2035 A.D. LA Beverly Hills
As the sun set over of what used to Beverly Hills, a group resistance fighters clad in grime caked uniforms moved swiftly through the burnt out landscape. The" squad" was armed with an assortment of heavy arms, M79 grenade launchers, RPG-7's and of course a resistance favorite, harsh language. Most carried the 40 watt range M30A1 phase plasma rifle, while some opted for more stopping power carried enemies preferred M95A1. Save for a handful, none of them were properly trained military. Most were grateful for that fact, since the worlds military had been strategically annihilated on judgment day.
As the humans moved through the nightmarish landscape most had dubbed the "Westside", one solider moved with urgency that surpassed all others. Leading his "troops" through this hell was his birthright. "General" dubbed by the men, women and children under his command, had taken point even though it wasn't his turn. He was also the first to scout ahead. "The General" was always the first one on the field and last one to leave.
The squad began to slow once they reached a rubble congested intersection, suddenly the "General" signaled to stop and take cover. The resistance force swiftly took upon positions in the burned out boutiques, vehicles and rumble throughout the landscape. Those who fought against the machines knew all too well that hesitation equaled death. Seconds later, three HK gunships glided through the intersection. The resistance force held their breath and kept deathly still while the hum of the HK's turbines filled air. The killing machines scanned the ruins for any possible threats. After what seemed like an eternity the drones proceeded past the human's position. Without missing a beat the leader of the squad signaled to hold their positions. John Connor rolled out from cover and made his way to a turned over bus. Using his binoculars, Connor surveyed the scene six hundred before him, scattered throughout street, burned corpses of once fellow soldiers and friends were now just lifeless remains that would soon decay and add to thousands of bleached bones that littered the city.
A red haired soldier slid into to position next to the general. As she hunkered down next to her commanding officer, She whispered "I guess we know why Major Bates never followed up any recon transmissions since yesterday." John Connor blinked once and looked at his subordinate with face his troops had come to love and hate.
"Hopefully we can do better."He replied
She grinned
"Are you ready Corporal Weaver" he asked sternly.
"General, Tech Com Squad 7 is always ready" she replied with grim smile.
Connor scanned the landscape, according to the last transmission from Bates 24 hours ago; there was metro station hub that housed Skynet communications relay. According to the intel the entrance was within 200 meters of his squad's position. "Then have squad start setting charges, we have fifteen minutes until the gunships come back to search this location. We need to find that entrance to the complex or we make our own."
"You got it General Connor."
"Savannah" he said." It's just Sergeant "
"Right Sergeant, I mean "General" She said with a devilish grin.
John couldn't help but shake his head and smile.
If the squad techs could hack the Skynet's transmission source code, all skynet information and intranets for North America would be accessible to the resistance. Not mention any design specs that reveal any weakness in Skynet's defense which would prove useful in future. Unfortunately, the American Resistance Command had ordered the destruction of all Skynet assets. Connor had other ideas. Connor knew that the human race was on borrowed time.
It wouldn't be the first time he had disobeyed orders. There was a reason why he was busted down to Sergeant. Every day more and more kept dying. Connor understood that win a war against a machine one would have to fight fire with fire. If high command couldn't see that Connor would gladly to keep losing ranks to save lives. Connor had gained a reputation with those whom commanded the resistance. Most saw Connor as section 8 who disobeyed orders and frequently risked the lives of entire squads, territory and critical tactical advantages for a handful of men and women. Unfortunately for Command and Skynet, his soldiers loved him for it, Savannah, and many others never let him forget either.
"Alright boys and girls, you heard "THE GENERAL", let's move like we got purpose." Savannah commanded.
As Savannah and the troops began searching the area for possible entry points, Connor couldn't help but remember the little girl who needed help tying her shoes. So much had changed since then…Derek, Mom, Cameron … everything gone in one day.
2027 A.D Zeira Corp Basement
John looked at the ceiling of the makeshift of the holding cell. Outside the doorway two resistance fighters stood watch over there new visitor. At the moment, he was lying naked on a musty cot studying the fractures in the structure. Even though John had been in the cell for four days, he dared not sleep. Since arriving in the future he had met his dead uncle again, seen his father for first time and seen a ghost of the girl he had forsaken his mother and life for. He knew Allison was not Cameron, but the sight of her sitting there in front of him constantly replayed in his mind over and over again. Closing his eyes only made it worse; Cameron would walk from behind his father, kneel down next to dog and look at him with those curious big brown eyes. Suddenly a musty ball of clothing landed on his chest. He looked up to see one the resistance fighters standing before him with his weapon at ready. "Get dressed "the solider said." The Lieutenant wants to see you." John started getting dressed, despite his reservations about the guard watching him at gunpoint. As John was finishing he noticed a voice outside the room. Although he knew it couldn't be, he hoped that he was wrong.
