Disclaimer: Finally the last chapter. The finish line is sight. As before, I have no claim to any of the Terminator franchise characters or anything to do with any of the movies. Original characters are mine. On with the finale!
The Human Condition
Chapter 7- Love, Hate, Love
Year 2003
The tap-tap of the clunky black heels supporting Dr. Serena Kogan's fragile form faded with distance as she left the cell block. The dying scientist had scooped up the prized release form, gathering it in a flash as if she feared the condemned man changing his mind. Her face, pale from the trials of chemotherapy, bore an unaccustomed flush from the knowledge that there were witnesses to her shaming.
Marcus Wright's extorted kiss, the price of his signature upon the paper she clutched so tightly to her thin chest. It was not the kiss itself which stabbed at her fragile mental peace, but his words afterwards.
"So that's what death tastes like, like, like…." His callous utterance rang off the institutional walls, leaving her psyche in tatters. Serena could not quit the scene of her disgrace quickly enough.
Shackled hand and foot, Marcus did not note her passing. He had no more mind for her. Their business was done. His appointment in Samarra less than one hour away now, Marcus had many other moments in his life which warranted a final visitation.
Nelson Lee, who with his dying breath had broken faith those he mistakenly believed to have broken faith with him. Ray Winston, the Ranger in charge of bringing Marcus and his crew in, had boasted of Nelson's betrayal to Marcus, gloating over the weakened, bandaged man handcuffed to the hospital bed.
"He thought you sold him out on the Diamond Exchange, you know. And we let him, encouraged him even. And it worked perfect too. We played Nelson just right. He gave up your little hideaway. Told us right where to find you. Only disappointment was we only got you and Linney and that brother of yours. But I'll get the rest, Cordell and Chang and Serrano. But you Wright" Winston said as he put his hand over Marcus's mouth to muffle the screams as he leaned on the wound in Marcus's side , "I'll see you get that hot shot, for what you did to Ken and Paul, for their wives and kids. I promise you."
But he hadn't, Marcus knew. He hadn't sold Nelson out, neither had Sam. And Sean had given his word to Marcus that it was not he that tipped the cops to Nelson's plans for the diamond heist. The robbery that Lee had tried so hard to talk Marcus into, only to come up every single time against Marcus's argument that it felt too much like a trap. And I was right, Marcus thought. Nelson why didn't you listen to me? It wasn't me, Nelson. I never gave you to the cops. Why didn't you come out and admit the cops were squeezing you? We could have figured something out, a way to use it against them. Why'd I have to find out some other way that you were stabbing us in the back? Words Marcus would never say to his former comrade.
There was the small comfort of knowing that Osvaldo Serrano preceded him in death. The ADB cartel leader's failure to see the contracts he'd placed on Marcus's head and that of his own brother Manuel Serrano fulfilled after five long years marked Osvaldo as vulnerable to one of his more ambitious lieutenants. Soon after, the Asesinos de Bebes had themselves an "organizational restructuring." No more Osvaldo, no more contract. Manny wouldn't have that worry any longer.
He thought of yesterday, the gift that he'd never expected to receive in his last hours. "Inmate Wright, you got company. Extend your hands." Marcus had dutifully allowed himself to be cuffed and shackled and escorted to visiting. He had no idea of who would be coming to see him. Certainly it was not his team of attorneys, or rather his former attorneys. Their insistence on waging a futile battle to spare a life he no longer cared to cling to roused him from lethargy. He fired them, told them their services were no longer needed. He even refused their visits. They'd stopped coming, not stopped fighting to save his life, just stopped trying to convince him to let them try. So who could it be? When he saw, only the heavy restraints binding his hands and feet prevented him from flight. Why? Why this? Why now?
Carl and Valerie Soames waited on the other side of the visiting room glass, looking both glad and saddened to see him. Carl Soames had called in every favor ever owed him by anyone in the state of Texas to make this visit happen. Twelve years of separation had taken a toll, but Marcus still recognized the kindness in their eyes. He picked up the phone on his side, but sat silent, unable to speak, unsure of what to say. Finally his heart spoke for him.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I know how disappointed you must be. I'm sorry I let you down. It's alright if you hate me. I get it." Marcus blurted the words in a choked whisper.
Val started to cry. She turned away briefly, one hand over her mouth. Carl put a hand to the glass, indicating for Marcus to do the same.
