Carl stormed into the room, phone pressed to his ear. "Just because my parents are scientists doesn't mean I know all this science stuff," he exclaimed in frustration.
Katy's voice came through the phone, calm and collected. "Carl, just try to understand what I'm saying. You're failing this stuff in exams more than normal."
Carl let out a deep sigh. "Do you know what, Katy? Just leave me alone. I have to rest for tonight."
Katy's tone turned curious. "What's happening tonight?"
Carl hesitated, trying to come up with an excuse. "Just forget about it. We'll talk later. Goodbye." He disconnected the call, relieved. "That was close," he muttered to himself. "I can't tell Katy that I do heists at night. She'll never trust me again."
Carl took a shower and lay down on his bed, trying to rest. But his mind was preoccupied with the task ahead.
Later that night, in a dark alley, Carl met up with a mysterious figure clad in a cloak. "I'm sorry I'm late," Carl apologized. "You know the traffic today is so intense. So, what am I getting today?"
The cloaked figure smiled. "Today, you're going to the hardest place to crack in the city."
Carl raised an eyebrow. "Oh, stop the hype. Where in this city can't I handle it?"
The figure chuckled. "I like your confidence. So, you break into Stellar Labs and get the hyper-fusion laser."
Carl's eyes widened. "Wow, wow, wait a minute. Stellar Labs? That's one of the most dangerous places in this city!"
The figure nodded. "But you said you can handle anything, didn't you?"
Carl swallowed hard. "I didn't say I can't handle it, but you have to pay me extra for the excruciating risk I'm taking."
The figure nodded in assurance. "Get the hyper-fusion laser, bring it to me, and you get your rewards." He handed Carl a photo of the laser.
Carl took the photo and left, his heart racing with anticipation.
At Stellar Labs, Carl snuck onto the roof and made his way into the ventilation system. As he crawled through the ducts, he muttered to himself, "This is going to be a piece of cake. I think."
He reached the end of the vent and peered into the room below. His eyes widened as he took in the array of laser beams crisscrossing the room. "I've got to be careful. Even a strand of hair can trigger the alarm."
Taking a deep breath, Carl jumped into the room, landing silently on the floor. He moved cautiously, trying to avoid the laser beams. But as he stepped forward, his foot landed on a magnet, causing him to fumble and trigger the alarm.
Carl cursed his luck, but then he noticed the magnet in his hand. "This could be handy," he thought, using the magnet to deflect a laser beam.
As he made his way through the lab, Carl encountered more obstacles, including a beam that shot out of the wall and a sign that warned of high radioactive waves.
Just as he was about to reach the next vent, Carl's phone rang. He hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Carl. Where are you?" his mother asked, her voice tinged with worry. "We've been looking everywhere for you."
Carl's heart sank. He hadn't expected his mother to call him, especially not now. "Mum, why didn't you call me with your cell phone? And who else is with you?"
"My cell phone died," his mother explained. "Immediately after Katy told me that she'd been to our house and you weren't home."
Carl's eyes widened in alarm. Katy was with his mother? He hoped she hadn't spilled the beans about his nighttime activities.
"Okay, Mum, I'll be back in about half an hour. Bye."
As soon as he hung up, Carl let out a sigh of relief. That was close. He had to get the laser and get out of there before his mother started to worry again.
But as he turned to leave, he slipped and fell, triggering the alarm once more. As he struggled to get up, he accidentally pulled a lever, activating a gravity machine.
The room began to spin, and Carl felt himself being pulled towards the floor. He tried to place the magnet in front of him, but it was too difficult due to the intense gravity.
A beam shot out of the wall, and Carl felt a surge of electricity run through his body. Everything went black.
As Carl lay unconscious, the magnet began to break down atomically, and his body absorbed it.