Chapter 10: Shotgun Training

February 24th, 2000

11:17 AM

L.A. Human Resistance

California

—

Sarah Connor paced behind the recruits, watching their form and accuracy at the firing range. Some of them had experience with guns and some had no experience at all and both were very easy to see. The Powers triplets; Reed, Claire, and Blair, were leading the training session, darting back and forth from each recruit correcting form or showing them how to do it. Typically the Powers were known for joking around but they knew that there was a time to be serious and that was a quality that Sarah greatly appreciated. It made her job even easier.

Sarah stopped a few feet away from a young brunette recruit, struggling to handle the shotgun she was holding. She fired a shot that hit the target but her body shuddered with the recoil and she stumbled back slightly, struggling to regain her balance. Sarah rushed forward and caught her and her right arm instantly took the gun from the girl, making sure it was still trained on the target. Sarah let out a slow breath and turned the safety on.

The young woman glanced nervously between the gun and Sarah with worried dark brown eyes. Sarah smiled softly and took off the protective earmuffs she was wearing and offered the gun back to the girl. She hesitated to take it and opened her mouth to speak but Sarah beat her to it.

"Don't apologize. You didn't hurt anyone and you're learning how to use it. That's okay. First priority is always safety."

"I… I just…"

"What's your name?"

"Joyce."

Sarah nodded slowly and held the shotgun up so Joyce could see it.

"It's okay to be afraid. It means you're human and that is always good. But the gun only has as much power as you give it. It can't do anything on its own which means that you are in complete control."

Joyce nodded slowly, eyeing the gun nervously. Sarah stepped behind the girl and helped her forward and get into position.

"Okay, Joyce, I'm going to teach you the trick to shotguns. The first thing is to keep your eyes on the target. With a shotgun, you are basically going to just point and shoot. Good shooters train to be able to shoot with just their eyes and not rely on the gun's sight at all but you will start by keeping your eyes on the target. Look at where you want to go. If you're right then the gun will land where your dominant eye is looking."

Joyce nodded again and Sarah helped her mouth the gun, placing it front of her body along her face and then dug it into her shoulder.

"You want to apply downward pressure on the back of the gun with your cheek. That will help with the recoil. You want your feet to be under your shoulders with your front foot pointing forward and you want the back foot to be nearly perpendicular with it."

Sarah stepped back after a few seconds and smiled slightly at the position.

"Alright Joyce, are your eyes on the target?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now keep your eyes right there and shoot when you're ready."

Sarah waited patiently and smiled as Joyce jumped slightly after she fired the shot. Sarah walked forward and grabbed a pair of binoculars to see where her shot landed.

"Good eye. You're on the inner ring, close to the bulls-eye. Don't worry about the set-up… with more training you'll find you don't even think about it."

Joyce flicked the safety on and set the shotgun down on the table, letting out a slow breath. She rolled her shoulder and chuckled slightly.

"Thanks."

Sarah nodded with a small smile and turned to leave but Joyce leaped forward and stopped her.

"How do you do all this?"

Sarah turned back to Joyce, folding her arms across her chest, listening to her speak.

"I… I remember hearing stories about you on the news; about the Terminator, and the soldier from the future. They said you were crazy but you got away. You were caught but then you got away again. How did you do it?"

Sarah licked her lips, thinking over her response before she spoke.

"I figured out that fear and love are the quickest ways to learn who you truly are. After everything that happened in 1984, I never wanted to be caught like that again. I loved that soldier and when I figured out that I was pregnant with his child, I… I knew I had to get away. And from that day on, I have trained and given everything I have to be ready for it to come again. You'd be surprised what you are willing to do for someone you love. And when they are almost taken from you and hurt, you will do anything to make sure that they're ready if it ever comes around again."

Joyce quickly ran a hand through her dark hair.

"When do you think that time will be?"

"Sooner than we'd like it to be. That's why we're here now."

Sarah drew in a breath to continue speaking but stopped when her radio crackled to life.

"I've got what you need, mom."

Sarah picked up her walkie talkie with a smile.

"I'm on my way."

"What's one thing you miss about your old life?"

A grin formed across Sarah's face as she replied.

"Rocket Man by Elton John. Don't tell anyone but that's who I named my son after. He used to love it when I sang it to him. I'm a terrible singer… but even at his young age, he loved the song because I did."

Sarah's smile fell slowly as she looked back at Joyce, drawing in a slow breath.

"This life will change you like it's changed me… but hold your past close to your heart and don't ever forget it. And remember that you're stronger than you think."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Sarah slowly turned on her heel and walked away, fastening the earmuffs as she walked through the rest of the shooters. She took off her camo jacket and tied it around her waist, sighing with relief as her bare shoulders felt the heat of the sun for a few seconds before she entered the base. She walked quickly to the planning room to see John sitting there with his laptop, waiting for her.

"What did you get?"

John spoke hesitantly.

"He's from a different timeline. He doesn't exist in this one so there's no way to know if he is real or not."

"I was afraid of that."

"Sorry."

Sarah met her son's eyes and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't be. You did your best."

"What do you want me to do now?"

Sarah held her hands out.

"Let me see your laptop. There's something I want to show you."