- 2 -

- Meet the Parents -

"S.T.A.R.T Labs, using the future to save the lives of millions…" Cal reached forward and stabbed at the pause button on his DVD player, bringing the video to a sudden stop. He sighed and leant back again, bringing the phone back to his ear.

It had been just under a week since the incident at the convenience store and Cal was back to his normal routine. In fact, he hadn't really been fazed by the whole thing in the first place, except for the part when Louise was threatened. She had teased him to no end during the week about his worried shout when she had been attacked, but he had returned it in full for her shout when he had been shot at. The most annoying thing about the whole ordeal for him was his sister's stream of phone calls when she had found out about it. In fact, she was even on her way down to see him at this very moment.

Surprisingly, he had also received a call from his father, although it had nothing to do with what had happened, which was why he was now watching a video about the future of medicinal technology under development by S.T.A.R.T Labs. S.T.A.R.T Labs was the business his parents had set up a number of years ago that was now receiving funding from the government due to the number of cures and technological advancements it was managing to send out. The Government contracts were one of the reasons they were so rich, as well as Cal himself. The other reason for them being so rich was something that not even Cal knew about.

"So what did you think?" Richard Kelham said to his son, having heard him end the video.

"What a bunch of crap." Cal instantly answered, before laughing hysterically. "Who the hell came up with this video?"

"Our PR department…" Richard replied, his voice sounding crestfallen.

"I didn't know you had a PR department."

"That's because we didn't, not until about 2 weeks ago."

"I see, hence the complete balls up of this video. Why do you even need one of these, I understood that you were meant to be a partially secret Government Lab working on cures for all the diseases of the world and stuff." Cal sniffed loudly and wiped away a globule of snot with the back of his hand, before shaking his hand to send it flying to the floor. "Seriously, why the change of…of status?" the last word he said unsurely, as he tried to pick the right word to describe it.

"Cal, you know I can't discuss business details with you. Well, at least not most of them anyway. I hear your sister is going down to visit you?"

Cal paused momentarily but continued with narrowed eyes. "Yes she is, where did you hear that? Wait, I bet it was from her."

"You are correct; she gave me a call and informed me of your situation and what happened at the store the other week. You ok?"

"Wasn't anything too exciting, although she wouldn't let you believe that if you talked to her. Hell, she could probably convince me it was a near-death experience if I gave her enough time."

"Perfect."

"Perfect?" Cal questioned, raising an eyebrow at the word.

"I'll send a helicopter down to pick the both of you up; it'll take you to the Airport where a private jet will be waiting to jet you over here."

"Wait a second; you want me and sis to come to England? To S.T.A.R.T Labs? As in, the place you work?" Cal's voice was clearly surprised.

"Yes. I know it's never happened before, but I think it's about time you came to see the place we work. Also, we haven't seen each other for so long and we could have a nice chat while you're here. Can you tell Sophie?"

"Yeah I'll tell her. Oh, if you are going to all the trouble to get me and Sophie across to see you, are you ok if I bring my Girlfriend? This'll probably be the only time she'll get a chance to meet you."

There was a pause on the other end of the phone but Richard eventually answered. "Ok, I can sort that out. However, she'll have to go through some security screening before she can enter, make sure she has no devices on her that can record anything inside. Oh, and before you act confused, I'm aware Miss Lee works for the papers. Also, you and Sophie will have to go through the security as well, so Miss Lee won't be lonely."

"Oh Dad, you're as bad as my damn sister. Oh well, I'll tell her to leave everything at home and I'll be sure to leave anything at home." As Cal was about to say something else, there was a knock on the door. "Anyway, got to go Dad, Sophie has arrived and I'm sure to be trapped in a never ending loop of questions. See you later then." He hung the phone up and strode across the apartment to the door swinging it open without looking who it was and finding both his sister and his girlfriend stood on his doorstep.

"Who the hell is she?" they both said in unison, which made Cal smile and raise an eyebrow.

"Well, isn't this a situation from some kind of shitty sitcom. Sophie, meet Louise Lee, my girlfriend. Louise, meet Sophie, my ever annoying sister."

