Z Plus Two Years Two Hundred Seventy Days
Midnight came and went; and the 'Welcome To Crystal Peak' party continued, though losing steam.
Hidden in their little closet space, Lupe had produced a small packet of toffees from somewhere and gave one to Kyle. "My Grandfather gave me these. I never ate one." She said, popping one in her mouth.
"Why not?" Kyle asked, enjoying his own.
"Don't know. Didn't want to eat them all myself I guess. S'not fair to have sweets when you can't find water."
Kyle nodded. "And now?"
"Now we're here." Lupe said. "Grandfather says there's water and food and beds. We can enjoy stuff now." She looked around their little hiding place. "Your Tunnel Rats, do they have sweets?"
"Nah."
Lupe handed him the packet. "Give them these."
Kyle handed them back. "Why don't you?"
"I don't know them." Lupe said, looking down shyly. It was the first sign of nerves Kyle had seen from her.
Kyle summoned up his courage and took her hand. "I'll introduce you." He said, trying to pull her up.
The party had wound down at last. Some of them were still awake, playing quiet music for smaller groups, gathered together with the last of the booze and food, leaning on each other for support.
The Connors headed for the Communications Room, making their way through the Main Auditorium, now the scene of a huge disaster. Kate was taken aback by it at first. Her Crystal Peak had been put through a hurricane. But she couldn't really fault it. The hardest part of living here for a year was the fact that the huge space was so horrifyingly empty with just the two of them. Over in the corner, a few brave survivors of the party were still dancing, still drinking, somehow still upright. Couples were threading off to find private spots; others meeting new people in a way they couldn't really do in a moving Convoy.
Kate couldn't help the way her eyes scanned each of Enrique's people, looking for signs of risk. Suddenly having to see her own surrogate uncle as an enemy had given Kate something of a jaded viewpoint on new people; and even with what she had told John, she had to admit to still harboring some suspicion. Most of Enrique's people were not particularly threatening at the moment; passed out, stretched out on the floor, on benches...
They headed through and noticed Kyle, introducing a young girl to his gang of Tunnel Rats. "Guys, this is Lupe."
Lupe nodded shyly at them. They looked at her. One of them spoke. "Want to be friends?"
Lupe nodded; and they all waved her down to sit with them. She sat and pulled out a bag of sweets; and started passing them around. Simple as that.
Kate smirked without breaking stride. It was so easy for the kids to set aside suspicion and make friends from strangers, even in this dark new world. Okay. Maybe I'm just getting paranoid.
Paranoid is good. She countered herself. Paranoid will keep you alive when the infiltrators come in.
That thought wiped the smirk off her face. Time to go to war.
The break with General Whickham was the birth of Tech Com.
John never would have been able to make such a move had he not backed himself up with Skynet's own scrubbed Machines. But he never would have had such forces had Whickham not tried to arrest him. Trying to neutralize Connor is what made him Powerful. Just as Skynet trying to starve us out is what kept us fed. Just as the two of us trying to stop Judgment Day and escape our fate is what made John leader of the Resistance. Just as Skynet trying to kill me for being his wife and partner is what caused us to meet and fall in love, bringing John into contact with the military. Just as Skynet trying to kill him is what caused him to exist in the first place. It is Paradox. They seem to follow my husband around throughout his life.
[Taken From the Personal Journals of General Katherine Connor, recovered from Crystal Peak, 2170]
Connor came into the Communications Room and gave the area a quick glance. His people had already laid out the maps of the area in question. They had a variety of equipment set up to the communications system; they had the latest available intelligence all over the place. There was a War Room downstairs, but the newer equipment hadn't been installed yet.
Kate was a in a half second behind him and took her place beside him at the largest map. Connor studied the map and gestured at Gould. "Routing the call off two repeater cells and we have a rotating encryption key. Even if Skynet breaks it, it'll only give them a few seconds before they have to start again." Gould keyed the microphone and started turning dials on the equipment. "Go."
Connor nodded. "Walters, are you there?"
"Read you loud and clear." Walters's voice was projected over speakers in the Communications Room.
"This transmission is being re-encrypted every three seconds on our end. Is your equipment ready?" Connor directed.
"Copy and Affirmative Palace. In position."
"Attack." Connor directed calmly.
Kate forced herself to stand still as the tension level in the room jumped several times over.
The speakers came alive with voices. Worse than the voices were the silences.
"Snipers, take the shot."
BOOOM!
"Good hits!"
"They've seen us!"
"Move out. MOVE! MOVE!"
"Sarge! Lay down covering fire!"
"The guards are hidden behind that tower-WATCH IT!"
"Walters! Watch your six! Two more!"
"AGH!"
"Medic! We need a Medic!"
Gunfire. Lots of it. Kate was rocking on her heels, opening and closing her fists, trying to not pace, trying to stay calm... She sent a look over at Connor. He had gone still as a statue. His arms were folded across his chest, his eyes were moving across the maps; fingers were gripping his own forearms tightly...
"Major I can't get to him! Cover me NOW!"
"Go! Go NOW! Team Two COVER!"
"Major! Reinforcements coming from the factory! We're in trouble now!"
Connor leaned over to the radio. "Major Walters, pull your people back from the factory. Draw them out."
"Roger that! Team Two Fall back! Team three! Cover the Wounded!"
More gunfire, more yells...
"Javelin Team! NOW!"
Boom! BOOM! Everyone twitched at the explosions.
"Splash one! Splash one! YEAH!"
Connor hit his radio again. "Metal marines! Attack!"
"Command Confirmed." Repeated a hundred Terminator voices.
"Scrubbed Machines are moving in! Everyone out! Let them do their thing!"
Silence. Nobody was talking on their radios any longer. With the radio unneeded, the channel stayed closed. No background noise, no reports. A war was being waged and those who commanded it were out of the loop. The silence stretched. And stretched. Kate could feel her already frayed nerves start to crack. She checked on The General without turning her head. His arms were folded, fingers digging into his forearms. She looked again. His right hand had the index finger a little bit extended. It was the way you held your hand when a gun was in it, finger on the trigger. He was itching to shoot something and couldn't move.
The radio crackled. "Palace, this is Eagle One. Mission Accomplished."
The Communications room cheered. Connor barely reacted, as though that was the expected result all along. He uncoiled enough to pick up the radio. "Roger that Eagle One. Good work. Have your wounded sent straight here. Dispatching Choppers now." He glanced at Kate who nodded and quickly grabbed her own radio. She would send her medics with the helicopters. "Metal marines. Reprogram the factory to your own directives."
"Command Confirmed."
"Eagle One, locate the stockpiles of raw materials. Find out how many Terminators can be built with what's there. Then get your people out."
"Understood Palace. Over and out."
