Terminator: Return of the Fallen
What happened? Where am I? The last thing I remember was crashing into an HK that was hunting my wingman. Then there was this bright flash. Now, I am lying in what looks like a storage closet with two men looking down at me. They look like they are afraid, but why would they be afraid of me? I start to rise, and they shoot me in the head. I scream and wince in pain, but I do not die. I do not even fall.
"What the hell did you do to me?"
"I thought you said it was dead!"
"I'm not dead. But you are all going to wish that I were. RAAA"
I charge them screaming, and they scream shooting. The first guy is taken out with a single punch to the head. The second guy tries to knife me, so I break his arm and then his neck. Whoever these people are, they are going to pay for what they've done to me. Every single one of them!
Their weapons are out of ammunition, but I am sure they have spare cartridges hidden somewhere. They actually unloaded two full clips of ammunition into my skull without killing me. What am I?
"Hey! Everything ok in there?" No, and you are about to find out why you don't mess with the Resistance!
I rip the door of its hinges and charge into the next room. It is full of men, each one carrying a Magnum. That is some pretty heavy artillery, and they still can't take me down. I tear through the room like a uranium tipped bomb, punching and kicking everyone in my path. Arms and necks snap like twigs, men are thrown through the air like ragdolls. I don't know what I am, but I might be unstoppable.
"What the hell is that thing?"
"Don't ask, just shoot!"
"Oh father who art in heaven..."
"Shoot now! Pray later!" He should probably pray now, because he won't be alive later.
I start to grab the weapons from the dead to shoot at the living. Grab a gun, fire until it is out of ammunition, then find another corpse and grab his gun. Two men come at me with switch blades, and I catch their arms and throw them through the air. The first man tries to get up, only to have his head bashed against the wall. The second man tries to get away by playing dead, and I stomp on his neck. They are all going to regret what they did to me. Another guy tries to stab me, and I turn his own knife against him before grabbing his gun. I shoot, stab, punch, and bash every man that I see. Finally, there is only one left.
"Look, I am a very powerful man".
"So am I".
"I can get you anything you want. Money, guns, knives, women, you just name your price".
"Your life!"
"Now, let's be reasonable". I grab him by the throat and lift him off the ground.
"I think I am being reasonable".
"Please! Just tell me what you want and I'll get it for you".
"What did you do to me?" I punch through his chest and rip out his heart. "You would have just lied anyway!"
"Very nice! Now do you think you could lend me a hand?" That voice! I know that voice.
"Reese? Is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me. I'm over here!"
I was too overcome with rage to notice him lying there. Reese is tied up in the back of the room, along with a woman I have never seen before. They are both bound hand and foot. If I hadn't have been there, things probably would not have ended well for them.
"I never thought I would say this, but you are a sight for sore eyes Charley". I walk over and start to untie him.
"Who's this?"
"This is....uh...this is Sarah. She's a civilian".
"Lieutenant Charles Zacks, Connor's Crusaders, at your service". Her eyes open as wide as the headlights of a truck.
"Connor?"
"Commander John Connor. Have you heard of him?"
"It's General John Connor now, Charley".
"They finally made him a general. That's good, he deserves it. How long have I been missing?"
"What's the last thing you remember?"
"Connor was leading an assault against a Skynet facility. He called in air support, Lt. Wade and I flew in to assist in our A10s. We dropped our bombs, and were about to commence a strafing run when the HKs showed up. We bagged three of them before I got hit, then I crashed into a fourth before it could shoot down Wade. There was this bright flash, and then I woke up here. Where is here anyway?"
"Charley, what year do you think it is?"
"Is this a joke Reese? It's 2018".
"No, it isn't".
"What are you talking about?"
"That battle was fought nearly six years ago".
"Very funny, you should be a comedian".
"I'm not kidding Charley. That battle was six years ago, and you haven't been missing. You died". I feel like my head is about to explode.
"If Lieutenant Charles Zacks has been dead for six years, then what the hell am I?"
"I don't know. Let's get Sarah untied first, then we can worry about what you are".
"Hey Reese, that Skynet installation, did we take it?"
"Yeah, we took it".
"Good, at least I didn't die for nothing. So, Connor's a general now?"
"He's commanding the entire Resistance".
