Chapter 7

Note:

Hi guys,

I just want to let you know I always read every single one of your reviews. Thank you for all of them! I was so happy how well received chapter 6 was. Please don't stop writing those reviews.

Best wishes,

PERSAUD1998


Shortly after John arrived at Weaver's secret base...

Derek was currently supervising an indoor training exercise when a messenger dashed towards him from behind.

"Lieutenant! Lieutenant! Lieutenant!" The scout shouted.

Derek took his eyes off the men and turned around. He tried to dull the obnoxious ringing in his ears, "What is it private?"

"We scouted the perimeter, and we found some tire tracks coming off of a pathway. I asked Joe if they might be Jeep tracks when..."

Derek growled, "...Get to the point soldier!"

The officer gulped, "Sorry sir...We found the Jeep. We think it's the one that the gray stole from LA Air Force Base. The IFF's picked up a weak signal, but there's a massive machine presence somewhere around there!"

Derek grew alarmed. His eyes grew hard and determined. The sweat and filth that plastered his face made his hardened features even more menacing than ever. Nothing would stand in the way of his mission: To put John Connor into the ground.

"Inform your senior officers to ready the men."

"What? But uh...sir! We don't have enough intelligence...We, We...Don't we need a commission from General Perry?"

"This is an urgent situation." Derek countered.

"But Lieutenant, they're not attacking...

..."Do it now!" He roared.

A few hours later...

The army major spotted the woman he was looking for in a brief conversation with Kyle and a few other men.

He waved his hand out towards her and called out her name, "Allison!"

Allison dismissed the remaining men, but Kyle remained, standing a few feet away from her.

"What's up Hefner?"

"There is something I have to talk to you about."

Kyle and Allison spoke in unison, "Derek."

He continued with concern, "Look, I don't know what this gray has got the Lieutenant so riled up about, but he's taking us on the offensive! We are not righteous crusaders, we are survivors. We can't just go all out rifles blazing. These men aren't trained or equipped enough to do something so brainless."

Kyle answered, "Look, I get it, but Derek has a mind of his own on this. When he's bent on something, there's no changing...there's no turning back."

Major Hefner was not particularly happy to hear that. He turned back to Allison.

"Look Allison, you have to convince him to stand down and await Perry's decision. If he carries out such rash orders I will have to report him and recommend his removal from his command post!"

Hefner stared with wide eyes at a thoughtful Allison while he awaited her response.

Though Allison held no official army rank (intelligence officer), she was by no means a nobody on Derek's base. She was the only one who could talk Derek into or out of something. Not even Kyle was much help once Derek went deep into something. Normally, when Derek was just a little moody, people would run to Allison to relay their petitions. If Allison walked by a group of men, they would quickly resume their work diligently as if they never took a break in their life. Even a mere suggestion from her was taken like an absolute command. They knew that if Allison was bothered by the littlest thing, Derek's unforgiving wrath would consume them whole. To sum it up, Allison's ability to raise one's fear factor provided her with the utmost respect from everyone on Derek's base.

"I'm sorry Hefner, but there's no way I'm going to talk him out of this one. We have to be willing to take risks once in a while. We need to find John Connor."

Hefner was infuriated. He grabbed Allison by the shoulders and shook her violently, "With human lives at stake?! Don't you get it? Those things are machines!"

Before Kyle could process what was happening, he mindlessly launched himself towards Hefner and pried his fingers off her shoulders. He tackled him to the ground and punched Allison's attacker ruthlessly. Hefner tried to deflect the shots but failed miserably at the attempt. Kyle reached his fists high enough to make the finishing blow until Allison screamed out, "Kyle stop!"

Suddenly, realization dawned on an exhausted Kyle. His clothes and face were dirty. He was lying on top of a beaten fellow officer who was dangling on the brink of consciousness. He looked at Allison's shocked expression and then turned to look at his hands. They felt sore. His knuckles were bleeding and they stung from the sand that covered his wounds.

A young soldier spotted the two in a brawl. He approached quickly and drew his revolver pointing it at Kyle.

"Stop! And put your hands behind your head!" The soldier shouted.

Allison interrupted, "No!"

The soldier looked up towards her and displayed a confused expression, "What?"

Allison pointed, "That man attacked me you idiot! Call a medic...Now!"

The soldier stammered, "Ye...ye...Yes miss!"

While the soldier was scuttling off Allison hollered behind his back, "Not a word of this to the Lieutenant or you're screwed!"

The soldier responded by increasing his speed towards the infirmary.


"Cameron?!"

John turned to Weaver, "Please tell me she's in there!"

Given John's panicked state, John Henry skipped the greeting and got down to it, "Cameron's presence is on this CPU, but she remains inactive."

John was coming close to losing it again.

"What do you mean inactive! I want Cameron back now!"

