After getting tossed off the top of the hill, taking a beating from by Dimitri, and getting thrown again by a second blast Shane was out of the game. He laid there on the ground with the only company being his thoughts. "....you got your ass handed to you", he thought to himself. "Really? I hadn't noticed", normally he wouldn't talk to himself but as of late he felt the need to examine himself was necessary. "How do you expect to make it in the big leagues if you can't hold your own in a fight?"
"Hey I can fight, just not against frickin robots...not easy punching metal"
"That's your problem, you can handle yourself fine when it's just you and a normal person. But put you against a super and you can't win unless you use your powers"
"I'm not using that curse...", after what he saw today his view of his powers had changed drastically. "I'm never going to use my powers again"
"Then you better get to the gym and start training because street fighting isn't going to mean shit to these kids. They will break you without a second thought"
"My fighting is fine. I need gear, gadgets, stuff like that....Barns! He owes me a few favors, he could get me what I need"
"Do you even have a clue what you need?"
"I have an idea...", he said pulling his phone out of his pocket. "I'm surprised this shit didn't break", he commented before calling Barns. It rang for a while before it was picked up. The voice on the other end wasn't what you'd expect of a fence. His speech was refined and imitated that of an Industrial Era American which happened to fit the description of Barns as well. He was a large and husky guy with a thing for eccentricity, at first glance you'd expect him to be from the Midwest selling miracle cures to the naive. "You have reached Barns Special Acquisitions, how may I be of service", Barns answered the phone with a loud and excited greeting that had always annoyed Shane whenever he called. "Barns, it's Thief", Shane answered. Despite the two working with each other for years Shane never gave Barns his full name as information was also Barns' business.
"Why hello my amiable highwayman! What can I do for you today? You'll be delighted to know that I am having a sale on-"
"Cut the shit Barns I need to call in a favor", the fence dropped the fake accent immediately after this.
"Alright, alright, whaddaya need?", Barns asked before the sounds of shuffling could be heard. Barns knew that when Shane called in a favor it required the exclusive merchandise. "I'm looking at the inventory right now, you remember the list I gave you last time?"
"Yeah I do and here's what I need...", after receiving the list Barns looked over the inventory list for the required items. "This is the good stuff ya hear me kid? You better not break it like you did last time"
"Dont worry about it. When will they arrive?"
"Tomorrow at the earliest, what are you doing Thief? Last time you called in a favor-"
"Like i said don't worry about it. Thanks Barns"
"Yeah yeah take care of yourself kid"
Shane hung up the phone and continued to lay on the ground waiting for class to end. This has been one hell of a first day.