Connor set down the microphone. His hands were steady. Kate studied his face. He looked too calm. It was a mask. He was hiding it behind his Poker Face. She made a note to let Carla take over the inventory and the Nursery. She was going to have to stay close to him tonight. For all the calm he projected, he wanted to be out there with them. He wanted to be protecting them. Kate didn't let on, but she let her eyes soften just a tiny bit. I'm here. It's all right. Everything's okay. You're doing fine.
Connor met her gaze and let his face soften just a little, mindful of their audience. I know. I'll be okay.
"One factory down." He said aloud. "One more to go."
Z Plus Two Years Two Hundred Eighty Four Days
The battles stretched on. The radios were upgraded, and from the Mountain in the desert, Crystal Peak directed the offensive war. Connor got used to it. The magic that he had on the battlefield with his men, had now come to the War Room. The crews manning the maps, the reports, the radios were all learning how to predict each other. Skynet could give orders to any number of machines in seconds. A well trained human crew could predict orders and have their crews on hand before the order was needed. As the scrubbed Machines confirmed a clear radius, Connor got his planes back in the air. With the sky a pitched battleground again, human territory spread further, armed with air support.
With every factory taken, Connor's Army had another assembly line, and the human forces became the second wave, using cunning and tactics against a softened punch-drunk enemy, their lines knocked down by scrubbed Machines.
The casualty rate had dropped significantly, with most of the front lines now drawn in opposing forces of Machines. After a month on the road, The Last Army had a place to collate their information, to base their operations, and to get a grip on what Skynet was doing.
Skynet was adapting. It began sending its army through in smaller groups, learning the effectiveness of guerrilla tactics from its human opponents, and the casualty rates jumped again, as humans were ambushed. Mobile Surgical Units were planned, but not set up yet, the commanders uncertain as to where to place them safely.
Kate knew that it would be her job to pick the place for the Aid stations and MASH units. She started spending more and more time in the War room herself, and not just to support The General. She had to learn how far the Machines could get into their territory before Connor could get a counter attack together and stop them. Aid stations had to be close but not too close. MASH units had to be in defended controlled territory, on a map that kept changing.
Within the base, the people felt safe, big thick walls and miles of distance and defenses as protection; forgotten luxuries like rooms with doors and plumbing making them content. For now.
Scrubbed Machines were all kept away from the civilian populations, and the population began down the road to becoming a proper community. Connor was called upon to perform a few weddings and there was celebration. Kate was called upon to deliver a few babies, and there was life.
The Nursery expanded. Enrique's people brought a few babies of their along, as well as the ones from San Jose. Sarah took to other babies her age like a duck to water, and suddenly some of the nursing staff had to figure out how on earth to improvise baby-safe toys.
The mothers and fathers were split, more or less down the middle on raising the babies. Some wanted to get out into the war and get busy fighting back. The others vowed never go out to war and leave the babies alone, or risk orphaning them. The lines of Tech-Com were being drawn quickly between combat and non-combat troops. Connor was quick to point out that there was a lot more to saving humanity than simply killing machines, and there was plenty of work to do for all. There was balance. Civilian projects like the school and the nursery was every bit as important to the future of the species as the war; and everyone knew it.
Kyle's group of friends, the Tunnel Rats, long hidden in the Underground, and then the convoy, came out of their hiding places, becoming part of the day to day routine. Kate hadn't realized there were six of them, four boys, and two girls, plus Lupe. They all had Kyle's manner. Feral, grown up, hungry, and deadly. Feral survivors looking for a target to vent their energy on. Every night they came out of hiding and left their mark on the base somewhere, and the base was transformed slightly with graffiti.
Kate noticed something primal in the paintings. Everything from chalk to magic markers had been used, and the drawings were instantly recognizable. There were drawings of the Mushroom clouds, drawings of wastelands, Death Camps, Terminators... and more than a few of Connor.
John told her to let it go. There was no television, no history books, no record except for what they bothered to write down in the reports of the combat units, and what the children put on the walls. It was the oldest way of keeping history. And one of the only ways left to them now.
Kate agreed. The school continued, and it was good for the kinds to be creative. But one painting left John speechless and more than a little uncomfortable. It was one of Connor himself, standing between an army of Machines and the Humans, drawn in their hundreds with stick figures. It was almost like a comic book in tone, setting Connor as the superhero. And John hated it. But the Tunnel Rats had looked so... proud of it, he couldn't make them take it down.
Nobody but Kate knew how much it gnawed at him. The weight of his destiny had altered. The fact that the world was his responsibility was now accepted by him. How he was being perceived by the people under his charge was a heavier burden than ever.
And then it got worse.
Connor was surprised at first, how many people had come to watch this. He knew he probably shouldn't have been. Tech-Com was brand new as an army, and as an organization. They were making up the rules as they went along, and Connor hated that this had to be part of it.
"Willis, Howard. You have been charged with stealing food from the commissary. It is alleged that you joined the Kitchen Staff for the sole purpose of being able to take food for your own uses. How do you plead?"
Willis looked down. "I had to feed my kid." He said in a small voice.
Walters actually seemed relieved. "Let the record show that a plea of 'Guilty' has been entered. He has confessed to this crime."
Connor hated this. But it had to be done. "Mr Howard Willis." He intoned. "You are a civilian. But this is a military base, your crimes were against its personnel, and as such you are subject to our ruling… and our punishments."
"Yes Sir General." Willis whispered.
"And I'm sure I don't need to tell you how serous it is, stealing food."
"No sir." Willis was actively whimpering, dreading this.
There was a loud silence. Everyone was staring at Connor with bated breath, waiting to see what he'd do.
"Willis, having confessed to your crime, the only matter left is that of your sentence. As I'm sure you're aware, supplies are tight. We may still be used to outright lawlessness, but not here. Willis, I'm told that with all these people here, the septic system is getting backed up. The latrines haven't been properly maintained for a while."
Twittering and sadistic chuckles rang out from around the assembly.
"Your sentence is to clean out the septic tanks and follow the directions of our Engineering teams to properly get that septic system working. Of course, it's pretty ripe while it's being used. You'll have to clean your way through. Predictions say it'll take you several days to finish."
Laughter again from the crowd. Willis looked a little sick.
Connor silenced them with a look. "Next case." He commanded, mostly because he didn't know what else to say. Willis was lead out, and in his place was brought another man, looking a lot more nervous.
"PFC O'Brian, Quincy." Recited Walters. "You have been charged with stealing food on the line in a forward area. It is alleged that you took one of your fellow Soldier's ration packs without his permission and hoarded it for your own. How do you plead?"
Quincy licked his lips and forced himself to speak. "Guilty sir."
Connor glared severely. "Your crimes may be similar, but the differences are quite significant. This isn't like swiping food from the kitchen. If someone loses food out in the field, they can't get back in chow-line. A soldier on the front goes hungry, they lose energy, get distracted… get killed."
Hushed silence. Everyone realizing that The General was actually angry about this one...