"We don't hate you Marcus" Carl answered. "We could never hate you. I've never lied to you, and I won't start now, so I can't sit here and say I understand or approve of some of the things you've done, but I could never , we could never hate you. I love you, son. That's never going to change."
"It's why we came, Marcus" Val put in. "We wanted…" she stopped, regaining control. "We wanted you to know that. We wanted you to know that there's somebody who'll miss you and remember you with love."
He didn't deserve them. He never had. "I love you too" Marcus told them, finally admitting it after so many years of holding it in. "I'm sorry I wasn't better at showing it."
"Folks" a guard interrupted, I'm sorry, but time's up. Warden said three minutes"
Carl ignored the man for the moment. "Marcus, if you want, we'll be there when…" Soames couldn't go on, didn't want to.
"Someone should be there for you, Marcus" Val added.
"No, please don't" Marcus told them. "That's not how I want you to remember me. That's not the last picture I want you to have of me in your heads. I love you" he said again. The guard began to tug him away.
"Mr. and Mrs. Soames, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to insist" the other guard said, this time a bit more firmly. "The warden was emphatic."
As he was being taken out of the visiting room, Marcus tried to watch until he couldn't see them any longer.
He thought of other things, too. He thought of Billy J., who instead of trying for the major leagues as his dad once said he should, joined the Army after 9/11 and was now in Afghanistan. Stay alive, Billy. Your parents are going to need you more than ever now.
He thought about Alex, and Les and Manny. Get low and stay low, he pleaded to his absent friends. Don't end your days in this place.
"It's time, Marcus" Warden McKenzie cut into his musings.
Walking the few feet to the execution chamber, and as the plungers fell on the lethal concoction being fed into him, Marcus looked ahead to the coming reunion with Sam. I'm on my way little brother. See you soon.
Year 2019
"Get away from him!" Kate yelled charging like an NFL linebacker. Imitating what she'd seen John do on occasion, she lowered her shoulder and plowed into Vince Lawler, knocking him sideways into a metal cart laden with monitoring equipment and instruments, fortunately, none of it connected to Marcus. Vince landed in an ungainly heap, pulling the cart over on top of him in a fruitless attempt to keep his balance.
"What...what? Dr. Connor! What are you doing? Look I'm just trying to help him! I know what to do! How to fix the problem! I figured out a way-!"
Kate cut off Lawler's agitated explanations. "I know exactly what you were doing, Corporal Lawler! You were trying to finish what Colonel Peterson began! He told me about his 'orders'! How you and he cooked up the perfect way to kill Marcus and make it look like one more tragic death from combat injuries!"
Lawler gained his footing again, shaking his head in denial. "No, no! I mean, yeah the Colonel, he did tell me to do something to Wright, but, I, I wouldn't, I wouldn't do something like that! I only pretended to go along! I was gonna report it! I was, I swear! I would have never murdered Marcus! I swear!" Panting heavily, Vince continued. "Look, you gotta let me finish this! I know what to do! I know how to fix what's wrong! I know how we can get around Skynet's firewalls and get Marcus's organic brain and computer to work together to help heal him and wake him up! You gotta let me finish this!"
With that, he maneuvered to go around Kate, a metal probe of some sort in his extended right hand. She did her best to block him, knowing she was the only thing standing between Marcus Wright and someone given orders to kill him. She wrestled with Lawler, who was so focused on his task that he barely realized she was in his way.
"Help!" Kate screamed as loud as she could. "Someone help! Help!" Making a grab for the hand with the probe, she missed. Looking around for a weapon, Kate spied one of the metal pans utilized during surgery to deposit used instruments. She swung for Lawler's head, but he somehow sensed the blow coming and ducked, the pan just grazing his ear.
"Doc! What are you doing? Stop! I'm trying to help him!" Vince yelled, dodging another swing.
The commotion brought a number of people running. First on the scene happened to be Blair Williams, refreshed after several hours of badly needed sleep. Hearing Kate Connor yelling for help, she pulled her gun, entering the tent prepared to face who knew what.
What she saw was Kate, armed with what looked like a steel pan, swinging at the computer guy Vince Lawler. Lawler was alternately ducking and trying to go around Kate while saying something unintelligible.
""Stop!" Blair yelled, taking dead aim at Lawler.
The huge handgun pointed in his direction got Vince's attention right away. He froze, looking down the barrel of the weapon. He'd heard Williams was an excellent marksman, uh, woman, whatever.
