Prologue Two: The Parent's Resolve

Five weeks later, Rick and Penny are sitting on the ground by the platform while their little girls run around the room in excitement. In front of the couple, the completed machine towers, giving them a sense of accomplishment.

A breath of air exits Rick as he marvels his wife's creation. "I can't believe Kairos 1.0 is finally complete. You've been working on it for five years."

Penny nods. "I know, I'm still trying to wrap my head around it, too." She slowly stands up. "Now, however, we need to begin preparing for the next stage of this desperate plan of ours. I'll grab the girls, so you go get the vaccines you made. Meet me in our bedroom when you're ready."

"Okay," Rick replies. "Give about ten minutes to get everything I'll need."

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Ten minutes later, Rick enter the bedroom and finds the girls sitting on the edge of the bed swing their legs forward and back, their feet thumping on the mattress. Penny is standing by the foot of the bed holding a glass of water.

He sets his medical equipment, which includes the vaccines, rubbing alcohol, gauze and bandages. A firm but comforting smile appears on his face. "Alright, ladies," he coos at the twins. "Time to get your shots. Remember, if you do well with this, your mother is going to make you cupcakes."

Penny rolls her eyes at Rick. "When did I ever agree to that?" she mouthed at him.

He gives a wink and proceeds to pour some rubbing alcohol onto a square of gauze. The girls arms are both wiped clean.

One of the girls squeezes her eyes shut, and holds her arm out to her father. He laughs at her attempt to be brave and go first. Deftly, he quickly gives her a multitude of shots. "Great job, sweetie. You're all done." He plants a kiss on her forehead.

The other girl reaches out and grabs her mothers free hand, before giving a slight nod and closing her eyes. Rick repeats the process of giving her all the shots, and she also receives a kiss on the forehead afterwards. "Well done, angel."

Penny places the glass of water on the night table, then addresses the girls, "Alright, why don't you girls go play in your room. It's Mommy's turn to get some shots. I'll make the cupcakes after I'm done."

The girls giggles before leaping up off the bed and running out of the room. Penny turns to Rick with a determined look on her face. "No matter what happens in the near future, I will not allow anything, and I'm serious when I say this, to hurt our little girls."

Rick cleans Penny's arm before replying, "I know, honey. I wont let them get hurt either."

There's a momentary silence between the couple as the recall the horrific events in the outside world that led them to hiding in this log cabin they built from scratch in the middle of the forest. It wasn't until two years after they finished the cabin that they felt comfortable and safe enough to start a family of their own.

"We're going to make this world right for our little girls."

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Meanwhile, at the edge of the forest, a group of soldiers are preparing to storm the hideout of a pair of treasonous scientists.