| Episode: | Season 1, Episode 1 – Chaos! At The Gala |
| Location: | Gala Hall |
| Written By: | Jonah Webb Elle Hayashi Sam Bancroft Serena Morgan Addison Morgan |
| Date: | 08/28/2026 |
| Word Count: | 1,130 |
Serena stared at her daughter, just sat there staring where she’d been down below the table. There were dozens of questions running through her head as she contemplated what she needed to do, but even as the mumbling and quiet whispers got louder. Her daughter had been the only one brave enough to do something.
Serena finally moved from her spot and slowly made her way toward Addison even as the girl dropped the weapon that she’d been holding in her hand. It rested now at the eleven-year-old’s feet. Serena finally got close and wrapped the girl into the tightest hug ever.
Addison didn’t even register that her mother had moved toward her until she felt the woman’s arms. And at first Addison squirmed and struggled a little bit before the adrenaline finally melted away enough that she rested into the hug. “Mom…” She managed to say softly.
Elle had felt the man’s grip on her loosening and heard him crumpling behind her before she’d turned around and saw what had happened. There was the girl she didn’t know or recognize standing there, but then there was the councilor there as well. The medical instincts in the woman kicked in at last and she pressed her hand into the side of his neck.
Elle shook her head, “Dead.” She managed to say.
The word struck a cord within Addison and she started to cry into her mother’s shoulder. The initial shock had completely melted away. She’d just killed someone and the entire station would now know it because the recorders had been active when it happened.
Serena held the girl tightly, “Shh, it’s okay…” She breathed into the girl’s ear.
Jonah looked at Elle as he knelt down and started digging around in the man’s pocket to identify him. It took a moment to find the identification card in his pocket. Jonah looked at Sam, “We need to clear the room he mumbled underneath his breath.”
He looked at the back of Serena’s head and the girl that had just dispatched the hostage taker. There were about a thousand different thoughts running through his mind, and he said none of them, “Get her out of here,” He whispered.
Serena heard the voice and nodded once, “C’mon let’s go.” She said to the child.
Addison didn’t move, her legs felt like jelly. “B-but Mom…” She mumbled softly as the tears continued to streak but the sobbing had been so brief that it now stopped. “I-I…” She stopped unable to commit to the word she wanted to use.
“You’re a hero,” Sam said finally. “Listen to your mother,” He said to the girl that he didn’t know the name of. But, when she’d said the word ‘Mom’ he knew Serena was her mother. He was then looking at Jonah and in agreement as well. They needed to have security escort everyone out of the room.
“Clear the room,” Jonah ordered.
Serena didn’t give her daughter a chance to say another word as she picked the eleven-year-old up off the floor and grunted. Her daughter was far heavier than she used to be, and what Serena had been used to. They were the first out of the room.
Elle was still examining the body, “I can declare him dead but that’s all I can do.” She said, even if they saw what happened there would have to be something official. She looked up at Jonah, “I’ll stay here with you until emergency services arrives.”
Jonah was just about to argue with her, but thought better of it. Her calmness had surprised him, but then so had the way she addressed her attacker. It only served to make him like her that much more even if he couldn’t bring himself to admitting it. “Okay,” Was all he managed to say to her.
Sam was still there even as security had started to escort everyone out. The mumbling and muttering got louder for a moment before it became a little quieter. “I’m not wrong,” He said finally, “Had she not done that…” He couldn’t bring himself to find the words.
“She didn’t look like she was all that old,” Jonah said, “Is there anyone at the hospital she can talk to once we’ve gotten all this settled?”
Elle had done all she could, “Yeah,” She answered. There were plenty of therapists she could talk to, that could help her through it. But, it was true and the journalists on the station would certainly play it up like the girl was a hero. She’d reacted when everyone else seemed to be frozen in place waiting for whatever fate was to come.
“Wonder what was going through her head?” Elle asked.
Jonah shrugged, “I don’t know,” He looked over at the Councilor, “Go ahead and leave with the rest.” He ordered, “We’ve got it from here.”
Sam was about to argue, say that he could help with the investigation. But, one look at the security chief’s face told him there was no arguing. “I understand.” He said and got up still trying to wrestle with what had just happened.
Jonah watched as the man left, the room was soon empty except for a few security officials. He looked at Elle, “His name is Isaac Crenshaw,” Jonah told her. He held out the identification chip so that she could see for herself.
“What the hell did death to the righteous mean?” Elle asked Jonah. She assumed he didn’t have an answer to the question. And she hit him in the arm, “That’s for being stupid by the way!” She said suddenly. The initial shock had completely worn off by then.
Jonah winced, “How so?” He asked her.
Elle shook her head, “You should have just shot him or something,” She stammered and shook her head. “You could have killed him as soon as he’d come dragging me inside the room.” She shook her head knowing what he’d say to that before he even mentioned it.
Jonah rubbed his arm firmly, “Okay first off you don’t shoot the hostage taker when they’re actively using someone as a meat shield.” He said sarcastically, “Secondly, I’m not calling you a meat shield so don’t even…” He shook his head.
“I know you’re not,” Elle said. “There were children in here though,” She quipped in response and shook her head slowly. Once emergency medical staff had arrived she got up, “I’ll ride with them. You’re going to be very busy anyway.” She told him.
Jonah knew that, “Yeah,” He said as he stood the rest of the way up still holding the chip in his hand. The sudden end of the gala would have the entire station talking for weeks. He had to get ahead of this before the conspiracy theories started.