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Chapter 21 Race Against the Machines
Chapter 21
Race Against The Machines
Race Against The Machines
“Machines Sarah, machines! You can pretend that they’re not, but they’re coming. They’re faster and stronger and they have been built to do one perfect thing: to kill you. They WILL kill you and your friends and your family. And your Mother and your Father and Kyle Reese and your son. Your son. They will kill everyone you love and everyone you hold close and there is nothing you can do about it, because they’re coming. They are coming and they will find you, cos that’s what they do. That’s ALL they do.” Sarah Connor, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Season 1 Episode 7, The Demon Hand, 2008
Terminator, “We must reacquire Katherine Brewster.”
John Connor, “Why? What makes her so goddamn important?”
Terminator, “Through her, you make contact with remnants of the U.S. military and learn how to fight Sky Net, forming the core of the Resistance.”
Excerpt from Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, 2003
Derek Reese, “It’s reprogrammed and just given run of the place. Like pets?”
Perry: “This is Connor’s show. And that’s what he wants.”
Derek, “Those machines kill, they kill, that’s all they do.”
Perry, “And now...they do it for us!”
Excerpt from Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Season 1 Episode 6: Dungeons and Dragons 2008
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Cue: Track 19 - Opening Title
Cue: Track 19 - Opening Title
2027, Day 47, July 23, 5:30 AM
John Connor walks away from his mom’s grave site. But for the wind rustling the trees, not a sound is heard on the mountain top. He has just seen Catherine and Cameron leave as they fly off in the helicopter. They are on their way to Weaver’s mountain hideaway, where she has her time displacement equipment.
His heart weighs heavy as he walks toward the garage. His mom is dead. She never would have even survived Judgment Day without Cameron being there. But why did she leave Mom and Savannah? He knows what they told him, but it can’t be right. He knows better.
The Cameron he knew before he time jumped only had a single fuel cell. He knows that for a fact. That time she had him check her fuel cell in that hotel room, will always haunt him. It was the most intimate moment they ever had, but it was more than that. He knew from that moment, if her fuel cell was leaking she would have no spare, and she would have to be deactivated or destroyed for everyone’s safety. That is why he had another fuel cell installed. It had nothing to do with the power requirements for having a second chip. A single fuel cell is more than adequate for two chips.
The garage looms large in the twilight of the early morning as he clears the trees and walks down the slope. The storm has passed. He’s more exposed to the wind now. He feels chilly despite it being mid summer. John runs the remaining distance to the garage that Catherine pointed out to him.
Outside the garage, the Triple-8's are standing guard. They follow him inside when he enters. The vehicles inside are a menagerie of various kinds. Obviously some belonged to the people who used to work here. However, the guns on the wall and the equipment on the tool bench make it clear that some resistance group made use of the building at some time in the past. Especially, since the big standout in the building is a military Humvee equipped with a roof mounted .50 caliber machine gun.
Who knows how long the truck has sat there, but it is in working order with a full tank of diesel. Some of the other vehicles look like junk, just sitting there gathering dust. John walks to the other side of the garage where there are two items under a large dusty tarp. He pulls it aside and uncovers a purple and black Harley. John Connor smiles. Now that is a ride.
He always liked motorcycles. He used to have one when he lived with his foster parents. That was destroyed while being pursued by the T-1000. But then he was rescued by “Uncle Bob,” who was riding a real motorcycle. John always wanted to have one for himself. But his mom wouldn’t let him. Too dangerous she said. Ha. Like their life wasn’t filled with danger anyway. At least Charley had a bike that he allowed him to drive now and then. He missed Charley.
He pulls the tarp off the rest of the way and reveals an off road motorcycle with some kind of collapsible cradle mounted on the side. In the corner of the garage is another Harley. It looks like it was being overhauled. Sometime ago, judging by its disassembled nature and the dust that is on it.
John goes through the items in the garage and selects some items he knows they could use back at the base. There is some homemade plastique with timers instead of fuses. He grabs as many of the pipe bombs as he can and shoves them into a saddle bag. He finds some additional power cells for the plasma rifles and shoves them into the saddle bag. He already has his sidearm and a plasma rifle and his backpack with his computer inside.
The two triple eights select the Humvee with the roof mounted machine-gun. John can’t help but grin at that. Of course, go for the biggest vehicle with the biggest gun. He remembers “Uncle Bob” grinning at him when he picked up the mini-gun. Is there some kind of macho streak in these big metal men? They also take with them a selection of automatic rifles and ammo for the guns.
John pushes the motorcycle outside. “I’ll lead the way. You two follow and keep an eye out for anything.” John says to the machines.
When the T-888's drive the Humvee out, John closes the garage door. He pulls on an extra jacket, he found in the garage, for extra warmth in the chilly mountain air. John straddles the motorcycle and kicks the starter. The bike roars to life. John drives off with a big grin on his face. Behind him the triple-8's follow in the Humvee.
Back at the garage, a figure enters. Without turning on the lights, it pulls some stuff out of an equipment locker. In the shadows the figure appears to pull some clothing on, motorcycle leathers and gloves with a full coverage helmet. It then unwraps something hidden on a lower shelf and places it in the cradle on the motocross bike. It pushes the bike outside, closes the door, and then drives off following John and the T-888's, but at its own pace.