John moved towards a confused John Henry. He had no idea he intended to take the chip. Suddenly John felt a strong hand clasp his own preventing him from moving an inch more. He craned his head around to see a T-888 coldly staring through his eyes. His heart skipped a beat.

John Henry turned to Weaver to sort out his confusion. "I don't understand, I did not hurt Cameron but he is upset with me."

John hissed, "What did you do to her?"

John Henry answered blankly, "After I downloaded myself onto her CPU, she relinquished herself as administrator. She said I could upon necessity delete her from the chip if I needed more space, but I refused. Ellison taught me that murder is wrong, so she agreed to remain inactive so I could have space to grow.

Savannah decided it was a good time to interrupt, "John Henry, please tell him to let go of John. I promise he won't hurt you...will you John?"

Savannah stared accusingly at John. He nodded reluctantly pointing his eyes towards the floor. Suddenly, the T-888 conceded and left without John Henry's say. John surmised he communicated with the machine telepathically.

Savannah continued, "John Henry, uncle James and aunt Sarah told me that you went with Cameron's chip to the future...this future. Do you know if Cameron is still alive?"

John Henry replied, "Yes, Cameron is alive. But she is still sleeping."

"Can we wake her up John Henry?"


Hundreds of heavily armed veterans dressed in dark resistance uniforms storm off towards the direction of Weaver's secret base. Following close behind are a lighter resistance infantry armed with a variety of machine guns and ordinary rifles. Directly in between the two massive units is Kyle, Allison, and Derek. Kyle was feeling a bit nervous, clutching his plasma rifle tighter than everyone else. Derek's face remained stern and unmoving. Allison on the other hand felt a rush of adrenaline pouring through her veins. This was the first time Derek allowed her to go with him on this kind of mission.

Derek's two-way radio sounded, "Iron Hawk, this is Vector. Over."

Derek replied, "Copy that, this is Iron Hawk, go ahead."

"We have determined the exact coordinates of the enemy base. We are sending them to you now. Over."

Derek answered, "Copy."


Before John Henry could answer, the screeching sound of an alarm siren pierced through his eardrum.

"What the hell is that?" John shouted.

Weaver started walking towards the communications desk scanning multiple surveillance systems and screening through complex data, "One of our constituents have activated the emergency siren. A resistance regiment is fast approaching."

John chimed in, "Derek."

Women and children on Weaver's base evacuated and locked themselves into their residential buildings. A mass of able bodied men scrambled everywhere, suiting up, and aligning themselves in formation.

Before John could process everything that was happening Weaver pointed John towards a protective uniform and a plasma rifle. John understood the implication.

"Wait! But I haven't even..."

Weaver interrupted, "...If you want to be a leader John, you'll have to learn to fight."

John remained where he was, stubborn as usual. He didn't care about any stupid alarm or being a leader, he just needed to get his Cameron back.

Weaver's attitude changed, "If you want to save your cyborg, you will have to learn to fight."

That drew John's attention. John raced towards the uniform and nearly swore he saw Weaver smirk before she handed him another device.

"What's this?" He asked.

"It's our standard issue intercom. You'll need it." Weaver quickly exited the tech building.

Savannah approached John, "I'll go with you."

Before Savannah could finish the last word of that sentence John refused, "No Savannah, please stay hear with John Henry. I can't think when people I care about are in danger."

John said that with all the heart and genuineness he could muster. Savannah looked at John sullenly, but reluctantly conceded to John's request...but not without giving him a quick peck on the cheek.

John found Weaver not too far ahead. He noticed Weaver observing the formation of men awaiting orders from John Henry. John was surprised to see that Weaver considerately placed the T-888's in front of the human soldiers. In John's mind, they were a more modern equivalent to military tanks.

Suddenly, Weaver deadpanned, "Get down."

John registered quickly and dropped to the floor.

He heard a large explosion and felt debris and dust flying up and about. The enclosed cave was now opened up for the troops to exit the base quickly.

The T-888s jolted forward in robotic fashion towards the opening. The human foot soldiers followed close behind them."

John and Weaver came in close pursuit. Once they were on the outside, they saw an army in the distance. John was not sure he could make them out so he looked up to Weaver, "Are they Derek's?"

Weaver answered, "You mean Lieutenant Commander Derek Reese."

"Yeah."

"He is present."

"Perfect..." John replied sarcastically.

John felt a cool draft brush past him from behind. He heard a strange whirring sound and a loud screech that made the hair on his neck stand up. A strange aircraft lifted off from behind him and zoomed overhead. Even stranger, a small division of terminators broke off from a unit as if they were deserting them.

John asked Weaver, "That aircraft...what kind is it?"

Weaver plainly answered, "You would call them Hunterkillers or HKs."

"What about those cyborgs that just broke off, where are they going?"

