Well I wasn't exactly planning on making this a trilogy, but I had this idea for a plot kinda smack me in the face so I started messing with it an such. Now while the plot itself it still in development, I decided to push out a prologue and see how it handled with you guys. If you like it, or you think it has promise, let me know and I will mush on into final production. If you don't like it...well flames aren't really necessary, a simple bugger off will do. HAHA.

So here it is, the potential third (and hopefully the last) installment of Enemy of my Enemy.

*Enjoy*

A Stitch In Time

The jeep came roaring up the hill, the driver slinging it to the curb and bringing the vehicle to an abrupt stop before killing the engine. He pulled himself up on the overhead rails, using them to sling his body to the left; a pair of old dog-tags ringing out briefly with a metallic clang. His boots hit the asphalt softly, and he stepped cautiously around the front of the truck, resting a gloved hand on the corner of the hood as he looked up at the house.

He knew she'd come here, it still had sentimental value, even though the back half had been blown apart years ago by a stray missile; he was only thankful that they hadn't been inside when it happened. That house wasn't the only one in that present condition, in fact it was one of the few in the neighborhood that was still standing…even if only held together with a few scant sticks.

Intense blue eyes fell to the partially open door, another sign that she was here. There wasn't another soul for miles crazy enough to come out in the open so close to sunset…and a half torn down house wasn't the best of hiding places. Faint echoes of explosions rang off in the distance, and his hand went for the gun strapped to his belt, glancing back at the warzone below. Smoke plumes billowed from new fires and the cityscape was black with the remnants of old ones. What remained of a forest of skyscrapers threatened to crumble to the ground with a decent bit of wind; a rusted over A still glinted from the rubble if the sun hit it just right…the only thing left from Stark tower.

He let out a sharp exhale and strode toward the front door, his hand never leaving the weapon, albeit one of several he had strapped to his body; a habit he picked up from his father. The recollection forced a brief smile at the corner of his mouth as he slowly stepped inside the house. Creaks and groans echoed out from underneath his feet, rocketing up the walls and over the ceiling above; as if threatening to come down on top of him at any second.

Taking a deep breath, he continued forward, heading down the hallway just right of the stairs that led to the second story; that led to their old rooms. The doorway to his right led to the only room left downstairs that hadn't been blown apart, and as he turned into it he held back a quiver of sickening rage. Even with the layer of aged dust he could see the powder blue of the paint on the walls, and the crib pushed far into the corner; cobwebs strung up between the wooden bars. The room was starved of anything else, and that was because she wanted it simple…she never told them why.

He swallowed hard, forcing himself to relax the fist he formed before he did something he'd likely regret, turning his gaze down to the young woman seated next to the door, her legs curled up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them; her head resting on her knees.

"Come on Connie…we gotta go" he stated calmly.

She was silent for a moment, slowly lifting her head until the back of it thumped softly against the door frame. He felt his stomach twist in knots, seeing the streaks of past tears down both sides of her face, causing strands of dirty blonde hair to stick to her cheeks; but it was her eyes that forced a sharp bout of pain in his gut…one brown, one blue, still swollen and bloodshot from crying…she was the spitting image of their mother as much as he was of their father.

"I know what you're gonna do" she rasped, her lip quivering as she spoke.

"I know you do, we planned it out remember" he sighed, kneeling down.

"That doesn't make it right"

"Yes it does. He's a monster, and he deserves to die"

"He's gonna be a child"

"And that makes it right!?" he snapped, clearly starting to lose his cool.

She whimpered softly, visibly trying to hold back tears. He lowered his head, running his hands through his short brown hair before glancing up at her again. She was still just a child herself at twenty-two, it could be seen in the faded and ripped blue jeans, her worn pair of converse high tops, the faded grey NIN t-shirt and the equally as worn jean jacket; her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail.

He looked as if he had crawled out of a war-zone, donning a pair of worn cargo pants, construction boots and a thin white t-shirt, covered by the heavy leather jacket his father used to wear. He was eight years her senior...he was responsible for her.

"Look…this is our life…nothing we do can change it, but you can be damn sure I'm gonna do what I can to make sure they don't suffer the same fate"

Her breath hitched and she opened her mouth to speak.

"I want to save mom" she sobbed.

"I know you do, so do I…but that capsule isn't powerful enough to pull it from her…and we still don't know if you can go that far back…it might kill you"

A heavy sob wracked her body, and he saw another tear fall down the same trail as others did before.

"Hey, come on now, chin up…I can't do this without you Connie" he warned, gently taking her chin in his gloved hand; forcing her to look at him.

"That's because I'm the only one in a hundred miles who can jump"

"You know better than that. I mean it…I need you with me"

He pulled her into his chest before she had a chance to argue, and he felt another heavy sob wrack her body as she wrapped her arms around him. Either she was trying hard not to break down crying again…or she was too exhausted to do so. The faint echo of an explosion teased at their ears, and he felt her grip on him tighten ever so slightly.

"We need to get back…sun's getting low" he warned softly.

As he stood, he had to practically pull her with him, and he prayed she recoup enough strength on the ride back to make the jump.


He strode into the side entrance of the abandoned nuclear plant, waiting for the young girl to walk past him before he stepped over to a keypad mounted on the wall next to the door, entering in a series of keys and stepping back as a solid iron door slid down; barring the entrance. He turned back to follow her toward the open floor of the plant, taking in the sight of the machine in the center; a tube shaped piece of metal sticking out from the floor.

"You made it back!" a man exclaimed, walking up to them with a rather relieved look on his face.

He was middle aged, pale blue eyes and the blonde curly hair he had in his youth had since faded into a dull tone; faint streaks of silver painted near his temples. The girl walked by him without saying a word, leaving him puzzled and he glanced back and forth between her and the younger male.