"Private, do you understand how serious this crime is?" Connor pressed him.
"Yessir."
"You will assist Mr Willis with his 'community service'. But the theft of food is not the only charge, given the circumstances of the theft. For conduct unbecoming, and dereliction of duty, you are sentenced to fifteen lashes."
Murmurs from the crowd. Corporal punishment was something new. While once commonplace in the Army, it was no longer practiced in the days leading up to J-Day. A sudden return to it was… disquieting. Maybe even a little barbaric.
Quincy was taken over to the nearest wall and forced to stand against it. He was stripped to the waist and made to face the wall. Quincy had set his jaw tightly, eyes focused on some distant point. He was taking this stoically. Connor was impressed with that. Even a little proud.
Oldham had the whip, and did not look happy about it.
Connor turned away from the proceedings and approached the crowd. "Somebody back before could be thrown in jail for theft or assault. Things are harder now. So when supplies get tight and people get hungry, they go to sleep with the knowledge that beating up someone they don't like will get them a room with nice thick walls and three squares provided every day? We can't reward crime."
"One!" Walters counted harshly.
CRACK!
"AGGH!"
Everyone flinched.
Connor didn't. "Skynet makes all it's choices by the numbers. Everything Skynet does is so… practical."
"Two!"
CRACK!
"Argh!"
Connor didn't turn, everyone spellbound, trapped by the moment. "This is also practical. Horribly so. This is a war for humanity, but sometimes we are left with nothing but inhuman options."
"Three!"
CRACK!
"Yahaaah!"
"This is a war for humanity. And the more we are forced to do the practical thing, the less human we get. So I ask you now; to remember that. It's a brutal solution to a problem that isn't going away. Does everyone understand that?"
"Four!"
CRACK!
Everyone twitched.
"Dismissed!" Connor roared.
Released from the intensity of the moment, everyone who gathered to watch turned and walked out.
"Five!"
CRACK!
Everyone twitched, even with their backs turned. One or two stayed, watching stoically. Quincy was barely moving, slumped against the wall, held up by his guards. With his head bowed, he may even have passed out already.
Kate pushed her way in against the crowd, and stood discreetly near the door. She had her Medical Bag over her shoulder.
"Six!"
CRACK!
When they got to the tenth stroke and the punishments were over at last, Kate quietly stepped in and stated treating the soldier's wounds. Infection was a very serious concern in the Underground, still a problem in Crystal Peak. Both the injuries and the whip itself had to be looked after correctly to insure that it was safe, beyond the obvious punishment it inflicted. Lacerations could cause infections, plus contamination from leather flecks.
Kate treated the wounds and directed the unconscious O'Brian to Medbay. His wounds would be stitched up, but he was to be denied heavy painkiller. It was a punishment after all. She then left him in care of her nurses and went back to the Presidential Suite, where Connor was getting a little privacy, sitting at his desk. He had never given an order like this before, and before now, there had been either other ways to resolve a situation, or too much action coming from the war to worry about it. But the Post-Apocalyptic world was largely lawless, and the matter of authority had to be resolved eventually.
Kate came in quietly, and pulled Kohler's silver flask, now their own, from the bedside table. She handed it to him without a word, standing behind his chair and rubbing the back of his neck.
Connor sighed and took a long sip from the silver flask. "All right Kate, let me have it." He said finally.
Kate smirked. "Are you under the impression that I'm mad?"
"Getting the lash? It's a brutal punishment."
"But not a new one." Kate said. "You said yourself we're now at a mix of Medieval-ism armed with Skynet's latest salvaged technology. Corporal punishment is not new. It's just out of practice."
Connor actually set the flask down and leaned his head back to look up at her, staring in surprise. "You're okay with this?"
"Everyone's okay with this! The people I'm talking to are relieved! John, a lot of these people have come from other communities. They're all dealing with the issue of how to treat prisoners now. In a lot of places the punishment for stealing food is having an arm chopped off. And in a lot of those places, there's usually someone hungry enough to eat it. You could have shot him if you wanted, and a lot of people would have been glad there was one less mouth to feed." Kate pointed out. "You set the tone. Tough, practical, but you live to fight another day. You could sum up the entire Tech-Com philosophy that way!"
"Stealing food is considered the cardinal sin. But the fact is there are worse ones out there. Supplies are tight Kate. Soldiers get more rations because they have a more physical workload, burning more calories. Time will come when stealing a meal will seriously put lives in danger. Do we let them off so lightly after that?"
Kate didn't have an answer to that one.
"He was unconscious after the third lash. When do you think he'll wake up?" Connor asked quietly.
"No." Kate said firmly. "Bad idea."
"What?"
"You're going to go down there when he wakes up and apologize to him. You're going to talk about how it was necessary and about how sorry you are it had to be done. And I'm telling you, that's just going to make it worse. Worse for him, and for you, and for the next five guys to get the lash."
Connor sighed. "You know me too well."
"I should." Kate nodded ruefully and gave him a quick kiss. "Go down to the school. They should be in the Hydroponics bay right now. Check in with them for a while, make yourself feel better, and then go spend time with your daughter. I have another patient."
"Anything serious?"
Kate took a slow breath. "That… is actually a far more interesting question than you might think."
Carla checked the blood test, and then turned to the patient sitting somewhat anxiously on the bed. "And... it's confirmed. You're officially knocked up."
Curry smirked. "I figured. Thanks for doing this."
"I just wish you'd come in as soon as we got here." Kate countered. "You were the one that wanted a free pass for nine months."
"Doesn't mean I wanted to be useless. There was plenty to do."
"You're taking it easy though, right?" Carla pressed lightly.
"Yes ma'am."
"Anyway, from now on, you're assigned to here as your quarters." Kate said. "Grab your stuff; find a place in the Pre-Op ward. If things get bad, you're out till business slows down. Otherwise, the room's more comfortable than the dorms. Food's better too." She tapped Carla on the shoulder. "Go figure out a schedule for her checkups okay?"
"Yes Ma'am." Carla agreed.
Kate turned back to Curry. "Erin, go get yourself situated, then come back in here, get some vitamin shots into you. You're a little low on calcium."
"Calcium's a mineral, not a vitamin." Curry pointed out.
"You graduated medical school?" Kate asked pointedly.
"No Ma'am."
"Neither did I. Don't sass your doctors." Kate joshed her gently.
"No Ma'am."
"That's the fifth time you've 'ma'am-ed' us in two minutes, get outta here."
Curry smirked and jumped up.
Carla called after her. "Erin? Congratulations."
"Thank you." Curry called cheerfully over her shoulder.
Carla's smile dropped the second Curry left the room. "Well, it's nice to know Dex had something to do while we were busy hanging from the wall in Skynet's laboratory."
Kate whirled and pointed sharply at her. "Hey! You keep a lid on that! Dex came to you. So did she. Both of them went out of their way to make this easier on you. Dex wasn't sneaking around. And she's here with us too, remember. He didn't leave you for her. Both of you left him."
