Max Rockatanksy

Max Rockatanksy is a character role-played by RealKingLear

Backstory
Max was born in Los Angeles, California on October 29th 1983 and was raised by his Mother, Carrie. Max was told that his father, Michael, had died in combat serving for the U.S. Army prior to his birth and spent most of his formative years attempting to honor his father by working hard to excel in everything he did. With this motivation Max was a star pupil and athlete. In his Junior year of High School Max's mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and although to this point he had strived to be the best version of himself this news and seeing the rapid decline of her health would rock Max to his core. Max began lashing out at the world around him, exhibiting behavioral issues and anti-social tendencies. During his Senior year of High School Max's decline reached a breaking point and during an altercation, filled with rage*, Max pinned the other boy to the ground and mercilessly punched the defenseless teen in the face repeatedly even after the boy had lost consciousness. It wasn't until several other students pulled Max from the seemingly lifeless body that he snapped to and realizing what he had done fled the scene, but was ultimately caught by local police hiding in a friend's house nearby and was charged with aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury. * Max will often refer to this moment and other's like it as being consumed by a demon or "seeing red."

During his sentencing the Judge originally determined that due to his Mother's condition and Max's threat to himself and others that Max should be remanded to the custody of the state and sentenced to the maximum penalty of 4 years in State Prison, but after hearing pleas from his mother the Judge agreed to remit sentencing if Max agreed to enlist and serve in the military.

After joining the military Max decided to turn his life around and regained his focus and drive. He would eventually move on from Basic Training and became selected for Sniper Training in the U.S. Army. Max would spend 6 years in service and two tours of duty overseas.

During his final tour of duty with his mother on her deathbed he would receive a letter from her confessing that the story of his father's death in the line of duty was a lie she had created after their relationship had soured and she had fled with Max to remove him from that environment. She explained that after serving in the military his father and some of his military buddies formed a motorcycle club (The Disciples of Mayhem) and became heavily involved in drug manufacturing and distribution. In one of her final letters to Max she provided a last known address; the MC's clubhouse outside of a small town on the border of California and Nevada.

Following her death Max returned home from duty to attend her funeral. Feeling conflicted, but ultimately a duty to honor her last wishes, Max travelled to the small town she had provided in an attempt to reconnect with his estranged Father. After travelling to the town Max quickly discovered that making contact with his father would not be as easy as first thought as the small town and clubhouse were guarded and patrolled by the MC who were wary of outsiders. After spending a few days investigating around town Max had almost given up hope, but with a happenstance interaction at a local dive bar that members of the MC frequented, Max met a young prospect of the club named Milo and shared the story of how he had come to be in the small town. Milo would reveal that his father was the President of the MC and the man that Max had been looking for. Milo took Max to the clubhouse and presented him to the MC President, his father. Initially skeptical, the President asked several probing questions about Max's mother, but eventually with the facts lining up confirmed that he was, in fact, Max's father.

Following this interaction Max would eventually finish his contract with the U.S. Army and become honorably discharged. He would take advantage of his G.I. Bill and begin attending college for his MBA at The University of San Andreas, Los Santos living in some off-campus housing with a few other military vets. In addition to attending school full-time Max also worked part-time as a mechanic and tow truck operator for a local speed shop that specialized in American Muscle Cars and Harley Davidsons. On the weekends, in addition to his school and work Max represented the Speed Shop at various races and car shows and would typically give free tickets to Milo and his Father in an attempt to build his relationship with them. Milo and Max quickly developed a bond over their love for fast cars and motorcylces and even worked on a 1965 Ford Mustang with dreams of starting their own race team and talked about how they would make a name for themselves and open their own Speed Shop one day. Max would often pick Milo's brain while they worked on their car in an effort to learn more about his father, his history, and the club that his mother felt compelled to keep separated from. Milo, in an effort to impress the brother he never had, would educate Max on how the MC operated and often shared some of the less incriminating stories. Milo often joked with Max that it would be easier for him to "experience the family business" for himself, but Max was focused on trying to start a business of his own and felt that the club could hinder his ability to make that happen.

After a couple years had passed Max would begin focusing more on his coursework and although he tried to stay in touch his time spent in contact with his brother and father would become less and less and his weekend visits almost non-existent. One night, after a long shift towing, Max returned home to find his brother Milo at his doorstep visibly in distress and after asking him what was wrong Milo would explain that a deal between the MC and a gang not too far from Max's university in the Southside of Los Santos had fallen through "in the worst waay" resulting in a shootout between the two factions. Milo would go further to explain that most of the MC had been killed, including their father Michael and that those who survived were being hunted down. Milo asked if he could lay low with Max, but due to living with roommates and not trying to startle them with this portion of his life that he kept somewhat private until now Max declined instead setting Milo up in a motel nearby for the night and promised to take the following day off to try to help figure things out. In the morning Max returned to the motel to find police tape and crime scene investigators and after attempting to get to his brother discovered that the gang had located his brother and executed him in the parking lot not 10 minutes before his arrival.

A thought that often haunts Max to this day is whether he did enough to help his brother or if he could have spent more time to make a change in his life. The experience of losing his father and brother to gang violence often fuels his disdain for street gangs.

Notable Life in the City

 * Spent his first weeks in the city doing odd-jobs looking for full-time work. After speaking with Brock Thompson at Iron Hog it was suggested that he head to Paleto to apply for Mojito Inn and shortly after Max became kitchen staff at the restaurant.
 * While working his side-gig towing he was called from an unknown number stating that they were broken down and asked if he had repair kits. Max indicated that he did and requested a ping of the location which was in the parking lot of the power plant. Upon arriving, Max noticed a woman (Ida Allman) standing next to a vehicle with the hood opened and struck up a conversation about what had happened. The woman would reply that the car just broke down and while Max began to look under the hood she produced a karambit and stabbed Max. She explained that it wasn't personal and that he was just an easy target for her to send a message. She left the karambit and a note addressed to Jeffrey Bundy. When Max woke in the hospital he spoke with an officer, Michael Hemsworth and delivered the note. Shortly after Bundy called Max and after asking some questions explained that he was the victim of a known serial killer.
 * During the days leading up to Christmas, Max was approached by a group outside of Mojito Inn who tried to convince him that they needed something from him "to save Santa Claus." After speaking for a while the group said that they needed a human eye because Santa Claus had lost his during an accident. Initially Max denied the request, but the group relentlessly asked and persuaded Max to at least come along for a ride to talk about it. Seeing that a few of the group were wearing gang flags he reluctantly went with the group who offered him drugs to make thing easier. Drugged up they drove Max to SMH where no doctors were available so the group performed surgery themselves taking Max's left eye. When he woke up he was back on the steps of the Mojito Inn where coworker Niall O'Brien asked what had happened and after learning the details explained that it was Seaside members who had taken him and offered to get the club, Mayhem MC involved if Max wanted. Max refused, but remembered the gesture which was a big reason for his decision to join the club.