Dawn
"The night is always darkest just before the dawn."- Ancient Proverb
September 28, 2004
Kate lay still, body prostrate on top of John. She looked around the darkened room, thinking. Two months had passed since the end of the world. Wow. Had it really been that long? It seemed like time had just...melted away. It had been just her and John, alone. Training, preparing, waiting for the day the war would really begin...
John stirred, moving his right arm around her. Kate smirked a bit. She shouldn't really be all that surprised- after all, it was hard for a man and a woman to keep their hands off each other after two months alone. Especially when said man and woman were supposedly destined to marry. She craned her head to see his face. Strange, he looked so...so young when he was asleep. For awhile, he stopped looking like a man with the weight of the future on his shoulders. If only she could see him like this all the time.
Kate's eyes caught the glinting diamond on her finger. Why hadn't she taken it off? Scott was dead. That world was dead. How often had she berated John? How many times had she told him that there was nothing they could ever do and that all they could do was accept it and move forward? The pain was still fresh. Every time Kate closed her eyes she still saw her father's limp body, still saw the T-X coming to her in the guise of Scott. Except when she was with John, like this. Then she didn't have to feel the pain for little while. For a time she didn't have to constantly move forward, didn't have to think about what had happened or what was going to happen.
John shifted again. He'd wake up in a few hours and the man with the future on his shoulders would return. Kate looked into his face once more. Destiny- both a blessing and curse.
Nicholai twisted and jerked in his sleep. Dead people all around him...had to run, had to find people...Oh no, no! There wasn't anyone left but him. He was all alone... Nicholai bolted up, eyes bulging. The fire...gone down...Maybe he should wake up the others-Wait...what?! They were gone, wh-where could they have gone?!
"Jack, Anaiya, Cindy!!! Where are you! D-Don't leave me all alone!" He spun, where could they be!? Had they abandoned him! Left him all alone in this hell? What was he going to do-
"Nick! Nick, it's alright! We're here!" That was Anaiya's voice, behind him. He turned, there they were, he hadn't been abandoned.
"Where were you?"
"I found a store, with food in an underground cellar," Cindy replied, holding up a bag full of the stuff. "I came back for everyone, but we decided to let you sleep. You've been working the hardest of all of us, you know." The others nodded. Nicholai sat back down, food...that was good. They hadn't anything to eat in days. The rest sat, putting their bags of food between them. Nicholai tore into the food, chewing fast and drinking fast.
Cindy edged close to him, putting a hand on his arm and smiled. He smiled back; he'd been alone so long...it had taken him so long to find them. But, how long had it been since- whatever had happened? A month? Two? A year? No, it couldn't be a year, it couldn't. Had to be a month or two, right? Nicholai looked up at the dark sky. It was always dark, he could never see the moon or the stars...
His eyes moved around, taking in their bombed out home. Had anyone ever lived here, before? Were their bodied buried under the pile of brick? But...that didn't matter, he wasn't alone. Yes, he wasn't alone anymore.
"Daniel, I know this place has done us well, but we've eaten all the food in the cellars. This place Stacy found has all the food we need and enough space. We just need your okay to move. Well?" Ed questioned. Daniel looked around the enormous grocery store. This place had been there home for months...But it had run out of food, food runs were taking longer and longer. And now it wasn't just the four of- they'd found twenty other people...But still- this place was safe. Leave it? Should they?
Why did everybody look to him to lead? He wasn't a leader, he just tried to keep everyone alive until John- But, what made him think John would come to them? How did he know John was even around, even alive? Hell, how could even be sure this was Judgment Day?! Ed spoke again.
"Daniel, I need an answer. No one's willing to do anything without your approval. And I'm with them. What do you want us to do?" What did he want them to do? How could be sure of anything anymore? If the machines came now...But, he had to tell them something, right? Well, this place was big enough for them all...but it had run out of supplies...And this new place was big enough, and it was full. But still, which was the right decision? Who gave him the right to decide what happened to 24 lives?
"Daniel?" Ed's voice took on a tinge of fear. Daniel looked at him. If he cracked now, the others would panic. They would get themselves killed. It was up to him...He took a deep breath. Was this the right thing to do? If only John was here.
"Okay, we-we'll move to this new place. Make sure everyone's ready."
John sat down on the bed as he pulled on his boots. Another day of waiting, another day Skynet would be building its armies, planning genocide. He looked over at the sleeping form. He had to wake her but...she just seemed so- so content. But he needed her for- What? Why did she have to be awake now? He could do the morning routine himself. Well, Kate could sleep a bit longer. John shrugged on his shirt.