John Connor rushed in seconds behind Blair, with Barnes and Kyle Reese on his heels. A few of Kate's fellow medics, coming from attending other patients got there about the same time.
Connor shot across the room, pinning Lawler against a metal support beam face first. He twisted the man's arm up behind him, causing Lawler to lose his grip on the metal probe. The tool hit the floor with a clang!
"Are you alright?" John inquired of his wife urgently. "What's going on here? He hurt you?" Connor meant Lawler.
"No, no, I'm okay" Kate reassured him. "It wasn't me he was after, it was Marcus! He and Peterson, they planned it together. I told you the Colonel might try something. This was it. He sent Lawler in here to kill Marcus!"
Barnes took over from John, keeping the protesting Vince contained.
"Explain" John asked Kate. She did, while the rest listened, including Blair.
By the time Kate was finished, Blair was coldly furious. She walked up to Lawler, her Desert Eagle still in hand. "If you've done anything to hurt him, I'll kill you."
"Williams!" Connor snapped sharply, then in a more moderate tone added "back away, Blair. Let me handle this."
Kyle Reese, probably the only one who could, drew Blair away from Lawler to stand by his side, working the gun from her hand.
"Pl, Please, you have to listen to me!" Lawler insisted. "I wasn't hurting him, I was trying to help him! I know what the Colonel told me to do but I wasn't going to do it! I made him think I would. I was gonna fix it so Marcus's brain and computer could talk to each other. I found a way around Skynet's firewalls. I know it doesn't' sound possible but it is! I remembered something Serrano taught me! You gotta believe me! You gotta let me try this! It might be the only chance he has! Please!"
"John, where's Peterson?" Kate asked.
"Under arrest. He's in a cell. He's not going anywhere" John informed her.
"Serrano?" Billy Soames broke in. "Manuel Serrano?" Soames was incredulous.
Lawler struggled and failed to turn his head. Connor signaled and Barnes decreased the pressure slightly.
"Yeah! He, He got me started with computers and taught me about most everything else electronic or technical that I know. You know him?" Vince asked, surprised.
"Who's Manuel Serrano?" John Connor wanted to know.
"Manny Serrano was one of Marcus's old crew. Tech and computer expert. Guy was a freakin' genius with just about anything. Graduated from M.I.T. top of his class, probably didn't stop there though. The security system he couldn't crack didn't exist. If he's still alive, I'd be willing to bet he's even been inside Skynet at least a couple of times!" Billy exclaimed.
The news was astonishing but figuring out what to do with it was going to have to wait for another time. Right now, Marcus was the priority.
"That's what I been trying to get you to understand!" Lawler said. Barnes spun him around so his back was against the beam. "I remembered something Manny told me, about treating a firewall like a security system on crack. It got me thinking, and well, I really think I'm on to something. You have to let me try! I won't hurt him! I won't!"
"Get Rick Donnelly" John ordered. "He's supposed to be in his rack." Someone standing near the entrance raced to comply.
Blair moved to Marcus's bedside, taking his hand, feeling the coolness of his forehead. How close had she come to never seeing those beautiful blue eyes again?
Donnelly came on the run, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He was surprised by how many people there were in the tent. Whatever had happened while he was out, it must have been major.
"Alright Corporal make your case. And it had better be a good one" John Connor told Lawler.
Vince started talking. This one's for you Manny, he saluted his former teacher. It took him about fifteen minutes to lay out his theory.
When he was done, Rick Donnelly, Kate Connor and a few others with the expertise to make sense of his presentation were looking thoughtfully at him.
Donnelly rubbed his chin. "It could work" he said to Kate.
"Or it could not work, or it might send him over the edge" Kate replied, playing devil's advocate. "But we don't have a lot of choices here" she conceded reluctantly.
"What happens to Marcus if you don't, if you just keep treating him the way you have been?" The question came from Blair.
Kate gave her straight talk. "His condition will probably continue to deteriorate. Best case, he stays this way permanently."
Blair stepped up for Marcus the way he would have for her. "Do it."
The tent cleared out save for Kate her unique surgical team.
Later that day, Blair stirred in Marcus's arms, instinctively seeking his warmth as she slept. She'd refused to leave his side again. Lawler turned out to be one of the good guys, but nobody knew what else Peterson might have planned. Kyle was keeping an eye on Star. Jacob Peterson's deck was shy by quite a few cards.
She rolled over so they were lying face to face and was surprised to find her eyes meeting his.
