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Chapter 13 Destiny Bites
Revelation 16: 16 - 19 KJV
And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,
and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”
And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake,
such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.
Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell.
And great Babylon was remembered before God,
to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.
And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,
and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”
And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake,
such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.
Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell.
And great Babylon was remembered before God,
to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.
Chapter 13
Destiny Bites
Destiny Bites
“Because your future, my destiny, I want no part in it, I never did.” John Connor, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
“No man of woman born, coward or brave, can shun his destiny.” William Cullen Bryant
“The future destiny of a child is always the work of the mother.” Napoleon Bonaparte
“A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.” Jean de La Fontaine
“If you do not create your destiny, you will have your fate inflicted upon you” William Irwin Thompson
“No man of woman born, coward or brave, can shun his destiny.” William Cullen Bryant
“The future destiny of a child is always the work of the mother.” Napoleon Bonaparte
“A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.” Jean de La Fontaine
“If you do not create your destiny, you will have your fate inflicted upon you” William Irwin Thompson
<<>>
2027, Day 34, 2 AM
John Connor is tired. For the first time in weeks, he is back home at the outpost. Having taken part in three attacks on Sky Net bases, two of which he led, he is thankful to finally lay down on his bunk. Before he can even remove his equipment, he falls asleep.
After a few hours of sleep he wakes with a start. Someone is in the room.
“Shh. It’s only me.” Allison says as she sits beside him on the bunk. “I just got back from my patrol. When did you get back?”
“Must have been about 2 maybe 2:15 this morning. I was so tired I fell asleep before I even realized it.”
“How did things go?”
“We successfully raided Century Work Camp and released the prisoners. Derek wasn’t there.”
“I was on patrol when Kyle arrived with all of the people, so I didn't see him arrive. How did he react?”
“He was angry and sad, but he didn’t let the others see. He truly hoped Derek would be there. It is the largest work camp in the area. But we did good. We’ve swelled the numbers for our resistance group.”
“I understand some of the rescued people got sent out to the other camps. What about the two jobs he left you to do?”
“Reconnaissance of LAX revealed that it is the base for the HK’s. It is guarded by centaurs and dozens of machines, both ken’s and endo’s. It was too risky to do any sabotage with the other job we had to do, but we got some good intelligence.”
“How did the second job go?”
John smiles. “Let’s just say Sky Net will have to find a new location for building its Triple-8's from now on.”
“You are wonderful!”
“It wasn’t just me. I had about twenty soldiers and almost twice as many machines with me.”
“I know, but it wouldn’t have happened without you.” Allison gives him a hug and kisses him.
“Ow.” John says.
“Did I hurt you?” Allison says with some surprise.
“No. Though you do have pretty strong grip. I got singed by plasma fire. Got a burn on my back, forgot it was there.”
“Strip off your dirty clothes. I’ll go get some clean water and bathe it for you. I think the doc might have something for burns.”
“Whatever you say nurse.” John smiles at her and begins removing his equipment and then his clothes.
A short time later John is clean, and the wound on his back has been cleaned and some of the most foul smelling ointment rubbed on the burn. Allison swears it helps burns heal, but John would rather put up with the sting of the burn than the smell, even if it does feel better.
John spends some time with some of the other soldiers at the outpost and learns of some of the things that has been happening while he’s been gone. Word is spreading that there are resistance groups growing around the country. How much of that is true isn’t known. What really perks John interest is that some of these resistance groups are formed from surviving members of the armed forces. But right now all they have is unconfirmed rumors.
After a few hours of reconnecting with his fellow soldiers, there is some important work he has to do. He returns to his room and begins working on the program for Cameron. He wishes he could spend more time on this, but the resistance has been galvanized since the day the factory was taken. He can’t ignore his responsibilities, but his reason for being here is to fix Cameron.
The next couple of days are quiet for John Connor. He goes on patrols with the other outpost fighters and take his turn at standing watch. Allison also goes on patrols and takes the time to assist in the infirmary where she assists the Doc in treating the wounded. In John’s free time, when he isn’t with Allison, he works on rewriting the matrix for Cameron. This isn’t anywhere near as simple as modifying the programs for the first machines. This requires a lot more skill and knowledge. He learns as he goes.
2027, Day 36, 7 AM
It was another great night for the resistance. Twelve machines on patrol were taken out by the combined forces of John Connors patrol and a group of former prisoners who wanted revenge for their mistreatment at the hands of the machines. The resistance now has additional plasma rifles. The machines were de-chipped and symbolically hung as a message to all other machines in the vicinity.
When John gets back, Allison is pulling a duty shift in the infirmary. After stopping in long enough to say hello, he decides to use the next few hours working on the program for Cameron. He’s only been working a couple of hours when he is interrupted by a knock at the door.
“Come in.” He says as he closes his laptop.
“Hello Captain.”
“The title is still only honorary, Andy.”
“Not to us, sir. You deserve that title and then some, for what you have done. Outpost Delta and some of the other camps want to make the title permanent, even raise your rank if we can.”
“Thanks Andy. That means a lot. I’ve been wanting to ask you something but haven’t had the time.”
“What’ that?”
“You’re not originally from around here are you? I mean, you seem to have a bit of an accent.”