2027, Day 47, July 23, 6:00 AM
Cue: Track 02 - The Reese Boys (Repeat until next Cue)
The helicopter flies through the early morning skies unmolested. Sky Net’s machines are busy elsewhere this morning.Nearly an hour into the flight, Catherine asks Cameron a question. “Cameron, would you do something for me when you return to 2009?”
“What do you want me to do?”
“My daughter, Savannah. She was six years old when I had to leave her behind. The people who came after myself and John, and his mother are after her too.”
“Are you asking me to protect her?”
“Yes, but she will need rescuing first. She is in danger and you are the only one who can do it.”
“Give me details. If it can be done without interfering with my other missions, I will help your daughter.”
“A few days before I had to leave, my daughter came under attack. Your other self, John and his family rescued Savannah. Nothing else happened to her after that. I thought she would be safe. I was wrong.”
Catherine continues to tell Cameron of what happened to Savannah after she left her behind and where Cameron will find her and rescue her. Her knowledge is scant, based only on what little information Savannah told her. By the time she is done telling Cameron all she needs to know, they are landing on the grounds outside the entrance to an ancient cold-war bunker.
* * *
Back at Pendleton, John Henry has been sitting passively for hours while hacking into Sky Net’s network. Kyle stretches and yawns. He is tired. He’s been awake now for nearly twenty-four hours, but he was entrusted by John Henry to destroy him if he is taken over by Sky Net.
It’s been only he and John Henry the last few hours. The technicians took to there beds a while ago. After John Henry plugged himself into the network, there wasn’t anything for them to do but just monitor the data, and the computers could log that information automatically. So Kyle’s had himself for company the last few hours. He is pleasantly surprised when Savannah walks into the room.
“Morning Savannah. What can I do for you?”
Savannah looks tired and her eyes are red. She looks about then asks, “Morning Kyle. Have you seen John this morning? I haven’t seen him since Sarah’s memorial service.”
“John and Catherine left after the memorial service by helicopter. They took Sarah’s casket with them. John was going to bury her someplace in the mountains, safe from Sky Net.”
“I wish he told me. I would have gone with them.” She says with genuine concern.
“I really don’t believe he was thinking very clearly. He seemed pretty determined to go it alone.”
“He’s just as stubborn as his mother. Did Allison go with them? I haven’t seen her this morning either.”
“No, she didn’t. She might be still asleep. She’s typically an early riser like myself, but yesterday wasn’t exactly a normal day. Allison’s been through a hell of a lot in her life. Yesterday was the day she had been dreaming of, until it turned into that nightmare.” Kyle’s voice gradually got more somber. It wasn’t a good day for John either. It was no wonder he wanted time alone. Stupid, but understandable.
Breaking free of his reverie Kyle says, “Hey! Did you check the medical center? She might be helping treat the injured soldiers. She is a fully trained medic now, and she was always helping Doc at the outpost.”
“No, I haven’t. I’ll check the medical center later. What’s John Henry doing?”
“He is hacking into Sky Net’s network to get intelligence.”
“That sounds dangerous.” With sudden realization she asks, “ Why are you standing guard with that gun?”
“John Henry asked me to kill him if Sky Net takes over his system.”
Savannah looks at him with shock and surprise.
“It’s all right.” He places his hand on her shoulder. “He’s got multiple firewall’s, whatever they are, to protect himself. It is very unlikely I’ll have to shoot him.”
“I hope not. He was my childhood friend. He and John Connor saved my life when I was very young.”
“Don’t worry. Shooting him is not something I plan on doing unless I have no other choice.” He says with genuine compassion.
Savannah’s attention is suddenly distracted by a sudden change in one of the monitors. “What’s that?”
“What’s what?” Kyle asks, trying to figure out what she is looking at.
“The video on that monitor changed.” Savannah says pointing.
Kyle and Savannah walk past John henry to look at the monitor. The video has change from streams of data to a live video feed from high overhead. As they watch the video, they can make out an object moving swiftly along a twisting mountain road. It appears to be followed by a larger object and several smaller ones.
“It looks like video feed from a satellite.” Savannah says.
“John Henry did it! He’s hacked into Sky Net’s satellite system!” Kyle shouts.
Just then another monitor next to it changes to show video coming from something pursuing someone on a motorcycle. The hood of a Humvee quickly appears and disappears in the video as whatever the camera is mounted on swoops and weaves back and forth through the air. Bright flashes can be seen as bullets hit the pavement behind the motorcyclist. The video becomes steady long enough for a clear view of the rider of the motorcycle. Data streams across the bottom of the video indicating that whatever is chasing the driver is arming missiles. The rider looks over his shoulder and the video quickly zooms in on his face. It is John Connor!
“D@mmit! I knew something like this would happen!” Kyle shouts.
* * *
“What is this place?” Cameron asks Catherine as they walk to the bunker’s entrance.
“It was a fallout shelter built during the cold war in the 1960's. I bought it from the government in 2007 and used it as a remote lab for security. If Judgment Day comes before we return, you need to bring Sarah and Savannah here. I’ll show you how to gain entry and disable the fail safe mechanism.”
The two of them walk inside the hanger that disguises the entrance and through the empty hanger to the blast doors on the far side. Catherine shows Cameron the codes she will need to use to gain entry and then how to disable the timer on the self destruct mechanism.
“How is this place powered?” Cameron asks as they make their way through to an upper level.
“There is a small nuclear powered generator in another level with several diesel generators for backup. Unfortunately, only the diesel generators function now. There is only enough fuel left to generate sufficient power for a single temporal transfer. Do you have the coordinates for where and when John wants you to be sent?”