"Marcus! You're awake!" She touched his face and smiled. He said nothing, turning his head slightly touching his lips to the palm that caressed his cheek.
She kissed him then called out "Kate, I think you better get in here!"
Blair's call brought not only Kate Connor but also Rick Donnelly and Vince Lawler. Blair moved out of the way as the three people primarily responsible for Marcus's care crowded around his bed. Marcus could feel Blair nearby as he underwent a quick but thorough exam. He still hadn't spoken.
Kate asked the invariable doctor's question. "How are you feeling?"
Like I got stomped by Blood Dog, he thought. What he said was "I've been a lot worse. What happened?" Before that question could be answered he asked "we got the chips, right?"
"Yes, we got them" Blair supplied. The sound of her voice drew his eyes to her again.
"You've been out of it for three days, but you seem to be on track for a full recovery" Kate informed him, concluding her examination. "Actually, better than that. There've been some… improvements." She fought down a grin at his puzzled look.
"I'll explain later. We" she indicated herself, Lawler and Donnelly "are going to get out of here and let you get acclimated. I'll be back in a bit." The treatment trio left, Lawler looking particularly pleased.
Blair carefully crawled back in to bed with him. She felt so good, Marcus savored.
"You're in a lot of trouble pal" Blair mock scolded. "What did I tell you about getting yourself killed?"
"Hey, I'm not dead" he protested indignantly.
"Not for lack of trying!" she shot back, her relief that he would be ok so great that she felt tears closing her throat.
"What is this?" Marcus complained. "I get gravely wounded masterminding a heroic and successful, mind you, mission for John Connor, wake up after three days in a coma and I get yelled at? How does that work?" He wasn't really upset. As long as Blair was in his arms looking at him like that, she could yell at him around the clock and he wouldn't mind.
Blair buried her face in his shoulder, getting as close to him as possible. "I thought I'd lost you." Her muffled words revealed her feelings, her breath warm on his neck.
"You didn't. I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere" he comforted her. He swallowed hard. No time like the present. He decided to go all in. "Blair" he began.
"Hmmm?" she mumbled, drowsily.
He took a deep breath and continued. "I love you. And I don't want to waste any more time." He went for it. "Will you marry me?"
There it was, the big one. It was out at last. The pins and needles he rested on as he waited for her answer had nothing to do with his medical condition.
Blair raised her head to stare wonderingly at him. The smile on her face was like the sun coming up. "Yes" she told him, laughing and crying at the same time.
Kate returned minutes later to find her patient and Blair Williams locked in a rather hot embrace, way too hot for the locale.
"Would you two please get a room?" She joked, breaking up the action. "You really are feeling better aren't ya?" She poked at Marcus verbally.
He actually blushed, something Kate hadn't realized he was capable of.
Easy fellas, Wright counseled his more southern regions. Holding Blair like this did that to him. Heck, sometimes just being in the same room with Blair did that to him.
"Congratulate us Kate" Blair told her friend. "We just got engaged."
Kate's reaction was different that either Marcus or Blair expected.
"Well, its' about time!" She exclaimed, punching Marcus's arm lightly as she checked his monitors. "How long were you going to make her wait anyway? Men!" Dr. Connor snorted as she left them alone again.
Marcus and Blair could only look at one another and laugh. The next three days were a blur for both of them.
For the first time that he could remember, Marcus Wright was actually appreciative for his Skynet designed and built legs. His nearly indestructible endoskeleton was, at the moment, probably the only thing preventing his knees from buckling. Not that he was having second thoughts or anything, but he was a little nervous. Okay, maybe more than a little he acknowledged privately. This was not a regular day for him. In fact this day was different from any other day in any of his lives. All of the days after this one would be different too. Today was his and Blair's wedding day. After today, he'd be a husband, a guy with a wife. He blew out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Was it him or was it hot in here?
He probably should have had someone else do this, but letting another person near his throat with a razor, Marcus was never going to be comfortable with that idea. He'd better be careful. If he sliced an artery right before the wedding, Blair would have his head. No matter that the head in question was, according to Vince Lawler and Rick Donnelly, a new, improved version. Apparently, Lawler's tinkering resulted in a way for Marcus's human brain and his Skynet furnished computer to communicate, with Marcus in control. In other words, as Lawler broke it down, Marcus, with a little more familiarity, would now be able to give his computer at least some of its' marching orders. It already controlled his cybernetics. Now he would have the ability to tell it what, when, where and how and how much. He decided to get in a little practice while he was alone. If he was going to make an idiot out of himself, he'd rather do it without any one around to see.