Louise glanced at Sophie once before entering the apartment and heading for the sofa but Sophie didn't move a step, her eyes locked on Louise. "I don't believe it, you actually have a girlfriend, you weren't making it up."

"An as intelligent comment as one could make in this situation, sister. Now do you want to come in so I can shut the door?"

Sophie Kelham was shorter than her younger brother by a considerable amount, just under a foot in fact, but she was much more beautiful as he was handsome. Where he had a gruff appearance, like that of a farmer, Sophie was a natural beauty. She had long, shiny black hair that she let fall down her back, and brilliant blue eyes that shone in the dingy room. She was wearing a short sleeved shirt, cut tight to her body, and tight fitting jeans above brown high heeled ankle boots.

She swished her way past Cal and moved into the room, deliberately ignoring the sofa and instead moving across to the breakfast bar on the opposite side of the room, leaning against it and crossing her arms in front of her chest. She narrowed her eyes and glanced around the room, wrinkling her nose.

"You really need to invest in a better place, Cal. This place is ridiculously outdated and rotten." She said, glancing once more around the room before settling her gaze on Cal. "But I'm not planning on staying long, you need…" she stopped as Cal raised a finger in front of him.

"Now, before you manage to get into some kind of crazy tirade about whatever, I'm going to say now that we're going to be going to England tonight." He said, lowering his finger and slipping his hands into his pockets. "It's crazy, I know, but Dad pretty much insisted; in fact, there's a helicopter on its way now."

"Crazy!?" Sophie said, keeping control of her temper. "That man is infuriatingly crazy; does he think I have time to go gallivanting around the planet at his whim?"

"Mm, well, yes, anyway. Louise, you'll also be coming."

"Say what?" Was her reply, as she brought herself back into the room. "Did you just say that I'd be going to England tonight?" She sounded close to incredulity but, like Sophie, she managed to control herself. "I can't just run off in the middle of the night to England, I've got work tomorrow."

"No panic, Dad will make a call and things will be fine. Anyway, you'll want to go as soon as I tell you where it is, specifically. In fact, Sophie, you'll be intrigued as well." He said, glancing up at his sister who had a look of intrigue on her face. "Dad has decided he wants to show us the interior of S.T.A.R.T Labs."

"As in the S.T.A.R.T Labs?" Louise said, nearly shaking with excitement. "As in, the government facility working on all kinds of juicy things?"

"That's the one."

"Wait, why does Dad want to show us it now?" Sophie interrupted, although it was clear she was eager to go as well.

"No idea, but…" he was interrupted at a ringing from his pocket and he fished out his mobile phone before answering it. "...Hello?"

"Mr Kelham? My name is Karl Snyder, I'm your father's helicopter pilot; I'm about 100 ft out."

"100 ft from where?" Cal asked before a thump from above him answered his question. "Karl, did you just land on the roof?"

"Yes sir, orders from Mr Kelham…your father."

"Ok, be up in a second." He hung the phone up and sighed. "Right then, are we ready to go?" he said, earning him matching looks from Sophie and Louise.

A number of hours later, including a bunch of extra ones earned by jumping across the time zones, the private jet escorting Cal, Louise and Sophie began its descent for landing. Cal was just flicking his seat back into its upright position and stretching off his cramped muscles, his hands brushing the roof in the confined space of the small plane. Sophie was sat on a chair on the opposite side of the cabin, perfectly poised with one leg crossed atop the other. Louise, on the other hand, was curled into a ball and still fast asleep in her chair; opposite Cal's own. As he reached over to wake her, he saw Sophie get up and make her way to the cockpit.

"Pilot…" she said, opening the thin door between cockpit and cabin. "…which airport are we landing at? And how long will it take to get to S.T.A.R.T. labs after we land?" her voice was crisp but polite, but Cal could tell she was still seething at their father for whisking her to England on such short notice.

