Chapter 29
Disclaimer: Don't own TSCC
TechCom CentralPark…
Ellison led John and John Henry past the workers arranging decorations and moving chairs and tables for the community dance, just four short days away. Catherine's voice could be head clearly giving instructions to frustrated humans as they moved the decorations back to their original location for a third time.
"We really should tell Catherine to use Terminators for that task," John said. "They won't snap and attack Catherine in frustration."
Ellison and John laughed while a puzzled John Henry watched, considering John's comment.
"Oh, I understand. My mother's directives grow annoying due to the repetition of acts. Terminators would not become frustrated."
"There's hope for you John Henry," Ellison told his metal pupil.
Looking down the long central corridor that formed the center of TechCom City, John remembered images from his study of history. The vaulted ceiling with support columns reminded him of the great churches of human history and the use of arches and vaulted domes to form awe inspiring roofs and ceilings. John Henry's engineers had used these forms when blasting out the cavern that became Central Park.
Each section of the park was a square with each square possessing its own vaulted ceiling, the four corners of which were anchored to support columns. The rough granite ceiling had been covered by layers of hardened concrete filled with tons of rebar and steel girders, salvaged from the Wastelands. The fifteen feet of dirt above the nearly forty feet of granite had been removed, allowing John Henry's crews to pour a twelve foot thick hardened concrete covering. Like the final layer of protective concrete below the granite, the thick protective layer was filled with rebar and a supporting steel structure.
When complete, the area had been recovered with dirt, rubble and the normal human junk littering the Wastelands. To any observer who was unaware of the city below, it was impossible to realize the great open park that lay below their feet. In fact, the citizens of TechCom who were fully aware of what lay beneath, whenever on the surface marveled at the fact they themselves could hardly believe what their labor concealed.
The trio approached a battered extension ladder standing against one of the simple Greek columns that supported one corner of the vaulted ceiling of the large open area to be used for the dance. Without speaking, John Henry climbed up the ladder and stepped onto the decorative cornice that served as a workspace as well. Ellison and John followed and crowded into the narrow space at the top.
John Henry carefully lifted a piece of decorative covering, revealing the steel beams hidden by the decorative work of the column. Setting the hatch piece aside, the Terminator pointed down in the space and shined a light so Ellison and John could see.
"This is what my workers found," he said simply, pointing to the location Ellison and John should look.
Chills ran down John's spine as the light of the narrow beam from John Henry's flashlight shined on the surfaces of the bomb carefully planted at the junction of the steel girders that formed the support structure for the vault.
"Is it still armed?" Ellison asked.
"We have not touched it since discovering it."
John scratched his head in worry, a frown forming as his anger began to well deep within. "From an engineering viewpoint, what is this bomb meant to accomplish?"
"It would blow apart the steel beams and column. The bomb by itself would only cause cosmetic damage and destroy this single support joint. The danger for our citizens would be the shrapnel from the steel and the concrete."
"Then why plant the bomb?"
John Henry looked up and stared straight into John's eyes.
"Bunker buster bombs concentrated on a single point would eventually create a crater deep enough to penetrate down to the support structure of the park. By damaging the underlying support system of our final layer, the vault in this area of Central Park could possibly collapse."
John glanced first at Ellison and back at John Henry.
"This is how they plan to breach our city. Airborne forces coming in through the collapsed ceiling vault, bypassing our perimeter defenses. The attackers would be behind our troops in the tunnels," John said somberly. "A large force would be able to overwhelm us from within our own defenses. Capturing the park gives the attackers control of the hub of our city."
"Not to mention the huge loss of life inflicted by the collapse of the vault," Ellison muttered.
The three sat in silence, looking at the bomb.
Glancing up at John Henry, John asked his city engineer, "Have your people found any others like this one?"
"No. I ordered my people out and had several of my workers keep an eye on Catherine and her people to make sure they were safe. I did not want to alarm anyone or let the spy discover we had found the device."
