Author's Note: Being in charge of the group is a little difficult and I'm glad every one was able to put up with me. Ellen Reese's writer wasn't able to join in for this chapter because of her timezone and busy schedule kept her from joining. So any mention of her in this chapter was not in the roleplay.

Anyone who can guess who I named Geoff after gets a brownie and a nerd point.

Jash Connor's Point of View

I was lying beside John Connor in bed. Birds were singing outside the window. Judgment Day had never happened and Skynet was a nightmare of the past. John, myself, Sarah Connor, and the unknowable Cameron had stopped the end of the world. Derek Reese had helped and I had been able to hold back my wrath that came whenever I thought of him.

I closed my eyes and when I opened them I realized that I had been dreaming. Judgment Day had happened and John was dead. Turning my head I could see Marcus still deep in sleep. It was interesting to see him when he wasn't being crazy or annoying. When he was just a sleeping human like all the rest of his species. He seemed normal, in a way.

As I stood up I realized that he had some cuts that I hadn't noticed before. The fact that I hadn't been concerned about every one involved in this mission disturbed me. I nodded to Ellen and then exited the chopper.

I stretched and looked to see how Sirrush was doing. Elder was still fixing the chopper and seemed a little angry about his lack of progress. A slight smirk came to my face at his pain. Younger, on the other hand, was sleeping on the top of the chopper. She wasn't bothered by anything that was happening. I wish I could tap into her peaceful energy at times.

Elder and I shared a single glance then I walked to the cave entrance. I had to check with Tyler to catch up on everything that had happened while I was asleep. I was the leader so I, unfortunately, had to actually pay attention to what was happening. I couldn't just let things happen as they did, I had to be in control.

As I got closer to the cave entrance I realized that there was another reason I wanted to check up on Tyler. I wanted to see daylight. Living Post-Judgment Day meant being underground most of the time. Sunlight was a legend to most Resistance fighters.

Upon arriving to where Tyler was sitting, I saw that he was smoking yet another cigar. He seemed bored and that was a good thing. If he was bored then nothing exciting had happened. Which meant I didn't have to feign guilt about falling asleep.

Tyler's M-20 was in its usually spot on his back.

I walked up to him with no expression on my face and asked, "So anything exciting happen while I was asleep?"

"Not really," He replied. "A few deer ran by."

A smile formed on my face as I realized what seeing wildlife meant. It meant that the world could carry on after the war had been won. That everything was not as hopeless as Skynet would like us to believe.

"Nice that wildlife is still able to flourish in these times." I replied as a smile grew on my face.

"Yeah, it is." Tyler said without a trace of giving a shit. Who could blame him, though? He wasn't one to show emotion and boredom had probably crept in for him. I had been asleep while he had been awake staring at a desolate landscape.

"I'll take your watch now." I stated. "Someone needs to keep an eye on Mr. Nutjob. I'm afraid Elder will rip his head off."

While I knew that Elder would be able to control himself, the image of him killing Marcus in some fashion seemed like a real possibility to me. No need to tell Marcus my thoughts since that might worry him too much and make him even more alien to me.

"Alright." Tyler replied and I watched him walk into the cave.

I decided to stand and look at the landscape. I decided just to admire it before anything bad happened.

Elder Sirrush's Point of View

The fact that I was the only one in charge of fixing the chopper was maddening. More maddening was the fact that Mother hadn't insisted anyone else help me. I didn't know whether she thought I was the best for the job or that she figured since I was flying that I better fix it.

I didn't argue about it when she woke up and I didn't yell at her when she left for the cave entrance. If Mother gave me a task I would do it. I would do it and make her proud. A few seconds after Mother had left, I heard Marcus start moving around.

"Better still have ammo." I heard him say and then rummage through his backpack. "Anyone need ammo?"

I decided to ignore him. Maybe if I ignored him he would shut up and give me peace. I needed peace as the chopper looked like it would never be fixed.

"Anyone wounded? I'm a medic as well as a nutcase!" Marcus said to no one.

I sighed as I realized I had to talk to him. I had to be social with him. Mother would want that from me. It would make her proud.

"On the ground I have what I need. The little weapon cache that Tyler found will be good enough for now." I said angrily. After a few seconds I realized that, to be polite, I should answer Marcus' other statement. "I am not wounded."

I heard footsteps and turned my head to see Tyler coming towards the chopper. Mother must have taken watch duty. I followed Tyler's movements until he went inside the chopper, then I just listened.

"This is mine." He stated, laying claim on a weapon. Most likely the mini-gun he and my Other had found before Mother had taken her nap.

"Suit yourself." Marcus replied and I heard him rummaging around as I went back to my task of fixing the chopper.

As I continued to work I heard Marcus eat something. I hadn't eaten in awhile, but I wasn't going to let that bother me. Maybe after I had finished fixing the chopper I'd be allowed a five minute lunch break. I would've taken one earlier, but fixing the vehicle was more important than my personal problems.

"These are mine. This too. " Marcus said as he rummaged through the weapons some more. After he had put more things into his backpack, I saw him walk out of the chopper. There was a mix of pride and happiness on his face. It looked like now that he had stuff he felt important and was thereby fulfilled.

"I didn't bring it," Tyler said as he followed Marcus out of the chopper. I assumed he was talking about the mini-gun. "I found it."