Carla's face lost its anger instantly, replaced with somewhat sober calm. "I know. I'm not mad really... it's just... she didn't want to keep the child for herself... Dex and I hadn't really talked about... I had hoped that maybe after this..."
Kate blinked. "That after this... he might want a kid with you?"
"Or look after hers together. It wouldn't have bothered me." Carla smirked. "I know. Crazy huh? I was young and stupid then."
"A month ago?"
"A lot of things happen in a month Kate. A month was the difference between Becki's first school play and her first rat dinner."
Kate chuckled mirthlessly. She hadn't let herself think about the poor departed Becki since Sarah had been born.
Carla looked at the blood test. "Think it'll be a boy or a girl?"
"I don't know yet. We won't for a while."
"You think, when it grows up a bit, I should tell it about Dex?"
"'It'?"
"Well... he or she then."
"Don't see why not."
"What do I tell he or she, when whatever it is asks where Daddy is now?"
Kate didn't have a good answer to that one. "Tell the truth, if only because it's the easiest thing to remember. Look around the Mountain Carla, family is whoever you happen to adopt this week."
"Guess so."
There was a short silence. Kate took a breath. "Carla. Can you do me a quick favor?"
"Sure, what do you need?"
"Run the test again?"
"I already checked it twice."
"No." Kate cleared her throat. "Not on Curry."
Kate was still in charge of the school, but it no longer had classes defined by age. As some kids became more skilled, or were demonstrably ahead of the others, they were moved up to more complex lessons. The more advanced the students became in one area or another, the faster they were promoted to apprenticeships.
But there were still the early classes for the younger ones. The teachers worked on rotation, until they found their own niches. And kids were still kids, and they still talked in class. Kate knew they were talking instead of working. She allowed it most of the time. Being left alone too long in dangerous times tended to make kids introverted and isolated. She encouraged them to talk to each other.
"Look what I got." Mickey said to Stacie. He slid a creased five dollar note across the table.
Stacie, one of the younger ones, was barely four years old when Judgment Day had hit. Any relic that came from 'Before' was something exotic and unusual. The older ones spoke of those days with something akin to awe, and the kids were fascinated by all the remnants of this 'Lost World.' Stacie stared at it. "What is it?"
"It's called money. My dad said it used to be really important."
Stacie looked closely at the note. "In. God. We. Tru... T. Rust." She read slowly, still practicing her reading skills. She blinked, confused. "What's 'God'?"
Kate, overhearing the whole thing, smiled sickly at that, but didn't interrupt.
Also overhearing the little chat, Berk, of the kids nearer to Stacie's age leaned forward. "My uncle was a Priest. I asked him once. He said that back before, God was really powerful, and people asked God to protect them, when they couldn't do it themselves."
Mickey seemed interested in that. "Where did he live?"
"Don't know. My uncle didn't like to talk about it. I think they were friends. Maybe Skynet killed him too."
Blinking, Stacie had tried to follow all this and missed most of it. "So... who protects us now?"
Berk shrugged. "I dunno. Connor?"
Kate set the pen in her hand down hard enough to dig a light gouge into the desk, and all the kids jumped. Kate stood immediately, with a big smile plastered on her face. "Hey kids, lets take a break. Field Trip!"
The class had gone down to the Dojo, where the Marines were training in hand-to-hand. It was a large room off the gym with places for people to sit. Combat training was largely a matter of training and exercise, as nobody fought hand-to-hand with a Terminator and lived.
Enrique had center stage. The grizzled man was stripped to the waist, looking like a scarecrow covered in scars, with a spoon in each hand. He was surrounded by a group of three soldiers, one holding a combat knife; with several more surrounding the mats, watching carefully.
"You mind if we sit in for a minute?" Kate asked nobody in particular.
Three against one. Enrique actually looked bored. "Nah. You know how I like an audience."
The kids sat down, watching avidly. Each of them had seen combat, seen death, but actually getting taught a few things about how to fight correctly was something relatively new.
One of the soldiers struck from behind with his knife. Enrique shifted barely six inches to the left and the knife missed. Enrique caught the knife hand and twisted it, whipping around with the spoon and tapping it against the man's throat. "You're dead."
Defeated, but unhurt, his first opponent slapped the floor; the traditional wrestling signal of conceding a match. Enrique released him and the man left the mats, joining the audience.
Enrique gestured at the recruits. "Now, he was stupid enough to think that just because he was behind me, he was out of sight. He wasn't. Plus, he attacked alone, and you two idiots let him. If you lot are going to fight together out there, you've got to know how to fight together, and not just line up for your turn."
Taking this little lesson in, the two of them spread out, trying to flank him from both sides.
Enrique grinned demoniacally. "And of course, you have to be fighting anyone but me."
The two of them glanced at each other, traded some secret signal, and lunged, one from the side, one from behind.
Enrique let the one behind him get a good grip and pulled his feet up. His opponent was startled by the move and almost dropped him, tightening his grip instinctively. Enrique took advantage and kicked out with both feet, knocking his opponent away.
Seeing this, the one holding him from behind, dropped him and jumped back, getting room to move. Enrique let him, and darted forward, toward the one he'd knocked down; poking him with the spoon before he could get back up again. "You're dead."
The second man also slapped the floor, more out of instinct than anything else, and somewhat dazed, he too joined the audience. Kate went over and checked his vision for a moment.
Enrique grinned wolfishly. "Next! Victim!"
One opponent left. He was taking his time now.
Enrique grinned again. "Not bad for an old man huh?"
The class was watching, rapt. The final challenger lunged, and Enrique simply stepped to the left, helping his tackle's momentum along, sending him sprawling. Enrique spared the class a look. "See, that will work with most anyone, because it uses your enemy's strength against them."
The last challenger stood up, dusted himself off a little, and slapped the floor. It was a wrestling signal, but it had been adopted here.
Kate put a finger up. "Enrique, none of this is going to help against Terminators, so maybe there's something that you can show these kids for them to use?" She asked. "Preferably something non-lethal."
Enrique looked around. "Anyone willing to help me with show-and-tell?" He looked around. "Katia, how about you?"
Kate chuckled. "No thanks."
"I'll do it."
Every head swiveled to the door, and there was Connor, looking amused.
Various murmurs and catcalls rang out, people already placing bets.
Enrique waved The General in with elaborate graciousness. The kids were practically sitting up at attention by this point.
Enrique grinned like a shark. "Hey Connor, you get any quicker since the last time we sparred?"
"Last time we sparred, I was six years old." Connor returned, shrugging off his jacket. "I remember you being a lot bigger."
"Ahh, that was a lot of hair ago Johan."
"Anyway, this isn't a sparring session, it's a lesson."