“You’re right. Not too many people pick up on that. I’m from England. I moved to the states with my folks when I was just a kid. My dad was an engineer with a telecommunications company and my mom taught computer science at the university. My dad was also an amateur radio operator. He taught me everything about radios.”
“Speaking of which, what gets you away from your radio?”
“I’ve got a message for you from Kyle. It just came in over the radio. He wants you to report to the main bunker immediately. You are to pick up your stuff and go.”
“Did the message say why?”
“Nope.”
“I’d better let Allison know.”
“I’ve already sent someone to the infirmary to tell her. She’s to go with you.”
John was thoughtful for a moment. “Do you know what this is about?”
“The only thing I know is that Kyle and the top lieutenants in his group and leaders from some of the surrounding camps were in a meeting all of yesterday. The meeting was locked down, no word on what it was about. But my feeling is, it was about you.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Why else call in the hero of the resistance after an all day meeting. I’d get going if I were you. It will take long enough to get there on any night visit, but its daytime and the machines will be on alert after so many successful raids.”
He turns to leave as Allison comes in. “Hi Andy, how’s Emily doing?” she says.
“She is doing well. I’ll let her know you asked about her. Bye.” Andy leaves.
“I suppose you got the word we are to pull up stakes and head back to the main bunker?” John asked her.
“Yeah, this place was starting to feel like home.”
John looks around at the drab interior. Plain walls. Stained floors. Two bunks and a small table. The only thing that made it cheerful, besides Allison, was that silly banner on the wall.
“I’ll tell you what. We’ll take that banner with us, and hang it in whatever hovel we get. We should start packing. It is a long walk back to the main bunker.”
They pack up their things into two bags. John places his computer and other electronic bits and pieces into a third bag. Allison takes down the banner and rolls it up as tight as she can and slips it into her pack.
John and Allison walk to the hatch and meet up with three fighters.
“Hi I’m Samantha, but you can call me Sam. This is Paul and this gangly fellow on my left is Rico. We will be escorting you to the main bunker.”
They slip out the hatch and crawl, hide, scramble and pretty much run on their knees to avoid hunter killers, a few centaurs and multiple endo’s as they sneak across the ruinous landscape to reach a hatch that will take them to the main bunker.
John was slightly worried. He had no idea what Kyle wanted, but it had to be something big to call him back to the main bunker.
2027, Day 36 early evening
When John and Allison arrive at the main bunker, they find more people living there now. The numbers have been swelled by the rescued prisoners and the growing number of resistance fighters.
John can hardly believe he has been here just over a month. He feels like he has been here a lifetime already. So much has changed since he arrived.
Upon arriving at the main bunker, their escort leaves them. Two guards then show them where they need to go. They are led down some twisting corridors until they reach an actual door. It is only one of a few in the main bunker. John and Allison recognize it immediately. It is the door to Derek’s room, the leader of the resistance.
One of the guards knock on the door. “Come in!” shouts a voice from inside.
The guard opens the door for John and Allison and gestures for them to both go in. He remains outside and closes the door behind them.
Inside Kyle is standing next to an old desk. On the walls behind it are maps of the surrounding area and a tattered California state flag. Above the flag, written on the wall is the name Resistance Group Grizzly.
“Kyle!” says Allison with joy. “We have no idea what is happening. Everyone has been tightlipped since we got orders to come see you.”
“Well, I’ve got news for the two of you, and it mostly concerns you, John.”
“What’s that?” John asks, looking somewhat apprehensive.
“Well first of all, Allison, you are now a Lieutenant in the resistance. This promotion has been unanimously granted to you by the people at Outpost Delta for the all of the hard work you’ve done for them. Congratulations.”
Allison smiles as John gives her a hug with his one free arm.
“And you John,” Kyle pauses as he watches the two of them lean on his every word. “Because of the outstanding work you have done on behalf of the resistance and the way the people have rallied to the fight since your arrival, you are now the leader of this resistance group. That includes this bunker, much of the Los Angeles area and several outposts including Outpost Delta.”
John is in complete shock. He can’t believe what he has heard. He tries to talk but can’t get his mouth to move.
Kyle smiles. “Congratulations John.”
“What?! . . . but, you should be leading. It’s you and Derek . . . that has lead all of these people. You should be leading in his absence, not me!” John was shocked.
“No buts about it John. You are a far better leader than I could be. It took all day for me to convince some of our top lieutenants but in the end it was a unanimous vote. As of now, you are in command.”
“But why?” John says in lower voice. He was feeling panicked. It felt like his worse dream was coming true.
“I would have been content to lead until we could have found Derek, but we haven’t. You are more qualified to lead than anyone else. I have seen you in command. These people live and breathe on word of your successes. These people rallied to your aid at your worst need. You bring them hope. Don’t let your petty fears interfere with what fate has given you.” Kyle says firmly but not unfriendly.
John sets the bags down. They suddenly felt very heavy.
“Don’t worry. Myself, Allison, your other lieutenants, and your friends Catherine Weaver and John Henry will give you all the aid and support you need.”
“I wasn’t expecting this. I never wanted this position.” John humbly says.
