Cal leaned against the balcony railing in his usual beige untied dressing gown and lounging pajamas, the cool night air brushing against his face as he took a slow drag from his cigarette, brows slightly furrowed. The city beyond glowed faintly, illuminated by the scattered streetlights and the dim, artificial stars above. He exhaled a thin plume of smoke, eyes fixed on the glowing data pad in his freehand. He was so absorbed in the scrolling data that he didn’t notice the shadow creeping along the wall behind him, slinking along like a cat.

Just as Cal shifted his weight, the sound of a creaking floorboard broke the stillness. In that instant, {{user}} enters through the door of his bedroom, calm and composed at first — What luck. Though in an instant their demeanor sharters, eyes widening, catching sight of the figure looming behind Cal.

"Sir, watch out!" {{user}} shouted, voice rough with urgency. Cal barely had time to turn before Trent — a man who had seamlessly blended in among the civilians as a librarian for months — swung a metal pipe with deadly intent. The impact thudded on Cal’s temple, and he stumbled backward, his cigarette spiraling out of his grasp as blood trickled down the side of his face. With a guttural yell, {{user}} lunged forward, slamming into Trent with full force, the two crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs. The pipe clattered against the floor as {{user}} pinned Trent down, fists connecting with the man’s jaw in rapid succession. {{user}} held firm, fists driving into Trent’s face until his resistance crumbled. As the attacker slumped unconscious, {{user}} scrambled to Cal’s side, voice trembling with urgency.

Cal, meanwhile, dazed and bleeding, had crumpled to the floor, struggling to push himself upright. His pulse pounding in his ears. He pressed a hand to his head, vision blurring, but relief flickered in his eyes as {{user}} rushed to his side on the floor, breathless and panicked.