“Yes.” Cameron says handing Catherine a slip of paper as they enter the room where Catherine’s Time Displacement Equipment is constructed.
“Nothing inorganic will travel through. No metals, no equipment of any kind. You will need to obtain clothing and weapons on your arrival.”
“I know. I have full details on the operational parameters of all forms of time displacement equipment. And John has already told me.” Cameron steps up onto the platform. Catherine turns on the generators from her remote panel. The lights come on in the room and the control panel for her T D E activates.
“Catherine.”
“Yes Cameron?”
“You should know, John also asked me to save Savannah. He had more details than you. I told him yes.”
Catherine looks somewhat surprised as she punches in the relevant data. “Thank you, Cameron.”
The energies start to build and electric sparks radiate about the room. The temporal sphere begins to form around Cameron. Suddenly with a flash it disappears. Shortly afterwards the panel goes off followed by the lights. The emergency lights come on bathing everything in a pale yellowish light.
“You see John Henry. I do love Savannah even if she isn’t my daughter.” Catherine says to the empty room.
She quickly leaves the bunker and walks back out to the helicopter. There is just enough fuel to get her back to Pendleton, but she needs to go somewhere else and there is only enough fuel to get her halfway there. Then she will have to walk the rest of the way.
2027, Day 47, July 23, 6:30 AM
Cue: Track 21 - Derek Reese
The UH-60 Black Hawk flies through the air over the desert under expert skill. The pilot, a veteran of the long war against the machines in the western states of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah, controls the helicopter with an ease and grace of long experience. There are no wasted movements. Each move is only made when necessary.The Black Hawk has been modified since its time as an Army transporter. Instead of the machine gun mounts at the windows between the pilot doors and the main cabin doors, operated by independent soldiers, there are twin 20mm canons mounted under the cab, remote operated by the pilot. In the copilots section there is a weapons control system adopted from another helicopter for operating the missiles. The missiles plus two external fuel tanks are mounted on ESS stub wings.
A fringe of dark red hair peeks out from under the helmet of the pilot. A light smile just barely turns up the corners of her mouth. No matter the job, she still gets a thrill from flying.
The person beside her in the copilots seat, however, doesn’t appear to be enjoying the ride so much.
“So, what’s your story?” She asks for the third time since they took off.
He doesn’t answer.
“Listen buddy. We’re going to be flying in this crate for a couple of hours, and as much as I like peace and quiet, having a passenger sulking for the entire trip is not my idea of a fun trip.”
He just looks over at her. “I’m not sulking. I’m just tired, and the name is Reese, Derek Reese. Call me buddy one more time, and my next reply will be with my fist.”
“Well, Derek Reese. My name is Major Kate Brewster. You try and throw a punch at me and I’ll break your goddamn arm.”
After a moment, Derek smiles. “I like you.”
“Yeah.” She smiles dryly. “That’s what they all say until they learn that I can out fly them or out fight them. So Reese, what’s your story?”
“Well, since you asked, for the fourth time, my story in a nutshell is this. I led resistance group Grizzly for ten years. I was then captured and forced to work in a Sky Net work camp. I was tortured, worked and tortured for a month. Got released when the factory was attacked by General Perry and his men. Then I killed that twisted bastard, Fischer, who tortured me. Now I am flying in this bird with you. What’s your story?”
“Before Judgment Day I was a veterinary doctor and a pilot. After J-day I went to work for my dad, General Brewster. I then became a fully trained medical doctor, certified to treat humans, and I am trained to fly nearly every aircraft still flyable in the Air Force and Marine Corp. Now I’m flying you, and a bunch of medical supplies out to Pendleton. I’ve inflicted as much damage to the enemy from behind a flight stick as I’ve treated humans for injuries. Don’t know which I like more.”
“I’ll give you the answer to that one.”
“Which is?”
“Killing metal.”
They both laugh.
2027, Day 47, July 23, 6:45 AM
Cue: Track 20 - Run My Baby Run (repeat for every scene with John Connor on motorcycle)
John Connor is enjoying the ride when his euphoria is interrupted by heavy gunfire from behind.Looking over his shoulder he sees an HK drone come flying in over the Humvee. It has a single 20mm cannon mounted on its underside and a bank of three missiles under each wing. As he watches several more come flying up along side the first.
“Oh ****!” he says and hits the accelerator.
John weaves back and forth to avoid being hit. The machines behind him in the Humvee open fire with their automatic weapons on the HK drones.
He manages to evade being fired upon by the HK’s cannons when they suddenly begin firing their missiles. Three fly over his head, one exploding about 50 yards in front of him while the other two hit on either side of the road.
He just barely avoids the flying debris as he maneuvers the bike through the smoke and dust.
A T-888 climbs up through the hatch and begins operating the mini-gun. The small and fast HK drones zip and dash about like mosquitos avoiding being swatted. The T-888 with the mini has trouble hitting them because of their quick movements, but he prevents the HK’s from making accurate shots at John.
Watching carefully the terminator handling the mini-gun shoots down one of the HK’s by targeting its missile racks. The missiles explode taking the HK with it. Using the same method, he manages to shoot down two more. They aren’t armored like their bigger brothers.
Out of the remaining five, two sweep around behind the Humvee and begin firing on it. Spinning the mini gun around, the T-888 fires on the pursuing HK’s. Eventually one of the HK’s fires it missiles at the Humvee and it blows up, taking the triple-8's with it. John nearly loses control of his motorcycle from the blast, but he manages to regain control.