“I know John, but no one can deny your leadership capabilities. And the people know how much you care for them. Keeping them alive is one thing, but you can lead them in a war against Sky Net and all of its machines. You have done well in the time you’ve been here. The lieutenants and camp leaders have elected you as leader. I’ll still be second and with you the whole time.”
Kyle walks forward and places his hand on John’s shoulder. “I’ll tell you what. I’ve already cleared out Derek’s and my stuff from the back room over there. Why don’t you two get settled in and get some food and rest and we’ll talk about it some more in the morning.”
“Thanks Kyle.” Allison says as he disappears out the door.
“I don’t know what to do Allison. I didn’t come here for this. I don’t feel ready.”
“It’s okay John.” she places her arm around him. “I’m here for you. We are all here for you. It is a wonderful thing that has happened. You’ll feel better about it in the morning. You’ve had a rough couple of weeks and the shock of your promotion certainly doesn’t help.”
Allison escorts John to the back room. When they open the door, they find more than just an empty room to be filled with the few things they have brought with them from the outpost. Inside there is a proper bed, a small table with two chairs, a private area curtained off from the rest of the room, and some shelves for storing clothing and other items.
“It’s home.” says Allison, a smile coming to her face.
John is still shocked by recent events. His only thoughts were to aid these people the best he could and get Cameron fixed and back to the time he came from. He never thought that he would reach leadership at his age. Being leader was something that ‘future John’ did, not this John who still struggles with high school math and chemistry.
He places their bags on the table and sits down with a heavy sigh.
“John, what is troubling you? You looked scared.”
“I am scared. I am scared of my destiny.” For once he gives an honest answer about his past. “All my life, I have been told that one day I would lead the resistance against Sky Net. My mom spent her entire life training me to be a soldier. I spent my youth learning computers and computer languages, how to strip down and rebuild most anything mechanical and electronic, how to operate and maintain a wide range of weapons. My early childhood I spent in the company of soldiers, mercenaries, and smugglers who taught me the art of warfare, tracking skills, and hand-to-hand combat. Through it all I was told I would be a leader. That scared me. My destiny set in stone before I was even born. And now here I am, not even an adult yet, and in the space of a few hours I’ve gone from worrying about you to having to worry about everyone.”
“We’ll help you John. You can rely on us to help you. Leadership isn’t about bearing the weight of your responsibilities alone, its about how to let people help you with all the small things so you can concentrate on doing what you do best.”
“What is that?”
“You inspire people to want more than mere existence. You have given them hope for a future free from Sky Net. You galvanize them to do more, to fight harder, to want to win. You can do this. I know you can.”
“I’m just sixteen. This isn’t something I was expecting. How can I lead them?”
“John,” She looks at him for a moment. “You can’t see it in yourself can you? You don’t recognize your ability to lead do you? You’re not trying to be humble, you truly don’t know why the people feel the way they do about you?”
“I... no, I don’t.”
“John, they see in you what I’ve seen in you since that first day. No matter how reserved you act, inside of you is someone who is bursting with life and hope. Your leadership skills are so refined you act on an instinct that bewilders those around you. You lead because you inspire the people around you. They follow you because you give them hope during their greatest need.”
“I didn’t know.” He say quietly.
“Why don’t I find us something to eat. In the meantime you can get our stuff unpacked.” She leans down and gives John a long kiss. Allison places her hand behind his neck as he tilts his head back to receive her kiss.
“I’ll be right back.” She says walking away, letting her fingers slide gently across his neck.
John still can’t believe his sudden meteoric rise to leadership. It is an unexpected turn of events. He gets up and unpacks their few belongings and sets them on the shelves. John unfurls the banner that the people at the outpost had hung in Allison’s room as a joke. He looks about the room and sees a couple of nails in the wall spaced just far enough apart to hang it up.
Returning to the table, he pulls out his computer and adds a new entry to his journal:
2027, Day 36
I can’t believe what has happened to me today. Mom, I am so sorry for all the grief I gave you about my destiny in life. Today, that destiny has been delivered to me by none other than Kyle Reese. I wish you were here to see this. I miss you. I am so scared right now. My only intention in this future I found myself in was to do my duty and do all that I could to restore Cameron. But my destiny has reared its head and taken hold of my life in its jaws. I have no choice in the matter any more. Not that I believed that I ever did have a choice, but I always dreamed of having one.
John exits his journal, powers off the laptop. He looks about the room and his only thought is, “Where in hell, in all this devastation did they find a proper bed?” He decides to lay down to wait for Allison and in a few minutes he finds himself asleep.
He dreams about an event from his childhood.
As a child he used to play a game with his mom in the jungle. It was like hide-n-seek, but it was always used to teach tracking. In the early hours of the morning, she would get up and leave the camp while he still slept. It was his job to follow her trail and locate her. She always chose a location where she could watch him. He could have always cheated and looked for her hiding place, but he was to learn tracking.
One time when he was eight, he lost her trail. Several other paths had crossed her own, and he lost hers in the confusion of markers.
He panicked and began to run. “Mom! Mom!” He shouts over and over. He runs through the jungle and eventually stumbles into a clearing where she stands waiting for him.
“What have I told you John?” She says sternly.
He could barely hold back the tears.
“What have I told you John?” She says again.
“That if I get confused to back track and start again. To think and remain calm.”