John pushed open the door to the Secondary Control Room. The real control room, rather. Every modern computer system was in here. Everything he needed to start off. Without looking, he walked across, to a particular monitor. Radiation detection- the machine that would tell John when to start the war. Ironic, human redemption signaled by a machine. John barely took a glance at the monitor, as he'd thought- the radiation was still too dangerous. It looked like just another- Wait just a god damned second. John turned back to the monitor and stared for a moment.
"KATE!!!" He called as loud as he could, not even bothering to grab his radio. It was amazing, just- wow. The thing said it was safe. After all this time, they were ready to begin. He barely heard her enter.
"John! What is it? Why are you-"she stopped, staring blankly at the monitor.
"John, am I dreaming?" He shook his head. Relief filled him, and he turned to her.
"Well...we've been over the maps, so I guess we should go to L.A. first. Alright, go down to the supply room and grab some food. I'll prep a truck. I leave in 30 minutes." Kate looked at him incredulously.
"John, uh, I'm going." He shook his head. What?
"No, you're staying here. I'm that one that goes."
"Uh-uh, I'm going, John. You've got to stay here." He frowned. Time to put his foot down.
"Look, you're staying her where it's safe, I'm going. That's it. Final." Her face tightened and pointed a finger. John took a step back.
"If you think I'm going to let you keep me here because of some macho, testosterone-fueled urge to 'protect' me, then you've got another thing coming! I'm going, and you are staying, understand me?" John felt his back hit the table. What the hell?
"Do you understand me, General?" She asked, teeth bared, in a voice like poisoned honey. He nodded.
"Now, go get the food. I leave in 45 minutes."
Driving through the cold desert, Kate began to understand John a little better. For how many years had he seen this...wasteland in his dreams? It was 2 PM, in July, yet it was pitch black. No moon, no stars- nothing but an endless field of darkness. It was a dust cloud, thrown up by the instant, mutual destruction of every major city in the world. And by the collective ashes of half the human race.
After this, what would be left of the city? A few crumbling buildings, Monuments to a dead world? Or nothing? How long would what was left stand? Would it still be here decades from now, reminding people of a civilization destroyed in an instant?
How many people had really survived the end of the world? How many of them had strength enough to move on and fight back? How many of them would die before it was over?
Did even John know how long the war would be? Years, yes, decades, yes- but...maybe even centuries? How old would she be, when it was all over? Would she even still be alive?
Kate began to near the city limits. She could almost make out what was left of the skyline against the dark sky. In the back of the truck, she had forty cases of rations, but would it be enough? Or, was it too much? Kate shook away the questions as she came closer. However many survivors there were, she would find them. Or however few there were.
The little boy had died a while ago. He'd just gotten sicker and sicker until one day he'd just stopped breathing. All the sick ones were dead. Will watched the tic-tac-toe board while Mindy thought about her move. A lot more had gotten sick and died, there wasn't many left here. But Mrs. Michiko and Mr. Baner were still with him. Mindy drew a pink circle, making two in a row crosswise. Will smiled, he and Mindy were good friends, but she was really bad at this game. He took the chalk and made an X beside her circle, making three in a row up-and-down. Mindy huffed and left.
Bored, he looked around the room. His eyes fell on a big old man sitting in the corner. He'd heard Mrs. Michiko talking about how crazy the old man was, for thinking that something called nukes had made it all scary outside.
Will got to his feet and walked to the man. The old man saw him and said
"Whadya want, kid?" Will stopped and kicked his feet against the ground, the old man was all scary and, and old up close! And he wasn't a kid! He was four! The old man laughed a little bit and said
"It's alright, kid, I don't bite. Now what did you come over here for?"
"I'm not a kid! My name's Will and I'm four," he said, holding up his fingers, "I wanted to know what nukes were. Do you know?" The man looked at him weird for a minute.
"A nuke is a weapon."
"Is it a gun?"
"No, it's a bomb."
"Powerful?"
"Super-powerful."
"What is it for?" The old man stopped again and frowned.
"It's...it's to kill a lot people all at once. It's what happened to this place."
"Why would somebody make something like that?"
"Because they were afraid of each other."
"Why?"
"They just were. So afraid they built nukes. Now we're paying the price for it. I feel sorry for you kid, people like me, we won't last long, not like this. But you, you're going to have to bear the brunt of this."
"Did the sick people get sick because of the nukes?"