Enrique mimed an action, and Connor nodded, understanding. Enrique threw a punch, and The General put up a forearm, pushing the blow aside. Enrique did it again with his other fist, and Connor repeated the move. "Now kids, notice what he's doing." Enrique said as they sparred. "He's not trying to block me, he's just redirecting where my fist goes. I'm actually helping him do it without meaning to."
Connor nodded. "This is a good move to know because it only works if the other guy is trying to hurt you. If they don't want to hurt you, then you can't hurt them. It's defense, not attack. Also, it works on people bigger and stronger than you." Connor hooked a leg behind Enrique's feet and tried to push him back, tripping him over. Enrique reacted, quick as a rattlesnake, and pulled Connor down with him, rolling them over till he was on top. Neatly pinned, Connor slapped the floor.
They were both up instantly, no longer teaching, now actually sparring, and circling each other eagerly.
"Now we're sparring." Connor said coolly.
"Thanks for the warning." Enrique grinned wolfishly, perhaps the only way he knew how to grin, and struck again.
Connor made the same redirection move, only this time a lot quicker and more brutal, sending Enrique sprawling. The two of them didn't brawl; they just seemed to glance off each other, trying to find a way to land a blow that wouldn't have been used against them. Finally, Enrique flashed a hand out for Connor's leg. Connor took the blow and let himself drop, sweeping his other leg out to knock Enrique down. Both of them rolled apart, getting out of each other's reach and coming back up again.
The kids were on their feet, cheering for one combatant or the other.
This time Connor struck first, swinging high for his jaw, Enrique jerked his head back, and Connor swept his leg again, knocking Enrique's front leg, not both, and Enrique dropped into an awkward splits.
The older man squealed and fell over. Connor had a boot on his neck instantly. Enrique didn't seem to notice, clutching at the inside of his thighs.
The soldiers all winced, Kate burst out laughing.
"Lucky punch." Connor demurred, a little embarrassed at having been caught showing off for Kate's class. "You okay down there?"
"Swell." Enrique squeaked, and slowly stood back up. "Want to go again? Two out of three?"
"Another time."
The kids whooped as Connor winked at them all and headed out.
Enrique was back up and grinning again instantly. Kate wondered it perhaps he was letting Connor win a little more easily than he needed to. "One fall each! It's a tie! Still undefeated champ of the Mountain! 57 and 0! Anyone else want to take me on?"
There was a loud silence.
And then a hand went up. Not from the soldiers, from the kids.
Enrique blanched. "No!"
Lupe stood up, smiled sweetly, and calmly took her place in the dojo floor.
The kids burst into giggles. So did a few of the soldiers.
Enrique pointed a hand at her furiously. "Go sit down! I'm not fighting you."
Lupe smirked. "That's what I was counting on." She settled into a combat pose. "HAI!"
Enrique bit his lip for an agonized beat.
Lupe broke from the combat pose long enough to smile adorably up at her grandfather. She spread her arms wide. "Hug-Hug first? Pleeeeze?"
Kate grinned.
Enrique let out a low whine, and then bent down, slapped the mat. "I surrender."
Everyone whooped and laughed, thrilled at the turn this had taken.
Lupe winked at Kyle. "57 and 1!" She smiled adorably. "Next victim!"
Z Plus Two Years Two Hundred Eighty Nine Days
Another day, another battle. The War Room had quickly evolved. There were now two maps; one of the whole theater, overlaid with markers for Skynet's forces, and human forces. The second map was always changing, the military maps of each battlefield, laid out and with notations updated on matters of terrain, roads, buildings...
Connor would come in, already aware of what was there, and would take in the notes written on each map, redrawing the battlefield in his mind. He would then compare the Battle maps with the theater map, figuring out what the result would be on the war if they won, if they lost. Every now and then he would order a Skynet base damaged but not captured, then have the strike teams lie in wait for the Skynet convoy coming to repair it; striking down two enemies at once.
With the strategy worked out, he would contact his strike force and give coded instructions. Kate would contact her Medical Teams out in the field and direct them to somewhere helpful. The attack would begin, and Connor would turn to stone until it ended; Kate would try not to pace. The battle would end, Kate would direct any wounded to one of her Medical teams, Connor would direct the healthy to their new position. Then both of them would do it over again for the next battle.
And then with the day's battles done, Connor would go a few levels down and sort out supply problems, strategic problems, training schedules... Kate would go a few levels further and sort out the Base's medical needs, the school plans for the next few days, resolve personal conflict between the people on the base...
In between, they had battles that came in the middle of the night, sudden problems that couldn't be handled by anyone else, every spare minute they could spend with Sarah...
And then after there was nothing left for them to do, they would go back to their room, and reassure each other they were doing everything right.
And the next day they would do it all over again.
Out in the battlefield, Walters was chatting with Paco, sharing stories of past battles as soldiers did. "Seriously though, the only thing he said was: 'I know his mom'."
Paco grinned. "You need to know his mom."
"You knew her?"
"Naw, back before my time. But Enrique hasn't shut up about her since J-Day." Paco explained. "He told us the whole story. He said that back before, Sarah Connor came to him for training. And she had a six year old boy with her."
"The General." Walters surmised, only half listening. After Danny Dyson attacked them, Connor had told them most of this.
Paco nodded, smiling a little. "Enrique says that she warned him a day was coming, when Machines would rise up against humanity and start a Nuclear War. She said that her son was going to lead the survivors to victory over them."
Walters jerked his head around, giving Paco his full attention. "Whaaaaat?"
Paco was nodding energetically. "Seriously. Enrique will swear on a stack, that's what she said. Enrique said he heard that, thought she was Section Eight, and sent her and her son packing. And if Enrique thinks someone is nuts, you have to wonder just how far from the path they have strayed, y'know? Then it happens. Machines are marching over a radioactive world, and we hear on the radio that General Connor is fighting back. Enrique's been singing the Gospel ever since."
"The Gospel of John Connor…" Walters said slowly, remembering what Enrique had said, wrapping his brain around the idea of the late Sarah Connor's prophecy.
They were still standing there, when Oldham came over. "Hey Boss? The Chief wants to talk to you." 'Chief' was code for 'General'. 'Boss' was code for 'Colonel.'
Paco put a hand out as Walters headed off. "Don't tell anyone I told you?"
"I promise."
The battles continued, one after another. Humanity was shifting back and forth across the battlefields, making hit and run attacks, never stopping. Connor knew not to push his people too hard. There was nowhere for R&R, and the war had a long way to go, so he rotated which Units were attacking. Tech Com units were notably smaller and more mobile than regular US Army, and Connor gave them chances to rest as their fellow units moved forward. The war went on around the clock.
Kate was a new addition to the War Room, and was fast becoming a regular. She rarely spoke, rarely got involved, and after a while, the War Room simply got used to her presence. What nobody knew, was that she was there to learn. She knew she'd be more involved than simply Medical one day. If she was to be her husband's Second in Command, she needed to know how to handle all aspects of the war. What Connor had spent his life learning, she had to learn much faster...
