[I][B]IllAdvised[/B][/I] --- Friday October 4, 2013 --- The wind whipped through Cal's hair as he drove, the top on the Volvo had been retracted into its trunk with the simple push of a button. Having dropped Bryce off at his house, Cal turned off the highway onto one of Kilbride's main streets as he ventured into the Historical District, heading towards his legal guardian's home. After the death of his mother just under two years ago and his father's admission into the Murdoch Mental Hospital, Cal was left in the legal care of his father's best friend and former college room mate. That said, Cal's father wasn't his only living relative, his father's parents lived in Mississippi while his mother's parents lived locally in Kilbride. His mother's father, Alan Faulkner was even running in the Mayoral Election that was currently ongoing. However Cal had never been close with his grandparents, the Fitzroys due to the distance and the Faulkners due to their disapproval of their daughter marrying a Fitzroy. The feud between the two families was as old as the city itself, and only got worse when the Faulkners absorbed the Murdochs through marriage. Technically that made Cal the only living descendant of all three of Kilbride's founding families. His history teacher had found it fascinating during his limited venue in the course through sophomore year but behind that Cal saw no significance to it. Though the way he figured it, he was set to inherit a rather large sum of money once his grandparents passed away. Not that he would wish that upon either set of his grandparents. Tapping his brakes as the black car went up over the small curb into the condo's parking lot, Cal steered the car into his usual parking spot beside Landon's black Charger before putting the car's top back up. Slinging his bags over his shoulder, Cal moved across the parking lot quickly before swiping his access card and entering into the large building. Moving past the elevator, Cal rushed up the stairs. He had a thing against elevators, personally never liking the sensation that it created when moving, but often kept that to himself as most people accused him of being afraid of elevators. It wasn't that Cal was afraid, it was just that he didn't enjoy them. Bursting out of the stairwell, Cal dropped from his brisk jog into a walk before opening the door to Landon's condominium. The daily run up and down the stairs kept Cal in a decent shape, but he also enjoyed going for runs and doing other light sports. Cal and Bryce often went to Thistle Park to toss around a football. "Who won the game?" Landon's voice rang out clearly across the apartment. Sometimes he forgot that Cal wasn't a suspect but rather his 'god son' returning home from a school football game. The voice carried that law given authority one would use to ensure the accused knew who was in charge. "Home team of course! Don't worry, I was asked about you, they still say you should have gone pro y'know?" Cal said as he walked into the kitchen and pulled open the fridge. The satisfying hiss of a soda can opening filled the small space, taking a whiff of the Cherry Coke before he swigged back a long sip, Cal smiled as the sweet liquid washed over his taste buds. "I'm happy doing what I am. Helping people out, protecting innocents and putting away bad guys. All that fun stuff." Landon said as he grabbed himself a Cherry Coke. "In this city? How much traction are your wheels really getting? I mean Kilbride has one of the highest violet crime rates in all of North America. If not world wide, I mean we're what a real Gotham would look like with less gargoyles." Cal took another drink of his soda before continuing his thoughts. "I mean in this city, how many other honest cops are their? Is there even enough of you to fill a squad, half the city is bought off and the most of the other half is oblivious to it.When the mob isn't running the city, the drug cartels are bleeding it dry. I'm not saying the police are useless, I'm just saying we need a more effective method, there may as well be a revolving door on our prison." "Cal," Landon paused as the larger man put his hand out towards Cal. "I understand what you're saying, but there's not much you can do besides full scale vigilantism. And we all know that never goes well. Anyways, I'm running late and you have to get ready for your date tonight." The man finished saying as he grabbed his gun belt and strapped it to his work clothes. "How did yo...?" Cal asked as Landon cut him off. "Detective!" Landon said with a wide smirk as he disappeared out the door of the condo. Giving his head a shake, Cal chugged back the last of his Cherry Coke before he went to his bedroom to find something to wear. It was a real shame