"Yes." Will looked at the ground. Outside was all messed up and scary. The sick people were dead. His mommy and daddy were probably dead. All because some stupid big people had been scared. Big people were really stupid.
The group quietly made their way through the ruins toward their new home. Daniel looked around the gaunt faces, torn clothes. Had it been the right decision? If machines were out here...no, he couldn't think about that now. Daniel heard a gasp, head jerking up he saw- It was so sudden so unexpected. The headlights of the truck lumbered toward them, stopping a few meters away. Whoever was driving left the engine running as they got out. Walking in front was the headlights, was...a woman?
"I'm Kathryn Brewster, from the Army. I'm here to help you." Daniel made his way ahead, had to get a better look at her.
"I'm Daniel Dyson. I've got about thirty people with me. What are you going to do?" A redhead, pretty, tall- and she had a pistol on her hip.
"Do any of you need medicine or food?" she said. Weird, why hadn't she answered the question?
"No, we're all fine, there's a place we were heading to, has lots of food. Now, tell me what's going to happen to us." She said nothing for a moment.
"I'm going to take you all to a bunker, Crystal Peak, you'll be safe there." There it was- she had to know, had to. But, could he be sure?
"Safe from what?" A pause just a little too long.
"From any lingering radiation, the cold, starvation- many things." Daniel nodded- oh yes, she knew alright.
"Look, I can't take you with me just yet. I have to find other groups of survivors. It'll take me a few days, but then I'll come and get you." Kathryn turned back to her truck. Ed's voice peeped up from behind Daniel.
"Uh...Ms. Brewster, ma'am, do you know what happened?"
"All further questions will be answered when you get to Crystal Peak." Daniel looked at his group. Should he really leave them alone, just to answer a question? Well, they would be safe, Ed would take care of them...he had to know.
"Wait. I want to go with you, help you." Ed shook his head.
"Danny, you can't leave us alone! We'll-"
"Be fine, you can lead them, Ed. Just take them to the grocery store, I'll be back in a few days." He turned to Kathryn. Please, let him go. She nodded.
Daniel climbed into the truck, glancing at the group as the truck passed them. Ed would keep them safe, he would. He turned to Kathryn.
"Kathryn-"
"Please, Kate." She said in a much...softer voice.
"Alright, Kate, I'll just cut to the chase. Do you know John Connor?"
"Yes."
Nicholai sat by the small fire, warming his hands. The others were asleep. He wanted to see his girlfriend. Alyssa. Was she even alive? Or was she just another charred husk amidst the many? She had raven black hair, with the brightest green- What was that? A slow, lumbering sound. Crunching gravel...A truck. It had to be a truck! Bu-but all the cars were destroyed here, how could- it...it was from outside! Which meant...help!
"Guys, guys! Wake up, wake up!" The other three bolted up. Cindy was the first to speak.
"Nick, what is it?!"
"Don't you hear it? A truck, it's a truck!" Jack frowned, then he grinned.
"It is- it's a truck!" Nicholai ran out of the half-gone building. Headlights blinded for a moment, but he waved. Oh yes, rescue! Help was here! The truck came to a stop, and two people came out.
"My name is Kathryn Brewster, I'm from the Army. This is my friend, Daniel Dyson. We're here to help you." Nicholai ran forward to the woman and embraced her. Sweet, sweet woman.
"Thank you, thank you so much." He felt a gentle hand pull him back. Anaiya came in front of him.
"Hello, I'm Anaiya, this is Nicholai. The other two are Cindy and Jack." The young man, Daniel, and Kathryn whispered for a moment, before Kathryn turned to them.
"There's only four of you and all of you look hungry, so get in the back, there's as much food as you need."
The group clambered into the back, and Nicholai tore into the little food packets. They'd been rescued, it was all over. It would all be okay now.
"Hey, everybody wake up, now!" Will opened his eyes, why was Mr. Baner yelling? He sat up from his blanket. Huh? Who were the two people beside Mr. Baner?
"These two are here to help us. Upside, they've got a truck full of supplies that can fit all of us."
"I'm Kathryn Brewster from the Army, this is Daniel Dyson. We're going to take you to a bunker called Crystal Peak," Wow! The woman was from the Army," I need you to come to the surface, unless it's important to you, don't take anything with you." The people started getting up and walking forward. Will walked to the Army woman. Wow! She had a real gun! But was she really from the Army? He tugged on her pants.
"Ma'am, are you really from the Army?" The woman gave him a big smile.
"Yeah, I'm from the Army. What's your name?"
"I'm Will Perry."