"Is she okay?" he asked.

"She'll be fine, just needed a bit of a pep talk" he replied, heading toward the opposite end of the machine while the older man followed.

"I hope you're right…" he sighed.

"…Stark, where are we now?" he called, turning his head to where the girl had wandered.

"Capacitor is at 85%, we are nearly there!" a young man called back, turning to accept the girl in open arms as she practically melted into his chest.

"I don't wanna go" she mumbled into his shirt.

"I know you don't…" he laughed.

"…but you have to make sure that this doesn't happen to them" he finished, caressing her back.


"You press the activator button here on the side, and that will open up the core…the device will do the rest of the work" the older man instructed, gesturing his thump to a small indention on the otherwise smooth metal surface of a softball sized device.

"How close do I need to be?" the younger man asked.

"At least a foot or two away I'd guess…but just be ready for the screaming that will follow…this thing will rip the stone out and it won't be gentle about it"

"I'm fine with that"

"Providing this works, he'll only be an infant when we get there"

"I don't care what he'll be…he killed my parents, he brought this hell on us…the more pain he endures, the better" the young man warned, taking the device from the elder and stuffing it into a knapsack.

"Now just remember, we have to keep our distance. If our cover gets blown, it's gonna make things really difficult"

"I understand"

A heavy silence fell between the two, clouded only by the low hum of the electrical reactor below their feet.

"You mom would have been proud of you…her and your dad both" the older man stated, his voice almost raspy.

"I know Uncle Simon…you say that every chance you get" the younger man laughed, twisting the cap off from a bottle of water.

"I know, but I mean it"


"It's time to go babe…make sure to find me when you get there" Stark remarked, smiling down as the girl looked up at him.

"You'll be fourteen" she groaned.

"You can wait four more years I'm sure" he laughed.

She gave him a soured look as he bent down enough to press his lips to hers in a claiming kiss; forcing a pitiful whine from her throat. Just as quickly as he did it, he pulled away leaning over to check one of the computer screens on the instrument panel behind him.

"92% people, time to take your stations" he called.

The young girl was reluctant to leave as he gave her a gentle push toward the platform, taking a steadying breath as he did. Her male companion slowly approached him, garnering a warm smile.

"If it weren't for the end of the world, you wouldn't stand a chance with her dude" he teased.

"Yea well, what can I say? I am a man of opportunity" Stark laughed, nervously running a hand through his thick dark hair.

"How's it looking?"

"Once the capacitor activates, the sentinels will be on this place like nails on a magnet"

"What about the shields? That should buy you guys some time right?"

"There's not enough juice in the reserve cells to power both, and even if there was, the capacitor is gonna drain it fast…there's not gonna be enough power to get the shields up" Stark replied solemnly.

The other man hitched his breath like he suddenly had trouble breathing.

"Son of a-"

"Hey, we knew the risks…we knew what we were getting into…"

Stark let loose a heavy sigh, staring back at his counterpart; trying to hold back tears.

"…this is our last shot…you better make it count brother" he finished, offering his hand.

The young man took Stark's hand firmly.

"You bet your ass I will" he stated, yanking Stark into a tight hug.

"Gonna miss you JB" Stark whispered, his voice strained.

"You too Howie"

They pulled away, crossing glances briefly before separating, Stark turning toward the control panel and the man called JB heading up to the platform where Connie and Simon stood waiting.

"Capacitor at max load, get ready folks…priming and ready for countdown" Stark advised.

As the three on the platform took their places around the metal conduit in the middle, a set of shrill beeps suddenly had everyone's attention on the opposite end of the control panel; all of them equally on edge.

"Alice?" Howie snipped in question.

"Two sentinels, just entered the containment zone, ten miles out and closing" she responded, the panic clear in her voice.

"Looks like we're skipping the countdown, JB get her ready, I'm priming the last cell.

"What, now!?" Connie squeaked, glancing back at Stark.

JB's hand came down on her shoulder, forcing her attention back to him.

"You're alright Connie, you can do this, just like you practiced" he advised.

"We're primed, ready when you are" Stark called.

"Just breathe Connie, focus on where you need to go" Simon stated, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Five miles" Alice warned.

"Come on Connie" JB urged.

"You're rushing me, I can't focus when I'm being rushed" she hissed.

"Two miles out"

"Connie!" Stark spat.

"Do it!"

Howie slammed his fist down on the button and the reactor core beneath them roared to life, as a bright white bolt shot out from the metal tube on the platform; practically slamming into Connie's chest. Stark heard the yelp of pain that passed her lips briefly before the loud roar of the reactor was all he could hear. The room was suddenly enveloped in a blinding white light, forcing him and Alice to shield their eyes. Just as suddenly as it happened, the room went dark, and the roar slowly died to silence; leaving the two stumbling in the dark.

"Power cores are shot" Alice remarked.

"That was the idea" Howie stated, fumbling around for the drawer where he kept his flashlight.

He flipped the switch on the side and surveyed the room, seeing a fine smoky mist covering the entirety of the room. The dim light fell to the platform in the center, where the smoke seemed to be the thickest; not a trace of the three to be seen.

"They did it…they actually fucking did it!" Howie exclaimed, taking Alice under his arm as she stumbled toward him.

The two didn't have time to celebrate before something came crashing into the side of the room, creating a mass of twisted metal and broken concrete; the eerie pale face of a sentinel staring back at them with beady red eyes. It raised it arm toward them, the mechanics on its wrist coming to life and forming a hand sized blast cannon.

"Look away Alice!" Howie stated calmly, turning his body toward her, forcing their backs to the sentinel.


The explosion that erupted from district ten could be seen for miles, signifying that the last of the dormant nuclear cores had been detonated. Not a word was whispered that two more humans died that night…and three more just went missing.