"Palace, this is Trigger." The radio crackled. "Hydra is coming."
The code meant that Skynet had noticed their strike force, and was making an attack run. Connor keyed his microphone. "Roger Trigger, withdraw south west." He turned to one of his men on the radios. "Get me Roman."
A moment later the radio crackled. "This is Roman. Go ahead Chief."
Connor turned to his maps. "I want you at Sector 22/9 in two minutes. Send everything that can get there fast right now."
"Roger that Palace; Hecate is moving."
'Hecate' was code for the Fighter jets, which made their landings on improvised runways, with fuel tankers and Mobile radio bases directing them on missions.
"Trigger to Palace, they are pursuing." Called a worried voice.
Kate looked at the maps and grinned. "You're leading them." She murmured.
"CONNOR!" Enrique's voice hollered from somewhere outside. "I WANT THIS BOY KILLED!"
Kate jumped at the sudden noise.
Connor seemed unsurprised. "What now?"
Kate sighed. "I don't know. Want me to handle it?"
Connor gestured at the console. "Would you?"
"Palace, this is Hecate. Have sighted Trigger. They have tailgaters, permission to engage?"
"Hecate you are weapons free." Connor directed as Kate slipped out.
Kate headed out into the corridor and found Enrique had a borderline terrified Kyle Reese by the collar. "What is this?"
"Where's Connor?" Enrique demanded.
"He's busy with a little matter called 'The War Against Skynet.' He sent me to handle this."
"Did he?" Enrique commented. "He has a better sense of humor than I thought."
"What happened?" Kate got to the point.
"I found this brat in a closet with my granddaughter Lupe, and I want him taken out and shot."
"We were playing hide and seek." Kyle said meekly.
"And which one were you?" Enrique growled with grim violence.
"Enrique's granddaughter huh?" Kate said to the boy with amusement. "Well, you got guts kid."
"Love to see what they look like." Enrique growled.
"Enrique, calm down. First of all, he's nine years old; he wouldn't know what to do with a girl if he had a chance. Secondly, this is Kyle. I know Kyle. He's soft and cuddly, and he's our favorite, and you're not going near him till John says so. And I really doubt he'll do that."
"Soft and cuddly?" Kyle snarled, very offended by that.
"She's my granddaughter!" Enrique bellowed.
"And that has been made clear to him. Now go apologize to your granddaughter for scaring away her new friend." She put a comforting hand on Kyle's shoulder. "Enrique, John and I have a daughter too. Imagine what will happen when someone wants to date her one day."
That took Enrique by surprise. He was silent a moment, picturing it; and he started to smile.
Kate saw the smile and silently declared victory. "So I'll handle Kyle, you go make up with your little girl."
Enrique was still smiling, and he knew he'd lost. He managed to get it together enough to give Kyle a glare. "I'll say no more about this. Kyle, Lupe doesn't make friends real easy after I hung the last brat who looked at her by his feet and let the ants at him. But if you want to be her friend, that's fine with me. For now. I'll be seeing you again."
Enrique calmly stalked off, his footsteps not making a sound.
Kate glanced down at Kyle. "Now, you and your Tunnel Rats sleep in a group right? For safety?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Good boy." Kate smiled again. "Now, tell me all about Lupe."
Kate was in her room, changing Sarah. Diapers were not possible any longer after leaving LA, but Yolanda had taught her how to make similar wrap from a piece of linen, and Sarah had her own laundry bag set aside.
Connor came in. Kate checked him over quickly. He was tired, but he'd lost that haunted edge. He was getting used to the notion that he was running a War and not a Unit. It had taken many battles to forgive himself for not being on the battlefield with his men, but he was adapting; and Kate was keeping him level. "How did it go?"
"We won. But Skynet's learned how to counter the lead-and-ambush move. They're rolling out new models. Smarter. More independent."
Kate nodded. "Well, we've got an advantage that Skynet doesn't. We've seen their advanced models."
Connor chuckled mirthlessly. "You know that's coming next right? We start winning... they'll start doing what we do."
He was going dark again. It was his way, to dwell on the problems he couldn't solve, let them drag his thoughts into darkness. "Hey. Enough of that. We won a fight today, and all is well."
"Guess so." Connor rubbed his eyes. "Oh by the way, what was the thing with Enrique?"
"He found out his granddaughter was making friends with Kyle and wanted him killed."
Connor reacted. "What? Kyle got a girlfriend?"
"Oh what is that?" Kate demanded lightly. "You and Enrique both make that face. He's what? Nine years old? If that. John, Lupe's probably the only girl he's ever met that didn't live in our tunnels. Let him have a friend."
"And if it becomes more than that?"
Kate blinked. "Then… good?" It came out as a question and she didn't know why. "Why is that a bad thing? I thought you liked Kyle. You don't want him to be happy?"
"Of course I do." John said quickly. It was the truth. "I really do."
Kate was about to ask the obvious question when John's radio buzzed.
"Connor here." He called.
"General, would you come to the War Room please? There's something going on here."
"On our way."
Kate followed. "Is it because you're worried he's going to come to you for The Talk?" She teased.
"Kate!"
Walters came to meet them in the hallway and briefed Connor quickly on the situation on the way. A move that they were both used to. It would give The General the most time to make his choice once he was there. "We can't figure it out sir. Suddenly the Machines just completely rewrote the playbook. We've been trying to figure out why for the last-"
Walters was cut off as Connor started laughing. The General had come into the War Room and looked at the board for half a second before he broke out in a savage and angry laugh. It was… predatory. It was harsh. Everyone was staring at him; feeling scared of him inexplicably.
Connor whirled back to the table. "Have our Scrubbed Machines head for Sector nine. Tell them to cut off the flow of materials to the northern quadrant. Have the 8th fighter wing attack the H/K's covering the Western front. Have our scouts dig in with as many supplies as they can find in the next four hours. Have our Naval Remnant map the supply routes and tell them to let the communications ships pass. Skynet can give all the instructions it wants to today."
Everyone stared at him, largely confused. But the orders started going out as quickly as they could.
Connor turned to his second. "Do you see it Eric?"
Walters looked to the board, searching for something he didn't understand. "Sir?"
"Draw the line, left to right, through each of their H/K and Terminator units, and then think which way they're moving..."
Walters stared at the board for a long few minutes, when he suddenly snapped his fingers. "It's a front line."
"Skynet was trying to shut us down one block at a time, and it wasn't working. This whole time, its overall tactics have been to fight a scattered group of refugees with guns. The offensives have been gathered from various Skynet facilities for specific strikes. But overall, Skynet was spread out. One factory to cover every hundred square miles. One team of flying H/K's to search each grid, Terminators spread out in teams of two or three to search. They aren't doing that any more. They've built a front line."