"Okay, Will, do you want to ride upfront with me?"
"Yeah!"
When they got to the truck, the woman helped him into the seat. She turned on the truck and began to rumble away.
"Ma'am, what's Crystal Peak?"
"It's under a big mountain. A place where we'll all be safe. Does that sound good to you?" He nodded. Crystal Peak sounded like a really cool place! But...did they have candy there?
It was irrational. He shouldn't be this worried about her! John leaned against the wall of the garage. He had trained her, and even so- Kate could take care of herself. He had to stop himself from grabbing the radio. Radio silence until she was right outside the door. What had he been thinking? Ugh, why was he even thinking like this? Kate was a soldier- no, a general. He shouldn't be acting like this just because he was in- Dammit, his mom would've never acted...Wait, had his mom ever acted like this? When she'd been in Pescadero, had she been worried out of her mind? He knew...his mom had loved him, he knew that. There was no doubt of that. John's head snapped to the radio.
"Jo-Connor, this is Brewster reporting in and requesting entrance. I have 53 survivors with me, the majority are young, between seven and eighteen, copy." John ran up the stairs to the control panel.
"Doors opening now. Bring them in, Brewster." Please, faster doors, open faster. They were just wide enough and the truck rumbled inside. John switched it back to close. People started clambering out the back. Then she got out. He almost ran to her then. But, they couldn't. They...were leaders now. He walked past the survivors to the cabin. He could at least give her a- Who was that? The young man was tall, dark. Where had he seen those features before? Oh God...
"Are you John Connor?"
"Yes." that cinched it- that young man was Daniel Dyson. Then he saw her. Looking tired, leading a sleepy young boy by the hand. He wished he could give her a hug, just a little hug. He nodded to her. She nodded back. That would have to be enough for now. He turned to the survivors, now huddled together beside the truck. They're clothes were torn, some little more than rags. Many of the men had full beards. All of them looked hungry.
"I am John Connor. You are at Crystal Peak. Kate will take you the cafeteria, when you're done eating. She will take you to the briefing room. Then I'll get you up to speed on what has happened. Dismissed."
Daniel looked around as Kate led the survivors to the briefing room. This place No life, no sense that this was somebody's home. His home, now. How long would it be before any human could really have a home?
The door opened into the briefing room. John was already there, standing at the podium. Looking every bit the savior of the human race. The group sat down in the chairs, glad to be someplace warm. Weird, his group seemed to sit closer to him than the others...John began to speak.
"Twenty years ago, a company named Cyberdyne systems found a highly advanced CPU. It was smached, but by studying it with the military, they came up with the idea for a new type of computerized defense system. They named the project Skynet," Not surprising at all- humanity was to blame for its own genocide, "In 1995, Cyberdyne systems was rendered bankrupt by a terrorist attack which destroyed all files pertaining to Skynet," He used to think his father's death had been...heroic. Now it was just pointless, "However, the military had its own backups and though the project had been set back years, work continued at Edward's Air Force base near Cheyenne mountain," So, everything his father had gone through had been to give the world just nine more years. Really, what had been the point?, "Along with building Skynet, the military also began development of automated machines, under Skynet's direct control. These machines were named Terminators. Two months ago, a virus began rampaging through civilian communications. The military wasn't too worried, as it didn't affect their systems. Then, on July 25, it did effect their systems. Skynet was ordered activated, which would give it complete control of the U.S. military and give it the ability to kill the virus. What they didn't realize was that Skynet was the virus. You see, Skynet had gotten smart, real smart, it had become sentient. It had taken over the arsenal of every nuclear capable nation. Deeming all of humanity a threat to its existence, Skynet killed the researchers with Terminators. Then it launched a nuclear missile at every major city in the world. We estimate the death toll at 3.2...billion." That pause...the twitch of facial features. Had it been...pain?
"But Skynet isn't finished yet. It wants to exterminate all of us. It will round up survivors, probably starting here, in west North America. The survivors will be put into death camps, and while being systematically terminated, they will be forced to build automated factories," Daniel looked around. Everyone was so...shocked. Well, just finding out about it would...surprising, he supposed," Our only chance is to fight back. You are the core of the resistance. We're going to find more survivors, train them. We're going to make contact with survivors all over the planet. And eventually, we'll begin to take back our world. Kate will take to the supply rooms where you'll be given uniforms. Your training begins tomorrow at 0500 hours. Dismissed." So, his father had died to give the world just nine more years. Nine years squandered away in pointless bickering and war. What a meaningless death.
