Terminator: Return of the Fallen

Part XXIII

After the incident at the air show, we decided to go factory hunting. Sarah and Reese prepared a series of demolition charges while young Sarah, John Henry, and I got the armoured truck ready. Once all of the preparations had been completed, we headed out. Young Sarah was in the driver's seat, while I manned the railgun and John Henry used his computer to triangulate the trajectories of the Hunter Killers we had blown out of the sky.

"This trip seems like a waste of time, Lieutenant. Even if we do find the new factory, we don't have a powerful enough explosive to destroy it".

"For the last time, call me Charley. What type of aircraft are the Hunter Killers?"

"Unmanned aerial drones".

"Ok. What type of engines do they use?"

"Jet engines. Is there a point to this?"

"Where there are jet engines, there must be jet fuel. Now, what will happen when we stick the demo charges that Sarah and Reese prepared for us, onto the fuel tanks at the new Hunter Killer factory?"

"There will be a tremendous explosion....possibly powerful enough to destroy the factory! This might work".

"Assuming you can find the factory".

"When have I ever failed?"

"There's always a first time for everything, J.H." Before we locate the factory, a Hunter Killer on patrol locates us.

"Uh oh! We've got company?"

"Let's try our new "Bait and Switch" tactic. Sarah, stop the truck!"

"Are you crazy?"

"Stop the truck and cut the engine. Do it or we will be blown to hell".

Sarah stops the truck and cuts the engine, just as I had instructed. John Henry leaps out of the back of the truck, holding a new type of missile he had developed over the past few days. When fired, it generates a pulse that warns aircraft of its approach. The purpose of this is to lure the craft into my line of sight, so that I can blast it with the railgun. As an added bonus, the pulse also jams the enemy's targeting systems. Even if it does not move in the right direction, I can lock on to it before it can lock on to me. Assuming, of course, that it works.

"All set, Charley".

"Then fire the blasted thing. Oh, and thanks for calling me Charley".

John Henry fires the new missile, and the Hunter Killer manoeuvres to avoid the incoming fire. With one, well placed shot, I fire a projectile that severs the left engine from the hull of the Hunter Killer. The drone crashes into the desert, erupting into a flaming pile of scrap metal. Our diversionary tactic actually worked. From inside the cabin, I can hear young Sarah shrieking with joy.

"WAAHOO! Great shot, Lieutenant!"

"Thank you, Colonel. J.H., please tell me you know where that came from".

"Easy. All I have to do is calculate the trajectory of this new drone, then add that to the trajectories of the previous drones and.....Voila! Here's your new factory".

"Give the coordinates to Sarah and let's head out".

We drive to the new factory, and park right behind a nearby sandbank. When trying to sabotage an aircraft factory, it is always best to remain hidden. Sarah waits in the truck, while John Henry and I grab the charges and head out to destroy the factory. Silent and stealthy, we creep through the desert sands towards our objective. There is a chain link fence that surrounds the perimeter, but I break through it without any difficulty.

"Stay sharp, J.H. There might be guards nearby".

"Following your lead, Lieutenant".

"Could you stop calling me that?"

We make our way behind the factory, and find the fuel tanks. They are at the very back of the factory, but there should be enough fuel here to destroy the entire facility. When you are building a large air force, you need a lot of jet fuel. We place the charges on the fuel tanks and prepare to demolish the facility. At that moment, a security guard catches us and starts shouting.

"Hey! What are you doing near those fuel tanks?"

"Blowing them up! What are you doing near these fuel tanks?"

"Oh, a wise ass! I'll show you what we do to wise asses around here!"

The guard charges at me, but I catch him and throw him to the ground. He kicks me behind my right knee, but I grab his leg and crush it. As he screams in pain, I walk over to his head and lift my leg. Having realized that I intend to kill him, the poor bastard begins to plead for his life. I still crush his head like a melon.

"Was that really necessary, Charley?"

"He would have died anyway. Come on, let's get out of here and switch on the detonators".

We sprint back through the opening in the fence, and then activate the detonators to the demolition charges. The fuel tanks explode, causing the entire factory to erupt into a blazing inferno. Mission accomplished. We just stand there for a few minutes, and watch the factory burn to the ground. Then, we run back to the truck and head for home.

Unfortunately, the factory had more than one Hunter Killer on patrol when we attacked. The second Hunter Killer approaches from the east and begins to swoop down upon us. John Henry manages to use his laptop to jam the drones targeting signal, buying me enough time to lock the railgun onto our new nemesis. I fire a single projectile, ripping apart the Hunter Killer's right engine and sending it face first into the desert sands. That's two more to my tally.

When we reach the Safe House, the first thing we notice is that the other car is missing. My guess is that someone went out on a supply run, or something similar. However, when we open the front door, we find a most unusual scene. Reese quickly leaps up from the couch with a cushion covering his, groin area. Sarah turns into the couch, so that her front remains covered but her backside is strikingly visible.