he hadn't asked Sam what colour of dress she would be wearing tonight. --- Straightening the lapels on his vest before pulling a blazer over the crimson garment, Cal admired himself in the mirror one last time as he straightened his tie. A quick text to Sam had solved his worry of not being able to match as she thankfully had chosen a red dress. Adorning himself with a black dress shirt and pants, combined with a scarlet tie and vest Cal finished it all off with sleek blazer. Pulling his sleeve up, Cal quickly fastened his 'Glitch Device' to forearm before buttoning up his cuff and putting the sleeve back in place. Quickly locking up the condo as he grabbed his keys, Cal walked about three doors down the hallway before rapping his knuckles against the door. The door in question opened with a creak as a balding middle aged man answered it, looking down as he scaled up Cal. "Can I help you Caleb?" Kirk Russells asked, fully knowing full well who Cal was, his mother's murder had been all over the media when she had died. Rebecca Michaels had after all been a rather high profile citizen especially now that her own father was riding on her murder to ensure he would be voting into office. "I'm here to pick up Samantha for our Homecoming Dance." Cal replied with a small smile. Kirk had always been apathetic towards Cal's relationship with his daughter. Perhaps Kirk had always known of Cal's romantic interest in Sam or perhaps it was more mutual than Cal knew. Then again, perhaps Kirk was just protective of his 'baby girl'. "Oh Caleb you look so handsome!" The voice of a woman came from around the corner as Samantha's mother Carol walked up to her husband. "Samantha! Caleb is here!" "Coming Mother!" Sam's voice rang out from down the hallway. Cal looked up just as she emerged, a hushed 'Wow' escaping from his mouth as he gazed upon her. [url=http://cdn.smallscreenscoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/jessy-schram-1.png]Sam's[/url] hair was lightly curled and it bounced around her face showing off the earrings she had chosen. Her body was tightly wrapped in a short red dress and on her feet gold stiletto heels which nearly made her as tall as Cal. "How do I look?" Sam asked with a bubbling smile as she twirled around in front of her three admirers. "It looks a little short." Kirk mumbled before smiling and hugging his daughter. "That aside you look like a princess Samantha." Looking at Cal, Kirk half smiled as he dropped his voice. "We'll be keeping our hands to ourselves tonight I presume Mr. Fitzroy?" "Yes Sir." Cal said saluting with one of his hands before he brought a bouquet of flowers out from behind his back, presenting a dozen white roses to Sam and holding a single one out to her mother. "Thank you for allowing your daughter to attend the dance to with me tonight." "Where's my rose?" Kirk retorted with a gruff laugh as Sam's face lit up with a huge grin at the roses. "Finally a gentleman!" Carol added with her own grin as she took the rose Cal held out for her. "Now hurry and stand together by the mantle I want pictures." Sam looked at Cal with a smirk as he reluctantly went over to the mantle putting on his most photogenic face. --- The Volvo came to a stop as Cal put the car into park. After what felt like an hour of photos, he and Samantha had finally been released to continue onto their way to the dance, but not without a stern warning from Kirk about coming straight home from the dance and ensuring their plans were to stay at the dance for its whole duration. Reaching into the back seat of the car, Cal pulled out a corsage that he had picked up for Sam. "I'm hoping this will go along with your dress." Cal said as he held out the white orchid corsage towards Sam. Opening the plastic container that held it, Sam put her wrist towards Cal with a smile. "Would you do the honour?" "My pleasure," Cal said as he picked up the wristlet and put it over the Sam's small wrist. Stepping out of the car, Cal walked around to the passenger side as he opened the door and extended his arm fro Sam. Happily accepting, she began to walk with Cal as the pair entered into the school. Once inside they were treating to the pounding bass that echoed from the gymnasium which had been converted into a dance floor for the remainder of the evening. The beats of the familiar pop songs made even Cal begin to tap his foot as they entered into the gym, people everywhere moving their bodies along with the rhythm. "C'mon Cal!" Sam said with a laugh as she dragged Cal into the center of the room. As they danced, or in Cal's case, attempted to, Cal's eyes darted around the room constantly moving back and forth as he took in his surroundings. Nodding to Bryce as his friend waved from a