"The night is always darkest just before the dawn."- Ancient Proverb
September 28, 2004
Kate lay still, body prostrate on top of John. She looked around the darkened room, thinking. Two months had passed since the end of the world. Wow. Had it really been that long? It seemed like time had just...melted away. It had been just her and John, alone. Training, preparing, waiting for the day the war would really begin...
John stirred, moving his right arm around her. Kate smirked a bit. She shouldn't really be all that surprised- after all, it was hard for a man and a woman to keep their hands off each other after two months alone. Especially when said man and woman were supposedly destined to marry. She craned her head to see his face. Strange, he looked so...so young when he was asleep. For awhile, he stopped looking like a man with the weight of the future on his shoulders. If only she could see him like this all the time.
Kate's eyes caught the glinting diamond on her finger. Why hadn't she taken it off? Scott was dead. That world was dead. How often had she berated John? How many times had she told him that there was nothing they could ever do and that all they could do was accept it and move forward? The pain was still fresh. Every time Kate closed her eyes she still saw her father's limp body, still saw the T-X coming to her in the guise of Scott. Except when she was with John, like this. Then she didn't have to feel the pain for little while. For a time she didn't have to constantly move forward, didn't have to think about what had happened or what was going to happen.
John shifted again. He'd wake up in a few hours and the man with the future on his shoulders would return. Kate looked into his face once more. Destiny- both a blessing and curse.
Nicholai twisted and jerked in his sleep. Dead people all around him...had to run, had to find people...Oh no, no! There wasn't anyone left but him. He was all alone... Nicholai bolted up, eyes bulging. The fire...gone down...Maybe he should wake up the others-Wait...what?! They were gone, wh-where could they have gone?!
"Jack, Anaiya, Cindy!!! Where are you! D-Don't leave me all alone!" He spun, where could they be!? Had they abandoned him! Left him all alone in this hell? What was he going to do-
"Nick! Nick, it's alright! We're here!" That was Anaiya's voice, behind him. He turned, there they were, he hadn't been abandoned.
"Where were you?"
"I found a store, with food in an underground cellar," Cindy replied, holding up a bag full of the stuff. "I came back for everyone, but we decided to let you sleep. You've been working the hardest of all of us, you know." The others nodded. Nicholai sat back down, food...that was good. They hadn't anything to eat in days. The rest sat, putting their bags of food between them. Nicholai tore into the food, chewing fast and drinking fast.
Cindy edged close to him, putting a hand on his arm and smiled. He smiled back; he'd been alone so long...it had taken him so long to find them. But, how long had it been since- whatever had happened? A month? Two? A year? No, it couldn't be a year, it couldn't. Had to be a month or two, right? Nicholai looked up at the dark sky. It was always dark, he could never see the moon or the stars...
His eyes moved around, taking in their bombed out home. Had anyone ever lived here, before? Were their bodied buried under the pile of brick? But...that didn't matter, he wasn't alone. Yes, he wasn't alone anymore.
"Daniel, I know this place has done us well, but we've eaten all the food in the cellars. This place Stacy found has all the food we need and enough space. We just need your okay to move. Well?" Ed questioned. Daniel looked around the enormous grocery store. This place had been there home for months...But it had run out of food, food runs were taking longer and longer. And now it wasn't just the four of- they'd found twenty other people...But still- this place was safe. Leave it? Should they?
Why did everybody look to him to lead? He wasn't a leader, he just tried to keep everyone alive until John- But, what made him think John would come to them? How did he know John was even around, even alive? Hell, how could even be sure this was Judgment Day?! Ed spoke again.
"Daniel, I need an answer. No one's willing to do anything without your approval. And I'm with them. What do you want us to do?" What did he want them to do? How could be sure of anything anymore? If the machines came now...But, he had to tell them something, right? Well, this place was big enough for them all...but it had run out of supplies...And this new place was big enough, and it was full. But still, which was the right decision? Who gave him the right to decide what happened to 24 lives?
"Daniel?" Ed's voice took on a tinge of fear. Daniel looked at him. If he cracked now, the others would panic. They would get themselves killed. It was up to him...He took a deep breath. Was this the right thing to do? If only John was here.
"Okay, we-we'll move to this new place. Make sure everyone's ready."
John sat down on the bed as he pulled on his boots. Another day of waiting, another day Skynet would be building its armies, planning genocide. He looked over at the sleeping form. He had to wake her but...she just seemed so- so content. But he needed her for- What? Why did she have to be awake now? He could do the morning routine himself. Well, Kate could sleep a bit longer. John shrugged on his shirt.