John nodded. "Good. Let's keep it that way. I don't want anyone to know about this. I'll tell the leadership council myself. I want the bomb disarmed but left in place."
Ellison sighed, taking a closer look at the device.
"We should be able to disarm it and have it look like it's armed and ready so long as the bomb maker doesn't take a close look."
"Perfect," John told his Security Chief. "John Henry, how did you find this?"
"One of my workers who pours the concrete architectural structures noticed a small piece of concrete was broken off. He climbed up here to repair the damage on noticed the access panel was ajar."
"Who besides the worker knows about this?"
"Myself and the worker. That's it," John Henry informed John.
"Do you trust this man?"
"General, the worker is a second generation T-600. He is completely loyal to TechCom."
"Good. Have him conduct a search of each support structure like this one. Make it look like it's a normal maintenance check. I want to know if there are any other bombs."
"As soon as mother is done for the day, I will have him start the search."
"I can have the bomb disabled before the first work shift in the morning," Ellison grimly stated.
TechCom Cafeteria…
"I don't want to go to the dance with you," Ruth repeated. "What is it you don't understand?"
Brandon's eyes narrowed slightly, pulling down the inner corners of his eyebrows as his face became flushed.
The electricity of his emotions rising caused Brandon's grip to loosen his tongue slightly, letting him raise his voice, "Just because of something I said? That's sort of stupid Ruth. I apologized! What more do you want?"
"For you to understand how important my family is to me, something you just cannot seem to wrap your head around," the little spitfire shot back.
"Hailey put you up to this," Brandon spit back at Hailey. "I know you. You'd never walk around with your boobs on display like that. You're trying to make me jealous!"
"I thought you were different from other boys," Ruth hissed. "You're not. I told Hailey me dressing like this wouldn't make you jealous. But it did! You even looked down my blouse!"
"Are you crazy," a guilty Brandon yelled at Ruth.
"Want me to find a monitor and replay my video?" Ruth threatened.
Out of the corner of her eye, Ruth saw Hailey tugging the Old Man's left arm for all she was worth, trying desperately to restrain the T-600. Ruth knew Hailey would fail in her efforts in seconds. No matter what her cousin threatened the old Terminator with, his programming and purpose would override Hailey's commands and the Old Man would terminate Brandon with prejudice.
"If you want to live, you better go," Ruth warned, lowering her voice and casting an obvious glance in the Old Man's direction.
Following the direction of Ruth's glance, Brandon instantly spotted the girl's protector, who now was removing a squirming Hailey from his back and setting her down on a table.
"We'll talk later," Brandon replied, stepping away from Ruth.
"No, we won't," Ruth answered as tears began to form in her eyes. "I don't want to talk to you ever again. Take someone else to the dance, you, you beast!"
Having finally freed himself of Hailey, the Old Man began to run in a fashion of sorts towards Brandon. The tall youth fled at full speed, easily putting distance between himself and the determined Terminator. Ruth blocked the T-600's path, yelling at him to stop.
Finally, the Old Man obeyed. Ruth held still while her protector conducted a complete scan.
"Your emotion generator is running outside of normal parameters," the Old Man informed Ruth. "Other than this anomaly, you are functioning properly and unharmed. Do you wish for me to resume my hunt immediately and terminate the human known as Brandon?"
"No!" cried out, striking her protector in his armored chest plate. "I just broke up with Brandon! Leave him alone! That is an order!"
"I did not see you inflict damage on Brandon," the confused protector informed Ruth.
"Hailey! You deal with the Old Man. I'm going home and having a pity party by myself!"
Hailey wove her fingers into the steel hand of her protector.
"It's okay. Ruth needs to be alone right now."
Concerned for both her cousin and the Old Man, Hailey tugged gently on the protector's hand. The Old Man directed his gaze at Hailey's face, his red optics generating a brighter than normal red glow.
"It's okay to be angry," Hailey told him softly. "Brandon hurt Ruth's feelings."