"You found it? Where?" Marcus asked, suddenly even more intrigued. So interested now that he offered Tyler some of his whiskey. "On the chopper?"

Tyler shakes his head, declining the invitation of whiskey. "Nope, here in this cave." He replied.

I tried to distract myself from any oncoming insanity by focusing on my work. The quicker I fixed the chopper, the sooner the mission would be over.

Jash Connor's Point of View

I thought of the wind in my face as a blessing. It wasn't like it had been Pre-Judgment Day, but at least it was there. At least I could feel it. Every inner thought I was having was always second to making sure no danger came.

Tyler had seen nothing of importance and now I was seeing the same thing. Even though I knew it was better that there be no complications, I thought the idea of something exciting happening was good. I was getting very bored.

Elder Sirrush's Point of View

Tyler had lit yet another cigar. It seemed like he would die of lung cancer before the day was over. That or he wouldn't live to see a world without Skynet.

"So they left a mini-gun in the cave?" Marcus asked. "At least we found something good to help us, I won't question how it got there."

That was the smartest thing Marcus had ever said. But I still didn't think he was any smarter than before.

"Probably best that you do that." I replied with a little bit of disdain. "Don't want to hurt your small...brain."

Tyler chuckled at my joke which gave me courage to do more wounding of this insane human. Marcus, of course, was not amused.

"I may have a small brain, but I got some pretty big scars and wounds." Marcus replied. Why the hell was he bringing up what had happened to his body in a debate about his intelligence? "Just because I'm crazy doesn't mean I don't have feelings."

I paused as if I was considering an important philosophical question. Though, in reality, I was putting as much thought into my upcoming reply as I did taking each breath.

"So are scars the human substitute for brains?" I retort and think that will put the annoying human in its place.

The moment after I said my reply my Other started making a sound. To Tyler and Marcus, Ellen hadn't made any sounds for awhile so I assumed she had taken a nap, the sounds would just be random. They would mean nothing.

I saw images in my head that showed Marcus crying and being stressed while back at base. I saw his humanity and understood my Other's point. I wouldn't question how she had gotten these images, it was likely that her hiding abilities were the cause. My little sneaky Other.

"Younger says that she knows you have feelings and she cares, for some reason." I said, translating for the two humans. Then a new series of images came into my mind that were a warning from my Other. "She also tells me not to make sarcastic comments on missions because we don't need you even more unstable."

Tyler turned to Marcus and said, "You better listen to her, buddy."

I was glad for a supporter and so nodded my thanks. I also said, "I will keep Younger's comments in mind for feature remarks."

"Good." Tyler replied. "How long until repairs are done?"

Finally someone was focusing on the important thing that was going on. Someone was asking about my hard work.

As I was about to reply Marcus broke his silence by saying, "Why? He's just a dragon. Even if he does eat me I'll just strap C4 to my chest and blow him up." He clapped in glee only he was privy to. "And stop it, you dragon thingy, at least Younger isn't so cruel to me."

He shook his head and walked back to the chopper.

My thoughts were becoming nothing but anger. How dare he threaten me and, in turn, my Other! How dare this useless piece of meat do such a thing.

I walked up to Marcus and said, "If you kill Younger you'll have me and Jash on your ass. Hell, if you kill me you'll have Jash on your ass."

Marcus looked at me angrily and replied, "I already have Jash on my ass. If you're on my ass too I imagine it won't be any different than before. Except you're a...you know...fire breathing dragon and if I kill you I'll already be dead. Remember the C4?"

I saw Tyler, whose movements had gone unnoticed by me because of my anger towards Marcus, walk out of the chopper. He must have gone in to get his M-20 as it was now slung over his shoulder again.

After marking Tyler's position, I addressed Marcus, "I don't breathe fire. Neither does Younger." I paused as I imagined Jash somehow bringing Marcus back from the dead just to kill him again. "And don't think being dead will stop Jash from killing you."

Marcus appeared confused and replied, "What? I'm confused. If I'm dead how will Jash kill me? I don't think you can get a free pass to Hell."

"From what Jash tells me, she can find a way to anything."

I saw Tyler, from the corner of my eye, just stand there and watch the battle of words continue. Marcus, on the other hand, was silent and I assumed he was going to reply with what he hoped was a zinger.

Finally Marcus said, "I won't continue this conversation because that one line sounded wrong. " Marcus looked to Tyler with a slight grin on his face. "Hope you're enjoying this, Tyler, grab some popcorn. One day I'm gonna shoot myself from arguing too much."

I looked as Marcus turned to Tyler and offered him some whiskey again. Tyler just shook his head and replied, "Not my fault you get into arguments."

"What?" Marcus asked with confusion in every inch of his voice. "Elder started the argument to begin with. And you sided with Elder and not me. I'm the only one on my side. I'm just the crazy guy who every one tries to piss off because it's funny."

Jash Connor's Point of View

Being on watch duty was boring. At least this time watch duty was boring. The wind blew and nothing came. Everything was the same and it didn't look like that was going to change. Ever. And with that boredom came thoughts that I always tried to keep in the back of my mind.

Thoughts of John Connor turning crazy, about how Sarah Connor had died, and the moment I realized I had never been human. The point when I found out I was a Xeno.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by movement on the horizon. It was slight movement and it was only with years of practice that I was able to spot it. I focused on the movement and realized it was a group of humans.

