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CONTINUUM

-Serrano Point: 2028-

So, I did some editing for the entire story, nothing major, just a few small adjustments and some corrections to the grammar and spelling. However I did this to the copies on my computer, which don't have the little notes at the beginning and end of the chapters, I add those after I upload the document to the website. So I deleted all the copies already in the Document Manager to make room, then updated all the chapters in this story with the new and improved versions, and by the time I noticed the notes were gone, well they were already gone. Anyway, so on the off chance anyone wondered what happened, that's what happened.

Now I think I've said this before, but seeing as all my little comments are gone I'll say it again, I've decided I want a beta reader. I do my best to correct all the mistakes on my own, but inevitably miss a few things. So if anyone is interested, please PM me.

Once again, sorry this took so long, I really truly have no excuse for it. It's not that I ever really forget about this thing, I just seem to be very good at not doing anything. I'm hoping to be a lot better with the rest of this story, but we'll see.

So to fabienne, thank you for your review.

And now, Chapter 9.

Chapter Nine

-Monday, August 14 2028 (11:38)

Hydroponics Lab IV

Allison removed the spent clip from her carbine and inserted a fresh one in its place. "I only have one more of these," she said. "I'm thinking it might be time to get out of here."

Choi fired two blasts with his plasma rifle, then retreated back around the corner to ovoid the barrage of return fire. "What, getting tired of this spot?"

"Yeah. It's been several minutes since the others left, and I don't want to wait until we actually run out of ammo before retreating."

"Alright," Choi fired another half dozen blasts at the other end of the corridor before he and Allison turned and started sprinting down the hallway.

-11:43

Arbirn stood with his back against the cold concert wall of the corridor. He and his people had been trading fire with Vinc'hart and a group of her soldiers for almost fifteen minutes now. Only one of his men had been hit, taking two bullets to the shoulder when they had first caught up with them.

"They're not shooting anymore," Caroline said from beside him.

"You think they're gone?" he asked.

"Or they just want us to think that," suggested Sergeant Blitz.

"What," said Lieutenant Pelt, "wait for us to think they're gone, then when we try to go after them start mowing us down when we get half way down the corridor?"

Blitz shrugged. "Why not? It can work pretty well against metal."

"Dammit," Arbirn swore. "I'm betting Vinc'hart already moved on. Whoever we've been shooting at probably just stayed behind to keep us busy. Which means that either way she's getting further away."

"Should we go back?" Caroline asked. "Try to find another way?"

"I don't know. Corporal," Arbirn said to one of their soldiers. "You're stationed here. What do you think?"

"It wouldn't be a good idea," she said. "If they continue down that corridor there are several places they could end up. Going back would take more time, which is going to make it harder to track them down. And while this place can be a bit confusing to newcomers, it's still only a matter of time before they find the entrance."

"Could we go back?" asked another one of the soldiers, Private Cary. "Head them off?"

The Corporal shook her head. "Not without the people Vinc'hart left behind noticing."

"What about the base's surveillance systems?" Blitz asked.

"You mean the ones we disabled to prevent anyone form seeing what we we're doing?" Pelt answered.

"Right well, you two," Arbirn nodded at Pelt and the Corporal, "go back and get those systems back on line, see if you can track her down that way. Be careful on your way through that processing station, there might still be some of Vinc'hart's people in there."

"We past the hatch to a small utility corridor a little while back," the Corporal said. "If we go through it we can avoid that room altogether."

Arbirn nodded. "Good," He watched the two of them take off back down the corridor, then turned back to the rest. "Daniels," he said to the man who was shot. "You okay?"

"I've survived a lot worse," the soldier replied evenly.

"Alright then, lets go." Their group, which at this point consisted of Arbirn, Caroline, Blitz, Daniels, and Cary, moved carefully out into the corridor, cautiously advancing towards the next bend.

Blitz was the first to round the corner. He lowered his weapon. "There's no one here," he said.