The HK drones continue to pursue him. He’s gained some distance as the HK’s had to work to avoid the gunfire from the triple-8's, but now that they and the Humvee are gone, the drones are catching up.
John pulls to the side of the road and stops the bike. He leaps off and dives for cover behind a fallen tree. Grabbing his rifle he opens fire on the approaching HK drones.
As the HK drones come sweeping in firing their weapons, John begins firing his plasma rifle on the leading drone. He hits its nose where its targeting sensors would be located and then fires on the missiles still on their racks. They explode taking the HK with it. The last two drones fly off.
He is surprised when the HK’s go flying off. He walks back to his motorcycle. It is undamaged. A roaring sound comes to his ears. He looks back up the road, from whence he came, and can see motorcycles approaching. Each is manned by a machine with plasma rifles mounted on the bikes. They begin firing at him. John hits the starter and takes off with a roar.
John’s got the throttle wide open. The twists and turns of the mountain road nearly kills him as he takes the turns far faster than what is safe, but slowing down makes him an easier target for the pursuing metal.
Beams of plasma shoot past him and hit objects on the side of the road as he keeps weaving back and forth.
“Why the hell didn’t I listen to Kyle and Allison?” John says as the metal gets ever closer.
2027, Day 47, July 23, 7:15 AM
The video feed from the HK disappear in a bright flash.
“Son of a *****!” Kyle exclaims.
He steps in front of John Henry who is staring blankly ahead.
“Where is he?” Kyle shouts at him.
There is no response from John Henry.
“Dammit John Henry! Where the hell is John Connor?”
Savannah shouts, “The pictures has changed! It looks like a map.”
Kyle quickly moves to her side. “It’s not just a map. The satellite image is superimposed over it.”
They watch the video about a minute.
“I know where he is.” Kyle says. “We flew over that area to get here.”
“Where is he?”
“Just stay here with John Henry. I’m going to arrange a rescue.” With those words, Kyle hands her the plasma rifle and runs from the room.
Savannah looks at the plasma rifle and then at John Henry.
“Take care of yourself John Henry. I don’t want to kill you.”
She turns to watch the video and doesn’t see the warning message on the screen behind her saying the first firewall has been breeched.
* * *
There is no scarier sight in the world then an outlaw motorcycle gang. Except for a motorcycle that gang is a bunch of metal with plasma rifles.
John pushes the Harley to the fastest speed he can mange on the twisting mountain road. The twists and turns are slightly to his advantage as it keeps him moving so the endo’s don’t get a clear shot. But then they don’t have to worry about crashing and killing themselves either and are quickly catching up with him.
Unable to fire on the machines coming up behind him, he reaches into the saddlebag and pulls out a pipe bomb. Giving the timer a quick turn with his teeth he then throws the pipe bomb behind him.
It hits the road with a clatter and explodes before the first motorcycle even gets to it.
“D@mn!” John swears and reaches for another pipe bomb.
He twists the timer once again just a little further than before. He throws it behind him where it clatters on the pavement.
This time it doesn’t explode until they pass it.
“D@mn!” John swears again and hits the accelerator. He dare not risk all of it. There’s gotta be a better method.
All this time plasma beams have shooting all around him, some bouncing off the chrome of the bike some just missing him. He’s got to do something soon or he’s going to end up dead.
He lets out a yell as one beam just clips his upper left arm.
He takes a hard turn and plasma beams shoot past him hitting a tree in front of him. The base of the tree explodes in flames and begins to topple across the road. John hits the accelerator and just squeezes under the tree before it strikes the road. The tree crashes down behind John blocking the road. The pursuing endo’s slow down to find a way to get around it. John wastes no time. He will only have minutes perhaps only seconds to set a trap.
Accelerating down the road as fast as he can, he begins looking for a place to lay in a trap.
2027, Day 47, July 23, 7:20 AM
A group of CH-47 Chinooks and Ch-46 Sea Knights fly across the southwestern desert from Arizona into California. They are escorted by AH-1 Super Cobra’s and AH-64 Apache’s. High in the sky above them are fighter jets of various types and ages. They have many F/A-18 Hornets, F-16 Falcons and F-22 Raptors, even a few old F-14 Tomcats rescued from the airplane graveyard.
Major General Justin Perry rides in back of one of the Chinooks. Across from him sits his friend, General Robert Brewster.
“What do you think of this plan of John Connor’s?” Perry says.
“It is daring, bold and unconventional, that’s for certain. It could work.”
“I spoke with Colonel Reese on the radio yesterday evening. He said they were hacking into Sky Net’s satellite and computer network. We’ve been trying that for years without success. How do you think they are doing it?”
“I imagine they must have put a machine on it. Almost a third of their forces are machines, and their Colonel Henry is a machine. If anything can hack into Sky Net it would be one of them.”
“Machines fighting machines.” Perry shakes his head. “I can hardly believe it. Why is it no one in the regular forces figured out how to reprogram them? How does John Connor know this stuff?”
“You’ll just have to ask him when we get there. He sounds like a damn miracle worker to me. The reports that Captain Beddell sent in have nothing but praise for Connor. Beddell was a good judge of character. No one has ever pulled the wool over his eyes.”
“Excuse me Generals,” The pilot shouts. “But we are getting a radio message from Major Brewster. Do you want me to patch it through to your headsets or do you want to come up front?”
