Terminator: Return of the Fallen

Part XVII

Cyberdine, in their infinite wisdom, decided to test their new T-1 this morning. Of course, the test did not go as planned. The T-1s killed everyone in the test facility and are now shooting up downtown Los Angeles. As a result, Catherine, John Henry, and I are now driving into Los Angeles with our new railgun to take down these malfunctioning murder machines.

As soon as we reach downtown L.A., we encounter a squad car that is being peppered with machine gun fire from a T-1. The police officers are pinned down behind their vehicle, begging for back up. We have to save them. Catherine drives straight towards the T-1 while I aim the railgun at its center. The moment I think we are at optimal firing range, I pull the trigger and blast that infernal machine to pieces. It amazes me that a metal projectile with no explosives whatsoever can destroy an armoured fighting machine.

"Run for cover! We'll take care of the rampaging robots". The police officers scatter, hopefully to find cover instead of going off to fight more T-1s. As we pass the wrecked squad car, we overhear voices screaming on the police radio.

"Repeat, this SWAT team Alpha, we are surrounded by robots! Weapons are ineffective, request support immediately. Is anyone hearing this? We need support now or we're dead".

John Henry uses that supercomputer brain of his to trace the distress signal back to its point of origin. We head off to rescue the trapped SWAT team, praying that they do not get killed before we reach them. When we finally do reach them, we find them encircled by four T-1s. This is not going to be easy.

"J.H., how quickly can we reload this thing?"

"Only one way to find out, Charley". He has been acting much more human lately.

Catherine pulls in so that we are directly opposite the attacking T-1s. I aim the railgun at the nearest machine and pull the trigger. The T-1 explodes instantly. The other three machines cease firing at the SWAT team and turn their attention towards us. With John Henry's help, I quickly reload the railgun and fire at the second T-1. The second machine is destroyed, and we reload to fire at the third. I fire at the third T-1 and destroy it before it can open fire on our truck. As we reload the railgun, the fourth T-1 fires at the cabin of our pickup truck. Machine gun bullets rip through the cabin, and I pray to God that Catherine is all right. I destroy the fourth T-1 before it can hit the engine or gas tank of our truck. Once the threat has been neutralized, I leap out of the truck and run towards the cabin.

"CATHERINE!" Catherine climbs out of the cabin, and I throw my arms around her. "Oh, thank God! I thought I had lost you".

"It will take more than machine gun fire to terminate me". A few members of the SWAT team run towards the truck.

"Is she all right?"

"I am fine. Thank you for your concern, officer".

"Thank you for saving our ass. You are a lucky group of people".

"I hate to break up the mood here, but are there any more of those things out there?"

"Two more have pinned down a pair of squad cars a few blocks from here. Why are they only attacking police officers? What the hell do they want?" Easy, they want to cripple the law enforcement organization in Los Angeles. They will not succeed.

"Who knows and who cares. We will take care of them".

"I hate to disagree with you, Charley, but the railgun will be useless if the truck blows up". She should have taken the name Catherine Killjoy instead of Catherine Weaver.

"No problem, we will just blast them before they can shoot us". John Henry, as always, comes up with a brilliant solution.

"If you can angle your shot just right, you can destroy both T-1s with a single projectile. All you have to do is line up the railgun and the truck in such a way that projectile will intercept both targets".

"Can you work out the correct angle?"

"I already have".

"Good. Tell me about it on the way. Let's roll".

The SWAT team wishes us all good luck as we head off to take out the last two T-1s. How do those ass holes at Cyberdine sleep at night? Their creations are wreaking havoc all across L.A. We drive to the area where the two squad cars are being sprayed by machine gun fire. One car is already in flames, the other is so full of holes it looks like Swiss cheese. Carefully, John Henry and I set up the railgun at the appropriate angle. We only get one shot at this. If we miss, the second T1 will blow up the truck and the railgun along with it.

"Are you sure about this angle?"

"I've calculated the path of the projectile at least ten times. This is the optimal angle to destroy both targets".

I aim as carefully as possible, and then pull the trigger. Incredibly, projectile slams into the first T-1, rips right through it and slams into the second. Both machines are destroyed in a matter of seconds. The police officers thank and congratulate us for stopping the robot rampage. As we drive back to the Safe House, John Henry and I discuss installing armoured plating to the pickup truck for future missions. We also listen to news broadcasts on the radio, which are currently discussing the cybernetic disaster that terrorized L.A. this morning.