John pushed open the door to the Secondary Control Room. The real control room, rather. Every modern computer system was in here. Everything he needed to start off. Without looking, he walked across, to a particular monitor. Radiation detection- the machine that would tell John when to start the war. Ironic, human redemption signaled by a machine. John barely took a glance at the monitor, as he'd thought- the radiation was still too dangerous. It looked like just another- Wait just a god damned second. John turned back to the monitor and stared for a moment.
"KATE!!!" He called as loud as he could, not even bothering to grab his radio. It was amazing, just- wow. The thing said it was safe. After all this time, they were ready to begin. He barely heard her enter.
"John! What is it? Why are you-"she stopped, staring blankly at the monitor.
"John, am I dreaming?" He shook his head. Relief filled him, and he turned to her.
"Well...we've been over the maps, so I guess we should go to L.A. first. Alright, go down to the supply room and grab some food. I'll prep a truck. I leave in 30 minutes." Kate looked at him incredulously.
"John, uh, I'm going." He shook his head. What?
"No, you're staying here. I'm that one that goes."
"Uh-uh, I'm going, John. You've got to stay here." He frowned. Time to put his foot down.
"Look, you're staying her where it's safe, I'm going. That's it. Final." Her face tightened and pointed a finger. John took a step back.
"If you think I'm going to let you keep me here because of some macho, testosterone-fueled urge to 'protect' me, then you've got another thing coming! I'm going, and you are staying, understand me?" John felt his back hit the table. What the hell?
"Do you understand me, General?" She asked, teeth bared, in a voice like poisoned honey. He nodded.
"Now, go get the food. I leave in 45 minutes."
Driving through the cold desert, Kate began to understand John a little better. For how many years had he seen this...wasteland in his dreams? It was 2 PM, in July, yet it was pitch black. No moon, no stars- nothing but an endless field of darkness. It was a dust cloud, thrown up by the instant, mutual destruction of every major city in the world. And by the collective ashes of half the human race.
After this, what would be left of the city? A few crumbling buildings, Monuments to a dead world? Or nothing? How long would what was left stand? Would it still be here decades from now, reminding people of a civilization destroyed in an instant?
How many people had really survived the end of the world? How many of them had strength enough to move on and fight back? How many of them would die before it was over?
Did even John know how long the war would be? Years, yes, decades, yes- but...maybe even centuries? How old would she be, when it was all over? Would she even still be alive?
Kate began to near the city limits. She could almost make out what was left of the skyline against the dark sky. In the back of the truck, she had forty cases of rations, but would it be enough? Or, was it too much? Kate shook away the questions as she came closer. However many survivors there were, she would find them. Or however few there were.
The little boy had died a while ago. He'd just gotten sicker and sicker until one day he'd just stopped breathing. All the sick ones were dead. Will watched the tic-tac-toe board while Mindy thought about her move. A lot more had gotten sick and died, there wasn't many left here. But Mrs. Michiko and Mr. Baner were still with him. Mindy drew a pink circle, making two in a row crosswise. Will smiled, he and Mindy were good friends, but she was really bad at this game. He took the chalk and made an X beside her circle, making three in a row up-and-down. Mindy huffed and left.
Bored, he looked around the room. His eyes fell on a big old man sitting in the corner. He'd heard Mrs. Michiko talking about how crazy the old man was, for thinking that something called nukes had made it all scary outside.
Will got to his feet and walked to the man. The old man saw him and said
"Whadya want, kid?" Will stopped and kicked his feet against the ground, the old man was all scary and, and old up close! And he wasn't a kid! He was four! The old man laughed a little bit and said
"It's alright, kid, I don't bite. Now what did you come over here for?"
"I'm not a kid! My name's Will and I'm four," he said, holding up his fingers, "I wanted to know what nukes were. Do you know?" The man looked at him weird for a minute.
"A nuke is a weapon."
"Is it a gun?"
"No, it's a bomb."
"Powerful?"
"Super-powerful."
"What is it for?" The old man stopped again and frowned.
"It's...it's to kill a lot people all at once. It's what happened to this place."
"Why would somebody make something like that?"
"Because they were afraid of each other."
"Why?"
"They just were. So afraid they built nukes. Now we're paying the price for it. I feel sorry for you kid, people like me, we won't last long, not like this. But you, you're going to have to bear the brunt of this."
"Did the sick people get sick because of the nukes?"