As I didn't know their intentions I went behind a boulder to keep myself out of sight while never letting them leave my sight. When they kept getting closer to the cave entrance I realized that I had to warn the others now. While it would be fun to let them encounter this group, it wouldn't be in the best interest of the Resistance.

And I was a leader in the Resistance, which meant that I couldn't have as much fun as others.

I kept out of sight, but I ran quickly into the cave. Excitement embracing my very being as boredom left me.

As I got close to the chopper I heard Elder say, "You do realize that Younger was defending you and you have at least one soldier on your side."

Goddammit, Marcus and Elder fighting. When I get close enough for them to be in my sight I could see that all were still alive. At least now I can give Marcus a way of blowing off steam. That is if the humans I saw were enemies. Even if they weren't we could still beat them up a little and pretend we couldn't tell that they were friendly. Anything to keep Marcus calm.

I finally stood in front of them and said, "We might have company. Are you all ready?"

Tyler cocked his M-20 and replied, "Yeah."

"Finally some enemies!" Marcus shouted in joy and raced into the chopper. He came back out with an M-60 and pretended to aim at enemies only he could see.

"You won't fall asleep this time? Will you, Marcus?" I asked with a slight smirk on my face. It was good to see him in his blood crazed moments. The moments when he was amusing and not annoying.

"'Course not," He replied and kept on pretending to aim at invisible enemies. "Only if I drink too much whiskey."

While Marcus' antics were amusing, the thought that I had to depend on him with my life was slightly horrifying. Was his actions now for laughs or were they signs that he was mad? I shook my head as I cleared it. No time to worry about death until after I was dead.

"Ellen and Sirrush will protect the chopper." I ordered and Elder looked disappointed while Younger merely shrugged her shoulders. Ellen finally stepped out of the chopper and we shared a glance. I wanted her safe and knew that she was a very good defense if all Hell were to break loose. Her glance, though, seemed to indicate that she thought I didn't trust her enough. That was far from the case. "Tyler and Marcus, you're with me."

Tyler and Marcus both walked quickly towards me. I turned around and trusted them to follow me. We quickly reached the cave entrance where the group of humans, that I could now see were dressed like nomads, started shouting when they saw us. I took my katanas out and relished the sound they made as they exited their scabbards.

Marcus made the first move by aiming at the nomads and ducking behind a boulder. He then quickly fired and hit two of the nomads.

As I hear Tyler and ED-E make their moves I allowed the nomads to hit me twice in the chest. It hurt, but I was used to it. I went back a few steps as I healed. The bullets that would do wonders to a human, didn't do anything permanent to me. It felt good to be that powerful. It felt good to be invincible. At least up until the point someone shot my heart, then it wouldn't be fun anymore. I'd be dead if my heart was damaged beyond repair.

I heard the nomads that had shot me mutter something as the healing process completed itself. I turned my hed and looked at Tyler grabbing his magnum from his belt and then shooting the head off a nomad. He was a deadly soldier, even more deadly when you threatened ED-E.

"What the hell are they saying?" I heard Marcus ask. I turned to see him use a nomad as a human shield and then snapped his neck. "Don't get up."

I shook my head. Need to get some rules about not using people as shields in the future.

"They are saying something that loosely translates to 'For the good of our god'." Serina replied. I assumed she was using this opportunity to make herself appear useful. "They might be saying demi-god instead of god, though."

The nomads that had fired on me earlier finally got enough courage to try and attack me. I disarmed them with little effort. I didn't like to kill unless I had to. Us Terminators killed because doing so made us achieve our objectives. We weren't senseless killing machines.

I looked at the two nomads with amusement as they tried to hide.

"If they're worshiping a god, I'll be happy to to send them to meet him!" Tyler shouted as he shot another nomad.

"How do you know it isn't a her?" I asked.

"Must we always have this conversation?" Serina asked in her own unique tone of annoyance.

I would've replied to her, but a nomad jumped off a boulder as he aimed his gun at me. I sliced it in half and saw a look of pure determination once he recovered. With a call from his fellow nomads, he joined the retreat. But not without making it known, with just his eyes, that he would've fought to the death.

I turned to Tyler and decided for him to make a choice. I asked him, "Your call, Tyler, go after them now or allow them to retreat."

I was hoping that he'd say to let the nomads retreat. I didn't consider them a threat worth going after. But he was a good soldier and, if I were to die, I'd like to make sure that those who came after me had good people beside them.

"I'll go after them, you guys go back." He replied and started to sprint after them.

I shook my head. Of course I give him a little freedom and then all he thinks of is himself. How very human. But, then, if I was given the chance to get away from this madness known as a team I would take it too.

"Ellen and Sirrush are protecting the chopper." I said more to myself than to anyone else. "I need to make sure you're okay by the end."

I then started to go after Tyler and started looking for Marcus. After a second I found him fighting a nomad that had decided not to retreat.

"Say your prayers." Marcus said right before shooting the nomad dead.

He then turned to and ran after his temporary leader. Not because of any friendship he felt for me, but because he had noticed Tyler running towards the mass of retreating nomads. As Tyler slid down a wall I turned to Marcus and winked at him which I followed up with a smile. I then followed Tyler and did as he did.

The scenery we were running across was a broken down town. I didn't know what town it had been or how it came to be in its current state. I just knew that it had taken a beating and now the nomads must be using it to rest in.

