Broken Then Fixed: Gruvia

Chapter 18:

"There? Nothing's there," the chief said in confusion.

"That corner of the camera. What do you notice about that?" I asked.

"Um . . . it's a little darker?" The chief questioned.

"Correct. There's a small white line outlining the camera. All of them actually," I said.

"So?"

"It's an illusion," Gray answered.

"They put something over the cameras so that they can make someone watching the cameras see something different whenever they want to. All they have to do is activate it and there could be only one person in that room, but the camera would show 15, or the other way around. It's used to throw any hackers off guard. We could be walking into an ambush for all we know. We need to get those illusion covers off. But it's too risky for someone to go inside," I said.

"How does Lyon have something like that?" The detective wondered.

"Please. Lyon is a part of the Vastia family. One of the most wealthy families around here. He's also manipulative. I doubt his father even knows what Lyon is doing. Lyon is going to ruin his family's reputation without a second thought. Tch, and he's more worried about getting into that top school. The guy is old enough to go to jail. That should be his main worry," I rolled my eyes at what I know would be Lyon's attitude.

"So, how are we going to get those covers off?" The chief asked.

Geez, we're supposed to think of everything now, aren't we? Who's dumb enough to let kids lead a rescue mission?! I swear there just taking advantage of the fact we're smart and we know Lyon like the backs of our hands.

"About that, we don't have one. Does anyone else have an idea? No bad answers, give it your best shot," I said.

"I um . . . I may have one," one of the officers said raising his hand a little. She looked a little nervous.

Are we that intimidating? Bruh, we're high schoolers. You go up against criminals everyday. How are we more intimidating?!

"Go ahead! What's your idea?" I said, trying to be as friendly as possible.

"Well um . . . the technology department has a new bot they wanted to test, and asked if we could bring it along so they can see how it does if we use it. Maybe we could send it in? It's small so it won't be very noticeable. It also had a camera, so we can see what's going on inside as well," she said.

"That's a great idea! Do any of you know how to control it?" I asked.

"They told me, but I'm not really a tech person so I don't know how to follow the instructions they gave me," she replied.

"I'll teach you the controls. I can probably make sense of them," Gray offered.

"Alright, I'll bring it out," she responded.

She went to a police car and opened the door to the back seat. She brought out a hunk of metal that I saw was a robot when she put it down. The officer handed Gray a remote control and written instructions and he looked over it.

"Alright, you see this? That's the . . ."

As Gray explained the controls to the officer, the others stood there in shock. Awhile ago Gray had taught me a little about advanced high tech, so I knew some of what he was saying. The officers we rode with opened their mouths, but I stopped them.

"Yeah yeah I know what you're going to say. We may be smart but that can only do us so much. We need the experience. That's why we don't test for moving up a couple grades. We'd rather stay with our friends, as well," I said before they could say anything. They closed their mouths and kept in whatever they were going to say.

"Honestly, we shouldn't be surprised anymore. The way you handled the situation, and the way you two figured everything out just screams intelligence. Yet we are somehow always shocked. You kids sure know how to surprise people," the chief chuckled.

I smiled softly, "Worry and love doesn't always bring out the worst in people. It sometimes brings out the best," I said. Gray heard and agreed.

"Have you two thought of your careers yet? You're smart and you know how to handle situations. There would be plenty of options for you," The chief said.

"Kind of. Biologists are our main choices. The officers we rode with can definitely vouch that we'd be good at it," I laughed.

"Oh yeah we can. I never thought kids could make me feel so stupid. I didn't know we'd have to try and remember what flora and fauna were," one of them said.

The chief gave them an are-you-serious look.

"Boys, flora and fauna mean plants and animals," he said in disbelief.

"Oh . . . I remember now," the other said guiltily.

"Anyways," the chief turned back to Gray and I, "If you haven't decided already, then I would like to request for you two to join the police as your career. We could definitely use you both. If you don't want to do jobs like this,then we have other available spots," he offered.

" . . . I've never thought about police work. I'll think on it. Gray?" I asked his opinion.

"Never thought about it either. I'll think on it as well sir," he said.

"That's all I ask then. I'll give you my card after the mission. Call me with your decision and if you decide you're interested or if you still don't know, then I can have you two come in for an internship. I can ask the school if it can be turned into credits, even," the chief said.

"We'd like that sir. Thank you very much," we responded.

Gray and the officer discussed the controls more, while myself and the other officers discussed the robot's route.