Concentrating like a magician attempting a trick, he tried for something relatively simple. I'm a little warm, he told the computer. At first nothing happened. Then, very gradually, he noticed a slight temperature change. Then more and more, till it got to be more than slight. Wearing only the towel wrapped around his waist, he started shivering. Ok, ok, whoa, too much! Dial it back! he told the computer, teeth chattering. It took a few seconds, but his body heat adjusted until he felt comfortable. Ok, then. Note to self. Be very, very, careful what you ask for, because now you just might get it.
Kyle Reese stuck his head thru the door. "What! You're not dressed yet! Come on Marcus, get a move on! Blair will kill me if I don't get you to your wedding on time! Come on man, I can't let you get married in a towel!"
Kyle was taking his best man duties very seriously. Marcus had asked him last night, after talking it over with Billy. Discovering he still had family of a sort from his old life gave Marcus a tremendous surge of new energy, but Blair, Star and Kyle were his family in this one, and this was the best way Wright could think of to let Kyle know much that meant to him. When he'd broached the subject to Billy, Soames laughingly replied, "so ask him, jeez, you want him to be the best man, not the bride! I'm fine with it Marcus. Go do it already!"
Hustling Marcus to his and Blair's quarters, Kyle began throwing clothes at him almost faster than Marcus could catch them. Once the groom was fully clothed, Kyle did a ten second inspection, pronounced Marcus presentable and began to push him out the door. Their progress was delayed for a few seconds when Marcus insisted on going back for a very important package then Kyle rushed his charge across the intervening space and into the mess tent where the ceremony was to take place.
Marcus didn't see Blair. That was normal wasn't it? What he knew about weddings could fit into a shot glass, but from what little he did remember, the bride was supposed to make some sort of a grand entrance.
Marcus and his best man took their places at the front of the room, which was filled with people, most present as friends of the bride, but a surprising amount attending on behalf of the groom. His friends among the resistance were a select group but their number was gradually increasing.
John Connor waited, spit shined and polished and, at Kate Connor's steely insistence, dressed in his best uniform, to officiate. Blair, after talking it over with Marcus, had requested Connor to do the honors. If the leader of the resistance couldn't be considered official enough, no one could. When her intended made the innocent mistake of asking if Blair wouldn't rather have Connor give her away, he was tartly informed that would not be necessary as she was getting married, not being traded like a sack of beans, thank you very much.
Nice going knucklehead, he said to himself sardonically. Not even married yet and already you're stepping in it.
Kate signaled her husband from a side door. John nodded and a resistance soldier who'd been of all things, a concert violinist in an orchestra before Judgment Day, began playing. The woman's skill managed to coax a beautiful melody from the salvaged instrument, but Marcus had no clue what it was. He barely heard it. Coming down the aisle towards him, wearing not a dress, but her best uniform, leather jacket included, Blair commandeered all of his attention. In lieu of a bouquet, she carried Marcus's wedding present in her hands. It was a cloisonné enameled miniature music box that once belonged to her grandmother. The tiny treasure had not played since before Judgment Day, but Blair kept it anyway. It was the only thing she had left from her beloved Nana. Marcus used his talents at repairing things to restore the device's ability to produce music. As Kyle prodded him across the compound, he'd had Star take the gift to his fiancée. Blair William's golden brown eyes shone with joy as she drew closer. She handed the music box to Kate her matron of honor in the same fashion she would have flowers, for temporary safekeeping.
With Blair and Marcus before him holding hands, Connor began. "We are gathered today to encourage and support Blair and Marcus as they pledge their love and commitment to one another. Life has brought them together and has led them to the place where they now stand."
John addressed Blair first. "Blair Williams, the man who stands by your side is going to be your husband. He will look to you for comfort and support, for love, for understanding, and for protection. .."
As Connor went on, Kyle Reese looked around, noting the contented expressions on many faces. He kind of had the feeling that contentment wasn't only about what was happening but that it was something good, something happy for a change. This wedding was a much needed respite from the constant battle of attrition they waged against the murderous Skynet. His gaze traveled past those in front to take in the entire tent, with its' mesh see-thru flaps serving as walls. Outside of the tent, a red glow caught his eye. Tracing the intense crimson glow back to its source, Reese realized what he was seeing was the laser sight of a gun of the variety used by the T-800's. He followed the red line to its target, discovering it to be… Kyle drew a breath so sharp it was audible. An almost indiscernible red dot danced on Marcus's temple, unnoticed by those focused on the marrying couple.
