CHAPTER FOUR
Charlie had visited Mr. Hall to find out his opinion about Callie, and to see if he could find out if the Omega Defiance was really involved or responsible for the kidnapping of her parents. Stan was waiting outside with Callie.
"I do not usually approve of personal missions Aaron," Mr. Hall began to say. "But, I happen to know this girl's parents, and I have been aware that they have disappeared, and yes I highly believe the Omega Defiance is responsible." "Wait, you knew?" Charlie interrupted. "I had just recently found out, Aaron." Mr. Hall answered. "And I wasn't finished. As the girl told you, she has a magnificent ability, the power to track people and things, she is also very intelligent, she can find her way through Hero Rising completely on her own using her intelligence, she is not the best player as you are, however, because of her intelligence and her ability, she is able to be within the top fifty best players." Charlie's eyes widen, amazed by this, and partially wondering how Mr. Hall knows all this. "How well does Mr. Hall know Callie's parents?" Charlie thought. "Her parents do not have an ability like hers, she is a special child, as you are special in your ability of being the best player in Hero Rising. The Omega Defiance knows about her ability and they would most likely find her useful. You are to protect her and make sure the Omega Defiance does not get their hands on her." Mr. Hall's voice was very stern in that last sentence. Charlie nodded. "Yes sir. Um…what about her parents? I promised her I would find them and save them." Mr. Hall doesn't respond right away, and Charlie can't see his expression in the shadows. "Yes…I will find their location, and send them to Stan when I have it. The girl is not to go with you, do you understand?" Charlie nods. "Yes sir."
Charlie comes out to find Stan and Callie sitting on a bench. "So, you can project holograms from your…eye?!" Callie asks Stan. Stan nods. "Oh yes." All of a sudden, a holographic image projects from his eye. Callie watches in amazement. "Oh my gosh! That's the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Did you know, the height is 986 feet, the weight is 7,000 tons, the base is approximately 412 square feet, the first tv transmission was in 1957, and the first radio transmission was in 1918 and the visibility on a clear day is 67 kilometres?" Charlie just stares at her with wide eyes. Stan just nods as he stops projecting from his eye. "Yes, indeed I did know that. You seem to be a very bright human." Callie smiles. They both notice Charlie standing there. "So, what did Mr. Hall have to say?" Stan asks. Charlie blinks, still a little shocked by the information Callie had said about the Eiffel Tower. It was as if she was reading all that from a piece of paper. "Well, he said that you are a very intelligent girl, Callie, and he apparently knows your parents and thinks that the Omega Defiance is involved in their kidnapping, he also thinks they may want you, because of your ability to track people and things. Which is why he asked me to keep you safe and when I go to find your parents, you can't come with me." "But-" Callie begins to argue. "It's for your own safety, I will protect you and bring your parents back, I promise." Charlie replies. "Okay. I'll stay here." Callie replies back, but clearly doesn't like the idea of staying behind. Charlie turns to Stan. "Mr. Hall is going to send you their location when he finds it." Stan nods. "Okay, I will be awaiting his call." "Well I guess we can go back to my house until Mr. Hall finds the location of your parents." Charlie says. "Uh…won't your Mom and brother find it weird that you brought a fifteen year old stranger home with you?" Callie asks. Charlie shakes his head. "Oh no, my Mom is at work, and my brother, he won't care, I'll just make up some excuse like I normally do." Charlie answers. "Although, I hate lying to Jason all the time." Charlie thought. "Um…I think I'm just going to go to the park again. Is that okay, Charlie?" Callie asks. "Sure, but I have to come with you. You know, to keep an eye on you, and make sure you're safe." Charlie replies, Callie nods in agreement.
Charlie and Stan take Callie to the park. Charlie had asked her if she was going on the swings or something but, she just wanted to go and sit under a tree. Charlie watched her, he could partially understand what she must be going through right now. Wondering what had happened to her parents, feeling responsible, wondering if they're even alive. When Charlie lost his dad, he didn't know what to do, he felt alone, like he had no one to look up to, no one to take advice from, he became the man of the house, and it was so hard for him to fill that responsibility, and it still is. With him being Aaron Stone, that just added to his responsibility and it made him fear even more for the safety of his mom and his brother. Charlie had brought his Aaron Stone outfit and put it on, just in case anyone of the Omega Defiance decided to show up. And he made sure he, Callie, and Stan were in a partially deserted area of the park so no one would see him. He couldn't risk anyone finding out about him being Aaron Stone, and more importantly he couldn't let any member of the Omega Defiance discover his true identity as Charlie Landers.
Charlie suddenly notices Callie walking towards him. "Hey, do you mind if I go for a little walk around the park here?" Callie asks him. Charlie hesitates. "Uh…I don't know if that's a good idea." "Please, Charlie? I'll be careful I promise. Please?" Charlie sighs. "Okay fine. But if you're not back in ten minutes I'm coming after you!" Callie smiles. "Okay." Charlie and Stan watch as Callie heads off. "I don't know if that was such a good idea, Aaron." Stan replies. "Ah, come on, Stan. We've been here for about forty - five minutes and everything seems clear, and it's only for a ten minute walk and then I'm going to get her. I'm sure she'll be okay." Stan wasn't convinced.
Callie made her way through the bushes, she liked exploring, she mostly did it to try and take her mind off of something. And right now, she wanted to get away from the stress of worrying about her parents. "Where where they? Were they hurt? Were they alive? Would I ever see them again? How would I ever live without them?" Callie thought. "They had to be alive. That was the only way, it's just not possible for them to be gone, they're alive. And Charlie is going to help bring them back to me, safe and sound."
Callie suddenly stopped walking. She sensed something, someone, it wasn't Charlie, it wasn't Stan, whoever it was, she didn't have a good feeling about them.
"Hi there." Callie spun around to see a man, in a military outfit, standing there. "Oh don't be afraid, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk." The man replied. Callie sensed something very bad with this man. "W-Who are you?" Callie asked. The man smiled. "My name is General Cross. And I know who you are. Callie Clayton. I also know you have a special gift." Callie gulped and took a step back. "Y-You're the same General Cross f-from the Hero Rising game, a-aren't you?" General Cross' smile grew. And that sent chills down her spine. "You are smart, and you have a good memory as well. But I promise you I won't hurt you if you come with me willingly." Callie took two more steps back, and General Cross started to move towards her. "Uh…sure…I-I'll come with you, just…let me say…goodbye to m-my friend, first." Callie started to run, but then, two large men, also in military outfits, grabbed her on each side. They held her so tight, she couldn't break free no matter how much she struggled. Callie screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Callie!" Charlie yelled as he and Stan rushed towards the bushes. Callie was no where to be found. "CALLIE!!!!!!!!" Charlie shouted. But there was no response.