on his forehead where he had headbutted the dummy in rage. Blood sweat and tears dripped down his face. It was happening again. Images, thoughts, memories kept running through his head. It was enough to drive anyone crazy and Maverick couldn’t stop it. The dummy was already cracked in several places from the force of his blows.

“AHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Maverick swung full force, shattering the head of the dummy. His rage was not sated though. He walked to the wall and pulled a staff off the wall. He went the forms quickly, the staff becoming a blur in his hands. His muscles ached with the effort, but Maverick kept on. Feeling of pain, lonliness, depression rippled through him.

“KYAHHH!”

He swung the staff. It connected with the pillar and shattered, taking a chunk of the pillar with it. He pulled a pair of sai off the wall. He moved through forms even faster. His muscles contracted and clenched in protest. Maverick kept going. He moved toward a dummy made of wood. Pieces of wood flew from it as Maverick turned the sais on it. He began to stumble. In a final fit of rage he sunk the sai to the hilt in the front of the dummy. Maverick collapsed on the floor, sweat and blood staining the floor. He lay long enough to catch his breath. Then slowly, holding onto the dummy to stand up, he walked out of the dojo to get ready for his flight.