Arbirn came to stand next to him. "They have a pretty good head start. We're going to have to run if we want to catch up with them. Lets go." They charged forward, running for almost five minutes before coming to another hallway branching out form their own.

"Do you think they went this way?" Caroline asked.

"I don't know," Arbirn answered. "It doesn't look like it would lead back to the entrance bay."

"Neither does this corridor." Arbirn said.

"It's possible they split up," Blitz said. "Like you said, Vinc'hart probably left the ones we were fighting to keep us occupied."

"They don't matter," Caroline said. "Only Vinc'hart is important."

"Yes, but with respect sir, we have no idea which way she went."

"Well split up," Arbirn said. "Caroline, you and Sergeant Blitz take this new corridor, the rest of us will continue on this way."

"You think that's a good idea?" Caroline asked.

Arbirn shook his head. "No, but I don't have any better ones."

"And if we run into any more branches?"

"Take you best guess. Good luck."

-11:44

After about ten minutes John, Savannah, and Quail had finally come to the end of the corridor. There was a single, large metal door, partially open. Stepping through it they found themselves on a platform that ran around the perimeter of a large room. Most of the room was open to a lower level where they could see fifteen long rows of troughs filled with plants being tended by about a dozen people. Above them was a large, curved ceiling made of some kind of thick glass. Connecting the various sides of the room were several catwalks that also had staircases leading down to the lower level.

"They don't seem that unfriendly," John whispered. "At least they're not carrying guns."

Savannah shook her head. "I still don't want to meet them."

"Agreed," said Quail.

"Well, the only other exits on this level are on the other side of the room."

"Then lets move," They made their way as quietly as they could around the edge of the room. The far wall had five doors, all of them with circular windows in them. John looked into the first one.

"It's looks like some kind of equipment room," he said. "Doesn't lead anywhere and it doesn't look like it has any other exits," They quickly checked the other four with the same results. "Okay," John said. "Either we go back the way we came or try the lower level."

"And run back into Arbirn?" Savannah said. "Lets hope you were right about these guys not having guns." They made their way out onto one of the catwalks, until they came to a staircase that took them down to the level below.

"Hey, you," Quail said going up to the nearest worker.

"Who are you?" she asked looking up from what looked like a tomato plant.

"Never mind that," Savannah said coming up to stand next to her soldier. "What's the quickest way back to the entrance bay form here?"

"The entrance bay?" The woman stared at Savannah for a moment. "Commander Vinc'hart?" At this point several other workers were coming towards them.

"Ah, yes."

'What are you doing here, ah- Ma'am."

"It's-" Savannah glanced back at John. "Touring this base. You didn't know?"

"No Ma'am."

"That actually makes since," Quail said. "Now that I think about it these are the first people we've seen since we got here, apart form Ellis and his group. I'm sure he made sure that anyone not evolved would be kept out of the loop and as far away as possible."

"Colonel... what's going on?"

"What's your name?" John asked.

"Ah, Kimberly Romano."

"Okay, Kimberly, what's the fastest way back to the entrance bay from here?"

"Ah, there's an exit back that way. It'll take you down a corridor that leads into a larger one. Just go down it until you reach the lobby."

"Look, just go back to whatever you're doing." Savannah said as the she, John and Quail began making there way back to the other end of the room. They had almost made it when they heard a shout above them. Looking up Savannah saw Arbirn and two of his soldiers. She quickly dived to the side as he aimed a rifle at her and fired. She slid beneath the nearest trough, crawling forward as more bullets ripped threw it, blasting holes into concert floor behind her. Reaching the end of the trough she griped her own rifle and looked around. John and Quail were crouched beneath the trough to her left. She heard the clanking sound of boots on one of the catwalks above her.