As John was ushered out of the cell and into the dark corridor, he was surprised and happy to see familiar face. For John it was only a few days, but for James Ellison it had been at almost twenty years.
"I'm here to help, just let me speak Lieutenant Reese I can…" Ellison became speechless as John stepped into view.
Time had been as kind it could be to Ellison, for a survivor of judgment day that was not saying a lot. From what John could tell Ellison had seen his share horrors since the bombs dropped. Not because the scars, or gauntness of his face, nor the dirty mismatched rags he was dressed in. John remembered Ellison's eyes before he jumped through time. They were eyes of man who once had faith, a man who believed he could make difference. Now the eyes looked empty and unsure, John felt small pang of guilt, if he had done what his fate demanded maybe he could have changed all this or maybe not.
"Nice to see you Mr. Connor" James said.
"I thought I might not see you again, but when comes to you I have been wrong before."
John halfway smiled" You know what they say about bad pennies"
"Yes I do" he replied. John noticed that James eyes for instant looked like days of old.
"I'm glad to see that you made it Ellison" John said. Ellison smiled.
Seeing James Ellison brought a urgent question to the front of his mind. Before he even asked I knew the answer to question. With everything gone how could he expect for her be here.
"Is … Is she with you" John asked
Ellison closed his eyes and slowly shook his head, "John I don't …"
"Alright" the guard said while jabbing Ellison with the muzzle of his pulse rifle.
"Enough talk preacher man" he said "I'm not sure how you know this prisoner here, and frankly I don't give damn." He sighed. " I got orders, and my orders say to bring him to the LT" he stressed.
"Move your ass kid, ain't got all day" the guard said while motioning his rifle at John. "Damn race traitors get better treatment than resistance soldiers." He mumbled while pushing John down the hall.
"You don't know that" Ellison replied.
"And you do preacher man?" the guard snapped back "Did Jesus tell you, huh"
Ellison looked annoyed. The guard smiled.
"Look around preacher man." He waved his arms. "All that's left is metal and death, I don't see a Jesus anywhere do you?!" He spat.
Ellison answered "Trust me, he is not a threat"
"All I know is that some punk kid, clean and healthy as a horse shows up in the middle of our camp, While the rest of look and smell like shit and your telling me he's okay?!" he barked.
"If it where up to me, and I wish it were. I would do him right now" the guard raised rifle toward John's chest.
Ellison stepped in between John and the guard. At that moment John recognized James Ellison as he used to be.
Ellison ignored the phased plasma rifle directly pointed him and replied. "Trust me he's more important than you know."
"Shut it" the guard snapped "Orders are orders. Move it traitor"
Ellison replied while stepping aside allowing John and the two guards to pass through the corridor.
John smirked. John understood that arrival in middle of a resistance stronghold four days ago was indeed suspicious. To be honest John thought he was dead man the minute Weaver disappeared and Resistance soldiers found him. Fortunately fate had not found John just yet. But he had just about had it with this particular solider who had been assigned to guard him for last couple of days.
John inhaled slowly and began to speak "I understand you have orders…"
Suddenly the guard who just had words with Ellison kicked John in back of on knee causing him to fall flat on his face. Just as John and hit floor he felt a boot on his back and muzzle in back of his head.
"Just because Sergeant Young has taken up fraternizing with grays doesn't mean you get speak boy. You do what you're told, and I said move your metal loving ass. "He said as slowly eased up off of John."Now get up".
While starring down the muzzle of the rifle, John deliberated whether or not to make a break for it right there, but making a run from nowhere to even bigger nowhere would get him dead real fast. Just as John was rising to his feet, a trio armed soldiers stepped into view.
"Blake, Chavez. Back off. Right now." a female voice ordered.
John looked over his shoulder to see the young woman who happened be the only solider in base who gave him the benefit of the doubt. She was even kind enough every night to come by and talk with him through the pseudo cell door. John's clothing situation at the time had made for a popular conversation topic for the young Sergeant. Flirty as it might have been, John believed Allison had ulterior motives. No resistance solider would be so interested supposed race traitor.
"Just because the prisoner is a suspected gray, doesn't give you the right to…"
"Stow it Young" Sanchez replied "You know good god damned well that we are at war, and in time of war traitors are.."
"May I remind you Private Chavez, that this my security detail and unless High Command or Lieutenant Reese tells you otherwise you do as I say. You got that. Private." She replied.
Chavez and Blake exchanged fuming glares at John and Allison. Ellison couldn't help but smirk. Sergeant Young then nodded to the two soldiers that she came with. The soldiers stepped around her a secured John for transit. As John willing surrendered to his new escorts, the far wall of corridor began to shudder and shake causing sifts of dirt and grime drop from the above.