"Marcus! Everybody, get down!" Kyle yelled, throwing himself at Marcus. His weight knocked Wright off balance, bringing Blair along with her about to be husband. The young best man's efforts saved the couple's lives, but the shot did not miss completely. The sizzling bolt winged Marcus along the side of his neck in almost exactly the same spot Lucas Hannerly's knife had nicked him so many years before in a dark alley in El Paso.
Surprised yelps and exclamations soon gave way as the gathered wedding guests and participants recovered quickly.
"It came from there!" Kyle yelled, pointing to the roof of a supply shed about thirty yards from the tent. The ad-hoc wedding chapel emptied quickly as the joyous occasion turned abruptly into a manhunt. Piling out of the doorways, most of them armed out of habit, the assembled group of resistance fighters set off in pursuit of the shot taker, Connor and Kate in the lead. Marcus started to follow only to be prohibited by John.
"No! Marcus you stay here! You were the target! Blair you stay with him! That's an order!"
"But-!" Marcus began to object.
Connor stifled the budding protest. "Stay here, both of you!" He took off, bound for where Kyle's sharp lookout had indicated.
Marcus turned to Blair to find they shared the same astonished outrage. Their wedding ceremony? Would they not even be allowed that? Clutching her grandmother's music box, rescued from the tent floor where it had unintentionally been dropped by Kate Connor, Blair put her arms around Marcus's waist. They held each other.
It only took a couple of minutes for the furious posse to close in on the source of this latest attempt on Marcus's life. In the distance, growing less by the second, Tim Hutchins, hands wrapped around a purloined Skynet plasma rifle, was running hard.
Granted a conditional freedom as reward for his incredibly hazardous but ultimately triumphant run as "John Connor" during the successful raid, Hutchins had largely been keeping to himself and mostly went about his limited duties unnoticed. He'd used the time and lack of attention to his advantage. As dedicated to Wright's demise as Jake Peterson, a momentary lapse in the diligence of Peterson's guards had given Tim the opportunity needed.
"Captain Hutchins" the former Colonel greeted Hutchins, unsurprised at the other's appearance in the building currently being used as a detention area. "I'm glad you were finally able to make it here."
"Sir" Hutchins saluted. "I'm one of you sir" he identified.
Peterson understood what Tim meant. He nodded in acknowledgment.
"This is wrong" Hutchins bridled. "You shouldn't be here. You only tried to do what needs to be done. I can't believe John Connor's trusting that machine over a human. Treating you like this!"
"We don't have time to worry about that right now Captain. Listen, this is what you need to do. During the mission, I slipped away from the main force for a few minutes. I picked up a plasma rifle from a dead T-800. It'll finish off the machine good and proper. It's in my quarters. You just need to wait for when you'll have the most chance of success" Hearing of the planned wedding, Peterson ordered Hutchins to make use of the opportunity.
"They'll all be so caught up in that obscenity, it should be like shooting fish in a barrel. Good luck, Captain." Noting the returning guards, Hutchins made his exit unnoticed and headed for Peterson's billet.
Climbing unobserved to the shed roof, which gave him a perfect vantage point overlooking the mess tent, Hutchins prepared and settled in. Waiting until the nuptials were in full swing, he'd lined up the machine with the laser sight, taking a moment to relish the fact that it was he given the chance to do what was so desperately right and necessary.
Now fleeing for his freedom, Hutchins was in disbelief. His squeeze of the trigger and Kyle Reese's warning yell shared the exact same moment! If not for Reese, they would all be free of the monstrosity calling itself a human! Hutchins grunted with frustrated anger! Not long ago, according to what Tim knew about Kyle, the teenager had been scrounging rats and coyotes for sustenance in the ruins of L.A. Now he was here, some kind personal pet of John Connor for reasons no one could figure out. Reese's interference was disastrous! Tim could see Kyle behind him, one of his pursuers. They were closing in. He wheeled and fired from the hip!
Kyle Reese, a lifetime of surviving death on an almost daily basis to fall back on, didn't hesitate. He along with the others dodged Hutchins hastily taken shot, returning fire. Kyle had the superior aim. Hutchins dropped bearing a bloody hole in his chest.
