Terminator: Return of the Fallen
Part XVI
During the drive home, the song Iron Man is playing on the radio. Lately, this song has been reminding me of myself. Especially during moments like this when my skin has been burned away by an explosion or by a low flying aerial assault drone. Colonel Connor is driving, just in case we get pulled over. It would be better if no one could see me until we have fixed this mess. I swear, if she so much as mentions me breaking regulations I will jump out of this car and walk the rest of the way home.
"Thank you".
"What?"
"For saving my life back there. You didn't have to do that".
"Believe me, I know. But, I owe it to your father to keep you in one piece. Frankly, I don't think you deserve your rank or your name".
We don't say another word until we reach the Safe House. I brace myself for the oncoming barrage of bullets. Instead, Allison comes running through the hallway and gives me a hug. This is not what I was expecting.
"I heard about what happened. Are you ok?"
"I'm not damaged. I would have thought that once you had seen me, you would run off in the opposite direction".
"Why would I run from my brother?" That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. How sad is that?
"Thank you, Allison". I go through the motions of giving her a kiss on the cheek, before remembering that I no longer have any lips. Allison is starting to giggle, God do I feel stupid. "Sorry. I forgot that I was missing a face".
"That's not why I'm laughing. Your face is very cold". She runs her hand over my skull. I would smile if I could. It's hard to stay furious when a sweet faced young woman is being kind to you.
"Where's John Henry? I need to talk to him".
"He's in his room. I'm glad you're all right, good evening, Lieutenant. Colonel". Allison trots off to her room.
"I don't think I will ever understand your relationship with that woman".
"She's my friend. You should try having one".
John Henry is glad to see me. I can not remember the last time that so many people were concerned about my well being. Catherine and John Henry are preparing for my repairs. The repairs can wait, the Hunter Killer can't.
"We need something to burn that metal mother fucker out of the sky. It needs to be small enough to be portable, but with enough range and power to blast an aerial drone while it is in flight. It also needs to be reusable, none of this fire once then throw it out crap. Hunter Killers rarely travel alone, and if you need to change weapons every time you fire, you will be dead before you can hit the second vehicle. Any chance you can make something like that, J.H.?" John Henry smiles. He must already have something that fits the bill.
"Come with me to the workshop".
John Henry's workshop is a small shed that is right behind the Safe House. This is the place where all new Resistance wonder-weapons are born. In the middle of the shed is a massive weapon. I've never seen anything like it. John Henry has been busy lately!
"What is it?"
"It's a vehicle mounted railgun. I got the idea from the new Transformers movie".
"I knew it was a good idea to take you to see that. J.H., you are a genius. Don't ever let anyone tell you differently. Will it work?"
"I haven't had a chance to test it yet, but theoretically it should work".
"What kind of power supply does it use?"
"I've converted the nuclear power cores from destroyed Terminators to power my railgun. It is portable, relatively light weight, and rapid firing. The only problem is that it is too long to carry, so we need to mount it on the back of a jeep or truck".
"Now for the six million dollar question, can it shoot down a Hunter Killer?"
"Theoretically, yes it can. Do I get six million dollars now?" We all start laughing and then Catherine, John Henry, and myself mount the new railgun onto the back of Reese's pickup truck.
"What the hell are you doing to my truck?"
"Converting it into a tank, or self propelled artillery battery". Reese just shakes his head and goes back inside the house. Colonel Connor walks beside the truck.
"Could you use a hand?"
"No. John Henry can handle the technical stuff and I am a better shot than you. Just, stay behind and try not to get killed". Not my most charming moment, but it had to be said. This girl is going to get herself killed eventually.
"Do you know why I am a Colonel?"
"Because you sent in the right number of box-tops?" I am so being court-martialled after this.
"It's because I'm John Connor's daughter. You were right, I don't deserve my rank. I screwed up, now I want to try and make things right. Let me come with you". John Henry taps me on the shoulder.
"If I remember correctly, which I always do, Hunter Killers are equipped with DNA recognition equipment. If it detects the DNA signature of a Connor...."
"Then our prey will come to us and we can knock it out of the sky. Hop in kid".
"Thank you. It's about time I started living up to my legacy".
"Well, someone is being full of themselves". Everyone starts laughing as we head off on our little hunting trip.
