Terminator: Return of the Fallen
Part XXVI
Sarah is doing push-ups in the living room as Charlotte and I discuss our encounters with the T-600s. For some reason, I start passing the head of the second T-600 behind my back like a basketball. These things used to terrify me, but they do not seem nearly as menacing as before.
"So, what's the plan here?"
"Simple: we break into Cyberdine, hack their computers, find out where they are building these new Terminators and destroy them; just another day for the Connor family".
"John Henry, Cameron, and I can take care of that. It's hard to believe that these things used to scare the shit out of me". Sarah starts to chuckle.
"Really?"
"The T-600 used to be SkyNet's front line infantry unit. When I was killed, they had already begun to faze them out for the new T-700s. I never really encountered many T-700s. The T-600 on the other hand...." I look at Catherine and smile. "Remember how we met?"
"Not an easy day to forget".
"I'll say. The gang I was fighting with had been cut to pieces by the T-600s. I was limping around with a bullet in my hip, waiting to die. Then you came out of nowhere and saved my ass. Why did you do that, anyway?"
"I thought you were the bravest man I had ever seen. Anyone that daring deserved to be saved".
"I could also have been the most foolish man you had ever seen". Reese stands there and scratches his head; he looks confused by all of this.
"I don't get it. What's so brave about getting shot in the hip?"
"Uh, Reese...I was limping towards the T-600s".
"What? Were you insane?"
"Hey, I figured that I was going to die anyway, so I might as well try to take some of them down with me. I grabbed the nearest gun I could find, I think it was an M-16, and charged at the lumbering killing machines. For some reason, I started to think about the last few acts of Macbeth and I cried out: BLOW WIND! COME RACK! I SHALL DIE WITH HARNESS ON MY BACK! I limp towards them, firing my weapon, when the blasted thing jams on me! So I figure: this is it, I'm going to die. Next thing I knew, I was being thrown to the ground by a beautiful red-head". Sarah has finished her push-ups and is sitting next to Reese on the couch.
"Nice story. So, what's the difference between a T-600 and a T-700?"
"The T-700 is a lot stronger, faster, smarter, and more agile than the lumbering T-600. It also has thicker armour, which is why it has remained SkyNet's front line infantryman for the duration of the war".
"Then why build the T-800 and T-888?"
"The T-700 is designed to be mass produced front line infantry soldiers. The T-800, T-888, and TX are designed to be produced in smaller numbers for more specific tasks: assignations, sabotage, espionage, that sort of thing. Think of the T-700 as SkyNet's general infantry and the T-800, T-888, T-1000, and so forth are SkyNet's elite commandos". Cameron smiles and adds:
"A T-700 series model is also strong enough to turn a T-800 series model into a pretzel".
"Bragging, are we?"
"I don't brag".
"What model Terminator are you, Cameron?"
"I am a modified T-700 series model Terminator".
"And she has turned a T-888 into a pretzel!" Adds John. Cameron is starting to smirk, she WAS bragging! "By the way Lieutenant, I would like to speak with you before you leave. I have a package that I would like you to deliver to Cyberdine".
"Aye aye, oh General my General!"
"Cut that out, Lieutenant Wise Ass!" I am really starting to like this kid.
When we reach Cyberdine's head office, we break down the doors and let ourselves in. The night guards try to stop us, and we throw them out on their asses. Cameron and I force open the doors to the elevator while John Henry hotwires it to take us to the sub-basement. That is the most likely location of the Cyberdine mainframe, and our best chance of locating the T-600 factory. On my back, I carry John Connor's "package". I just hope that I can get the others out of here before I set it off.
"Are you sure this is the right building, J.H.?"
"Have I ever let you down?"
We follow John Henry, and sure enough, he leads us right to Cyberdine's main databanks. The supercomputer is huge! I did not know they still made computers that are large enough to fill an entire room. It looks like a scene from Star Wars.
"I used to be a computer just like this one. Only, I was a little more complex than this".
"More complex? I've seen cars that are smaller than these processors!"
"Vast amounts of data require massive equipment. I am going to link up to this computer, keep me covered".
"I didn't know you had a port in the back of your head, J.H." John Henry smiles at me.
"How do you think I downloaded into this body?"
John Henry actually plugs his head into the computer. It is a sight that is both incredible, and extremely disturbing. How many people are friends with a man that has a USB port in the back of his head? His face is like that of a statue: focused and emotionless. It only takes him minutes to go through the entire database.
"I can not find any information on the T-600. It is as if that model does not exist".
"I have a strip club full of dead people that would disagree with you, J.H."
"I am not doubting you, my friend. I am only relaying what I have seen. There is no information on the T-600 in this database". Cameron actually looks disappointed.