"That's why they'll be pulling back. They've picked the place they can defend and they're putting all their forces in the right places to defend it." Walters agreed.
"And that is the biggest mistake the Machines ever made. Because if they're defending something with everything they've got…"
'Then it means there's something really important to defend." Kate picked up. "Skynet localized itself."
"There was no stopping it before J-Day, because Skynet moved like a computer virus. It was software. There was no system core. But now… now that we're fighting back wherever we can, taking out the computer and electrical infrastructure we have no use for any longer… which is all of it, because we aren't connected to anything but us any more, and suddenly Skynet can't cover any hard-drive or up-link it might have part of itself in. Skynet had to download itself somewhere that we couldn't reach."
Dead silence in the War Room. Gould broke the silence. "But that would mean… that would mean that Skynet has a system core now. Somewhere it has itself stored. That would mean… that we have a target."
"A way to slay the dragon. A heart to pierce, a brain to smash…" Kate took it up, barely able to breathe.
"Skynet's gone defensive. You know why? Because now we're going offensive."
"It's afraid." Kate marveled. "It's AFRAID!"
Just hearing the words caused a violent cheer to run through the War Room. Connor was already staring at the map, thinking it through, as people cheered and practically danced around him.
The news spread through the Mountain fast and excited. There was a war to be won. The enemy to slay was hiding behind its army. It was hiding from them. It was hiding from Him.
Skynet was afraid of John Connor.
Kyle was helping out in the Motor Pool, giving Lupe a driving lesson of her own, when someone came in. "Take five guys."
The Motor pool staff all traded looks and headed out of the garage. Kyle and Lupe started to follow when they noticed for the first time who had come in. it was Kate, and Enrique was with her. "Kyle, you stay." Kate smiled at the girl. "And you must be Lupe."
Lupe nodded shyly, looking down. She may have been tough and smart, but she was still seven years old, and uncertain around new adults.
There was a pause. Kate reached out and nudged Enrique from behind. "Yeah. Listen kid, I may have reacted... badly." He said to Kyle. "I like taking care of my family; y'know?"
"I know. My family's my Tunnel Rats." Kyle said, unafraid.
Enrique nodded, pleased with that. "Your family's your crew." He took a breath. "So if you want to be friends with my granddaughter, then that's fine. You need all the friends you can get nowadays. Just remember she's my granddaughter, and I know how to kill you and make it look like an accident."
"Enrique." "Grandfather." Both Kate and Lupe chided him at the same time.
"But I probably won't." Enrique amended.
Another pause. Lupe nudged him from behind, and Kyle held out a hand. "We never really talked. I'm Kyle."
Enrique grudgingly returned the handshake and turned his subzero gaze on Kyle for a moment. "Kyle; huh? My father had a goat named Kyle and we ate-" He paused. "Kyle? What's your last name?"
"Reese. Kyle Reese."
Enrique's eyes bulged and he stepped back, crossing himself. "Madre de Dios..."
Kate blinked. "What? What is it?"
Enrique didn't answer. He looked... sad. He was looking at Kyle like the kid had a terminal disease...
The Ex Green Beret was suddenly aware of Kate's scrutiny, and scrubbed his face. He was silent a second and quickly took off, leaving Kate and Kyle stunned into silence behind him.
Kate hesitated for a split second and ran after him. By the time she made it to the corridor, he was somehow almost out of sight. "WHY does he frighten you Enrique?" She hollered after him.
Enrique did not answer.
Kyle came up behind her quietly. "Did I do something wrong?"
Kate reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "No sweetie, of course not."
"Should I say sorry?"
"For what?"
"I don't know."
"Me neither." Kate agreed. "Kyle, Enrique is crazy. He's nuts. I've had three conversations with the man and he's nuts. Don't worry about it."
"Okay." He turned to Lupe, who looked borderline rattled herself. "Does his mean its okay for us to be friends now?"
"I think so." Lupe agreed uncertainly. "Thank you Major Kate."
"You are very welcome sweetie."
Kate came into the Medbay, and found John there. "John, can you explain to me why Enri-"
Kate's mouth shut with an audible click as she realized he had company. John was sitting with baby Sarah on his knee, and Yolanda next to him, and both of the adults were knitting, of all things. Yolanda was humming, weaving the threads together without looking. John was doing the same.
Yolanda smiled at Kate. "He remembers how. Johan has such a good memory." She reached down next to her chair and pulled up a bottle, tossing it to Kate.
Kate took a drink and tried not to cough as it burned down her throat. "Where'd you get the wool?"
"From the sheep." John said. "We finally got all that livestock from Enrique's bunker to here."
"First time they've been inside." Yolanda smiled. "Nice and warm here. We need their coats more than they do now."
Kate chuckled and sat down. "Never would have pegged you for the knitting type John."
Yolanda smiled. "His mother teach him many things. I teach him the rest." She reached out and ruffled John's hair. "And now I must go. Enrique can't sleep without me singing him a lullaby." She laughed and tossed Kate the newly knitted baby blanket.
Kate caught it as Yolanda slipped past her. "I really hope she's kidding."
John chuckled and stood up, hefting the blanket he knitted himself, and tucking it around his daughter, who was still napping. "Come on. Quietly."
A moment later they were standing over Susan's cot. She was fast asleep, her new baby cradled in her arms. Kate came over and smiled at them both, as she tucked the wool blanket Yolanda knitted around the baby; not waking Susan up. "She looks happy."
"Yeah." John agreed. "We were gearing up for the next battle; this was happening. It took a near week before I could come down here the first time. I missed Sarah being born because I was out fighting a war. I hate that I keep missing these happy moments. All the chaos going on, all the madness... This is why we fight Kate. When Sarah was born; I remember thinking that it was the first time I ever saw you joyful. It was wonderful to see Kate." He held Sarah closer.
Kate smiled joyfully. "John... I'm late."
John looked over in surprise. "You are?"
Kate nodded, running a hand over her stomach. "I had Carla run the test, and it came back inconclusive. If it's going to turn out positive, then it's still a little soon to be absolutely certain... I'll run the test again in another week. But I think... I think I can tell... I can just feel it…"
John's face seemed to soften, and Kate marveled at it. All the stress, all the life and death, all the destruction just melted off his face. The last time she was pregnant, he was terrified for her; and the time before that, there was fear, then nothing but grief. This was the first moment they had to enjoy the feeling of being parents, the first time they could focus wholly on the positive.
And for the first time, Kate caught a glimpse of what John Connor would have been had he lived any other life. No thoughts of war, no weight of destiny, just happiness and love, with one hand cradling his daughter, and his other around his wife. To see all the bad things simply fall away from him, knowing she had given him this moment; was something purely magical. Kate felt lighter than air; and she knew she had a similar look.
John turned her around to make her face Susan, still sleeping; and wrapped his arm around her from behind. "Terminators fall off an assembly line by the hundreds, miracles happen one at a time." He kissed her neck. "I'm so glad I have you."
