Rare it is that I think them through thoroughly, but they usually revolve around the US degenerating into a state of civil war, after I invent and field the Gauss magnetic machine gun and the Advanced Powered Armor system, reinventing land warfare. The troops are called back to enforce the peace, and with their superior weapons and armor systems, this isn't supposed to get complicated. Naturally, the states are plagued with clever rebels, who find ways to subvert the armors weakness, and use hit-and-run tactics to keep away from the new weapons. Naturally, at the epicenter of rebel activity, I am assigned to assess the rebels tactics and find ways to immunize the troops.

It would be a quiet night on the base. Another invention of mine allowed for rapid fielding of tactical buildings to supplement troop activity, basically letting commanders create cheap bases fast, anywhere they were needed. It would be rare that I wear the armor I invented, as I wouldn't have any role in combat. That's not my job. I would be nocturnal by choice, and it would be a restless night, I wouldn't be able to stay cooped up. So I hit the perimeter, maybe there's something interesting out there. There are deployable motion sensors at the perimeter, anyone trying to get past would instantly be detected and riddled with holes. Correction - older powder based weapons would produce holes. The weapons I invented would violently rip anything to shreds in a hail of hypersonic steel. Yet, I would feel no guilt for having created such things. It's for our own good, as a people.

I head to a lonely part of the perimeter and light up a cigarette. I invented the sensors, if anything out there moved or was hotter than 90 degrees, the data would be forwarded to a single-lensed pair of sunglasses with a display in the one lense covering my right eye. I turn to head back to the base, and a familiar feeling surges through my heart, paralyzing me. I fight back mentally, and struggle to turn around, and as soon as I do, everything goes black.

---

I wake up in a bright room strapped to a metal chair. The walls and ceiling are white concrete and the floor is black and white checkered tile. There is a door in front of me and old fashioned video security camaras at every corner. Suddenly a loud metallicy voice blares from behind me, "Hello, Justin Todd..." I strain my neck to look behind me and see an extremely old looking intercom speaker that looks like it belongs in a school. "We've been watching you for a long time..." Says the voice. Keeping a cool head, I shout, "Who are you? Who do you work for? What is this place? Where the hell am I?" "So many questions... You'll get your answers soon enough... But first you must answer a few of mine..." Suddenly another voice blares from the intercom, "WAIT! Let me talk to him! Please, I know him!" This new voice nearly makes my heart stop. It couldn't be... her. It just couldn't. The silence that follows is agonizing. Is she really here? Or am I dreaming? Or maybe it's some kind of rebel trick? I hear the loud clank of a lock and turn my head in time to watch the door open.

My eyes go wide and I stop breathing. There standing in front of me is my angel, the light I thought I had lost, my Allie... My heart stops beating, and then surges faster. That familiar feeling shoots through my body like electricity, numbing my body. The door closes and locks behind her, leaving us both alone. We just stare for what seemed like an eternety. She has a hand gently pressed to her lips as she fights back tears. The white dress she's wearing compliments her slender frame and makes her look even more angelic. A word escapes my stunned lips. Just one word, "Allie......." Suddenly she rushes to me and crumples into my lap sobbing quietly. My cheeks feel warm and I discover that I had also been fighting back tears. She drapes her arms accross my shoulders and whispers, "Oh God, Justin... Justin... I've missed you so much..."

At frist I can't speak. My mind is screaming, 'SAY SOMETHING, YOU STUPID JACKASS!!!' But my mouth won't move. Finally I get up the courage to speak, "Allie... Please don't cry... I'm here now..." I want so badly to hold her, to dry her tears, but my hands are bound. She calms down somewhat but she still has tears gently sliding down her face. I kiss away a tear and tell her, "Untie me, I won't do anything." She nods and unties my bindings. I wrap my arms around her tightly and kiss her passionately, one hand behind her head and one arm holding her body close to mine. We stay like that for a little while and then she pulls back and gives me a serious look.

"Justin listen. You were brought here because our leader wants you to build weapons and armor for his forces. He'll keep you safe as long as you do this. If you don't he'll kill you. I have some influence here, but not enough to keep you alive for more than a few days and you being let go is obviously out of the question. Please, I don't want to see you die....." She stares into my eyes with a pleading look. I stare back with mixed feelings. The love of my life is my enemy? Hurt and anger fill my heart. She sees this and gets off my lap and turns away guiltyly. "... I didn't have a choice, y'know." She says, "He's taken so many small towns. It was either join him or die. Death scares the shit out of me. I'm too much of a coward to face it." I take another look at her form. There's no way she could be a soldier for the rebel army. She looks more like a dancer than a fighter. "What part do you play in all of this?" I ask. She turns back to me, smiling but still looking sad, "I am one of the top assasins at this base. And also... our leaders favorite toy..."

I stare at her in disbelief. She continues to smile but her eyes get sadder. Suddenly a thought crosses my mind. "He doesn't hurt you... does he?" In response she turns around again and pulls down one of the sleeves on her dress, revealing a large, fist-shaped bruise. She looks back at me with that same mask-like look, "He likes to play rough..." I feel anger and hatred flood through me. How dare he lay a hand on my Allie!! I wanna kill him and I haven't even met the guy yet! I look down so I don't scare her as I clench my jaw and ball up my fists in anger. Suddenly I spring up, grab her and pull her close to me. I hold her as tight as I can without crushing her. The anger coursing through me is so strong I begin shaking. She wraps her arms around my waist and holds me just as tight. "Allie I'm so sorry..." I start but she interrupts me. "Don't be. It's not your fault." "I'm gonna kill that bastard..." I say through gritted teeth. "You can try, but he has guns, and you don't." She reasons.

After a while I calm down enough to loosen my grip a bit and take a better look around the room. the wall behind the chair has a white table and a white chair and a cot with a thin pad on it."We don't have anywhere else to put you." She says. I look back at her and another idea crosses my mind. I smile and pick her up bridal style. She looks at me with a cute surprised look and asks, "Justin, what are you doing?" "You'll see..." Is my only reply as I take her to the cot. I sit down with her in my lap and kiss her passionately. We make out for a few minutes then I lean my body sideways and fall on top of her...