"I can't think of anyone more qualified for the job. Where are we?"
"Los Angeles. You ok Sarah?"
"I'm fine Reese". She looks familiar. I know we have never met, but she looks familiar.
"I'll lead off. Whatever I am, I seem to be bullet proof". For some reason, Reese does not seem to like this plan.
"Charley, wait! There's something you should know about ....."
I am already running up the stairs and to the door. It is locked, so I tear it off its hinges. This is great! There is no limit to what I can do. Then I get outside, and nearly faint. This is L.A. alright, but it's pre-J Day L.A. That does not make sense. What is going on?
"Welcome to 2009".
"What? Now what are you talking about?"
"The year is 2009. We are in the past".
"How is that even possible?"
"Do you believe in time machines?"
"Get serious, Reese".
"So, killer robots and Armageddon are believable, but time machines aren't?"
"The Resistance....has time machines?"
"We captured them from Skynet in 2024. Now, both sides are trying to win the war before it even starts".
"If time machines were captured in 2024, and I died in 2018, then how am I here?"
"I don't know Charley. Let's get back to our safe house in the desert, and figure everything out later".
"Sounds like a plan. By the way, we have never met, but you seem very familiar".
"She's pretty as a picture".
"You could say... Oh my god!" She looks shocked.
"What? What is it?"
"Now I know why you look familiar. You're Sarah Connor!"
"You know who I am?"
"Your son carries your picture around. It's an honour to meet you. Your son is one of the best commanding officers in the Resistance. You should be proud of him".
"I am. Thank you, Lieutenant".
"You're welcome, Ms. Connor". Reese is surveying the area. Then he spots what he is looking for.
"Our chariot awaits!"
"We are going to steal a car?"
"Why not?"
"We are officers Reese! That is definitely not appropriate conduct".
"The car belongs to the people who you just killed".
"Who where they anyway?"
"They were criminals that were going to kill us. What goes around comes around, eh Charley?"
"Whatever. Let's just grab the car and get the hell out of here. This whole coming back from the dead thing is starting to freak me out".
I smash in the window and Reese hotwires the car. Sarah gets in the driver's seat, Reese sits beside her and I get in the back. We drive through L.A., and it is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. The lights, the buildings, the people, God I think I am going to cry. As we leave L.A. behind, I feel as though we have just left paradise. By the time we reach the safe-house the sun has gone down and the moon is full.
"Hey, Zacks. There is something you should know before going inside".
Someone opens the door and comes out to meet us. I almost pass out. It's her!
"Carole!" She stops dead in her tracks.
"Charley, wait!" I jump out of the car and run towards her. She looks as though she has seen a ghost.
"You...you're alive". I throw my arms around her and start to laugh.
"I never thought I would see you again. What are you doing here?"
"I came back to help fight Skynet! Charley, we need to talk".
"Can we do that later? I'm so happy to see you".
"Mommy?" A child's voice can be heard coming from the house. A little girl walks out, she looks exactly like Carole.
"Uh, hi. What is your name?"
"I'm Savannah. Who are you?"
"Savannah! That is a pretty name. How old are you?"
"I'm six years old. Who are you?"
"Six. That is interesting". I look over at Carole.
"She's not yours, Charley".
"Oh! I see. So this is what you wanted to tell me about, Reese".
"There's more, Zacks. Maybe you should come inside".
"Did you even wait for me to be declared dead, Lieutenant Wade?" Once again, Sarah Connor stares blankly in shock and disbelief.
"This is Lieutenant Wade?"
"She was my wingman, also the love of my life. Now I find out that she slept with someone else in the same year that I was supposedly killed in action. How long did you wait before jumping in the sack with someone else?"
"It's not like that at all! You don't understand!"
"I don't understand a lot of things. What I did understand is that I loved you with all of my heart, and I thought you felt the same way about me".
"I did. I mourned for you when you were killed. How are you here, now?" Sarah rolls her eyes.
"Yeah, I'm sure you mourned for him".
"I did! It's complicated. We really need to talk Charley, and stop calling me Wade. I've changed my name".
"What is it now?"
"Catherine Weaver".
"I like it. It suits you".
"Thanks. Come on inside, we have a lot to talk about".
This day just keeps getting weirder.