Terminator: Return of the Fallen
Part XXXXVI
When John and I see each other, we exchange salutes and smiles. He looks just like the battle hardened Commanding Officer that I remember. John Henry is here as well. He has not aged a day since 2009. I hope that the others are all right.
"Welcome back".
"Thank you, Commander. I've missed you".
"It's General Connor, now Mr. Zacks. I'm the new Supreme Commander of the Resistance".
"Well, it was bound to happen eventually. Congratulations, Sir. I can't think of anyone who deserves this more than you do".
"Thank you. John Henry, escort Major Zacks to the barracks and get him some equipment. I don't like my officers walking around naked". What did he say?
"I beg your pardon, Sir? MAJOR Zacks?"
"You escaped from an enemy base, rescued a fellow Resistance soldier, and captured a Hunter Killer in operational condition. I think that merits a promotion, don't you". At this moment, I feel like I don't even need a plane. I feel like I could float to my target. With a huge smile on my face, I snap to attention and salute.
"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir!" John smiles and returns my salute.
"You're welcome. Now go put on a uniform".
I follow John Henry to the barracks. As we walk, we chat about how things are progressing in the future: the status of new weapons, the progress we are making on all fronts, the new tactics and strategies that have been developed since my disappearance, and various other war related topics. One thing neither of us talks about is the rest of the Connor clan. I am afraid to ask what happened to them, because I am afraid that we are all that is left. If something happened to Allison while I was away, I would never forgive myself.
After he helps me find a new uniform and some new equipment, John Henry leaves to rejoin John in the Command Center. My best friend is now the top weapons designer in the Resistance, as well as the top advisor to the Supreme Commander. If Catherine were here, she would be beaming with pride. I hope she had a good life after I vanished, again. This is the second time that I have left her, and the second time that I appeared to sacrifice myself to save others. She must have been ticked off when she found out that I was gone.
The barracks is exactly like I remembered it: dirty, dark, and humid. I remember most of the soldiers here, but there are some new faces. There are also many old faces that I can not find in the barracks. I do not bother to ask what happened to them; I think I already know the answer. My old bunk is still empty, so I might as well settle in. Hopefully, there is an A-10 that is available; I can't wait to get back in the air.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, I'm looking for Major Zacks". The speaker has a British accent. This is new; we've never had personnel from overseas before.
"Well, you've found him". I turn around and nearly black out. The person that was looking for me is a woman that looks exactly like Sarah. I've seen some weird things in my lifetimes, but this takes the cake. I wonder if John has seen this woman yet.
"My name is Lena, and I was told you were the person to see about pilots".
"You were told correctly; I helped to train most of the pilots in this division. What exactly do you need?"
"What I need is an experienced pilot to train our men and lead our squadrons. How soon can you leave for England?" What the hell? For some reason, I start to do my Winston Churchill impression.
"Madame, I will never....surrender.....my commission". Apparently, John Connor entered the barracks when I was not looking, because I can hear his voice from behind me.
"Yes, you will. We have a submarine leaving shortly after sunset, and you are going to be on it". Did I just get traded to the British? What is going on here? I turn around to face the Commanding Officer.
"Permission to speak freely, Sir?"
"Granted".
"Thank you sir. WHAT THE HELL?" I am yelling at the Supreme Commander. Well, my career is more or less over. "I have never disobeyed one of your orders. I am one of your most experienced and most talented pilots and you are transferring me to England. Why, in God's name, are you getting rid of one of your best pilots?"
"Because, MAJOR, I am now commanding the entire Resistance. I have soldiers in every country, and they need to be able to fight. The British lack experienced pilots, more importantly they lack people to train their rookies. I need to keep the Resistance fighters in England alive, and that means giving them air cover. You WILL be on that submarine, you WILL go to England, and you WILL do your duty to the best of your abilities. Is that understood, Major?" I snap to attention and salute.
"YES SIR!"
"Good. Pack your gear. Lieutenant Reese will take you to the submarine". So Reese is still alive. Or, is this Reese before he went back in time? Man, I hate time travel. The British woman has a huge smile on her face. At least someone here is not royally ticked off at this moment.
"Thank you, General Connor. Your decision will save many lives in England. Major, I will rendezvous with you aboard the Jimmy Carter. Oh, and I highly suggest that you refrain from doing any more Winston Churchill imitations". She chuckles as she walks away. Incredible, even their laughs are the same. I am about to make a comment about this, when I catch a glimpse of John's face. He has a Don't even think about it look on his face. Rather than start something that might get me transferred to Siberia, I keep my tongue behind my teeth and prepare for my journey.
It does not take a long time to pack up my gear, mostly because I do not have any gear. I was transferred before anyone could issue new gear to replace the stuff that I lost when I blew up. All that I have is the uniform on my back and a few personal items that miraculously survived the destruction of my plane. I still can't believe that they kept this stuff. At this moment, I would not trade these possessions for all of the comforts of 2009. One item in particular is irreplaceable to me: my old high school ring. It is not a particularly valuable item, but it does have something very special engraved on the interior of the ring: Joshua, my original name. Currently, that engraving is the only link I have to my past.