Tim forced his eyes open to stare up at the breathless group surrounding him. Kate pushed thru, but immediately comprehended Hutchins was beyond saving. Frothing pink foam spilled from his lips as he spat the words at John Connor.
"I…I was glad to do it! Glad to follow the Colonel's orders! I was honored! Th…th, there's more of us! We'll kill that thing! It has to be killed! Ha….has to…if you won't do it, w…we… wi…!" Hutchins died, hate on his lips.
John touched the stunned Kyle on the arm. Kyle was shaking slightly. He'd killed lots of Synet's machines, sure, but never a man, not until now. Connor consoled the young man who would become his father. "He didn't leave you a choice. You did the only thing you could have done."
Kyle nodded, still white faced and unnerved.
Giving orders for the body to be taken to the medical tent for now, Connor led everyone back to camp.
While Kate tended to Marcus's newest plasma burn, Connor paid a visit to Jacob Peterson. Slouched on the cot in his cell, Peterson insolently studied his former leader.
"Hutchins is dead" John announced bluntly. "Your killer missed. Marcus is still alive. You failed again."
Peterson flushed to almost a russet color. "You're a fool, Connor. That thing is an abomination, a ticking time bomb that's gonna go off right in your face and kill us all! I don't know how and I don't know when, but somewhere along the way you lost the vision to see that! That thing is a monster! We have to treat it like one and destroy it!" Peterson shouted, seeing no more need for restraint.
"Shut up!" John flared, the command in his voice breaking thru Jake Peterson's unhinged rant. "Before he died, Hutchins said 'there are more of us. We'll kill that thing.' What did he mean, Jake, what did he mean by more of you?"
Peterson sneered. "Did you think this was it Connor? Do you really think that because you have me locked up and Hutchins is dead that this finishes it? There's a whole group of us in the resistance and we won't stop until that thing is destroyed. We see clearly even if you don't anymore. You can't stop us. We'll just keep coming until its' done."
John had nothing else to say, merely shook his head in disgust and walked out, leaving Peterson's contemptuous bluster behind.
He went back to the mess tent/wedding chapel to find Kate packing up her medical supplies and Marcus evidencing a fresh bandage. Everyone looked up as he entered.
"You better sit down" Connor said to Marcus. "There's something you need to know" then proceeded to explain.
Hearing what John had to tell him, rather than appearing upset, Marcus bore a more resigned expression. ""Just what I always wanted" he sniffed, "my very own death cult. Bet we don't get two of those for a wedding gift" he commented to Blair who laughed and laid her head on his shoulder.
"John just told you there is a clandestine group buried within the resistance dedicated to killing you and you make jokes?" Kate asked.
Kate" Marcus told her, "that list is longer than your arm. Someone or something has been trying to kill me since I was fifteen. You'd be surprised what you can get used to. Or" he considered what they all went thru while he was in a Skynet hibernation, "maybe you wouldn't . Skynet's been trying to kill your husband since before he was born. Now" he said, taking Blair's hand, "can we get please get married?" "You do still want to marry me?" he asked.
"You try backing out now, I'll kill you!" Blair answered.
"Ooo! A shotgun wedding" Billy Soames cracked.
"Don't worry Blair" Kyle snarked, "I won't let him run away."
"Kyle, has anyone explained to you what this means?" Marcus asked, flipping off his best man. Kyle guffawed.
After getting everyone back in their assigned places, the wedding did indeed go on and Marcus Wright and his feisty flygirl at last became husband and wife.
Following that came the reception, during which Blair was able to present a surprise of her own to her flabbergasted new mate. Emerging from the kitchen, Jane Wilmer, one of the base cooks stopped by Marcus's chair and with a flourish, uncovered and presented him with a dish of what for all the world appeared to be, and was, a large dish of death-by-chocolate ice cream.
For nearly a full half a minute, Marcus alternately stared open mouthed from the ice cream to Blair and back.
"You are planning to eventually eat it, right?" Blair teased lovingly. "You know how hard it was to come up with enough chocolate to make that? Not to mention the ice and the cream!"
Still staring at his wife, Marcus picked up a spoon, scooped up a large portion and indulged. His eyes closed in bliss. He groaned ecstatically.
"I think he likes it" Blair smiled
"I think he wants to be alone with it!" Billy laughed.
Blair kissed Marcus on the cheek as he devoured his wedding gift. "You didn't think I'd figure out you were a chocaholic, did you? Billy ratted out your favorite flavor."