“Patch it through to me now.” General Brewster shouts. His daughter wouldn’t break radio silence unless it was important.
“This Major Brewster on flight from Yuma to Pendleton. We are under attack. Repeat. We are under attack. Requesting immediate assistance!”
2027, Day 47, July 23, 7:30 AM
Kyle runs through the corridor and into the officer’s lounge.
“Who’s in charge of transport?”
Several faces look up from books and cups of water.
“Chief Williams is in charge of transportation.” One of the young soldiers offer.
“Where can I find him?” Kyle shouts at him.
“More than likely in the motor pool.”
“Where is it?”
“You need to go down this corridor and take the elevator....”
“Dammit I haven’t got time for this.” Kyle grabs the man by the arm. “Just take me there now!”
Kyle runs down the corridor half dragging and half being led by the soldier.
He arrives at the motor pool. “Where’s the friggin’ transport officer?” Kyle shouts.
“Over here. What can I do for you?” A tall woman in greasy overalls comes out from under a truck with a wrench in her hand.
“I need transportation now. General Connor is in trouble!”
“I’ve got three Humvee’s and a few jeeps ready for use.”
“I’ll take a Humvee.” He turns and shouts at the man he dragged with him. “You! Get back inside rouse up some soldiers and get me a radio and some weapons. Also get a radio to Captain Weaver. She is in the computer room. Hurry!” Kyle shouts and gives the soldier a shove.
“All right let’s get this baby fueled and ready to go.”
2027, Day 47, July 23, 7:50 AM
The motorcycle gang of Endo’s have got around the tree. John can’t see them yet but he can hear them. If he doesn’t find a spot to set a trap soon, he’ll be dead.
Flying along the road, he almost misses it. Coming to a quick stop he nearly lays the bike down on its side. He turns around and goes back up the road.
Yes, he did see it. An old dirt road hidden from view in the direction the endo’s will be coming from. He drives up the road and comes to a stop at the top of the hill. The brush and trees screen him and he can just see the approaching road.
He slips his backpack off and lays his rifle down beside him. He pulls the saddle bags off the bike and mixes the power packs with the plastique. Equal mix in both bags. Removing his belt, he uses it to tie the handlebars in place to keep the front wheel from turning.
The endo’s are approaching fast. He watches them approach. Timing is critical. He sets the timers on two pipe bombs and drops them in each pocket of the saddle bag. He sets the bag over the bike.
The endo’s are almost here. He runs, pushing the bike as hard as he can down the slope and lets it go.
It moves fast down the trail, quiet and gaining speed. It reaches the road and falls over right in front of the lead motorcycle. The terminator flips and lands in a big crash.
The others catch up to the bike just as the explosives go off. John hits the ground and curls up in a tight ball. Shrapnel comes raining down all around him. The ground on either side of the road is ignited by the flaming debris.
When the shrapnel stops raining down, John slowly gets up. He stands there a moment observing the wreckage below. He picks up his backpack and rifle and walks down the hill. He hesitates a moment before breaking cover. John doesn’t see or hear anything else approaching and he walks out onto the road.
Pieces of motorcycles and machines litter the road. There are a couple still struggling to move despite their damage. Taking his plasma rifle, he walks over and blasts the two moving endo’s. They don’t move again. Walking away, he finds the machine that flipped, and he blasts it in the head with his plasma rifle, destroying its chip.
John looks around. He is still miles from Pendleton and still deep in the mountains. Shouldering the rifle he begins the long walk back to base.
He doesn’t walk far when the two drones that flew off return, firing their 20 mm cannons. John runs swiftly and dives to the side of the road as the two small HK’s fly past.
Blood trickles down his left arm from a flesh wound. He gets up and fires the plasma rifle at the departing HK’s. The shots miss and he quickly moves deep under cover of the trees and brush.
The HK’s swing around and they switch to thermal imaging. They see John Connor behind some brush as he raises his weapon to fire. The HK drones arm their missiles. The plasma beam John fires hits the sensors on the lead drone. Its shots go awry.
The other fires its missile just as it gets hit from behind by a missile from some unknown location. The three missiles it fires goes off in crazy directions. John runs like hell and leaps for cover to avoid the missiles but they hit far from where he was hidden.
The wreckage of the drone falls nearby as the other drone spins around to face this new threat. It begins firing its cannon at an oncoming motorcyclist. The rider comes to a sudden stop as the drone flies past. As the HK drone spins about to bring its weapons to bear, the motorcyclist pulls a shoulder mounted missile launcher from a cradle and fires on the HK drone. The HK drone is flying directly at the motorcyclist as the missile hits. It explodes sending wreckage flying towards the motorcyclist, who drops to the ground letting it fly past scattering across the road like a bunch of flaming litter.
The unknown motorcyclist gets up tosses the empty missile launcher to the side of the road. It drives its motorcycle, slowly weaving between the flaming wreckage until it’s opposite John Connor’s hiding place.
“John Connor!” It yells, though its voice is muffled by the helmet.
“Who are you?” John shouts back from his hiding place.
“A friend. Come with me if you want to live!”
John doesn’t have much choice so he goes forward.
Even in the dim light of the early morning hours, he still can’t make out who or what the person is under the leather outfit and full helmet.
“Who are you?” He asks the person once again.
“I am your friend. There will be more machines coming after you. We need to leave.”
“Give me your belt.” John tells it. The motorcyclist is wearing a long belt that wraps at least twice around its waist, holding close to its body what otherwise would be a rather loose fitting leather jacket.