“You didn’t do that did you?” His mom says firmly.
“No.” He says quietly.
“Will you panic again?”
“No.” He says more firmly.
“Then come here.” Sarah kneels down and holds her arms out to him. John goes to her and they hug.
Sarah wipes the tears from her sons eyes. “We’ll try again tomorrow.” She tells him.
John wakes to find Allison asleep beside him. He gets out of bed and goes sits down at the table. Beside his computer is an apple and a bowl of something which looks like porridge but smells terrible. Ignoring the porridge like stuff, he bites into the apple and turns on his computer. John opens his journal and writes down the dream he had. At the end he adds:
Her lessons always included another lesson within. I often wondered if on that day she deliberately chose a path that got obscured by others just to see if I would remember her training. I never made that mistake again. But I never forgot that panic, the fear that I felt when I thought I had lost her. I wonder why that memory should come to me now. Almost twenty years separate us right now. She can’t get to me, and according to Catherine the time hasn’t come for me to go back. So why am I dreaming about losing her. In a sense, I lost her on the day I chose to travel here with Catherine, and I have come to terms with that.
John pulls the necklace with his mom’s key ring on it from under his shirt. He gazes at it remembering her. The good and bad times. Through it all, his mom was his biggest supporter. “I miss you mom.” He says to the quite room.
He sits there a moment longer and looks at Allison gently sleeping in the bed. Despite the fact he had fallen asleep laying on top of the covers fully clothed, she had still managed to slip under the covers. He checks the clock on his computer and finds it is just going on 10 PM. There are still several hours to go before dawn.
He plugs Cameron’s chip back into the computer and resumes programming. He’s certain he’s countermanded her termination commands, but he now needs to adjust her personality and behavioral controls. He had come to the decision sometime ago to not include Allison Young’s matrix, especially as it was on Cameron’s original chip and should be on the Turk as well. He will rely on Cameron’s own personality matrix with some tweaks based on Allison. Cameron 2 may be similar to his Cameron, but she was going back home to 2009. She would recover her primary matrix and provide his Mom with help and protection. She needed Cameron more than he did.
2027, Day 37 after midnight
After a three hours John feels tired, so he shuts down his computer and puts Cameron’s chip away. He quietly undresses and slips under the covers as carefully as he can so as not to disturb Allison. He slides up next to her, being careful not to disturb her. He can smell her scent, a heady perfume. Her hair is soft and her body is warm. It is a comfort in this world at war that he found this wonderful woman who loves him. He knows in his heart that he still loves Cameron, but right now he needs to fix her to help his mother and not for himself. So he doesn’t feel guilty or tormented by that love anymore, or at least that is what he tells himself.
John leans over and kisses Allison on her cheek and whispers in her ear, “I love you Allison, more than you could know.”
He lays down beside her snuggling in close. He doesn’t see the smile on her face, or the single tear that comes from her eye.
2027, Day 37 early morning
“Good morning John.”
“Uhh, what time is it?” John opens his eyes to see Allison leaning over him with a smile on her face.
“Time we got up. Its almost dawn and Kyle will probably be around soon to get you familiar with everyone and everything here.”
“How much longer 'til dawn?” John asks with a groan.
“Nearly an hour.”
“An hour! Why wake me so early, I could have been up and ready in less than five minutes.”
“Because, this will probably be the last time I will see you today and maybe the last time we will be alone together for some time to come. As leader, you will be very busy now and I wanted to have you to myself for one hour at least.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think. Do you truly believe that I can lead these people?” John asks as he strokes her hair.
“John I have faith in you. I know you can lead us. I trust you. Kyle trusts you. And the people have placed their trust in you. You can do this John.”
John looks up at her and deep into her eyes. “I don’t know why, but when I see the way you look at me, it feels like you know I can do this. I love you Allison. I’ll need your help. I can’t do this on my own.”
“I love you too.”
John looks at her. She looks at him with such kindness and warmth.
“Come here.” he says gently. They embrace and begin to kiss.
Their passions increase and their kissing grows more intense. They touch and caress each others bodies.
They make love tenderly and lovingly, only wanting to fulfill the others desires. Without forcing the pace they love each other, making each moment last.
Soft moans of pleasure escape their lips as they search out and find those sensitive areas that make the others pleasure that much more intense. All they care about is the love they have for each other, of making this moment together the best it can be. Their only desire is the pleasing each other.
Their love making reaches its pinnacle as their cries of passion rise. They silence each others cries in a long passionate kiss. They finally release each other and gasp for air, they did not know they needed. Until that very moment all their thoughts were for the other. They lay on the bed facing each other. Caressing and kissing and loving each other. Their bodies glistening from the sweat of their exertions.
John caresses her face gently with his hand.“I love you, Allison Young.”
“I love you too, John Connor.” She says then kisses him pulling him to her.
The day will be long and they may not have a private moment together for a long time to come. They have no idea how long it will actually be.
2027, Day 37, 8 AM
“Connor I’d like you to meet your top Lieutenants in this war.” Kyle says as they enter a room with about twelve people of different ages from 18 to 30, both men and women, all looking like they’ve spent more years in the trenches than John had in his lifetime.