"Early this morning, a routine test turned to tragedy as seven robotic prototypes went on a shooting rampage through Los Angeles. Cyberdine, the U.S Militaries primary contractor for robotic weaponry, attempted to test its latest high tech contribution to the War on Terror. For reasons that remain unknown, the robots killed their technicians and began a well coordinated assault against the Los Angeles Police Department. Fortunately, no police officers were killed and all seven prototypes were destroyed during the incursion. Cyberdine has refused to comment on today's events". With a little luck, this bit of bad publicity just might cause Cyberdine to cancel its Terminator projects.

When we reach the Safe House, Reese is standing at the front door waiting for us. He congratulates us for destroying the T-1s, and then yells at us for nearly destroying his truck. As Catherine and John Henry take the truck into the workshop for modifications, I venture inside the house to receive congratulations from the rest of the Connor clan. One member remains absent.

"Hey, Allison, have you seen Sarah?"

"Which one?"

"Grandma Connor, not Colonel Hard Ass".

"Be nice, Charley. She's still trying to fit in. Give her a little time to adjust".

"Fine, I'll give her a little time. Have you seen her grandmother or not?"

"She's in her room. Don't tell John, but I think I heard her crying".

"What? Hey, Cameron! Come over here for a moment".

"What is it?"

"You have the best hearing, is Sarah crying in her room?"

"She is. I think you should go talk to her"

"Do you know what is wrong?"

"Yes, and I think you should go talk to her". Cameron just walks away without saying another word. It amazes me that two women can look exactly alike, but are completely different people. One is warm and friendly, while the other is cold and withholding.

Nervously, I approach Sarah's bedroom. I'm not afraid of her shooting me, in fact I have gotten used to it. However, I am not sure if I should be the one that should talk to her. Surely John or even Allison would be a better choice. Unless, she doesn't want John to know what is wrong.

"Sarah? Are you all right in there?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Go away". She's sobbing. Even I can hear it. I pry the door open, shattering the lock. "What the hell is wrong with you? I said go away!"

"You're crying! What is wrong?"

"Nothing! Get out of here!"

"No. I'm not a heartless machine like Cameron, I am a man. Talk to me".

"Go....away!"

"Not until you tell me what's wrong. Don't bother with the nine millimetre, you have nothing that can hurt me".

Sarah, with tears in her eyes, gets up and walks over to me. She places my hand on her breast. What the hell? This...this is..... Oh man! What do I do now? Talk about an uncomfortable situation.

"Uh...I'm flattered, Sarah. But I'm already in a relationship". I don't think I have ever seen anyone as pissed off as she was at that moment.

"I HAVE A LUMP YOU MORON!"

"Oh my God! I...I'm so sorry, Sarah". I take her in my arms and hold her tight. "I am so sorry. Is....is there anything I can do".

"Not unless you have a cure for cancer". She is crying on my shoulder. I wonder if Terminators rust. God, what a stupid time to think of that! Allison followed me to Sarah's room, but she did not hear our conversation.

"What's wrong? Why is she crying?"

"She found the lump!"

"The lump? What are you talking about?" Uh oh! Clearly, I spent more time with Connor than she did.

"Uh, Allison? Have you ever heard Connor talk about his mother?"

"Not really. I guess I'm not as close to the General as you were".

"Well, Connor told me that his mother died of cancer, and...." I don't need to finish that sentence. Allison runs into the room and throws her arms around Sarah.

"I...I don't know what to say. I am so sorry. Whatever you need, we'll do it. Right, Charley?"

"Of course. Just name it".

"Don't tell John, ok? Just, don't tell him. I don't want him to know"

"Sarah.....he is going to notice when you suddenly disappear one day".

"Charley! Don't be so insensitive!"

"I'm not, Allison. John is going to find out, eventually. If you ask me, I think he should learn about this before you die. So that he can prepare himself for the inevitable".

"Promise you won't tell him".

"I don't plan on telling him anything. But you should". I walk out the room, leaving Allison to comfort Sarah. Frankly, there is another man here that will need comforting right now. I need to find Reese.

"Reese! Where the hell are you?"

"Now what are you doing to my truck?"

"Forget about the fucking truck! What do you know about Sarah?"

"You're going to start this again? Just drop it".

"Do you know how she dies?" Reese stares blankly at me.

"No, I don't".

"She dies of cancer, Reese".

"Why are you telling me this now?"

"She just found the lump". Reese looks like he is going to have a panic attack. He is hyperventilating, and his eyes are full of tears.

"How...how long does she have?"

"Not long. Reese, the woman you love is dying. How long are you going to just stand there when she needs you?" Reese still looks unsure of himself. "It's now or never, Reese". He begins to walk towards Sarah's bedroom.

"Wish me luck".

"Good luck". After he leaves, I whisper: "To both of you".