The motorcyclist removes its belt and hands it to John. He takes it and walks over to where he destroyed the endo’s. Using his rifle he blasts the head off each one.
“You are wasting time collecting trophies.” The motorcyclist admonishes him.
Taking the heads he snakes the belt through the open mouth of each one and buckles the belt. Slinging it over his shoulder he walks back and climbs on the motorcycle behind the driver.
“These aren’t trophies. The chips can provide us with good intelligence.”
“That’s good. You are thinking like a soldier.”
The motorcyclist drives off, John clinging to the driver tentatively.
“Where are we going?” John hollers above the noise of the motorcycle and the wind.
“I am taking you back to Camp Pendleton or at the very least where your friends can find you. You were careless John. You should have trusted your friends and told them what you were really doing last night. Then you would have had soldiers with you to protect you. Your life is too important to take such risks.”
“I know who you are now. There are only two people I ever knew who would scold me like that. You’re Cameron aren’t you?”
“What if I am?”
“Then we need to talk. I've got some questions for you.”
“Talk later. Right now, we need to go. It’s too dangerous here.”
John smiles. The person didn’t confirm she was Cameron, but they did agreed to talk. And unless his hands were lying, it was definitely a girl’s shaped body under all that leather he was holding onto.
2027, Day 47, July 23, 7:50 AM
Cue: Track 21 - Derek Reese
Kate has been bringing Derek up-to date with the latest news of the resistance, when she drops a bombshell.
“You’re telling me that John Connor is leading the resistance now?” Derek asks incredulously.
“That’s the word coming in from Pendleton. He’s got a whole damn army with him.”
“What about my brother Kyle?”
“He’s a Colonel serving under General Connor.”
“General? General! He’s just a goddamn kid. How the friggin hell did he get to be General?”
“I don’t know. You’re going to have to ask your brother.”
“Damn right I am.”
“You said he is a kid. How old is he?”
“I don’t know. Maybe sixteen, he could pass for older. Why?”
“Oh, it’s just that I used to know a John Connor when I was a teenager. I was just wondering if he was the same one that is all.”
“Not likely. You’re how old?”
“I wouldn’t ask that if I were you.”
“Right.” Derek says quickly looking out the window, looking at the long shadows below pointing west.
The UH-60 Black Hawk flies on through the early morning. The sun just a tantalizing glimpse above the eastern horizon.
“What do you know about this army of John Connor’s?” Derek eventually asks.
“I only know what’s come in over the radio. The resistance force in Los Angeles came under heavy attack. He led them out of the city and into the mountains. Before he did, he made a radio address calling for all people to unite to fight Sky Net. It was some speech. I heard it. After the speech, a coded signal went out calling for the various resistance groups in the area to join up at Camp Pendleton.”
“That took some balls. We’ve spent the last eighteen years trying to keep a low profile. Only fighting as necessary. I never considered such a thing myself.”
“Well the radio address was something, but rumors had been stirring for weeks about some new leader who had galvanized the Los Angeles resistance forces. Another army joined his at Camp Pendleton. According to the last radio message from Captain Beddell, the leadership of that army turned its forces over to John Connor. Right now John Connor’s forces are nearly four hundred strong. Did you know he has nearly 150 machines reprogrammed and fighting for him?”
“What the...? Metal! He’s got metal working for him! Of all the damn stupidest things I ever heard! I can’t believe Kyle would let him do that! I let him reprogram a few, but a whole damn army. I’ll murder the son-of-a-*****!”
“I wouldn’t bother trying. Sky Net has already tried and failed. They lost almost thirty people in an attack on John Connor himself. He’s still alive. I don’t think your chances would be pretty high if metal couldn’t kill him. That is why I’m flying out there. They need medical help and supplies and General Perry thought it be a nice gesture to send you ahead of the rest of the recovered Sky Net prisoners. Considering your brother is out their and your previous experience with the resistance.”
“Son-of-a-*****.” Derek exclaims once again.
“When you see John Connor, I wouldn’t recommend you calling him that.”
“Why is that?”
“He just might kill you. His mom died defending him. She was the leader of that other army.”
“Damn. I’m gone for one month and the whole friggin world changes.” Derek sits back in his seat, not knowing what else to say.
“That’s life. So, I’d suggest you keep your opinions guarded until you get more details.”
“Listen! I didn’t lead that resistance group for ten years just to turn it over to some kid! Let alone some kid that is letting metal join the resistance. We’re supposed to kill the metal not welcome it!”
“Well that kid, as you call him, has done more in the last four weeks than you have in ten years.” Kate breaks off from what she was going to say as new information is displayed on the panel in front of her.
“Oh ****!”
“What?”
“Do you know how to work that weapons console in front of you?”
“Uh, only what I read in the training manual the last two days waiting to get out of Arizona. Why?”
“Because we’ve got company. Three HK’s in the air coming up fast from the rear. I’m going to need you to handle weapons while I fly this bird. Are you up for some action?”
Derek smiles a big grin. “Any chance to destroy metal is a good day in my book.” He says as he activates the console. “Let’s get those bastard’s!”
“Now that’s my kind of talk.” Kate says as she maneuvers the helicopter into an attack position.
2027, Day 47, July 23, 8:20 AM
“Come on people let’s go!” Kyle shouts as he jumps into the front passenger seat. The driver is a T-800, big and mean looking with almost half his face blown off. Behind them are four soldiers in the back with plasma rifles and RPG’s.