"Yes." Will looked at the ground. Outside was all messed up and scary. The sick people were dead. His mommy and daddy were probably dead. All because some stupid big people had been scared. Big people were really stupid.
The group quietly made their way through the ruins toward their new home. Daniel looked around the gaunt faces, torn clothes. Had it been the right decision? If machines were out here...no, he couldn't think about that now. Daniel heard a gasp, head jerking up he saw- It was so sudden so unexpected. The headlights of the truck lumbered toward them, stopping a few meters away. Whoever was driving left the engine running as they got out. Walking in front was the headlights, was...a woman?
"I'm Kathryn Brewster, from the Army. I'm here to help you." Daniel made his way ahead, had to get a better look at her.
"I'm Daniel Dyson. I've got about thirty people with me. What are you going to do?" A redhead, pretty, tall- and she had a pistol on her hip.
"Do any of you need medicine or food?" she said. Weird, why hadn't she answered the question?
"No, we're all fine, there's a place we were heading to, has lots of food. Now, tell me what's going to happen to us." She said nothing for a moment.
"I'm going to take you all to a bunker, Crystal Peak, you'll be safe there." There it was- she had to know, had to. But, could he be sure?
"Safe from what?" A pause just a little too long.
"From any lingering radiation, the cold, starvation- many things." Daniel nodded- oh yes, she knew alright.
"Look, I can't take you with me just yet. I have to find other groups of survivors. It'll take me a few days, but then I'll come and get you." Kathryn turned back to her truck. Ed's voice peeped up from behind Daniel.
"Uh...Ms. Brewster, ma'am, do you know what happened?"
"All further questions will be answered when you get to Crystal Peak." Daniel looked at his group. Should he really leave them alone, just to answer a question? Well, they would be safe, Ed would take care of them...he had to know.
"Wait. I want to go with you, help you." Ed shook his head.
"Danny, you can't leave us alone! We'll-"
"Be fine, you can lead them, Ed. Just take them to the grocery store, I'll be back in a few days." He turned to Kathryn. Please, let him go. She nodded.
Daniel climbed into the truck, glancing at the group as the truck passed them. Ed would keep them safe, he would. He turned to Kathryn.
"Kathryn-"
"Please, Kate." She said in a much...softer voice.
"Alright, Kate, I'll just cut to the chase. Do you know John Connor?"
"Yes."
Nicholai sat by the small fire, warming his hands. The others were asleep. He wanted to see his girlfriend. Alyssa. Was she even alive? Or was she just another charred husk amidst the many? She had raven black hair, with the brightest green- What was that? A slow, lumbering sound. Crunching gravel...A truck. It had to be a truck! Bu-but all the cars were destroyed here, how could- it...it was from outside! Which meant...help!
"Guys, guys! Wake up, wake up!" The other three bolted up. Cindy was the first to speak.
"Nick, what is it?!"
"Don't you hear it? A truck, it's a truck!" Jack frowned, then he grinned.
"It is- it's a truck!" Nicholai ran out of the half-gone building. Headlights blinded for a moment, but he waved. Oh yes, rescue! Help was here! The truck came to a stop, and two people came out.
"My name is Kathryn Brewster, I'm from the Army. This is my friend, Daniel Dyson. We're here to help you." Nicholai ran forward to the woman and embraced her. Sweet, sweet woman.
"Thank you, thank you so much." He felt a gentle hand pull him back. Anaiya came in front of him.
"Hello, I'm Anaiya, this is Nicholai. The other two are Cindy and Jack." The young man, Daniel, and Kathryn whispered for a moment, before Kathryn turned to them.
"There's only four of you and all of you look hungry, so get in the back, there's as much food as you need."
The group clambered into the back, and Nicholai tore into the little food packets. They'd been rescued, it was all over. It would all be okay now.
"Hey, everybody wake up, now!" Will opened his eyes, why was Mr. Baner yelling? He sat up from his blanket. Huh? Who were the two people beside Mr. Baner?
"These two are here to help us. Upside, they've got a truck full of supplies that can fit all of us."
"I'm Kathryn Brewster from the Army, this is Daniel Dyson. We're going to take you to a bunker called Crystal Peak," Wow! The woman was from the Army," I need you to come to the surface, unless it's important to you, don't take anything with you." The people started getting up and walking forward. Will walked to the Army woman. Wow! She had a real gun! But was she really from the Army? He tugged on her pants.
"Ma'am, are you really from the Army?" The woman gave him a big smile.
"Yeah, I'm from the Army. What's your name?"
"I'm Will Perry."