"I don't want to hurt them that bad." Tyler said once Marcus and myself caught up to him.

As Marcus continued to run he drank from his flask, of course he had to bring a flask on a mission, and finally commented on me smiling at him by saying, "I must be in Hell, Jash never smiles at me. Jash, are you trying to seduce me?" He then laughed at his own joke. "Because it might work if you have whiskey."

"You're being useful, you deserve a smile." I replied. What harm could showing him a little kindness do? He needed the morale boost anyways.

"We should just cripple them with a rusty pipe." He said, all thoughts of joking with me seemed a thing of the past in just an instant.

"We'll see what happens." I told the loyal soldier. I didn't like being attacked, but striking back meant something. It meant that the other side was now aware of us and so we needed to be careful. It wasn't fear that made me think this way, it was the fact that my battle strategy was to hit in the most painful of spots.

"And I deserve a cookie, doesn't mean I'm getting one." Tyler said, focusing on my compliment of Marcus.

"Tyler, I'll give you a cookie. Might be special ingredients in it, though." I joked.

"I've got cookies. Like drug or grenade cookies." Marcus replied.

He, again, chuckled at his own joke. While he could amuse us, there was no one he could amuse more than himself.

Tyler's pace quickened as we caught up with the nomads.

"Yeah, figured I wouldn't get an actual cookie from you." I said and pretended my sigh was real.

I saw that we were approaching the nomad camp. The 'camp', if you really wanted to use that word, appeared to be a high school. Well, a former high school that had updates made to it from Judgment Day and Post-Judgment Day happenings. Its form was now made to seem that the high school was a cave and a lot of things were probably underground. But it could still be seen that it had once been a high school where human children had learned about life.

"Now we are getting into the center of this shit!" Marcus yelled with pure enthusiasm.

Tyler looked at the camp and took cover behind an old vending machine, ED-E floated up as he was stronger than Tyler, Marcus used a trash can as cover and took aim at the nomads, and I just stopped when the nomads pointed their guns at me. Well, they were also pointing at the other three, but I was the one not hiding behind any cover.

Suddenly someone shouted and the nomads lowered their guns. Their faces were close to expressionless but the way they lowered their guns showed that they weren't happy to abandon the fight. Especially a fight involving dangerous foes.

The nomad leader was well dressed. Not like a business person was before Judgment Day, but slightly better than the other nomads. The difference was slight but big enough to show that this man held power. That the fate of men and women were controlled by his breath.

The nomad leader had his arms held up in front of him with his palms facing towards us. It was a sign of peace. I turned my head to my two soldiers and shook my head. We didn't need to fight now. Not if there was a way we could either avoid fighting altogether or find a way to attack and live.

"Well now we won't get shot." Marcus said, his gun aimed directly at the nomad leader's heart. "You holding a pistol under your clothes?"

"It is not for you to know and, if Mark permits, you will not find out." The nomad leader said calmly. While I didn't trust him, we had killed some of his men and chased them back to their camp, I admired how calmly he was handling the situation.

"Who's Mark?" Tyler yelled from behind the vending machine.

"Answer the question!" Marcus demanded. "I want to know if the second I lower this here rifle you're not gonna pull a fast one on us and shoot Tyler in the head."

He then said to Tyler, "Good question, bro."

Great, I could see that Marcus cared more for Tyler than for the one in charge. No mention of me being shot and him giving a shit. Of course that could just be Marcus realizing it was near impossible to kill me so why should he worry. Either way, it was good that the soldiers had bonded.

I put my own katanas back in their scabbards without turning away from the nomad leader. My eyes stayed focused on his as I didn't want to let him out of my sight for even half a second. I decided to give no signal for Marcus and Tyler to lower their own weapons. If they were to attack I wanted to be able to distance myself from their actions.

"Mark is of Skynet but not a machine." The nomad leader said in a tone befitting a preacher. "He should be metal, but he is flesh."

The nomad leader turned to look at Marcus and did not flinch. He said, "If you were to fire at me my men would fire back. If none of you show ill will against me, I will not have to retaliate."

ED-E beeped his response and it sounded like he was saying, "No fucking way."

"I'll take that chance." Marcus stated. "You try to do anything and I will pop a bullet right in your forehead. I'll let Jash do the talking."

I heard ED-E charge his lasers.

As I was keeping my eyes focused on the nomad leader I heard Marcus move and faintly heard him say, "I'll admit that bot thing has pretty cool lasers. Think that guy will trick us and we'll wake up in a dark torture room?"

Tyler whispered his reply, "More than likely."

"If we do I'll let you take the first cut to the chest." He followed his response with a chuckle as was the norm with him.

I saw the nomad leader change where he was looking and decided to follow his gaze. I saw that he was looking at ED-E. I realized that in order to be able to complete the mission, the one we had begun with, I would have to make a move. I would have to show the nomad leader that we meant no harm.

I turned back to the nomad leader and hugged him. I didn't hug him because I liked him, but because if he didn't attack me it would prove that they weren't going to harm us. At least for now. I wasn't going to put any bets down on a torture room, but I didn't think they would say no to killing us.

After a few seconds the nomad leader returned my hug. When it finally ended I turned to Tyler and Marcus, the latter I saw had moved next to his brother in arms, and said, "You can lower your guns, soldiers."

The point at which I could pass off Tyler and Marcus' actions not reflecting my own intentions was gone. I had to show that I was in control of them.