"What the fu…." Chavez began.
Suddenly the corridor wall erupted in cement dust & fire. The last thing John saw or felt before everything went black was Allison Young crashing into him.
As John came to, the sounds of war enveloped him. John began to focus on the bloody Allison Young crouched next to him firing her side arm pistol down the hall. Lying deathly still next to him was James Ellison. John tried to see if Ellison was still alive, but found it difficult, do the fact that rubble and the charred remains of Blake or Chavez, or combination of the two where now on top of him. John struggled to move the corpses of his body while plasma bolts streaked past him. The one remaining guard in Allison's security detail had taken cover in what was left of John's cell.
Plasma fire began to pepper the wall next to him. Desperately John tried shake off the mass of flesh on top of him. The remaining guard tried to reach out and help, unfortunately revealing his head only gave his attacker a better shot. John then became extremely grateful for the meat / rubble shield that now protected him from any "stray" plasma bolts. John peaked around his shield to see one figure slowly walking down the corridor. The Amazonian woman that Sergeant Young was firing at had blonde hair and was dressed in only a filthy tarp. She carried what looked like M61 Vulcan, but modified. John knew what she was, it wasn't the flesh being torn away from Allison's rounds to reveal the machine underneath, it was the cold stare he learned to recognize long ago. John knew the machine's targeting system must have been damaged otherwise they would have all been dead by now. Immediately John looked for a weapon to defend himself.
Reaching for the recently deceased guards pulse rifle, plasma bolts grew ever closer as did the machine's footsteps. Suddenly the plasma fire stopped. John looked to see the machine examine its weapon curiously then toss it aside. It looked at it's two targets and then began in a brisk pace began walking toward them.
John stopped reaching for the rifle and began once again trying to remove his meat shield. Suddenly the desert eagle's barrage stopped, John looked up to see the machine gripping Allison by throat lifting her into the air. It slammed her into the wall and held her there. John continued to reach for rifle next to him.
Allison smiled at the machine. The machine asked in almost polite but dead pan tone. "Where is Lieutenant Derek Reese?"
Allison replied "Go to hell."
The blonde killing machine tilted it's head and slammed Allison into the wall again. Allison grimaced in pain. The machine once again asked. "Where is Lieutenant Derek Reese?"
Allison replied" Go fuck a toaster!" spitting blood into the already glowing red eyes of her interrogator.
The machine then drew back its arm, and curled it's hand it fist. Allison realized what the machine into to do. "About time "She said.
John grabbed the Chavez's pulse rifle and managed swing the muzzle toward machine, just as It's shoulders began to turn. As he squeezed the trigger John yelled defiant scream. The plasma bolts tore the torso and skull of machine.
Allison watched as the machine's red glowing eyes faded to black. Suddenly Allison was dropped on her ass next John. The machine toppled over next to it's executioner, John was happy that it did not land him.
Allison somewhat surprised by saviors choice aim " Your pretty handy in pinch" she coughed " Where'd you learn to shoot like that.?"
"My Mom" John said.
"Must have been one hell of shot"
John then remembered Ellison, " Is he alright?"
Allison reached over slowly and felt his neck " He's got pulse and he's breathing" she groaned as she tried to stand pointing in front of them and then behind ."But when are gonna have to get out of here and him to medical before can know for sure."
John looked in both directions and saw that the corridor behind them had collapsed and other direction was slowly being filled with sounds of gunfire.
Allison began tugging on remains of security detail. John started feel relieved when she stopped abruptly and looked at John.
"Don't know if should be trusting you." She said
"Then don't." He said staring into her eyes.
Allison pauses for a moment, smirks and continues pulling the dead men off her new comrade.
2035 A.D. LA Beverly Hills
As his troops searched the block for their objective, Connor found himself policing the bodies of the recon team that failed to report in. Gathering up ammo clips and other supplies that could be useful, John knew all he could do now was make sure to put them to good use.
As he was just about finished, he heard a ground shattering explosion.
"That definitely cut our time limit in half'. He scoffed as he ran towards the sound of the explosion.
As he rounded the corner he saw what used to be wall of a parking garage. Next to wall most his troops had taken cover behind a couple of garbage dumpsters. Among them Savannah was beaming with pleasure.
"How much C4 did you use Weaver?" Connor asked.
Savannah giggled.
"And they say I'm reckless" Connor said.
"Attitude reflects leadership…General" Savannah replied.
" Why didn't you just go through the toll driveway?"
"We would have Sir, if ten feet by six rows of automobile hadn't been stacked in the way."
"Sarge, It's the only building on this block that has underground access to the subway system that runs along Wilshire Boulevard . Only thing I can think of that is large enough to house what we're looking for."