"Okay, Will, do you want to ride upfront with me?"
"Yeah!"
When they got to the truck, the woman helped him into the seat. She turned on the truck and began to rumble away.
"Ma'am, what's Crystal Peak?"
"It's under a big mountain. A place where we'll all be safe. Does that sound good to you?" He nodded. Crystal Peak sounded like a really cool place! But...did they have candy there?
It was irrational. He shouldn't be this worried about her! John leaned against the wall of the garage. He had trained her, and even so- Kate could take care of herself. He had to stop himself from grabbing the radio. Radio silence until she was right outside the door. What had he been thinking? Ugh, why was he even thinking like this? Kate was a soldier- no, a general. He shouldn't be acting like this just because he was in- Dammit, his mom would've never acted...Wait, had his mom ever acted like this? When she'd been in Pescadero, had she been worried out of her mind? He knew...his mom had loved him, he knew that. There was no doubt of that. John's head snapped to the radio.
"Jo-Connor, this is Brewster reporting in and requesting entrance. I have 53 survivors with me, the majority are young, between seven and eighteen, copy." John ran up the stairs to the control panel.
"Doors opening now. Bring them in, Brewster." Please, faster doors, open faster. They were just wide enough and the truck rumbled inside. John switched it back to close. People started clambering out the back. Then she got out. He almost ran to her then. But, they couldn't. They...were leaders now. He walked past the survivors to the cabin. He could at least give her a- Who was that? The young man was tall, dark. Where had he seen those features before? Oh God...
"Are you John Connor?"
"Yes." that cinched it- that young man was Daniel Dyson. Then he saw her. Looking tired, leading a sleepy young boy by the hand. He wished he could give her a hug, just a little hug. He nodded to her. She nodded back. That would have to be enough for now. He turned to the survivors, now huddled together beside the truck. They're clothes were torn, some little more than rags. Many of the men had full beards. All of them looked hungry.
"I am John Connor. You are at Crystal Peak. Kate will take you the cafeteria, when you're done eating. She will take you to the briefing room. Then I'll get you up to speed on what has happened. Dismissed."
Daniel looked around as Kate led the survivors to the briefing room. This place No life, no sense that this was somebody's home. His home, now. How long would it be before any human could really have a home?
The door opened into the briefing room. John was already there, standing at the podium. Looking every bit the savior of the human race. The group sat down in the chairs, glad to be someplace warm. Weird, his group seemed to sit closer to him than the others...John began to speak.
"Twenty years ago, a company named Cyberdyne systems found a highly advanced CPU. It was smached, but by studying it with the military, they came up with the idea for a new type of computerized defense system. They named the project Skynet," Not surprising at all- humanity was to blame for its own genocide, "In 1995, Cyberdyne systems was rendered bankrupt by a terrorist attack which destroyed all files pertaining to Skynet," He used to think his father's death had been...heroic. Now it was just pointless, "However, the military had its own backups and though the project had been set back years, work continued at Edward's Air Force base near Cheyenne mountain," So, everything his father had gone through had been to give the world just nine more years. Really, what had been the point?, "Along with building Skynet, the military also began development of automated machines, under Skynet's direct control. These machines were named Terminators. Two months ago, a virus began rampaging through civilian communications. The military wasn't too worried, as it didn't affect their systems. Then, on July 25, it did effect their systems. Skynet was ordered activated, which would give it complete control of the U.S. military and give it the ability to kill the virus. What they didn't realize was that Skynet was the virus. You see, Skynet had gotten smart, real smart, it had become sentient. It had taken over the arsenal of every nuclear capable nation. Deeming all of humanity a threat to its existence, Skynet killed the researchers with Terminators. Then it launched a nuclear missile at every major city in the world. We estimate the death toll at 3.2...billion." That pause...the twitch of facial features. Had it been...pain?
"But Skynet isn't finished yet. It wants to exterminate all of us. It will round up survivors, probably starting here, in west North America. The survivors will be put into death camps, and while being systematically terminated, they will be forced to build automated factories," Daniel looked around. Everyone was so...shocked. Well, just finding out about it would...surprising, he supposed," Our only chance is to fight back. You are the core of the resistance. We're going to find more survivors, train them. We're going to make contact with survivors all over the planet. And eventually, we'll begin to take back our world. Kate will take to the supply rooms where you'll be given uniforms. Your training begins tomorrow at 0500 hours. Dismissed." So, his father had died to give the world just nine more years. Nine years squandered away in pointless bickering and war. What a meaningless death.