Tyler nodded and put his magnum back on his belt. I guess he didn't love that M-20 enough as it had been discarded during the initial fight with the nomads.

Marcus didn't put down his own rifle and, instead, looked at me and said, "I can't lower mine. I don't trust him. If he does something stupid I'll kill him."

The fact that Marcus didn't get the point annoyed me. He should've known, since we had been fighting together for a long time, that I wasn't stupid and that trusting the nomads wouldn't be the first thing I'd do. He should've known that attacking them now would be stupid.

But, then again, Marcus was merely a soldier that followed orders and didn't normally have to think about the bigger picture.

Calming myself I walked over to Marcus and Tyler. I thought about how I'd word my speech and then whispered to them, "I don't trust him, but best not to bring conflict until it is needed. We are outnumbered and outgunned. We need to save power, unless otherwise needed, to destroy the Xeno. And Mark may be the Xeno we are looking for and these nomads might lead us to him. If they don't, you are free to kill them in whichever manner you wish. For now I only ask you lower your guns and pretend to believe they are peaceful."

Tyler signaled to ED-E to shut its lasers down and Marcus sighed.

He slung his rifle over his shoulder and whispered back, "I'll play along for now because you make a good point."

I whispered to him, "That's why I'm in charge and you're just here to look cute. You'd make a good Deadpool."

As I walked back in front of the nomad leader I heard Marcus reply, "I'm cute?"

I smiled and then regained composure when I got in front of the nomad leader.

I lied and said, "We mean you no harm."

That was the truth if I believed that the nomads were peaceful and hadn't attacked first.

"Nor do I." Was his reply.

"Is this Mark like me?"

"You and him are both from Skynet but are flesh."

I pretended to think so that the nomad leader wouldn't know I had already formed my own opinions on the matter. "Would you take us to him so I could meet a possible brother?"

The nomad leader considered it for moment. The question of mere mortals, and outsiders, seeing a deity was a hard one. I knew that. I had formed my own cult, that I still used from time to time, and understood the basic tenants.

He finally said, "We would have to make sure you are worthy to meet him. Will you and your men allow our testing?"

I turned to Marcus and Tyler. While having them stand down against a possible enemy was a good move, asking them to go into a trap was another thing. It was something that I could not order them to do. They'd have to choose it themselves.

Marcus nodded at me and answered, "I'll take the test."

"Alright," Tyler said and shrugged. "I'll do it."

I held back a sigh as I realized we'd be walking into a trap and there'd be nothing we could do about it. I was worried about Ellen whose strength helped me fight, though I'd never admit that to her. She wouldn't believe it anyway. Her and Sirrush were waiting at the chopper and I didn't like leaving them there. I knew all of them would be able to keep themselves safe, but I didn't like having to trust them in that manner.

"We agree to your testing." I answered the nomad leader as I turned back to him.

"Then you can follow us inside our base and we'll test you shortly." The nomad leader said without seeming proud or worried. He was indifferent to us. Or at least he was putting that on for us.

"Lead the way." I said and then walked back so Tyler and Marcus could be on either side of me. ED-E floated behind us.

"I hope these tests don't kill us." Marcus said and turned his head to me as we started to follow the nomad leader.

"I got a bad feeling about this." Tyler muttered.

"We all do, brother, we all do." Marcus answered him and turned his head to look forward. "Are these tests about skill?"

Walking into the former high school I tried to imagine what it had been like before. I had never needed to go through school, even when I went back in time I didn't pretend to be a high school student to be closer to John, and so it was hard for me. I guessed the hallways would be full of teenagers going about their day. Cheerleaders, football players, and a vast assortment of cliques moving in one place.

Now the hallways were full of nomads that paid us no mind. They probably figured that if me and my men were dangerous we wouldn't be allowed in here. Or if we were dangerous, that the nomad leader had a backup plan in place.

While Marcus and Tyler were on either side of me, ED-E followed at a distance.

"Quoting from Star Wars?" I asked Tyler. I had to break this silence or else I'd feel frightened. "Help us, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're our only hope."

"These tests are to make sure that you are worthy." The nomad leader finally replied to Marcus. The nomad leader didn't pay any attention to any comments made about our safety. "There is skill involved, of course."

The nomad leader stopped in front of a room. The door had crayon drawings on it. The simple style, and the fact a crayon was used, indicated that the nomads had children that weren't in the hallways. But, then again, the nomad leader wouldn't want to risk the next generation in a gambit.

"Wait in here and Carla will come shortly to test your loyalty." The nomad leader said as he opened the door. I silently commanded Serina do a scan of the room.

The room had a couch in the center and a few simple chairs scattered around.

"Thank you, sir." I said and walked in followed by Marcus, Tyler, and ED-E. Once we were all in, the nomad leader gently closed the door.

As soon as the door shut Marcus leaned against a wall and said, "I wouldn't mind Anakin Skywalker and the rest of the Jedi jumping in to help."

After a few seconds he added, "Carla? I bet she's his wife."

As Serina's scan continued, Tyler also looked around the room. The nomad leader could've been lying and this room was intended to be the last one we were ever in.

"Scan complete." Serina finally said and I breathed a sigh of relief. Good, there was a high likelihood that the tests were real. Now, if they ended up killing us would be another matter. "There is nothing dangerous in here."