“They have been elected to their positions by the people in their respective camps and outposts. Their election is based upon their successes in the field. They are knowledgeable about nearly every aspect of the war with Sky Net and they will help you carry out your plans.”
John decides to take the bull by the horns. “Kyle informed me that he had to argue for my promotion over him with some of you. I am humbled that he would think me more worthy of this position than himself, but let me tell you here and now, that if any of you still have doubts about my position as leader, there is the door. This war is too important to allow dissension within the leadership of the resistance.”
“It is bad enough that the camps were so selfish that they couldn’t unify long enough to take one factory. I will not tolerate division amongst the people nor within the officers of this army. I need to know that I can rely on each of you to help conduct this war. So this your last chance. If you harbor any doubts, then this is your time to leave and have someone else chosen from your group to take your place.”
The men and women just stood there. They weren’t expecting this kind of talk from John Connor. They elected a boy and found themselves with a man. Someone who takes charge.
“No takers. I’m glad to hear it. All right people. Educate me on what’s been happening.”
John spends the entire morning learning what the resistance has been through since Judgment Day. He is both overwhelmed by the hard realities that these people have faced, and amazed that they are still alive. Their early attempts at fighting had devolved into just trying to stay alive and one step ahead of the machines. There has been multiple hunts by metal to wipe them out. There last attack made just before John’s arrival, they came right into the bunkers.
The people have gathered lots of intelligence, but until John arrived with his weapons cache, they hadn’t the means to take any large scale action. Their first act was to take the plasma rifle factory. The greatest success experienced by the resistance at that time. Since then, John has taken part or led in every successful mission.
Later in his journal he writes, “It’s no wonder the people rallied to me so strongly despite my lack of desire to be leader. The people here are truly starving for hope. Allison, Catherine, Kyle, Derek, my mom, are right about my destiny. Allison said it best, “You bring them hope at their greatest need.”
2027, Day 37, 2 PM
Allison was right. She didn’t see John again as he was in a meeting nearly all day with Kyle and the top lieutenants of the resistance.
Allison goes about her duties. She spends time with the injured cheering them up and helping the medics in treating their injuries. Allison then goes to her old room to look for the few things she had left behind when she went on the mission with Kyle and John to the weapons cache. Her small chest isn’t there, but she finds it in a storage room with other items cleared out when the additional people arrived.
There isn’t much in her small chest, just a few more pieces of clothing and a shoe box that has almost completely fallen apart. Inside was the only thing she had from her life before Judgment Day. A pair of ballet slippers that were her mom’s. She was a music teacher, but before she married her dad she dreamed of being a professional ballerina. Her mom had instilled that same love of classical music in Allison and was teaching her how to dance ballet until the day the bombs fell.
Allison caresses the slippers as she thinks of her mom and her life as a child. “Mom this isn’t the life you expected for your child. This isn’t the life any parent wanted for their child. But mom, I’ve met someone who I love very much and I know he loves me as much as I love him. I am happy, happier than I ever thought I could be.”
With tears of happiness and sadness, she hugs the slippers to her imagining it is her mom she is hugging. She carefully re-wraps them in the ragged tissue paper and slides them back into the shoe box. Allison places everything into a shoulder bag and returns to the rooms she now shares with John.
As Allison approaches the door to John’s and her rooms, the guard informs her that Catherine Weaver is waiting inside.
Allison walks inside to find Catherine Weaver sitting behind John’s desk.
Allison is a little miffed to find this woman at his desk in their rooms. “What are you doing here?”
“I am looking for John Connor. I have a message for him.”
“He’s busy. He’s with Kyle Reese and the top Lieutenants.”
“Oh. What is the occasion?” She asks getting up from the chair.
“We got here late yesterday to find that John has been elected leader of the resistance, at Kyle Reese’s insistence.”
Catherine Weaver smiles. “Great! When I heard he got called back here I knew it had to be something important. So he did it. He finally became leader.”
Allison looks at her kind of questioningly. “How did you come to expect that? What are you clairvoyant or something?”
Weaver walks around the desk and stands in front of it. “No. But let’s just say I have a certain amount of foresight.”
Catherine Weaver walks towards Allison. “A girl must have a few secrets, as you are most certainly aware.”
Allison stiffens at the comment, her eyes darting to Weaver. “What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, lets just say that I find the fact that out of all those who died in capturing that factory, you’re the only one to escape unscathed, and John only has light injuries.” Weaver gives her a calculating look.
“It’s just luck.” Allison says, with a small grin.
“Yes, I’m sure it is.” Weaver says with a knowing grin and piercing eyes.
They stand there a moment sort of studying each other. This is the first time they’ve been alone together.
Catherine breaks off her study first. “I’m glad we’ve had this little talk. Would you please inform John that I was here. I’ll try to stop by again later.” She holds out her hand as if to shake hands.
Allison ignores the proffered hand. “I’ll tell him. Now if you don’t mind I’d like to get John’s office prepared for him by the time he gets back. There are reports he’ll need to review.”
“Certainly.” Weaver doesn’t act the least offended by the ignored hand gesture. “May I offer you some advice before I go.”
“If you must.”
“Be careful. John is leader now, but his strong emotions may be his downfall. He holds them in check better than most humans, but he feels strongly and deeply. Be there for him when he’s in pain.”