"Our intelligence confirms that Derek Reese has left his base undefended. We are going to capture that base with those units."

"Wait. John Henry's doing all of this?"

"Yes"

"But why the HK?"

Weaver deadpanned, "Insurance."

John grew increasingly worried, "What's going to happen to the women and children on the base?"

"They will be killed."

"What! You can't do that!"

"It is necessary."

John's frustration grew.

"No it's not! You're doing this the wrong way. How can you kill them and expect them to create an alliance with you?"

"We have no other choice. They have discovered our base and we are compromised. Logically, the most effective way to stop them is to kill their reason for fighting."

John was sickened at Weaver's cold heartless logic. John knew now why Weaver could never lead a cyborg resistance. There were things that she did not understand. There were moral decisions she could not make. Now it was John's turn. This was his opportunity to step up. He felt a sudden urge in him. Maybe it was another side of him trying to come out. He felt a rush of adrenaline flow through his body. His mind started to formulate ideas and his plan started falling into place. John knew what he had to do.

"No. That's not going to happen. Can I talk to John Henry on this thing?"

"Yes."

John pushed the intercom close to his ear, "John Henry, can you hear me?"

"Yes Mr. Connor, I can hear you."

"You need to hold out on attacking Derek's base. There are women and children who will die. You can't murder them John Henry."

"I don't understand. James Ellison told me that killing in times of war is different than murder."

"Look John Henry, I can explain this to you later but you need to trust me. I have an idea. I think we can negotiate a peace treaty."

The sentient entity was intrigued by the concept.

"Okay Mr. Connor. I will relay your commands. Your orders General?"

Orders? General? Where did that come from? I was just a nobody a few minutes ago!

"All units maintain your defensive your positions. I will approach in an attempt to negotiate with the enemy."

Within a matter of seconds, the units configured themselves. They human soldiers quickly slid into their bunkers with their rifles trained on the closest targets. The T-888s got down on one knee awaiting their orders to terminate the enemy.

Before John Connor could approach, Weaver grabbed him.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"It's too dangerous. You are an easy target."

"What do you expect me to do? I'm not letting you kill those children and I'm not going let anyone risk their lives on my behalf!"

We all die for you.

"I think I can help you with that." Weaver answered smugly.


Allison could see someone in distance approaching. Kyle saw her reach for her binoculars. He asked, "Can you tell who it is? Is it a machine or a gray?"

Derek replied, "It doesn't matter. This means they're afraid. They're weaker than they look. They think they can negotiate with us."

Allison's eyes turned wide in alarm and she dropped the binoculars to the ground. Kyle looked at Allison, "Who is it? What did you see?"

Seeing Allison's unresponsiveness, Kyle picked up the binoculars and looked through. It was John Connor.

Before Kyle could react, Allison drew her plasma rifle and aimed squarely at John's chest.

Kyle shouted, "No Allison wait!"

But it was too late, Allison fired. The blast blew a hole right through John's chest and he collapsed to the ground, dead.

"No!" Kyle shouted, "Why did you do that?!"

But that wasn't the craziest part. When Kyle looked back he noticed John Connor melting into the ground...and then he disappeared. The trio looked on in complete shock, not really knowing what to make of it.

Weaver returned behind enemy lines appearing before an alive and well John Connor.

"Our plan did not work out as well as you had hoped."

"No it did not."

"You know what we have to do now."

"Yes." He sighed.

The T-888s charged forward.


Allison pushed ahead. She did not hear Derek's screams to get down. She could not see the plasma bolts skimming through the hair on her neck. She could only think about John Connor. Whatever she saw out there wasn't John Connor's body melting away. She had to end this once and for all. She needed to make it all go away. After deserting Kyle and Derek, she noticed terminators heading in her direction. With their robotic form and their lifeless eyes, Allison could spot them a mile away. She raised her plasma rifle getting ready for a death match when they immediately turned the other way. Allison was confused. She wanted to follow them, but she couldn't chase the snakes tail, she wanted to cut off the snakes head. That head was John Connor.

John was so close to getting Cameron back, but now he had a battle to deal with. The stakes were higher than ever with the precious lives of women and children hanging in the balance. Can any good come out of this? Can a young immature teenager step up to prevent everyone he cares about from getting killed?

John Connor was not about to participate in this battle. Even though they were defending themselves, it felt so wrong. He couldn't kill Derek's men. He couldn't risk hurting Allison, no matter how much she hated him. Besides, Derek doesn't even know what's really going on. John stood there with his gun in hand trying to construe another plan that could work, but his reflection was cut short by the glint of Allison's plasma rifle. (No pun intended)


Note: Don't worry, I'm sure John will figure something out. He is just inches away from getting Cameron back...and just inches away from getting shot through the head by her human lookalike.