Date: 3/3/08

"Hi Dad. You called?"
"Yes, Trevor. Come in."
Trevor sat down, trying to stay cool. It wasn't every day he got called to his dad's office. In fact, this was the first time.
"You okay?" asked the dad, sitting leisurely behind his desk.
"Yeah."
"Then why are your fingers shaking?"
Trevor put his hands behind his neck and attempted to relax. "Just occupied."
"With what?"
"With nothing."
The dad snorted. His incredibly huge figure donned a shiny black suit, accompanied with a pair of sunglasses. Trevor sometimes forgot that this menacing gang leader was his father.
"Cowards don't last long here, Trevor. I won't make an exception for my son either."
"Yeah. Thanks."
"I have an assignment for you."
Trevor's heart leapt. With excitement or fear, he didn't know but he listened anyways.
"The senator wants several persons in his possession.   A man and his wife and daughter. You are to retrieve them and bring them here. Mainly the man and his wife. The daughter is just a safeguard."
Pause.
"Are you ready?"
"No." Trevor could barely contain his anxiety. "Where are they and what do they look like?"
His dad's expression did not change as he told him. "They  are currently living at the Ultrakids Headquarters at 97 Madison Street-"
"Wait. Did you say Ultrakids?" Trevor interrupted.
"Yes." Before Trevor could open his mouth, his dad continued. "The couple's name is Roger and Amanda Lin." The dad produced a photo of the man and wife. "And their daughter's name is Sonica. They have a son, but he's not in New York right now."
"Okay..."
"You go tonight. Jason will have a van parked next to the building. Take this," the dad handed Trevor a tranquilizer gun, "and put all three persons in the back of the van. That's it."
"You mean I gotta carry them into the van? All three?"
"You'll have Jason and RJ to help you. But you lead the operation." His dad stared at Trevor, almost as if he could see through his soul. "Trevor, if you fail, you will be killed."
"By who?" Trevor asked, trying not to show the fear in his voice.
"Either by the government or by us before the government can get anything out of you."
"Great. Got it." A bead of sweat dripped down Trevor's forehead.
"Now go. Prepare. I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself to the others, Trevor, that you truly are my heir."
Trevor exited quickly.

"Yo Trev."
"Hey Jeff." Jeff was 19, a little more than two years older than Trevor.
"Heard you got an assignment," he said, saying it as if it were a curse.
"Yeah. So what?" asked Trevor.
"You don't deserve one, that's what. Boss shoulda picked me for the kidnapping. But just because you're his son," Jeff stepped aggressively towards Trevor, "doesn't mean you're a better thug than I am."
"Geez, chill out son," snapped Trevor. "I ain't done nothing to you."
"You're alive. That's the first thing."
Jeff glared at him and stalked away.

Time: 3:00 A.M.
Place: Ultrakids HQ, 97 Madison Street
Trevor was climbing up the side of the building using a rope and grapple hooked to the roof. Rule number one: never use the front entrance.
The gang leader's son quietly snuck into the building from the top. Fourth floor, bedrooms. This was where his victims were.
The door was locked. Trevor breathed deeply. Rule number two: locked doors are bad. And doors in general are noisy.
Out of his pocket Trevor took a bump key. Let's hope they don't hear this, he prayed. He stuck the key into the lock and quickly bumped it, turning the door open. It creaked. Wonderful.
It was very dark in the bedrooms. Several other doors were in the room. Trevor pulled out his map (drawn on a napkin) and shone his pocket flashlight at it.
Third door on the right.
He bumped key that door as well, cursing every creaking step he took. There they were. The couple. He opened the window and let Jason and RJ in (they had climbed up the fire escape).
"Okay, you got the parents, I'll get the girl." Trevor left them with a bunch of rope and gags and went looking for Sonica.
He bumped open another door. A boy in red pajamas was stirring. Trevor held his breath. The boy stopped moving. Had gone back to sleep.
Trevor breathed a sigh in relief and closed the door.
He bumped to more doors until he found his...victim.
Sonica. That was her name.
He slowly approached her. Tie her up, Trevor. Tie her up.
His mind froze. She was resting so...peacefully. Maybe he shouldn't. The van is waiting outside, Trev. Hurry. You don't have much time.
There were several pictures hanging in Sonica's room. Sonica and her brother. Sonica and the Ultrakids. Sonica, Sonica, Sonica. This was a girl the senator wanted to kill...
The excitement of an assignment drained out of Trevor. Then he remembered his dad's words. Fail equals die.
He exited the building and went into the van with Jason and RJ. "Where's the girl?" asked RJ.
"I couldn't find her," said Trevor. "Looked all over. Maybe she's with her brother. Besides, the other people were starting to wake up."
"Yo dad's not gonna like that, Trev," said Jason.
"It don't matter. He said the girl wasn't as important as the two people in the back."
"Alright, if you say so."
Then they drove away into the night.

To be continued...