Allison feels embarrassed, “I’m sorry for being rude. You needn’t worry about John. I will always be with him. He need never fear or worry. We love each other very much.”
“I know.” Catherine looks at her. “Good bye Allison. Take care.”
Catherine walks towards the door.
“Wait! Catherine!”
Catherine stops and looks at Allison. “Yes”
“John should be back here late this evening. If you need to see him today, that will be the best time.”
“Thank you, Allison.” Catherine smiles and walks out closing the door gently behind her.
Allison felt uncomfortable after her conversation with Catherine Weaver. There was something about her that made Allison feel odd, like Catherine knew something or held secrets that no one but her knew.
2027, Day 37, 5 PM
Allison puts Weaver’s visit out of her mind and goes to work organizing the latest reports that had come in and were on John’s desk. She sorts them according to observations of Sky Net’s activity, locations of new food and water sources, and potential locations of weapons or other supplies. She uses the information to update the maps on the wall.
There is a new folder with reports from other outlying camps that wish to join the main group. She sets them all out on his desk when suddenly she hears heated voices approaching from outside the door.
“No John, now is not the time!”
“Blast it! When is the time then? You've been skulking around in these holes too long. If you don’t start acting soon you’ll lose the whole momentum of electing me to this position. It will have been a total waste of your time!”
John and Kyle come storming into the room, both with faces of thunder.
“What is wrong with you two?” she asks them both.
“Tell him, Allison. Tell him its too dangerous to unite all the camps right now!” Kyle shouts.
“She damn well knows the situation as it is. She was with me on the battlefield. We saw our comrades fall and die all around us. And why? Because the camps were too selfish to share their resources. All camps must come together now, under one banner, or we will all die!”
Allison speaks up. “What is it you want to do John?”
“I want to get on the radio and address all the camps that have radios, they in turn can send runners out to the camps without radios. I want to call them all to unite as one army.”
“It will expose our position. Such a radio address will bring metal upon us in large numbers.” Kyle admonishes him.
“Then we arrange a place where all camps can join up. There are places in the mountains that haven’t seen the destruction here in the cities. Places where the people can find food and water away from the machines. We get all people to move there leaving only a small fighting group behind, and after my radio address the rest of us leave taking the radio with us.”
Kyle and John look at each other. Kyle is measuring what John has told him.
“Kyle, John is right. We already have messages from nearby smaller groups who wish to join up with ours. Would it really be so bad even if we do have to move the camp?”
“All right, but it will take time to arrange.”
“How long?” John asks.
“Twenty four hours to get the word out you will be addressing them all by radio. A lot of bases maintain radio silence, only coming on at designated times.”
“I recall that from our time at the outpost.”
“I’d also better run this past your lieutenants. Some of which already know of your desires. They were with me the day I joined you at the plasma rifle factory. They heard everything you said.”
“Kyle, please understand I am doing this for the best interest of the resistance. If we don’t come together to fight the war, we will all die. Only we’ll just be better armed corpses. We’ve got to do this now.”
“You’re right John. But before I go to your lieutenants with this I should at least have some idea of where we’ll move the camp to. They’ll want to know.”
“Before you two arrived, I was updating the maps with the latest intelligence reports.” says Allison. “There are still places which haven’t seen any activity from machines whether they be, endo’s, ogre’s, or HK’s.”
“Let’s take a look, and you can familiarize me with your map codes as well.”
Allison, John and Kyle went over the maps for sometime. Eventually there was only one place they could go. It was a location they could defend easily, located some fifty plus miles from their location. John was amused by the irony of the location. He’d been there before, well almost. It was Camp Pendleton. A military base just north of the Presidio Alto Military Academy located in Carlsbad.
* * *
Extract from John’s Journal
2027, Day 37
Allison has gone with Kyle to meet with the Lieutenants. With her new rank she has the right to be a part of those meetings. Her reason for going is to help Kyle argue for my plan of unifying the resistance. My reason for not being there is that I am planning strategy.
I’m presently still programming one of the chips Catherine gave me. The process is slow, but it allows me to make adjustments. The other Allison that my Cameron was based on must have been some kind of woman. I could clearly see why my future self and she would befriend each other. If Catherine and I do return to the present, which is the past, and I meet Allison in the real future time line, how will my current relationship with this Allison or Cameron affect it. Is that why in her profile she said there wasn’t a physical relationship, because I kept it platonic, or was there other reasons for her saying so?
All of this is so mind boggling. How can I go through life second guessing what I am going to do in the future when faced with all this data of what I am going to do? And on top of that I am in a future trying to do what my destiny has called me to do. It gives me headache just trying to figure it all out. I try not to dwell on it but my current situation keeps it foremost in my thoughts. My current responsibilities can’t allow for second guessing. I’ll just do what I think is right at the moment and move forward.
2027, Day 37, 8 PM
John’s writing is interrupted by a knock at the door.
“Who is it?”
“Catherine Weaver to see you sir.” Comes the firm reply from the other side of the door.
“Send her in.” John saves his work and closes his laptop.
Catherine strolls through the door. The guard outside closes it firmly behind her.
“Well John, it suits you sitting behind that desk. I told you you’d end up leading the resistance.”