"HO!" That was the first phrase that popped into my mind. I have really got to work on my self control. Speaking of which..."What.....happened?"

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Sarah is shrieking. At first, I don't understand what she is yelling about. Then I remember what I said. I think I am about to be shot at, again!

"I...I didn't mean it like....it just slipped out. Ok, before I get shot again, where is everyone else?" Reese, being the calmer of the two, answers my question.

"We sent them out to see a movie. Sarah and I....we needed some alone time".

"Couldn't you have done that in your room? I mean....sheesh, we all need to sit on that couch!"

"My.....grandmother....is....naked!! Must....wash....eyes!" New plan, keep both Sarahs calm before their heads explode.

"Ok, everyone stay calm. Let's deal with this like adults". We can hear a car pulling into the driveway, which makes older Sarah start to panic.

"Oh crap! They're back early. Shit! Reese, help my find my clothes!"

"Hey, mom! We're....OH MY GOD!"

"John, what are you yelling.......SAVANNAH, CLOSE YOUR EYES!"

"Hehehe! They're in their birthday suits!"

Oh this is just great. Now, I have a traumatized eighteen year old girl, a six year old with the giggles, and a sixteen year old boy who just walked in while his mother and uncle were doing the mattress mambo! In our living room for Pete's sake! Why did they have to use the living room? Why not a room with a locked door? Sarah tries to calm her son, but forgot about one minor detail.

"John, I understand that this can be upsetting to you, but you need to understand....."

"DON'T ROLL OVER! DON'T....SHE ROLLED OVER! GOD!" Wow, she really does have great breasts! I...should not be thinking this about my Commanding Officer's mother. Plus, Catherine will castrate me if I don't stop starring.

"Are mine going to look like that?" Savannah is a very curious girl, always asking questions. I have no idea how to answer this one.

"For the love of God, someone cover Savannah's eyes!" Allison does it, mainly because she was standing closer to Savannah than anyone else. Cameron cocks her head to the side.

"I do not understand why Sarah's breasts are so upsetting to you, John. You have seen my breasts, and you did not find them upsetting". Dear God, she did not just say that!

"He's seen.....WHAT?"

"Sarah, you really are not in any position to criticize. Speaking of positions, could you roll over? We can see your....your...hooha!"

"My hooha?"

"Your vagina" chirps Savannah.

"Ok. So she knows that word!" Catherine looks like she is about to stab me. "What? All I did was open the door".

"Where were you, exactly, when the hanky-panky was going on?"

"I was with John Henry, blowing up the new Hunter Killer factory. I also shot down two more Hunter Killers, just in case you were wondering". John turns towards me.

"What happened? With the factory, not with my mom and my uncle".

"Here's what happened: We drove through the desert looking for the new HK factory, and we got jumped by an HK. I shot it down, and John Henry managed to calculate its trajectory and find the factory. We used the demolition charges you had prepared to destroy the fuel tanks and light up the whole factory. Then, we got jumped by a second HK and I shot it down. We drove home, I opened the door, and you know the rest". Turning towards John Henry, I add: "Did I forget anything".

"Yes. You enjoyed staring at Sarah's breasts".

"I DID NOT SAY THAT!"

"You did not have to; I can hear your thoughts". Now he tells me! "I heard that". Stop listening to my thoughts. Uh oh! John just pulled a nine millimetre out the back of his pants, and Catherine just turned her arms into blades.

"Hey, come on guys! I didn't say anything about her breasts! Let's all keep calm, and put away the weapons. Ok?" Nope! John shoots me in the head and Catherine stabs me in the stomach. "Ok, that hurt!"

"Interesting! I can't penetrate your armour plating! Even the T-800 and T-888 are vulnerable to my blades. You truly are one of a kind, Charley".

"Great, I can also feel pain! Could you please remove your blade from my stomach?" I do love Catherine, but she does pick the most inopportune moments to behave like an analytical machine. As she pulls the blades out of my flesh, she turns towards John Henry. Without saying a single word, she is communicating with John Henry.

"Yes, I can hear your thoughts as well, and those of every other Terminator. That is probably why my brother wishes to destroy me". Older Sarah interrupts our conversation.

"This is all very interesting, but could you all GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE SO THAT WE CAN GET DRESSED?!"

John and young Sarah are the first ones out the door. Allison follows them, carrying little Savannah who can not understand why everyone is so upset. Cameron and John Henry walk out together, discussing Terminator personal boundaries. Finally, Catherine and I walk out, discussing our relationship.

"I swear to God, I am not attracted to Sara! You are the only woman I have ever loved romantically".

"So, you did not enjoy looking at her breasts?"

"Are you kidding? Your breasts blow hers out of the water. I am not sure if that came out right". She starts laughing, which means I probably won't get stabbed again.

"What am I going to do with you, Charley?"

"Don't stab me! That hurts like a son of a...Hey Savannah". Catherine chuckles.

"Good save". She gives me a kiss on the lips. This has got to be one of the weirdest days of my lives.