As we drive through the desert looking for the Hunter Killer, everyone is doing their best to keep busy. I man the railgun and keep my eyes glued to the horizon. John Henry runs maintenance on the railgun, ensuring that it will fire when we find our target. Catherine drives like a maniac through the desert. I can tell how nervous she is. After all, her son stands a good chance of being blown to pieces if things go south. As for the Colonel, she just sits and stares at the world.
"How's the gun, J.H.?"
"It's fine. We should be all right, barring any unexpected malfunctions".
"When have you ever heard of an expected malfunction?"
"Good point. I'll keep an eye on everything".
"Thank you. What's on your mind, Connor?"
" I don't think you can talk to me like that, Lieutenant".
"Are you going to pull this crap again? I earned my rank, you didn't".
"I know. I know. It sucks to be his daughter, everyone expects you to be a great officer, just like him. The truth is; I would give anything to be anyone but a Connor. I'm not my father, and I will never be my father".
"Yeah, well, we can talk about this later. Now, we just need to focus on.......BANDIT AT THREE O'CLOCK! J.H., THIS GUN HAD BETTER WORK!"
The Hunter Killer begins its approach on our vehicle. I aim the railgun directly at the centre of the flying death machine. Our plan has worked perfectly. It must have recognized the railgun by now, but it is willing to risk destruction in order to terminate a Connor. For added incentive, young Sarah Connor stands up in the truck and starts to wave her arms screaming "Down here! HEY! DOWN HERE!"
"Please tell me this thing is good to go, J.H.".
"All set, just pull the trigger".
"Not yet, let it get closer".
The truck swerves in different directions as Catherine struggles to avoid incoming missile fire. Despite being shot at, I still wait. When the Hunter Killer reaches optimal firing range, I pull the trigger. A projectile is fired from the railgun at such an incredible velocity, that it cuts the Hunter Killer in half. That was the most incredible thing I have ever seen, cutting an enemy aircraft in half with a gun mounted on the back of a truck. We all start to cheer and shout congratulatory remarks at each other.
"Great shooting, Lieutenant! You scored a bull's-eye!"
"Don't thank me, thank John Henry! This is a great little gun you put together, J.H., we all owe you one".
"Thank you, I am quite proud of it. However, you are an expert marksman. Just accept the congratulations and bask in your own glory".
"Some other time. Good hunting everyone! Let's go home, WAHOO!"
We drive home hollering like drunken fans at a soccer riot. Though it will wake up everyone in the Safe House, we don't care. The Hunter Killer prototype has been destroyed, and hopefully that project has been dealt a serious blow. Who knows, we just might be able to track down the bastards that developed those flying death machines and put an end to their villainy.
"We did it! We cut the metal bastard in half. Scratch one enemy aircraft!" Allison runs out and gives me hug.
"I knew you'd do it. Good job, Lieutenant".
"Don't forget to thank the genius behind our new wonder weapon". Catherine laughs and taps me on the shoulder.
"You'll have to thank him later. He's busy modifying the railgun in his workshop". That man is such a perfectionist. Good for us, very bad for Skynet. Amidst all of the congratulations, I hear an interesting conversation between Allison and young Sarah Connor.
"Congratulations on bagging your HK, Colonel".
"Lieutenant Zacks shot down the HK, Corporal. I was just the bait".
"Being the bait is still important, especially when everyone else is a Terminator. Your father would have been proud".
"Look, I know you are trying to cheer me up, but can you do me a favour?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Don't!" Colonel Connor storms off to her room, leaving poor Allison in the middle of the hallway. I walk over to her, curious to know what the hell is going on.
"What was that about?"
"I'm trying to make her feel at home here. After all, I didn't fit in too well when I arrived".
"That was because we had to kidnap you to bring you here".
"And because I felt like a failure to the Resistance. I had been captured twice, and my interrogation had nearly led to the death of John Connor. Honestly, I was starting to wonder if I even belonged in the Resistance".
"What changed your mind?"
"You did. You treated me like I was part of your family, like I meant something. I'm just extending the same courtesy to Sarah".
"Allison, you are a terrific human being. Never change".
"Trust me, I won't. By the way, you should probably put some skin on before someone else sees you".
"What?" I had forgotten about my earlier encounter with the Hunter Killer. We set out to destroy it before starting my repairs, so I still looked like a Terminator. "Thanks for the reminder. I'll have J.H. help me....pull myself together". Allison walked away laughing. God bless that young woman.