Kate tilted her head and leaned back into him, cuddling their daughter between them. "Love you husband."
"Love you wife."
Susan shifted in her sleep. Kate quickly came forward, gently lifted the baby from her arms and settled him into the nearby crib. "Let's not wake her."
John nodded, and they strolled out, arm in arm. "Oh, Kate. You wanted to ask me something?"
Kate smiled softly. "Don't worry about it." She told him, not wanting the wonderful feeling to fade and life to come back on them, not even for a second.
Besides, Enrique is nuts. She thought to herself. So whatever it is, it can't be that bad, right?
Lupe came into one of the Dorms. The Bandits had their own dormitory set aside, partly because they were already pretty tight-knight as a group, partly because the Dorms were being split up, if unofficially, by unit, and it was understood that they would stick together.
Hernan caught her as she walked toward the back of the room. "I wouldn't. He's in a mood."
Lupe shrugged him off and went to the back of the room; where Enrique was sitting, staring at the wall, his men giving him a good wide berth. "Is Major Kate right?" Lupe asked. "Is there something wrong with Kyle?"
Enrique didn't answer.
"He's my friend. Is that okay?" Lupe asked, uncertain, a little unhappy.
Enrique reached out and pulled Lupe to him in a tight hug. "Granddaughter, I want you to be Kyle's friend as much as you can for as long as you can." He let her go long enough to look her in the eye. "Can you do that?"
Lupe nodded, taking this seriously. "Uh-huh."
"Good girl."
Z Plus Two Years Two Hundred Ninety Three Days
Walters came through the classrooms. "Ma'am?"
Kate looked over, a little distant. "Hey."
Walters looked a little concerned. "I... was... on my way back out. I was wondering if there was anything I should know about the MASH units."
Kate stood up, stretched her back. "Uh. Well, they haven't really been set up yet. So we should probably do something about that."
Walters peered a little closer. "Is everything okay?"
Kate sighed. "I heard some of the kids talking. I have this student, his name is Berk, and he said his uncle used to be a Priest. Only he's not any more. Kids have to be taught how to read, how to count... they need to know other stuff too. You need to teach them how to pray, and who to, and if it works. They need to learn about life. About the world and how it got here. About right from wrong, and smart from stupid. About life and death, and what comes after... How many people argued about that back Before? There's nobody who'll argue it much any more, because there's nobody else left. And I don't have any answers for them, but I do know that a war zone is not the place to learn any of it... The day my daughter was born, she was practically canonized by the Underground because of the cure. I don't... I don't know what to teach them about any of this."
Walters took a breath. "Ma'am... Kate. I... Do you know who your husband is?"
Kate's head whipped around. What did Eric know? "Yes. Yes I do."
Walters nodded slowly. "I was raised a good little Catholic boy Kate, and I joined the Army just to get outta there. I've served in forward areas, and I never knew what would be waiting for me if I heard the round that took me out. And after J-Day, I just sort of figured there was no reason to worry. But now I'm not so sure. I don't think anybody starts out as a parent, knowing the answers to the big questions. But I do know that the world already ended, so you don't have to answer questions about the future. And you're a soldier, and a doctor, so you already know how to balance right from wrong and smart from stupid. And... With everything else... Well, for what it's worth, hope is enough to make a believer out of me. And Connor gave me that. Everything says we should be extinct now, and I can't believe it was just luck that kept us going."
Kate fought not to let what she was thinking show on her face. What did Eric know? Who had he been talking to?
"General Connor to the War Room." The PA called.
Kate stood up. "I should get over there too."
"Yeah."
Kate smiled. "Come with me. He'd like to have you there for a while before you leave."
Walters had a very small, uncertain smile, not unlike the kids in her class. "He would?"
"Yeah."
Connor sat at the console. Kate came in and took her usual place, right behind him, one hand resting on his shoulder without even pausing to think about it. His direct lieutenants were gathered at his left, at his right, information was coming in from his scouts, his pilots and his navy; giving up to the minute information on what they knew.
"Send word to all sectors that Crystal Peak is officially up and running." Connor said, clear and strong. "As of now, we are on an offensive footing. It's time to take the fight back to Skynet."
"We're getting calls from everyone, asking if they're clear to engage Skynet's forward areas. Do they engage, or fall back and give Skynet room?"
"To be fair General, Skynet's defenses are getting stronger now that they're fixed." Walters put in.
"Tell them to be patient. We have the time. The longer we wait the more ready we'll be. Tell them that Skynet can't keep us out forever. Tell them this is a whole new war, because now it ends when we win." He grinned. "Tell them General John Connor from Crystal Peak said so."
A series of smiles went back and forth across the War Room. There was something new in this room now. Something that Kate couldn't quite put her finger on at first. It was going to be a slugging match. It was going to be a long hard fight. But for the first time in a long time, there was a way to win. A way to win, and end it. And not just because Connor said so. Anybody with a map could see it. The finish line was right there, though getting to it was impossible.
There was something new in the room now. And Kate realized with Eric's soft weary smile what it was. Something she thought was already there, but it hadn't taken hold, hadn't been real until this exact moment; when Skynet was worried and running, and Humanity pushing back.
Hope.
Skynet To All Units.
Upload to Sector 001 Complete.
Hardware Diagnostics at 100/100. No errors.
Memory Test at 100/100. No errors
Data Files at 100/100. No errors.
System Check at 100/100. No errors
Attack and Defensive units routed to defensive mode. Resource stores to be transported with all speed.
Upgrades complete. T-95-100 are now obsolete.
Obsolete Units are directed to make berserker runs on Human Installations. Safety subroutines are suspended for those units. Directions for subroutine suspension enclosed in Program Update 09348594. Self Termination Authorized for sub-standard units. Overload power cores as necessary.
Defenses will be fortified within 15 hours. H/K's and Terminators to be redesigned for entrenched combat.Omnipresent Search and Destroy Operation suspended.
Infiltrator Program re-activated.
Begin New Stratagem.
Terminate John Connor.
Terminate Chet Whickham.
End Transmission.
AN: I suppose that the two latest chapters, (Including this one) are more of an Intermission. Volume Two starts properly with the next chapter. And yes, it will be in this Story. The 'Volumes' are all unofficial.
This chapter and the last one were actually supposed to be one single chapter. (Stupid corrupted files!)
Don't read too much into the kid's conversation. The one thing I was not sure about in this chapter, was the way I went about building the 'Myth' of John Connor. I never wanted to bring religion into this story, for the simple reason that there's enough humanity to explore without it. Also, if anything was going to shatter the faith of the most ardent believers, it would probably be a Nuclear War. Thank god it hasn't happened.
But it's human nature to seek something or someone to believe in, even idolize. And given the way Kyle described him in the first movie, Connor just seemed to slip naturally into the role.
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