10th March 2075 - Dawn City

Sarah exited the portal after letting Jack return to his old life. Her whole plan of saving her friends didn't work, and now she had to rethink everything. The weight of failure hung heavy on her shoulders as she braced herself for Samantha's questioning.

"So, how did it go?" Samantha asked, her voice filled with anticipation.

"Not now, Samantha," Sarah replied, her voice heavy with disappointment.

"What do you mean not now? Where are Martin, Dave, and Lisa?" Samantha's voice trembled with concern.

"I didn't save them in time," Sarah confessed, her voice laced with sorrow.

Samantha's frustration boiled over, and she punched a hole in the wall, a physical manifestation of her anger and grief. The realization that their friends were gone hit them both like a tidal wave, leaving them stunned and lost for words. Alpha Industries had once again outmaneuvered them, leaving Sarah and Samantha reeling from the devastating blow.

"We need to go back to the drawing board and devise a new plan to hit back at them," Samantha suggested, her voice determined.

But Sarah's response was unexpected. "No, I don't want to," she said, her voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and defiance.

Confusion washed over Samantha. "What do you mean you don't want to? We don't have a choice. If we don't do this, Alpha Industries will destroy the world as we know it," she pleaded.

Sarah's voice hardened, tinged with bitterness. "Look, Samantha, I know what he did to you and your family, and how hard it is for you. But you don't know shit, Samantha. You only think you do, but you weren't there. You didn't experience all the stuff I went through to get here, and now it is all lost," she snapped.

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Before Samantha could respond, Sarah stormed off, leaving her friend standing there, stunned and unsure of what to do next.

* --Flashback---

25th June 2035 - Dawn City

Sam and Craig, two mysterious men, stood outside room 245 in a hotel corridor. It was their boss's coordinates, and they were there to finish a job. They knocked on the door, but there was no response, only an eerie silence that sent shivers down their spines.

Impatience got the better of Craig, and he kicked the door open, revealing a scene that shocked both of them. It was nothing like what their boss had described.

"I thought you said that they were alive," Sam said, his voice filled with disbelief.

"That's what the boss told me. Oh man, he is gonna kill us now when he hears about this," Craig responded, his voice tinged with fear.

But then, they heard something. A faint sound coming from another room. Curiosity overcame them, and they cautiously approached the door at the end of the room. As they opened it, they were greeted by an unexpected sight - a little girl.

Confusion washed over them. "Wait, what?! What do you mean, a little girl?" Sam questioned, her voice filled with disbelief.

Sam hesitated, unsure whether they should show Damien, their boss, the presence of the girl. She knew that Damien had specific instructions and expectations for this mission, but the sight of the innocent child stirred a sense of compassion within him. There was something about the girl that felt out of place in the midst of the chaos surrounding them.

Craig looked at Sam, sensing her internal struggle. "What should we do?" he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Sam pondered the options, weighing the consequences of their decision. Revealing the girl to Damien could potentially put her in danger, but withholding the information might also lead to unforeseen consequences. It was a difficult choice to make.

"We need to think carefully about this," Sam finally replied, her voice tinged with hesitation. "We can't rush into a decision that could have far-reaching implications."

As they looked around the room, their gaze fell upon a note that provided a clue to the girl's identity. It read, "Sarah Jane Jones." The mention of her name added another layer of intrigue to the situation, further complicating their decision.

Sam and Craig exchanged glances, silently acknowledging the weight of their responsibility. They knew that whatever choice they made would have significant repercussions. In that moment, they understood the importance of their role as protectors and the need to consider all possible outcomes before revealing the truth to Damien.

* --End Flashback---