Getting up on one knee she quickly ducked out from underneath her hiding place, firing her rifle up at one of Arbirn soldiers. She only got off half a dozen shots before she emptied the clip, but they were enough to bring her target down, the man collapsing to the floor of the catwalk with a scream. She quickly retreated back beneath her cover and moved forward another few feet as Arbirn and his other remaining soldier returned fire. Glancing at Quail who was still crouched in the same spot she taped her rifle's magazine, and then made a motion with her hand. He nodded in understanding, tightening his grip on his own weapon. Savannah then turned her gaze at John, who was staring at her with a mixture of confusion, fear, and determination. Quail motioned for him to move away from him, and then with a nod from Savannah moved out from underneath the trough.

This time Arbirn was waiting for them. As Quail came out he and his companion opened fire. Their bullets ripped through him, the force of their impact knocking him to the ground, but not before he also fired, taking Arbirn's last soldier with him. One of shots also hit Arbirn in the shoulder, causing him to drop his rifle, which fell to the ground below. Seeing this Savannah dropped her rifle and got out from beneath the trough, yelling at John to come with her as she drew her handgun and ran for the exit. Bursting through the double doors they sprinted down the hallway outside. They were within a few yards of a bend in the corridor when they heard the sounds of someone coming through the doors behind them. A moment later a shot rang out, missing them both. Savannah spun around, raising her gun as Arbirn came towards them at a slow pace, his own pistol aimed at her chest. Savannah felt more then saw John raise his own weapon behind her.

"It's over Vinc'hart," Arbirn said when he was about fifteen feet way from them.

"On that," Savannah said, "we agree."

"Drop you gun," Arbirn demanded.

"And why the hell should I do that?"

"Because even if you shot first, I'll live long enough to shot you too, you and the boy. Now I have no reason to kill him, but if you don't lose drop your gun…"

The two of them stared at each other for a moment before Savannah lowered her gun.

"You'd do it?" Arbirn said in surprise, he hadn't actually expected his threat to work. "You'd sacrifice yourself for him?"

"Savannah!" John said. "What are you doing?"

"Why?" Arbirn asked, slightly lowering his own weapon.

"Because he's more important. More important then everything."

"Savannah, NO!" John shouted.

"Lower you gun John," Savannah said looking back at him. "Lower it!"

"Why?" Arbirn asked again.

Savannah looked back at him. "Remember when Weaver said the resistance was weaker here then in other timelines. It's because he wasn't there. It's him. He's the one who's supposed to fight SkyNet. Without him we're lost."

Arbirn glanced at John before looking back at Savannah. "Then why did he jump forward?"

"I don't know," Savannah answered. "I wasn't there. Sarah told me about it once; from what I got from her things happened fast. There wasn't a lot of time to think. But it doesn't matter. Once Hellic finishes the TDT he can go back, and things will go back to the way they should have been."

"Is that what happened boy," Arbirn said to John. "things happened fast?" John stared back at him defiantly. "No," Arbirn said, "there has to be more to it then that. Why would you follow her, if your supposed to be the one who leads us against the machines why would you follow one?"

"I have my reason's," John answered evenly.

"Really. You lead us all, so I should shut the fuck up and do as I'm told?" Arbirn shook his head. "I might have followed you in another life time, but I don't know you!"

"Arbirn-

"NO Savannah. You say he was the one who was supposed to lead us. Then will he be the one who starts working with them!"

Savannah raised her gun again. "Arbirn!"

Arbirn's weapon also went back up, but this time it was pointed at John. "Your supposed to lead us, but you would follow one of them! And look where it's lead you."

"I'll shot you," John warned.

"No you wont. Not until it's too late. You don't have it in you yet, I can see it in your eyes."

"Arbirn-

"You think things would be better for us if he had been in charge?" Arbirn asked Savannah. "For how long? How long before they would turn on us? They can't be trusted! He can't be trusted. Even if we can't stop J-Day, we know when things went bad. SkyNet won't be able to get the upper hand. We don't need him," Arbirn's hand tightened around his gun. Two shots rang out, and then there was silence.

So there it is. Please review, and if I haven't posted chapter ten within, oh say two weeks, someone please feel free to message me about it.