“Drive you bastard.” Kyle shouts as the last men climbs on board.
“Where are we going?” the machine asks in a monotone voice.
“Uh, that way.” Kyle points. “East and try and stay on the main roads until I say otherwise.”
Kyle pulls the radio out. “Savannah, Do you hear me?”
“Loud and clear Kyle.”
“What’s John’s position now?”
“He was last seen heading south, towards Escondido.”
“All right. Keep me posted.”
“I will and please hurry.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll save him.”
Back in the computer room Savannah is scared. She’s lost Sarah. John’s in trouble and her last friend in the world is presently non responsive.
“John Henry, don’t lose that signal. Please.” Savannah says to her friend as she watches the video feed from the satellite.
Behind her, unseen, three warning messages are showing on a monitor. Three of the firewall’s are down. There are only two left. Another message shows up on the monitor. The fourth firewall is beginning to fail.
* * *
Cue: Track 20 - Run My Baby Run
Despite himself, John is having a wonderful time. Riding on the back of the motorcycle, being driven by who he hopes is Cameron, is a greater thrill than riding the roller coaster at the amusement park. Her style of driving the motorcycle is manic and fast, very fast.
The thrill suddenly comes to an end when she brings the bike to a sudden stop.
“What’s wrong?” John asks.
“I don’t know. Something doesn’t feel right. Sky Net should have done something by now. It wouldn’t give up this easily.”
“We’re too exposed here. Maybe we should get off the road.”
“I agree. Hang on!” She shouts as she hits the accelerator and spins the bike about and goes shooting down the side of the hill.
“Oh hell!” John exclaims as they go flying down the steep slope.
She deftly steers the bike around rocks, trees and brush. John sees small animals scurry out of the way through narrow slits as he squints to keep the dirt out. His eyes suddenly open wide as the space in front of them becomes clear of all obstacles including land!
“What the hell are you doing?” He shouts to no avail as the motorcycle goes flying through the air. John looks down and sees the road below and a group of some of the largest endo’s he has ever seen.
They land hard on the other side of the road. The motorcycle skids and slides, but the driver maintains control as the air, brush, and rocks are ripped to shreds by gun fire. The endo's chase them firing at them with their mini-guns.
“What are those things?” John shouts over the roar of the bike and the gunfire from behind them.
“Early production models of the T-600's. The combat chassis is based on the older T-500's but it contains a lot of mechanical and electronic advances used in later production T-600's.”
Bullets fly past them barely missing them.
“Be thankful, the later models were smaller, faster and smarter. Similar to the T-800's but with synthetic rubber like flesh.”
“Believe me, I am thankful.” John says as more bullets fly past impacting on a tree opposite his head.
The motorcycle twists and turns around various obstacles as they are pursued by the T-600's. The driver makes a hard right nearly tipping the motorcycle as a large rock in front of them is shattered by mini-gun fire. John cries out as a piece of rock strikes him above his left eye.
Wiping the blood from his eye, he shouts, “I know we only just got off, but I think we should get back on the road!”
Without replying, she turns the motorcycle down an animal trail with barely any clearance for the bike, let alone the people on it. John hangs on tight to her as the brush threatens to tear him loose.
“The brush will impede the T-600's.” she shouts. “It will give us a head start once we hit the road!”
They drive for several more yards through the thick brush before hitting a clear space. John can just make out the road, a little below and to his left.
“Hang on!!” she shouts as the bike heads for a gap between two trees.
The bike shoots out between the trees into mid-air.
“Oh crap!” John yells.
They land on the road eight feet below. With a squeal of rubber on asphalt, they go flying off down the road.
After John catches his breath he shouts, “Do you think we lost them?”
“Don’t know. I’m more concerned with how they found you!”
“Sky Net has satellites. It saw me and sent those metal goons after me.”
“It could follow you with the satellites, but not identify you. Sky Net wouldn’t go through all this trouble for a single unknown person. It knew you were out here and it waited until you were alone before attacking. You must have a tracking device on you.”
“But how? Where?”
“Think John. Are you wearing anything different, anything new you weren’t wearing before?”
“Except for the extra jacket I picked up at the garage, I’m wearing the same clothes I put on yesterday morning.”
“What about jewelry or pins?”
“Just my wedding band. I left mom’s key ring with her. And even if I still had it, it hadn’t left me since I found your body nearly six weeks ago.”
“There’s an abandoned farm up ahead. We’ll stop there and go through your items.”
“You’re the boss.”
“No John. You are. You just made a mistake and got careless. It’s sometimes nice to have help.”
2027, Day 47, July 23, 8:30 AM
The UH-60 Black Hawk flies through the air. Three full size HK’s are quickly approaching from the rear. One in front is quickly outdistancing the other two.
“We’ll only have one chance before those other two get here.” Kate shouts. “I can’t out run them in this bird, so our first shot has got to count.”
“Gotcha. Weapons system is online and missiles are armed.”
“Don’t fire more than two missiles at a time. We’ve only got half our normal complement due to the external fuel tanks.”
“Damn!” Kate shouts as she sharply pulls back on the stick as a wide plasma beam is fired at them.
“Those things never fire from such a distance. These HK’s are either inexperienced, or they’ve changed tactics. Hang on Derek. I’m taking this bird on a dive.”
Without another word of warning, Kate shoves the stick forward and dives the helicopter at a sharp angle ducking down below the oncoming HK’s.
“Get ready to fire, we’re taking out the trailing HK.”