"At least not for now." I say under my breath. If we completed the tests there could be danger in here afterwards. "And the leader might have multiple wives for all we know, Marcus."

"Multiple? This guy must be a real pimp if he has more than one wife." Marcus said and made the bold decision to sit on the couch. I didn't mention to him that the nomad leader, since he appeared to be part of a cult, could use his influence and not his sex appeal. Those in power tended to get laid easier. "So you know this 'Mark', Jash?"

Since I was a Xeno I must know all other Xenos, right? Did he not realize how much I didn't want to work with a Terminator, especially one that was like me, and so I didn't have reunions with them?

My reply to Marcus was allowed time to form itself into something more refined as I heard Tyler say, "I ain't trusting that couch."

I turned to see Tyler standing in front of the couch. A look of pure determination was on his face to not let being tired make him fall prey to what he saw as an obstacle.

"What?" Marcus asked. "Did they plant a mine under the couch? I would rather get blown up by a couch than not sit down for a moment."

Ah, Marcus and his priorities.

"You are smart for a human, Tyler." Serina reassured Tyler.

"I don't know of any Xeno made in this timeline. Hell, I didn't know of any in my own timeline. I might've met some but never known it. Not like we were in our own little Xeno Abomination club or anything. And, Marcus, I think Tyler is referring to anything that might be living in the couch." I said.

Of course I didn't tell Marcus about the hospital. One of the biggest tarnishes on my name. Now that Lillith had died, Marty had killed her when she was torturing me, there was no one but me who could tell that story. And I never wanted to tell it again.

"Yeah, you know like a coon or a possum." Tyler said, defending himself.

"A possum? I always wanted one as a pet. Get out here, possums, from under the couch!" Marcus yelled excitedly. All his talk about sitting on the couch going down the drain.

The antics of the two was amusing and I smiled. Hell was lose on the Earth, but at least there were moments like these to counteract them. To show that hope was not lost and there was still joy to be found.

I heard a knock on the door and asked them, "Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Marcus said and became serious within half a second.

"I never passed a test before, only narrowly avoided failure." Tyler said. Sometimes I wondered who could have a better pity fest and at other times I didn't want to know the answer.

"Come in." I said towards the door and it opened.

A woman stepped through the door and I could tell that the events before and after Judgment Day had tired her. Though all of her looked tired and worn, there was strength in her eyes. There was determination in them and I liked it. Even if she turned out to be an enemy, she would be an enemy I didn't mind having.

"I am Carla." She said and smiled gently. "I assume you are the ones undergoing testing."

Instead of answering her, Marcus replied, "You look tired. Hard being the leader's wife?"

"I am no one's wife. I make my own decisions of who to bed. I am weary because the world is torn." Carla said angrily. The fact that women had freedom over their own sexuality in this little cult of Mark's was interesting. It also seemed empowering.

Tyler just looked at Carla and lit a cigar.

"I was just asking a question." Marcus said, not seeming to get the importance of Carla's reply nor that assuming from her being the first nomad woman we met with that she was the leader's wife would make her angry. I felt like smiling at her and saying, 'Men.' But I didn't.

After Marcus said his reply he whispered something to Tyler that I didn't focus on. Marcus was probably saying some joke and the matter at hand was more important. It could quickly turn into a matter of life and death.

"Who wants to go first?" Carla asked me. So this was the first test. To see if I was loyal to my own men. She had phrased it in such a way that it seemed like she was asking every one. But she was looking at me which showed her true intentions.

"Can you question us at the same time or do you need to go one by one?" I asked after considering how to word my reply.

"I can question you all at once if you and your men prefer." Carla answered. She seemed angered by this. Maybe her original plan was falling apart.

"I like to be questioned alone." Marcus replied arrogantly. "I'll wait my turn."

Of course Marcus would think that a vote would be decided by him. Of course his ego would be big enough to not comprehend that he was not the deciding factor of this conflict.

"I'd prefer you ask us all at once. Saves us some time." Tyler answered. I liked his reply over Marcus'. Tyler got that getting back to Sirrush and Ellen was important and he also got that he wasn't the one that would decide the vote.

"I've got all the time in the world." Marcus the megalomaniac retorted. "Ain't got nothing to lose."

"We'll have you question us all at once, then. We shouldn't keep our chopper waiting." I told Carla.

"I see I don't get a choice in the matter." Marcus mutters under his breath.

"You have more men?" Carla asked, ignoring Marcus completely. This news seemed to worry her. So they did mean to attack us?

"We only have ourselves and our transportation for company." I shook my head as I lied.

"Then I shall start. What side are you fighting for?"

"We're fighting for survival and freedom." Marcus answered while not answering the question at all.

"What he said." Tyler stated. Sometimes Tyler was a strong soldier and other times his nervousness got to me. This was one of those times.

"I am fighting to bring freedom to humanity." I said. Hey, if the others were going to abandon the question I saw no reason to change that. Maybe Marcus had caught on that Carla would attack us if we said we were fighting for the Resistance. But I didn't think he had that much foresight.

"And which side are you fighting for?" Carla asked again. A look of pure annoyance was on her face. "Do you think the Resistance can bring what you seek? Do you think Skynet can?"

I waited to see if the two boys would actually answer the question this time.

"The Resistance." Tyler answered and I thought this could go well.

