I awoke to the smell of lemon disinfectant and the scratchy feel of hospital sheets. Please let it be all a dream…Please let me wake up in bed just before the alarm goes off… I opened my eyes to find a benign-looking female doctor with crooked glasses smiling down at me.
"Hi Sarah. My name's Dr Brown. You'll be happy to know you've sustained only minor injuries from the accident. Mostly cuts and bruises, a minor concussion. Nothing serious."
Nothing serious, huh? Then why did I feel like I'd just been hit by a tanker? Every part of me was hurting. I groaned. Damn, it wasn't a dream after all...
"But just to be on the safe side," she continued, "I'd like you to stay in the hospital for another day or so."
I nodded weakly. Even nodding was painful.
There was a knock at the door and we looked up. Well, if it isn't Lt. Traxler and Sgt. Vukovich, I thought. Of course, it wasn't them - all that stress earlier was making me think funny.
"We'd like to ask Ms. Conners a few questions, if that's okay with you, Doc," the older one said, flashing his badge. He looked like a grizzled version of Harrison Ford. Nodding, the doctor stood aside, letting the two officers approach my bed.
"Hi Sarah. How're you feeling?" the older one asked.
"Never better," I croaked, my voice coming out all hoarse and dry. Couldn't they tell how I felt just by looking at all the bandages on me?
They didn't smile. "I'm Detective Argyle, this is Detective Sanchez. We need to ask you a few questions. The vehicle you and your accomplice were driving was reported stolen-"
"He's not my accomplice," I cut in quickly. "Listen, I was practically kidnapped. This guy shows up from nowhere, says he's Kyle Reese, and drags me off! And there're these two other crazy psychos out there – look just like Arnie and Robert Patrick, I swear." In a rush, I told them everything that happened.
"We've just finished questioning the first man you mentioned. Don't worry, we have him restrained up on the psychiatric ward. Apparently, he claims to be from the future. Sent here to protect you from the 'Terminator'?" At this, Argyle's mouth twitched into a smile. His partner, a young man only a few years older than me, had less self-control. He burst out laughing.
"Man, you should've heard this guy. He sure memorized his lines well. Listen to this," Sanchez took out a small microcassette recorder and pressed play.
"Ok, so you say you're Kyle Reese. Who do you fight for?" There was a slight chuckle after that – I realized they were deciding to humor him.
"With the One Thirty-second under Perry. From '21 to '27." I recognized Reese's voice; he sounded angry. "Then I was assigned Recon/Security, last two years under John."
"Right... You're good, I'll give you that, kid. Let's see if you get this one - Who'd you say was trying to kill Sarah Connor? Wait, make that Sarah 'Conners'."
"A computer defense system built by SAC-NORAD by Cyberdyne Systems!"
"Right… Hang on, don't tell me - I know what comes next - the computer couldn't just kill John then, right? So they sent in the Termintor." More chuckling in the background.
"That's right. It had no choice - their defense grid was smashed. We'd won. Taking John out then would make no difference. It had to wipe out his entire existence."
Sanchez stopped the tape. "And so he goes on, word for word straight from the movie, even up to this part." He fast-forwarded the recorder then pressed play, accidentally increasing the volume.
Reese was shouting now. "You still don't get it, do you? He'll find her! That's what he does! All he does! You can't stop him! HE'LL WADE THROUGH YOU, REACH DOWN HER THROAT AND PULL HER FUCKING HEART OUT!"
Reese's fierce words echoed off the pristine white hospital walls. Sanchez hastily stopped the tape. "Opps, sorry," he apologized. A nurse who had just come into the room shook her head at him disapprovingly.
I swallowed. "Gee, officers, thanks for making me feel a whole lot better."
Argyle shot his partner a withering glare. The other man went a little red. "Listen, Sarah, we've managed to contact your parents. They'll be here soon. I suggest you try to get some rest until then. And don't worry about this guy; he's obviously watched too many Terminator movies for his own good."
"But how do you explain how he looks exactly like Kyle Reese?" I asked.
"My bet's on plastic surgery," he replied. "Trust me, there are some weird, messed up guys out there." The two detectives turned to leave.
"Wait!" I called out. "What about those other two that are after me?"
"Don't worry, they won't be a problem. We've got our guys out looking for them right now." And with that, the two men left the room.