Marcus grinned like a delighted child and continued eating.
Jake Peterson, under full guard and the personal watchful eye of Major Anthony Barnes, (so the man did have a first name, after all), hobbled in shackles to the transport for his return trip to Arizona. With no court system in place, John Connor had decided his fate. Stripped of all rank, Peterson faced a future at a northern outpost. On the literal frontier of the human/Skynet conflict, the posting was tantamount to a death sentence.
"You want to kill machines?" Connor told the ex-Colonel scathingly, "Here's your chance." John left without giving the prisoner a chance to speak.
Tottering towards his ride into exile, Peterson campaigned with Barnes. "I know you hate that thing as much as I do. You can join us, help us. Connor trusts you. You can get close enough to Wright to take him out. Nobody will ever see it com-"
Barnes cut short the attempted recruitment, jerking Peterson nearly off his feet. "Shut your mouth and keep walking. Don't you say another word" he warned Jake frostily. Peterson was partially correct, Barnes didn't care for Marcus, a big part of him still distrustful of the Skynet technology Wright was loaded with. Every time he saw Marcus, Barnes also saw his dead brother. But Peterson and this mysterious group and their bizarre pledge to kill Marcus Wright turned his stomach. For them to think Barnes would be a part of something so dishonorable was insulting. He jerked open the rear doors of the transport and froze. Waiting calmly within, relaxed against the far wall of the van, was Marcus Wright. Barnes hesitated, unsure.
"If I wanted to kill him" Marcus pointed out reasonably "I could have done it already."
Barnes pushed Peterson forward.
Blair looked up from explaining her antique music box and the tune it played to a fascinated Star. Where was Marcus? She didn't see him anywhere. Steady, she told her suddenly jangling nerves. He's fine. They wouldn't be trying again so soon. Besides Marcus is better able to take care of himself than anyone else you know, right? Especially now, after the enhancements made to his computer. He's fine, don't panic.
"Kate, Kyle" she inquired of the pair nearby, having a conversation, "have either of you seen Marcus lately?" Blair tried not to let her uneasiness come thru in her questioning.
Kyle picked up on her mood anyway. "Not in the last ten minutes or so, why? What are you thinking? Wait, wait you, you think that, I mean they wouldn't…" Kyle's questions died off unfinished.
Blair's jitters broke free. "I think we can't be certain Peterson and Hutchins are the only two members of that killer group on this base." The second man behind the RPG attack on Marcus weeks before had been killed while on a patrol days later, but there could still be more.
"John" Kate alerted her husband, "we need to find Marcus." They began to search, finding Marcus, Barnes and the chained Jake Peterson as Marcus was about to confront the man who so wanted to take his life. Connor and the rest overheard Marcus's measured words.
"The only reason you are not dead" Wright told Jake, "is because of a promise that I made to someone. A promise I didn't know it would be this difficult to keep until now. You want to keep sending people to try to kill me, I'll be ready. Their blood will be on your hands not on mine. But know this. You leave Blair, Star, Kyle Reese and Billy Soames and while we're at it, Vince Lawler, out of it. If any one of them so much as stubs a toe because of you and your band of junior Illuminati, I will come for you, all of you. And I won't stop until I pull you up by the root."
With that he hopped down and out of the transport. Barnes did likewise, slamming the doors shut and giving them a hit with the flat of his hand. The vehicle slowly disappeared from sight.
"I don't suppose there's any more of that ice cream?" Marcus asked his wife plaintively.
Much later, after the celebrating was done, Marcus and Blair were finally alone in their quarters, now the honeymoon suite. Blair slipped her arms under his clothing to wrap around his waist, luxuriating in the touch of his warm skin.
"So, what do you think? Is Mad Marcus going back into retirement? After all, you're a married man now."
"Well" Marcus answered his new bride, "Connor might have something to say about that, but its' gonna have to wait" he finished, reaching for the first snap on her jacket.
The End
My tale is told, my story ended. I made all that stuff up about the computer and the brain being able to talk to each other. I don't even know if such a thing is possible, but hey it's fiction right? Also, I know the appeals process for death row inmates takes a lot longer to work, but I took a little dramatic license. I hope you enjoyed the reading as much as I enjoyed the writing. Not sure if there will be any more stories, but we'll see. I have a couple of ideas floating around in my head. Reviews welcomed as always. It's been fun.