"Ma'am, we'll be landing at S.T.A.R.T.'s own landing strip and from there you'll be escorted via SUV to meet with Mr Kelham at the entrance." He replied, glancing over his shoulder to look at her.

"When the hell did the labs get its own landing strip?" Cal called from his seat, watching Louise stretch herself off. The look he got from Sophie told him to shut up, but at least the lack of a retort meant she didn't know either.

"About 5 years ago I think." He replied before a buzzing came from his ear and he began talking to what was clearly Air Traffic Control.

Cal shrugged and looked out the window, catching sight of S.T.A.R.T. labs for the first time in his life; and he was impressed. It was clearly a massive building, hundreds of feet long and hundreds of feet tall. However, it was also very strangely shaped, taking on the look of a wedge of circular cheese which had sunken into the ground, so that the roof touched the floor and sloped up to the pointed front. In the morning light, the reflecting sun told Cal that the whole building seemed to be made out of glass.

Sophie took her seat with a huff and applied her seatbelt, with Cal and Louise following suite. The cabin remained in silence as the plane made its final dip to touch down onto the runway, a heavy bump indicating the wheels had reached the ground. There was the whine of engines and mechanics as the pilot braked hard and lowered the throttle to engage the reverse thrust.

The plan almost came to a complete stop, until the engine sound changed and the pilot began to taxi the plan off the runway and towards a small concrete building resting in the shadow of the main glass one. With the slight screech of unoiled parts the plane came to a complete stop and the engines stopped their whine and began to power down. There was the cackle of static before the pilots voice came over the intercom and into the cabin.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to S.T.A.R.T. international. Please watch your step while exiting the cabin and your cars are waiting." He said before the sound cut off.

"Well then, let's go and meet the parents." Cal said, pulling himself to his feet and offering Louise his hand, which she took and pulled herself to her feet.

"I'm getting excited now, S.T.A.R.T. labs is just there, meters away from where I'm stood." Louise said as she led the way to the door, which had been opened remotely and had settled on the tarmac of the ground. She practically skipped down the stairs, Cal was slightly more cautious as he stepped down, and looked up at the massive building in front her. "Wow, this place is gigantic!" she exclaimed with a smile on her face, clearly greatly excited to be where she was.

"Right you are, Ms Lee, this place is gigantic; and this is only the tip of the iceberg." A voice said as the door of one of the waiting cars opened and a figure stepped out. "I'm glad you're impressed. Oh, I'm Richard Kelham by the way." He said, flashing a grin of his own.

Richard Kelham was a tall man, a couple of inches below that of Cal, and sported a skinny body. His hair was just as long as his sons but was bright blonde, although speckled with grey and swept back over his head, and his eyes were a dull brown. He was currently wearing a red checker shirt tucked into a pair of blue jeans, and heavy brown work boots. A pair of glasses with black framed perched on the top of his head.

"Dad." Cal said and extended his hand, which Richard shook without hesitation but also slapped Cal on the back as well.

"Well, wasn't that distant. I know we haven't seen each other for quite some time but I think you could spare a hug or your old man!" he exclaimed but laughed and turned to Sophie, who had just walked up. "My little Sophie, how are you?" he move forward with his arms wide for a hug but Sophie placed a hand on his chest to stop him.

"Normally, I would give you a hug, but you don't get on this time because you dragged me half way across the world without any warning. Although it is nice to see you." She smiled politely and Richard lowered his arms.

"Well now, just don't worry about work or anything. I made sure to make the necessary calls and I'm sure it can run smoothly without you for a couple of days." He turned back to Cal and Louise and smiled. "Now, aren't you going to introduce me to your lovely girlfriend Cal."

"Do I need to, I presume you know everything about her by now." He said, a slight hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Well, let's just do it for formalities sake then."

"If you want. Louise, this is my dad, Richard. Dad, this is Louise Lee." He said, crossing his arms as Richard extended his hand to Louise.

"It's fantastic to finally meet you. Now, let's get onto the bit you've been waiting for shall we. S.T.A.R.T. labs awaits." He grinned and ushered the three into the car before jumping in himself.