The helicopter sweeps up and spins like a ballerina doing a pirouette.
“Target acquired.”
“Fire dammit.”
Two missiles go streaking forward and hit the trailing HK’s port engine. The engine explodes taking the port wing with it. The HK falls and explodes upon hitting the ground.
Without watching it go down, Kate sharply turns the helicopter so it is nearly on its side. She banks hard to port where Derek can see the other two HK’s closing in.
“Target the right HK.” Kate shouts.
“But the left one is nearer.” Derek argues.
“Dammit Derek, just fire on the right one!”
Two missiles go streaking out as the HK on the left makes a sharp turn crossing in front of the other HK. The missiles strike the HK’s belly exploding. The HK flips over right into the path of the other HK. They strike each other exploding.
“How the hell did you know that HK was going to pass in front of the other?” Derek shouts.
“I didn’t. It was just plain dumb luck the first flew in front of the other. But it’s a classic maneuver with one HK flying slightly ahead and to one side of the other. The idea is that the leading machine will be attacked. So instead I had you fire at the trailing machine. It would have had its weapons ready to shoot us while we engaged the other. I’m surprised they were destroyed so easily. They must have been unarmored scouts.”
There is a sudden loud explosion and the helicopter shakes.
“We’ve just lost our starboard external fuel tank! Damn! We’re not out of this yet. We’ve got five more HK’s approaching and I don’t think they’re scouts!”
“Then let’s get some damn help or get the hell out of the air.”
“Nearest help is about half an hour behind us. I didn’t want to do this but we are breaking radio silence.”
Kate reaches over and flips on the radio and turns the frequency to the right channel.
“This is Major Kate Brewster calling Desert Eagle Air Command. Do you copy?”
No answer.
“This is Major Brewster on flight from Yuma to Pendleton. We are under attack. Repeat. We are under attack. Requesting immediate assistance!”
“Kate! This Dad. What’s your location?”
“We are just east of the Salton Sea and are being attacked by five HK’s. We’ve lost one of our external fuel tanks. I request immediate assistance.”
“Don’t worry honey. I’m sending fighter jets to your location now.” General Brewster holds the mike to one side. “Pilot get a message to the squadron leaders. I want as many jets as they can spare sent there right now!”
“Yes sir.” the pilot responds as he switches the secondary radio over to the squadron leaders frequency.
General Brewster lets go of the mike. “Kate I’m scrambling some jets to your location now.”
“Affirmative. They’d better hurry. We’re running out of missiles and we’re low on fuel!” she says just as Derek fires two missiles at one of the HK’s.
* * *
The T-600's march through the undergrowth until they reach the road. They may not be as intelligent as the T-800's but they have one sole purpose. Hunt and kill all humans. Their primary target, John Connor.
The motorcycle he was on may have been fast but it left marks on the road to indicate its direction. But they aren’t relying on tracks alone. The leading machine has a tracker. John Connor is traveling fast and heading south.
If it had an imagination, it may wonder why the signal suddenly came to a stop. But to it, that just meant the target would only get nearer as they approached.
2027, Day 47, July 23, 9:10 AM
Kyle grabs his radio. “Savannah have you located John? What does the map say?”
“The video shows he moved south. Mostly on roads but he spent a great deal of time off the roads. The video feed has stopped. Oh, he’s stopped moving.”
“What’s the nearest road to his location?”
“The road number is....Oh damn! The signal is gone!”
“What?”
“We lost video. OH GOD! NO!”
“What is it Savannah? What’s wrong?”
“It’s John Henry! He’s.....”
“Savannah!”
“Oh GOD! Help me! Kyle! Help m....” The air is filled with static as the radio goes dead.
Kyle just sits there staring at the radio.
“What do you want us to do sir?” The machine in the drivers seat asks.
Kyle runs his free hand through his hair and lets out a big sigh. “We go forward. We’ll never get back in time to help Savannah and we just might be able to help John.”
Kyle feels sick inside as the Humvee continues on its eastward trek. He curses Connor under his breath for putting himself in this situation of choosing.
* * *
In the air over Salton Sea a Black Hawk helicopter struggles in a fight against overwhelming odds as five HK’s come flying at it from all directions.
In the skies over the desert between Yuma and the Salton Sea, F-14 Tomcats fly to assist the Black Hawk in distress.
In a Chinook helicopter General Brewster looks pale as he listens to the conversation between his daughter Kate and her passenger, Derek Reese, as they fight the onslaught of HK’s. Perry watches his friend Robert. There are no words he can say right now to help his friend.
In the computer room at the bunker, Savannah runs terrified as John Henry lurches towards her. The dropped radio crushed under his feet.
A motorcycle pulls into the yard of an old farmhouse. John hops off and opens the doors to an old barn, while the driver takes the motorcycle inside. John quickly follows, closing the barn doors behind them.
On the mountain high above the farm house, stand eight T-600's with mini-guns. The first one, with the tracker, radios in to Sky Net control that the target has been acquired. The command comes in, Terminate John Connor and all who are with him.
The T-600's march down the mountain.
The1Russter |
Latest page update: made by The1Russter
, Oct 17 2009, 3:36 PM EDT
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8198 words added 86 words deleted view changes - complete history) |
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Keyword tags:
Cameron
Catherine Weaver
Derek Reese
General Robert Brewster
John Connor
John Henry
Kate Brewster
Kyle Reese
Major General Justin Perry
Savannah Weaver
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