"What he said." Marcus replied and I didn't know if he was joking or not. So I didn't know whether to be annoyed or pissed off.

"My loyalties have always been to the Resistance." I said proudly. It was true, my loyalties had always been to the Resistance. This was true even though Skynet had had me brainwashed at one point.

"I see...and why do you side with the Resistance?" Carla asked. It was a strange question and I knew that we had walked into a trap. I had guessed it before, but with that question my fears were confirmed. "What do they do to ensure you get what you want?"

I turned to look at Marcus and Tyler but they didn't answer. Both just looked at the nomad woman and I could only hope that their silence was due to them thinking a reply.

I turned back to Carla and said, "It is humanity's best hope."

"What about John Connor? Wasn't he humanity's best and last hope?" Carla asked in a way that could only be described as gloating.

The news that John Connor had gone crazy and had to be killed had spread outside of the Resistance. It had spread to people that thought to use that knowledge to their advantage. Either to gain confidence to attack the Resistance or to use in instances like these.

I kept quiet and tried to find my serenity. I had to make sure that I didn't react violently. The action of taking out my katanas and killing Carla was very tempting. To kill the one who would dare use John's name in such a vile manner.

"Just a tip." Marcus said. "Don't mention Connor."

"Is it a sour spot?" Carla asked as she feigned both ignorance and kindness.

"Yes. And I hope for your sake you don't mention him again." I replied in the calmest tone I could muster.

"Is the only reason that you're loyal to the Resistance because of him?"

"I am loyal to the Resistance because it's humanity's best hope." I answered and tried to convince myself what I said was true. I had been loyal to the Resistance, at first, because Skynet had to be stopped. Once I had met John he became my reason to fight.

"Do you feel the same way?" Carla asked. She focused her sight off of me so I assumed she was looking at Marcus and Tyler. From her expression she seemed to hope that they would abandon me. Was she doing this so that I would be fighting against my own men or alone? Or, since I thought of these people as being in a cult, save their souls?

"Yes." Tyler answered.

"I do." Marcus agreed.

"And why do you feel Skynet is making you not achieve your goals?" Carla questioned.

"They're trying to kill all of us." Tyler said, seeming to be surprised at the question. And his confusion was warranted as only delusional people thought siding with Skynet was a good option.

"They're assholes." Marcus said and then had a sudden insight into the meaning of decency. "I mean...yeah, they tried to kill us."

"Their end goal has always been to end humanity." I told Carla coldly.

"But they gave you life, Connor." Carla said and I nearly acted out on my wishes to kill her. Skynet was my creator but I owed it nothing. Just because it created me didn't mean I felt a need to have it succeed. Skynet had created me and I would destroy it.

When I didn't respond to her taunt, Carla asked the others, "And they gave you Jash."

Tyler and Marcus didn't reply so she asked her question again, "But Skynet gave your leader life and if she didn't exist you wouldn't have her. So is Skynet your enemy?"

"They are trying to kill us." Tyler stated simply.

"I'm trying to be nice here, but Skynet is still our enemy. They have been killing every human they see now for years! Of course they're our enemies." Marcus answered.

"The loyalty test is complete." Carla said with a smirk on her face. We must have confirmed the nomad leader's plan which didn't bode well for our safety. "In a few minutes another will come to show you where your combat testing will take place."

I nodded to Carla and she left. I didn't let my guard down until she left the room. Even then I made sure to be aware of any danger that might enter.

"Finally, a test I'm looking forward to." I heard Marcus crack his knuckles and then I turned around to look at him. He was now sitting on the couch. I looked at Tyler who was still standing.

"I hope this test involves some bloodshed." Marcus said and took out his flask. But then put it away again before drinking out of it.

"I doubt it. They'll most likely be using their own men and they don't want those to die." I replied and didn't say that it wouldn't be good to kill them. After the nomads stopped with the charade it'd be okay to kill them. But not now.

"So can I cripple them at least?"

I shrugged in reply. As long as Marcus didn't kill anyone I'd be happy.

"I'll just beat 'em up. Promise." Marcus said.

"Yeah, beat 'em up good." I replied and smirked.

"I will, this is what I live for. Good thing the military taught me hand to hand combat."

"Wish it taught you more." I said and smiled.

"I know how to break some bones so I hope they don't mind bone breaking."

"Just don't tire yourself out too much, Marcus, they might turn on us. And wearing us down is a good strategy." I warned the crazed soldier.

"Oh, I won't be worn out that easily. I can beat up guys all day." Marcus boasted. "Just give me some whiskey, point, and then I'm there."

"I'll be sure to always have some whiskey on me in case I need all that energy." I replied. This was one of those moments that Marcus was amusing me and I had to hold back my laughter.

ED-E beeped and he flew in front of Tyler. The robot had been so silent that I had nearly forgotten he existed. But that was ED-E, he was silent until needed. But why was he needed now?

"Another audio log?" Tyler asked his robot pal. How many audio logs had ED-E given him?

I waited in anticipation of what the audio log would say and then it began by saying, "I am Whitley and this is the last of the eyebot series for the Resistance. As of this recording, Skynet is going to wipe us out and take over. They will try to use the eyebot series as patrol bots. I've implanted his blueprints in his memory logs and sent him to the nearest Resistance lab. There the blueprints are to be extracted. Look under the right banner."

I looked at ED-E. The robot was actually important. Or he was playing with us. Then again, ED-E had never been one to show that he liked to play around with people. Especially Tyler.