When the time comes to board the Jimmy Carter, Reese escorts me to the dock. I try to strike up a conversation with him, but he refuses to speak to me. I'm not sure, but I think that he hates me. Did I ever give him a reason to hate me? I can't remember. Just as I am about to set foot on the submarine, someone grabs me by the arm and takes me aside.
"It's not you, it's what you're made of".
"What?"
"The way Reese is treating you, it's because you're metal. He's not the only one that hates anything mechanical. Watch your back".
"Come on, we're all on the same side here".
"For some people, hatred overshadows all allegiances. Some would gladly sacrifice their lives and the lives of their comrades to destroy you. Be careful".
"Thanks for the warning, but I can take care of myself". The man that took me aside shakes my hand and wishes me luck on the journey to England.
"Believe me; you are going to need all of the luck you can get".
After boarding the submarine, I help the crew carry and store heavy equipment that we are transporting from Resistance Headquarters to England. Crates and machinery that would normally require two humans to lift are carried with one arm. This is one of the occasions when I like to show off. The crew is mostly trying to avoid me; I don't think they trust me. No matter; I could use a few hours alone right now. I am going to spend hours underwater in a metal tube, with no armour protection, traveling to a new assignment on a different continent. Great!
At noon, I join the rest of the crew in the galley. The food is only slightly better than field rations, which is more than I can say for the company. As soon as I sat down at the table, everyone stopped talking. As I was staring at my tray, I noticed the reflection of a crewman coming at me with a bayonet. I spun around, grabbed him, and slammed his head into the table. I have fought for the Resistance since 2013, and this asshole just tried to kill me. This is ridiculous.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" A woman with an Australian accent has entered the galley and has started shouting. The British woman from the barracks is standing beside her. This day is getting better and better.
"He attacked me with a bayonet, so I defended myself". The woman with the Australian accent looks at me, then at the man on the floor.
"Is he alive?"
"For now. I intend to press charges as soon as possible". The entire crew looks shocked at my comment. They obviously did not expect this kind of a response from me.
"That will not be necessary. I will see to it that he is confined to quarters for the rest of the voyage". WHAT? I am so enraged that I snap the table in half with my fist.
"Confined to quarters? HE ATTACKED A SUPERIOR OFFICER WITH A WEAPON! In the air force, he would have been shot on the spot".
"Well, this isn't the air force, is it?"
"Don't give me that bullshit! This is because I'm not human, isn't it?"
"You have to admit, a bayonet could not do any real damage..."
"If he attacked me with a plasma rifle, would you still confine him to quarters? What about a shoulder mounted missile? Or a nuclear bomb? How powerful a weapon does he have to use before his actions are considered high treason?"
"Major..."
"THAT'S RIGHT! I am a Major. Whether you like it or not, I am an officer. Attacking a superior officer is an act of treason, punishable by death". The man that attacked me begins to groan on the floor. "SHUT UP! You're lucky you're still breathing". I pick up my tray and hurl it at the bulkhead. As I begin to storm off towards my quarters, the two women are blocking my path.
"I will not have you causing a stir aboard my ship".
"Get out of my way. That is an order".
"You listen to me, you metal bastard: on this ship, I give the orders". I grab her, lift her over my head, and put her down behind me.
"I don't give a shit. Disobey me again and I will have you arrested for disobeying orders". The British woman is still in my way. "Do not push me to violence. Get out of my way or you are under arrest". She moves and I storm out of the galley. As I walk towards my quarters, I can hear her talking to the woman with the Australian accent.
"What do you think, Jessie?"
"I think we've got our hands full with this one. I don't think I have ever seen one that acted so....human".
"That's because I used to be human, you idiot".
"What?"
"Allow me to introduce myself, since you clearly did not read past the word Terminator in my file. Major Charles Zacks: born in Montreal, February 22, 1987. Killed in action: April 11, 2018. Rebuilt as a Terminator by General John Connor in 2024. My organs were all transplanted into this chassis. Beneath my metal exterior, I am just as human as you. Remember that the next time one of your mutinous crew tries to stab me".
When I reach my quarters, I slam the door and jump onto my bunk. I can not believe this: I have fought against SkyNet since Judgement Day, and these people are trying to kill me. This is ridiculous. Though I am alone in my quarters, I can hear a man's voice speaking within the room.
"I tried to warn you, didn't I?" It is the same man that spoke to me before I boarded the Jimmy Carter. However, I do not believe that he is a man, or ever was one. There is only one person that this could be.
"CATHERINE!" She oozes out of one of the walls and reforms herself beside me on the bunk, completely naked.
"Welcome back to the Resistance, Charley". This day just got a whole lot better.