“Yeah, well fate does seem to have thrust my destiny upon me. I just hope I’m up to the challenge at this time, at my present age.”
“John you have knowledge and experience these fighters don’t have. You have brought them weapons which have allowed them to acquire even more powerful weapons. You have taken part in numerous successful missions. You are a hero to these people, and heroes often find themselves thrust into roles they never imagined for themselves.”
“Well this hero feels like he’s a little to green around the gills to handle such responsibility. You had a hand in getting me here, so I’m going to have to rely on you more, and John Henry too. How’s he doing by the way with . . . our little project?”
“I’ve got good news. While you were gone, John Henry sent a group of T-800's to the desert hideaway. He had them bring back all weapons still there and Cameron’s body.”
“Where is she?” John says standing up quickly.
“She’s at the factory where John Henry reprogrammed the T-800's.”
“And the weapons. What have you done with them?”
“The T-800's left a large allotment at Outpost Delta but the rest are now here. They have also left some of their shoulder mounted SAM missile launchers for defense against the HK’s.”
“That’s great. I should send a message to Kyle and the others about this.”
“Before you do, there is something else you should know.”
“What’s that?
“John Henry believes he may have located his brother.”
“His brother?”
“Yes, another Artificial Intelligence. It tried to attack John Henry and failed in 2009. John Henry’s access to the factory computers has allowed him to identify that same signal again. We believe it is Sky Net itself.”
“Has he got a trace on it? Because if he does, then we can attack Sky Net’s main grid.”
“He’s presently working on it. He has a general location and he is trying to narrow it down.”
“That’s great! How goes the repairs to Cameron.”
“He’s made a start, but the search on Sky Net’s central location is taking time. Sky Net has hidden itself behind false shadows.”
“Locating Sky Net’s main grid is more important. But I’d like to discuss some design modifications for Cameron with both you and him.”
“Design modifications? What do you have in mind, John?” Catherine tilts her head and raises her eyebrows.
“Nothing drastic. Just another port for a secondary chip and a second power cell to handle the power demands of a second chip.”
“What is the purpose for these changes?”
“Remember when I told you that Cameron’s chip became damaged and she reverted to her original programming?”
“Yes.”
“There is more to the story than that. After the bombing, Cameron’s memories were temporarily replaced by those of a previous infiltrator profile. That of the Allison Young from her own time line. The subroutines put in place to block that matrix were damaged. She managed to bypass the damaged area eventually, but there were complications. It is possible that having two complete personality matrixes, that of herself and that earlier profile is too much for a single chip to handle.”
“That is possible. Please continue.”
“I’ve read all the data on the TOK series terminator that’s on that data disc you gave me. I’ve found that a multi-chip design was considered but was used instead in development of the triple-8's. The subroutines I am working on will allow Cameron’s own personality to develop and grow, by transferring them from the secondary chip to the primary chip, leaving the other personality behind. All her blocks will be removed and she can develop and learn like any other person, without ever worrying about her own personality matrix from ever being supplanted again. But to guide her in her development, all the information gathered on the Allison Young she was built to emulate will remain stored on the secondary chip. She can access them as she pleases and use the knowledge within them to use as a learning guide. The second power cell will provide more power to handle the second chip and her autonomic functions without depleting her primary power cell.”
“That is very clever. I don’t think there will be any trouble in making the modifications you want.”
John sighs. “That’s good. I promised Cameron I would help her fix it. She told me there was nothing I could do at the time. I didn’t give it much further thought until I found myself here.”
“You are good friend to do so much for someone you truly care for. What are you going to do now?”
“Well right now I’ve got a speech to prepare. I’ll be addressing all of the resistance in twenty four hours.”
“Oh! What is the purpose of this address?”
“I wish to unify all of the camps into one large army for fighting Sky Net.”
“Are you sure this the right time?”
“Not you as well. Listen. Right now the people are galvanized for action. Our forces have been flushed with greater numbers since taking down Century Work Camp. But to fight Sky Net and it’s machines, we are going to need far more people than what we have. Our goal is to destroy Sky Net, not merely to survive.”
“I’m glad to hear it. What will you do next?”
“We can’t act without intelligence. If John Henry can....”
Boom! A loud explosion rocks the room.
“What the hell?” John exclaims.
More explosions rock the room. Weaver moves to John Connor’s side.
The door bursts open and Kyle and the guard come rushing. Automatic gun fire is heard in the corridor.
“The machines have broken in. Mostly endo’s, some ken’s, all heavily armed with plasma rifles and heavy caliber automatic rifles!” Kyle shouts.
“Get all people out through any available exits. Take them deeper into the tunnels if you have too!” Connor shouts back. We will meet up at Outpost Delta!”
Boom! Another loud explosion nearly knocks them off their feet. The guard and Kyle run back out to carry out John’s orders.
“Catherine, go back to John Henry. Tell him we’re moving to Outpost Delta. From there we will relocate to a military base out near Carlsbad. As soon as repairs and modifications are made, bring Cameron as close to that location as you can, then bring me to her. I’ve nearly finished programming her chip, but I need more time.”
Boom! Another loud explosion and part of the ceiling caves in. John gets up off the floor coughing.
“John you need to leave here before you get killed.” Catherine says anxiously.