"He requires termination, but Ruth has issued an order forbidding this."
"Well, that would be a bit extreme," Hailey replied. "She dumped Brandon, so you don't have to worry about him anymore. That's why Ruth issued the new protocol."
The Old Man's gaze moved to the corridor Brandon had used to escape. Hailey knew her protector was scanning the tunnel with every sensor available to him.
"Stop it," she ordered in a firm voice. "Don't make me put you on standby."
"I do not like this," the Old Man replied.
"I know, but there's nothing you can do. Ruth has to sort this out on her own."
"She is upset. I have failed to protect her."
"Old Man," Hailey sighed, "you're a big softie. Us girls are going to have things like this happen. There's nothing you or our dads can do to prevent this."
"I do not like this," the machine repeated.
Hailey jumped on her protector's back. "Of course you don't. That's what makes you such a good protector for us. Now, give me a ride home," Hailey ordered, hoping to distract the Terminator long enough to get him home and let Cameron or Sarah deal with him.
Still looking down the darkened corridor Brandon had fled in, the Old Man began shuffling towards the corridor that led to the family's bunker. Hailey started giggling as she bounced up and down on the T-600s back. "You haven't carried my like this in ages," she exclaimed.
"You have grown quite a bit since the last time I did so," the Old Man reminded her.
Airbase S-14…
Watching the main gates of the perimeter fence open, the Colonel watched as his ground units departed for the march to TechCom City. He smiled as the slipshod Greys departed. The Cannon fodder. Trained Tunnels Rats, nothing more. Good riddance.
It had not been that long that he would not hesitated to send regular Greys trained for Skynet to serve as cannon fodder. Those that survived would be integrated into his regulars. The Major had made him come to value well trained human troops.
These Tunnel Rats were too unruly, ill-disciplined as it were, to serve with his regular human troops. Their slipshod discipline would create unnecessary casualties for his regulars. And there was the danger their unruly attitudes and behavior could rub off on the regulars. They were just human after all.
TechCom City Holding…
The message in the food had renewed his determination. Trevor finished his exercise routine for the second time that day. He felt fit, determined and most of all, angry. He would need to stoke that anger. To fight and defeat Cameron would require it. And then, then his fun would really begin.
Once Cameron was restrained, Trevor planned to capture "her John" and the precious little princess Hailey if he could. He didn't know who would suffer more while he had his way with the lovely Miss Cameron, her family as they watched, or Cameron's pain and humiliation from having her beloved family see her humiliated and defiled.
Trevor was a realist though. He knew his escape was timed to be nothing more than a distraction. Capturing Cameron might not be possible simply because he would not be able to gain access to her. But surely, as prominent as the Connor family women were, he could get his hands on Hailey or Sarah Connor. Either one would do just fine as a weapon to use against the General himself, the almighty John Connor.
Just Outside TechCom City School…
"It's okay Ruth."
"I'll never have another boyfriend. What was I thinking?"
"That Brandon had crossed a line he should not have. It's not like we haven't made it clear that our family is not to be trifled with."
"Hailey, he'll go to the dance with some other girl."
"So! You'll go to the dance with some other guy. With additional modifications to that slinky dress of yours," Hailey added in her imitation of a sultry voice.
Ruth laughed at her cousin.
"Yeah, like covering up more."
"No! Skin! Show more skin!" Hailey teased.
"And get KP duty forever when Dad sees me," Ruth mocked back. "That includes you too, because Mom and Dad will know you put me up to it."
"Oops! Small problem, less skin, less skin," Hailey laughed. "Seriously though, you're going to have a date."
"And you know this because?"
"My date has a twin brother, have you forgotten?"
Reviews are always appreciated. If you liked this story, you might want to consider my other TSCC stories:
Cameron Grows Up
The Future Cameron
Cameron and the Black Bird
Cameron and John's Wedding
Who's the Boss?
The Storm Before the Calm