"This trip has been for nothing".
"I wouldn't say that!" I finally take out John Connor's "package" and arm it.
"What is that?"
"It's a special type of electro-magnetic bomb that John built. Rather than explode, this particular bomb will generate a pulse that will fry everything mechanical within the building. Including us, so I suggest we leave".
"Is the effect reversible?"
"On us, who knows? But every computer in this building, including this thing, will be utterly useless; fried beyond repair. Cyberdine's entire mainframe will be demolished without a single explosion. The bomb has been armed; we might want to start running".
We run up the stairs, fearful that the elevator will be too slow. The device is armed, the timer is ticking and there is no way to deactivate it. As we run, I keep checking my watch to see if we will make it out in time. My vital organs are still intact, so the device will not be fatal to me. Cameron and John Henry are another story. If this thing goes off and they are still inside.....Time is almost out!
"I'm sorry guys".
Like a charging bull, I rush forward and push the others through the large windows at the front of the building. I push with enough force that they are both sent flying through the exit just as the device has begun to detonate. The pulse shoots up through the building, destroying every mechanical system within it; including my own. I fall flat on my face, unable to move. Hopefully, the others were out of range when the device detonated.
"Lieutenant, can you hear me?" It's Cameron! She made it!
"MPHFF" I try to talk, but my voice is muffled by the floor. It is not easy being an immobile, multi-ton robot that is lying on his face. I hear John Henry speaking to Cameron, and I am so glad to hear that he made it as well.
"I do not think he can reply while he is lying on his face! Come on, let us turn him over. The pulse has already dissipated, so the building should be perfectly safe for us". I hear Cameron and John Henry walk back through the shattered windows that I had pushed them through moments earlier. They walk over to me and help me to my feet.
"Thanks for the hand!"
"Can you walk?"
"Not a chance! My motors are totally fried. It's a good thing my tongue wasn't mechanical, or I wouldn't be able to talk. What?" John Henry has started laughing. "What's so funny?"
"You do realize that you are speaking with your mouth completely immobile". I hadn't even considered that my mouth would also be disabled. My organic parts are still functioning. My non organic parts, including my mouth, are disabled. "Come on, John and I will have you fixed in no time".
"My girlfriend's son wants to have me fixed! Why do I feel uneasy about that?" Both John Henry and Cameron begin to laugh. "I am telling Sarah that you laughed at my jokes". Cameron punches me in the ribs.
"You will do nothing of the sort".
"Sorry, I can't feel anything. Try hitting me after J.H. has had me fixed. Ok, that did not sound right". Both of them are still laughing. I have never seen Cameron laugh before.
Cameron and John Henry carry me back to the car and dump me in the back seat. Normally, I would complain about such harsh treatment. Today, I will make an exception. I really do hope that this is not permanent. If I truly am immobile for life, then I am useless to the Resistance. If it comes to that, I will ask Reese to shoot me with the prototype plasma rifle. Cameron turns around to speak to me.
"Thank you. That pulse would have destroyed both of our chips. You saved our lives".
"Glad to be of service. Wake me when we reach the Safe House". I try to close my eyes to get some sleep, only to discover that I can't.
When we reach the Safe House, Cameron and John Henry carry me inside like a piece of luggage. Though I am glad to have saved their lives, I do find this entire experience to be humiliating. They drop me on the floor, due to the fact that my dead weight would shatter the couch. Sarah and her granddaughter walk into the living room wearing matching jeans and black tank tops.
"Exercising?" I hear Reese's voice in reply, giddy as a school girl and coming from Sarah's room.
"In a matter of speaking!" Dear God! I did not need to know that.
"You?"
"Who's he talking to? His eyes aren't moving".
"That's because they can't move". The older Sarah bends down to examine me, which I really wish she wouldn't do. "Um, Sarah? Your cleavage is showing".
"What happened to him?"
"John's electromagnetic device worked like a charm; fried everything in the building, including me".
"It would have destroyed all of our systems if he had not pushed us out of the way" adds Cameron.
"The T-600s?"
"I'm sorry, Sarah. We could not find any information on them".
"It's all right, Cameron. JOHN! I WANT YOU AND JOHN HENRY TO GET TO WORK REPAIRING THE LIEUTENANT! HE'S NO GOOD TO US LIKE THIS".
"DID THE BOMB WORK?"
"PERFECTLY!"
"GOOD. I'LL BE RIGHT THERE, MOM".
It takes them a few hours to repair me. By the time they are finished, all systems have been restored. Once again, I am fully functional. Cyberdine's supercomputer is not nearly as fortunate as I am. After all of the bad publicity, this just might be the final nail in the coffin of Cyberdine. Now, if we could only find the T-600s.