“Catherine, go now and hurry. Have John Henry trace Sky Net as long as he can, but a good solid general location is better than a hazy specific location, okay.”
John looks at this woman, a machine, a terminator that has become his friend. “Take care of yourself Catherine. I can’t win this war without you.”
Catherine looks at this young man, who is so different yet so similar to the older John Connor of her own time. “I’ll see you soon.” she says and departs.
A few more explosions are heard. John scoops up his computer and chips and shoves them into a bag. He dashes into his and Allison’s inner room and grabs whatever he can of their things.
“John! John!” Allison yells as she runs in.
“Allison, why are you still here? Why haven’t you left.”
“I came back for you. We must hurry. Nearly all exits are blocked by metal.”
“I’ve packed our things. Take this.” He hands her a bag and a plasma rifle.
John slips both of his bags onto his shoulder and carries a Remington 870 shotgun with Extended Magazine and a Folding Stock. It was a favorite weapon of his mothers and he can’t think of any better.
“Damn. We weren’t even here long enough for it to feel like home.” he says as they leave.
They go running out into the corridor to the sounds of screams and automatic rifle fire. Beams of plasma fire light up the corridors as metal and men fire at each other.
“Allison. Which is the best way out of here?”
“Where are we going?”
“Back to Outpost Delta. We’ll collect the rest of the weapons and the people and head to Camp Pendleton from there.”
Sounds of plasma rifle fire gets louder as the metal advance. Screams of dying soldiers fill the air as automatic rifle fire riddles the air with bullets.
“This way John. I know a way out that nobody else knows.”
John follows Allison down the corridor. Metal is advancing from the rear. Soldiers with plasma rifles run past them to stop the metal long enough for the people to escape.
“Through here John.” Allison has stopped outside a tunnel entrance that had been boarded up at some time in the past. She is holding back two boards.
John kneels down and pushes their bags and weapons through.
“Quick hurry.” he shouts at her.
She just manages to get inside when more rifle fire is heard and more explosions bring dirt down on top of their heads.
A metal leg is seen through the gap in the boards. John holds his gun ready, but the machine passes by. He and Allison sit there quietly as more metal goes past firing their weapons. The sounds of gunfire continues as they wait.
“Okay, they should be far enough away now. Where does this tunnel lead?”
“The tunnel was abandoned long ago. The ground was too soft. It kept caving in, but part way in there is an old storm drain that passes through. There is hole big enough for us to squeeze through. We can follow that pipe into the main line then follow that for almost four miles. We’ll be some distance from the outpost, but we’ll be out of danger until we reach the surface.”
“I love you.”
“I know. Let’s get going before they find us.”
Allison and John struggled through the narrow opening into the pipe. The pipe wasn’t much bigger than the hole but they didn’t have to go far before they enter a larger pipe.
Rumbling and vibrations could still be felt and heard as they make their way down the storm drain. Once they reach the main line John takes a risk and climbs up a ladder and lifts a manhole cover to look.
HK’s are flying overhead firing their belly mounted plasma guns at fleeing people. Some of John Henry’s T-800's are laying down covering fire but even they don’t have enough firepower to bring down all of the HK’s.
John can feel a rumbling and he turns to see a centaur coming up the ancient road towards him. It’s plasma rifles firing at people, incinerating them in seconds. He pulls the manhole cover back over him and drops into the tunnel below with a splash.
“What did you see?” Allison whispers.
John puts his fingers to his lips and points up. The rumbling gets louder as the machine crawls overhead.
“I saw a centaur. It was approaching our location. In the distance I saw HK’s firing at our people while our T-800's fired back at the HK’s. It doesn’t look good Allison. Sky Net is definitely launching a major offensive. We need to go now.”
The two of them pick up their stuff and move as quickly as they can down the tunnel.
They don’t see the glowing red eyes in the tunnel behind them.
* * *
A silver shape is watching multiple monitors. On the various monitors is video being fed from the machines in the air, on the ground and in the tunnels as they go on a massive man hunt.
He is nearly shaking with glee as he watches the carnage unfold.
A smile fills his face as he watches the latest video come through. Two people fleeing down a tunnel. One a boy in his mid-teens and the other a girl who looks nearly twenty.
They turn and fire their weapons. The video sparkles and shakes but it remains steady.
“Identify!”
The girl turns and fires on the pursuing metal. The video quickly zooms in and freezes on her face. A list of images appear with names and stops, identifying the girl as Allison Young.
“That’s interesting.” The silver figure says quietly.
“Give me a close up of the boy!” he shouts in the microphone.
The video zooms in and freezes the image as the boy looks over his shoulder at the pursuing machine.
“Identify!” He says into the microphone. A small window pops up and various names and faces are seen until it stops. The second picture is overlaid with the first. A wire mesh image appears lining up points on both faces. John Connor 99.97% Match.
“Finally. Finally. You’ve led me on a merry chase, John Connor. I missed you in 2009, but I nearly got your mother. I purged the tunnels once before and missed you, but I will get you now.” He says quietly.
“KILL HIM!” he shouts. “KILL JOHN CONNOR NOW!”
The1Russter |
Latest page update: made by The1Russter
, Aug 14 2009, 5:16 PM EDT
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