"Seems like your little friend is someone important." I commented to Tyler.

"I'm not going to let him be destroyed if you choose to make more of the little guys. ED-E has grown on me." Tyler stated and I was utterly confused.

I could understand being protective but it was like Tyler didn't understand that to get to things you didn't need to destroy them. But, then again, his whole life now revolved around destruction. So could he really be blamed for jumping to such a conclusion?

"ED-E is cute, why would I destroy him?" I asked.

"His memory logs are damaged and the blueprints can't be retrieved without breaking him open." He explained and I had to keep from rolling my eyes. Because getting to the blueprints means the first thought would be to destroy things unnecessarily. That's why the Resistance was going to win the war against Skynet.

"When we get back you can be in charge of the team that finds the blueprints." I reassured Tyler "That's a promise."

In response Tyler lit another cigar. How the hell did he keep so many of those damn things?

A knock was heard and I reminded myself that the nomads wouldn't try to kill us. Not now, anyways. Later there would be danger, but for now things would be fine.

"You guys ready?" I asked and turned to face the door.

"Hell yeah I am." Marcus said and I heard him walk right up behind me.

I didn't hear Tyler respond but ED-E made a beeping noise. It seemed to be a beep of agreement. While I was a Terminator, I couldn't translate every robot language.

"Hope you're ready to crush some heads, brother." Marcus told Tyler.

"Come in." I said and a man opened the door and then entered the room.

The man was old and yet he was fit. He was old but I would be careful when getting into a fight with him. The signs that he had fought and survived were old. His scars weren't many, but they were there.

"My name is Geoff and I am here to take you to your combat testing." The old man stated in a voice that painted him as either a preacher or soldier before Judgment Day.

"You look like you've seen a few battles." Marcus said. Of course he would admire a man with battle scars.

"That I have, son. Before and after Judgment Day." Geoff answered him. It was clear that the old man liked being complimented. "Follow me."

With that Geoff turned around and started walking to where the combat testing was. He trusted that we would follow because we had nowhere else to go.

I started following Geoff and heard the other three walk behind me. I reminded myself to attack but not to kill. Killing would probably come later.

"So were you ever in the military?" Marcus asked Geoff.

"I was trained, but I never entered into service. I fight the fights I need to, not what the governments decide." Of course Geoff would say that. He was in a cult now and the conspiracy theorist background was paying off for him. He might not be a conspiracy theorist, but his statement sounded like he was one.

"I look forward to fighting you, then."

"I save my strength for battles, son, not so that others know if they can fight or not." Geoff huffed. "And I hope that we never meet on the battlefield, it'll be a sorrowful moment to end such a promising life."

"So when does the fight begin?" Marcus asked.

I had been keeping an eye on where we were going, but it had been the same as before. However, the doors we were in front of now looked like they led to a gym. I had been to high school gyms before, sometimes I was hiding and other times I was bored, and the doors reminded me of ones I had seen in the past.

"Your testing begins when you step through the door. Our finest warriors are waiting to test your skill." Geoff said once he was with his back to the doors. "Who is your best fighter?"

"Marcus would say it's him." I joked. "In all honesty, we haven't fought your men before so we don't know who would fight best against you."

Geoff's Point of View

I was a fighter through and through. My old age hadn't changed my will or stamina. Putting my faith in Mark wasn't something I did because I was a scared child. When I saw the demi-god from the womb of metal but composed of flesh, I knew where my place was.

Looking at the sister of Mark and her men, I knew she wasn't the same. If she were left to her own devices something worse than Skynet would envelope the Earth.

The only reason I kept up with the Resistance, so I knew things like names and ranks, was to better help anyone that deserved helped. Such as my fellow believers.

"I'll go first." Marcus said. "May the best man win."

The cocky soldier put down his weapons. Was he doing it out of his own desires or the orders of his leader?

"Hand to hand combat is it?" He asked, but his actions indicated the question was rhetorical. "Let's do this!"

With that exclamation he entered the pitch black room. The sister of Mark, on the other hand, lingered in the doorway. Since she was a leader in the Resistance I knew she wasn't afraid, she was just getting a good layout of the room before entering. A few seconds later she entered the room. Taylor entered the room last while ED-E stood outside the door.

Before the fighting began I could hear the steps of my fellow comrades. Then the only things I could tell were sounds.

I heard Marcus say, "I prefer sex with the lights on."

I heard the sister of Mark reply with, "I prefer sex wherever and whenever. Setting doesn't matter for me."

Were they a couple? Maybe my leader would let me kill the cocky soldier in front of his lover's eyes. If they weren't a couple, I'd do the same.

I didn't turn around as Carla told me the news. The glorious news. I nodded in reply and she quickly left.

I turned on the lights and said proudly, "You are attacking the last one, soldiers of the Resistance."

The sister of Mark looked at me with a certainty that she knew they had been fools to think we would allow their filth among us.

Marcus, on the other hand, took a swig of some kind of alcohol from his flask and said, "That was a workout."

I knew then why he wasn't a leader. He couldn't sense the danger like the sister of Mark could.

I allowed a smirk to grace my face as I said, "Yes, you are done. And your friends at the chopper are being dealt with. Have been being dealt with since your 'testings'. The chopper is destroyed but your friends seem to have escaped. Now we deal with you."