few feet away, Cal laughed as Sam did some 'old school' dance moves to the latest Britney Spears hit. After about five upbeat songs, the first slow song of the night came on and Cal extended his hands to Sam who guided them to where they belonged on her waist. Swaying back and forth to the power ballad, Cal smiled as he wondered how tonight could get any better and how he couldn't believe his luck. Just as he was getting lost in his thoughts, the song changed to a distinct club beat as the strobe lights in the gym cued up with the music. Just as suddenly as the music had changed the lights suddenly went out and screams could be heard from the front doors of the school. Gunfire echoed from the hallway as students screamed, the doors to the gym were slammed shut as men dressed in all black and wearing animal masks over their faces entered into the gym, guns raised above their head as they squeezed the trigger firing off warning shots. "Ladies and Gentlemen!" The man's voice was accented and stressed as he spoke. "We are tonight's entertainment!" He pulled the trigger on the submachine gun in his hand as he adjusted the fox mask on his face. Students all around the gym screamed as they instinctively ducked. Cal himself shielding Sam as she tugged on his blazer trying to get him to duck despite the fact Cal was defiantly resisting her. "Scum." He hissed under his breath as he lowered his body to shield Sam further. "See," Fox Face began, "To my understanding there's a drug problem here at Kilbride College Academy, the problem is you all are buying from somebody else. See we've worked really hard to meet your supply and demand and we even came here tonight to make you an offer you all can't refuse. In fact, I've got a big ol' bag of Ecstasy here with me. And I'm willing to turn your little 'dance' into a full blown rave. But you all need to do me a favour." Suddenly he pointed his gun towards the nearest student. "Hand over your valuables, you want to deal then you pay the price. You cut into our profits and now we'll ensure you regret it. Anyone who wants to resist will find out I negotiate aggressively." Suddenly he squeezed the trigger cutting the student down where he had been standing, the smell of his blood causing those standing beside him to gag as cries and screams echoed through the gym. "Get down and crawl towards the auditorium." Cal muttered to Sam who didn't hesitate as she dropped to her knees and began to crawl towards the back wall of the gym. On the other side of that wall was a maintenance hallway that linked the gym and the auditorium, normally the hallway was off limits to students but Cal knew of it from stealing blueprints when he had been working on a case for a class mate. Avoiding detection of the animal masked assailants Cal and Sam slowly made to the wall where Cal quickly opened the door. The hallway wasn't lit so it didn't draw the attention of the gunmen allowing the pair to safely enter. Once instead, Cal locked the door as he rolled his sleeve up and activated the LED light on his Glitch Device. Pulling off his jacket, Cal stuffed it at the bottom of the door before flicking on the hallway light. Finding a couple folding chairs, Cal quickly arranged a couple to ensure the door to the hallway would be incredibly hard to open. "Cal what are we going to do?" Sam asked, Cal could tell she was fighting back tears but her resolve was still strong. She was doing well in terms of looking calm. Cal himself was screaming on the inside but he remained unfazed on the outside. "I don't know, but we can't allow them to rob hundreds of students." He said lamenting as he slumped to the ground. Thinking through his options, Cal didn't see them as being too good. "I need to get to the science wing, it we have any chance of getting out of this I can assemble something in there. At the very least I'll be able to create a distraction." "So what are we waiting for, lets go!" Sam said wiping her eyes before Cal stood up and held out a hand stopping her. "I need you to stay safe, I don't want you leaving this hallway." Cal said as he rolled up his other sleeve, loosening his tie and vest off. "Cal, you can't do this alone!" Sam protested as Cal shook his head. "No I can't, keep an eye on the dance floor for me. Give me your cell for a second." He asked as she handed the phone to him. Activating the Bluetooth on the device, Cal linked the phone with Glitch. "There, our phones will work like walkie talkies now. If there's anything significant happening in the gym let me know." Cal ordered as he turned to leave before Sam stopped him one last time before kissing him on the cheek. "For luck." She whispered as Cal went red before rushing up the stairs towards the science labs.