Connor turned to see what used be a parking garage wall. Connor ordered half of his soldiers to hold a security position at the wall and rest to fall back to EVAC site.
"Savannah, Gavin & Renee, Ruiz you are with me". John ordered as the group enter the building.
The interior was the same as any structure post Judgment day, dark and devoid of all life except rats and and cockroaches. Connor and his team methodically moved through garage with their weapons at the ready. Upon reaching the basement level, Connor gave the hold position sign. A large freight elevator stood before them.
"What's down there?" asked Renee
"Our objective" Connor replied
Gavin peeks over Connor and Savannah's shoulder. Immediately he groans.
"What is with machines and fucking underground tunnels, why can't they keep their metal asses above ground." Connor and Savannah exchanged looks, and then turned to face Gavin.
"Some the power lines from before J day are still viable. No need to waste resources if it's already there." Connor replied.
Gavin grimanced. " Gotta love the metal. Frugal even when they are on brink of wiping us out".
"Renee. Ready your equipment. We might not have time to set up when we get down there." John said as they boarded the elevator.
"Is there power? " Gavin groaned.
"Don't know. Bates didn't get this far." John replied
"We gotta job to do, lets do it get back home alright Gavin? Swear to Chris…" Savannah started.
"Whats to say we even get off the lift alive Sarge?" Gavin interrupted." How do we know the machines don't have this rigged to blow as soon as we hit the power switch?"
John then motions for his team to back up and activates the lift. I shuttering sound commences as the lift begins to move towards the squads level.
"If you wanna wait here I don't blame you but remember what happened the last time you refused to follow orders?" John stated.
"Something tells me Command didnt order this, this seems like a John Connor special. WE were ordered to locate Major Bates and his team and report back and wait for further instructions. Sarge."
"If you are uncomfortable with following my lead wait here and make sure our exit is clear." John replied.
"Come on Gman , What's to worry about. At little high stakes snatch and grab." Renee spouted
"Before you know it will be done and back at Edwards. If you smile I might share some of the home made hooch I started before we left." She continues while removing her laptop and various computer hardware from her duffel. Renee, begins to assemble what looks like a laptop to end all other laptops.
"It will be fine" Ruiz said while handing Renee an electric power adapter from the duffel bag she placed on the ground.
"Right, Sarge?" Ruiz continued."Easy Money?"
Everyone except Gavin ushers into the elevator. He looks at his fellow soldiers, they look at him. He looks back the way they came. Gavin reluctantly enters the lift.
"When get back I get first dips on the hooch Re. Got that?" Gavin says grumply.
"Sure, sure". Renee replies.
John activates the lift and gives a crooked smile and replies. "Easy money."
As the lift begins to descend into the darkness below with a low hum, John and others level their M30A1's at the lift gate. Ruiz steadies his RPG 7 on his right shoulder. Renee continues to add strange yet familiar hardware configurations to laptop she removed from her pack her earlier. Savannah begins to tap an awe too familiar theme on the "stock" of her rifle.
Attaching the final piece of equipment to the portable jammer with a confident grin, Renee interrupts Savannahs cadence.
"We are functional. Get me in and we are in business."
"Let's get it." Ruiz replies as the lift comes to stop at the bottom shaft. As the lift gate rises, the squad carefully steps out into the area before them. The room the squad was now in resembled what might have been a small storage area for the Metro Rail system. The room was populated dusty boxes, storage bins, and an old rusty palette jack missing its pump handle. A partially collapsed ceiling is visible through a broken down concrete wall illuminating the tomb like structure. As the team steps through hole their location because immediately clear to John. As he suspected they were now standing in the defunct heavy rail Purple line subway station.
As above, so below. The ground layered in dust and skeletal remains of those who had long since passed from this world. The only life that remained in the tunnel save Connor and his men was creeping vines of floral wildlife trying reclaim what was original theirs. Thirty feet from the hole in the wall lies a passenger car filled with crumbling skeletons.
John then immediately signals for his team to form up behind him as he led them into the lone passenger rail way car. The team took their positions and scanned the sparsely lit tunnel for any hostiles. Even though it is dark, theM12 ADV Battledfield CRT Scope " flexy sight" on each soldiers weapons award them night vision.
"Renee got read on where the chatter might be coming from?" Gavin asks
"Close ….East approx 2 miles."Renee answers.
"Savannah I want all leftover charges set on this platform and that collapsed ceiling and in front of the lift. We need to make improvise or escape if the lift is out. The rest of you on me."
"Corporal, when you are finished I want you set up in the rail car with the M95 in case we have any heat coming back this way. If we are not back in thirty minutes you head to the evac site. Understood?" John and Renee move from the train car onto the tracks and begin heading east along rails.
"Affrimative. "General." Savannah repiles with grin.
END OF CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO