Chapter 23

Magic

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Alternate Future Timeline:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

John needed to keep many things to himself when he went into the future. It turned out to be a different future than the one Future John sent Cameron back from. He speculated it was possibly a different feature from the one Kyle was sent back from as well. There was no way to know. Mrs. Weaver was unable to tell him very much about it during their clandestine meetings. She usually appeared as a different Resistance fighter when they discussed things.

Allison approached him after she'd been separated from the group and told him a tale he actually understood. He knew no one else would. No one would believe her when she told them what she'd told him. He wanted her to know a little more because of her experience.

John decided to take Allison into his full confidence after her encounter with Mrs. Weaver. He could tell Allison experienced a lot of difficulty with what she'd witnessed, and with what almost happened to her. It was when Allison said she didn't want to go through it again, he knew she'd been abused before. It seemed to be a common theme among the females in the future. It saddened him some to think how she'd been abused.

He'd seen firsthand what it looked like when they were out on patrols before. They'd found some female bodies after the Scavengers were done with them. Just to think of how some of them looked, caused a gag reflex in him. It was clear most of what was done to them was done while they were still alive. Most of the body parts removed were healed. Death must have been a sweet release for them. They'd also found a few males in the same condition.

John decided he wanted to bring the Reese brothers up to speed on everything. He wasn't going to divulge his personal relationship to them. He didn't think it was prudent for several reasons.

Mrs. Weaver spoke to John about it too. She said she wanted to deal with Skynet and the Scavenger problem. She wanted to make her presence known, but not as a Terminator. It would only be to a few key individuals, who would know not to challenge her. She wanted to be known so she could exert greater influence over the Resistance. Where they were at wasn't her future, but it was 'a future'. The Resistance needed a leader and a savior. She would ease her way into power as both with John's assistance.

John arranged a few things. He wanted to get it right without panicking the others. It was time to get Derek and Kyle on board about what was really happening. He asked Allison to tell her story as well. He told her it was important she be factual as to what she'd actually witnessed. He didn't want her to leave anything out.

He felt the Reese brothers weren't going to be an easy sell. He knew it was a pretty unbelievable story, if it was all someone heard. He didn't think anyone would really believe him if he told the tale himself. Since Allison was now directly involved, he felt it would make a difference and give him credibility. Sometimes the truth was stranger than fiction.

John started with what the reality of the situation was. They all listened in disbelief.

Allison gave her account of what happened to her and what she saw. She swore to them she was telling the truth. She knew what she saw and what happened. She was there. It was about what almost happened, as well as what did happen. She knew what saved her, even if she didn't know what it was at the time. She owed her life to the Liquid Metal Terminator. She made it very clear to the Reese brothers.

Derek was skeptical of what John and Allison told him. It seemed to go against everything he believed in, or wanted to believe. It just went against all logic to hear some of the very things they were fighting, which were killing mankind, would help them.

He'd been involved in the fight since the beginning. There'd never been any indication anything Skynet related would ever do anything to help them. He really didn't know what to think.

Derek looked at Kyle, and then back at John and Allison. He knew John and Allison were 'solid'. It was the 'facts' which were hard to swallow. He tried to do a quick recap as he went over everything he'd just been told.

"Metal helping humans? Working side by side together? Female Terminators? Liquid Metal?" Derek asked. "You have to look at this from my point of view, our point of view. Do you know how it sounds?"

John did know how it sounded. His mother was sent to a mental institution for speaking the truth. He hoped they wouldn't put him in one there. He didn't even know if they had them. He sure didn't want to find out.

Allison came to his rescue. It took her a while to come to terms with everything which occurred. She was sure of everything she'd witnessed and experienced.

"Derek, I was there. It saved me. It knew about Savannah and our 'relationship'." Allison said. "It was protecting me because of Savannah. It saved me because it knew Savannah loved me. It was more than just a job or duty, it was personal to it."

John wanted to tell Allison not to refer to Mrs. Weaver as 'it'. He knew how she liked to be referred to. It didn't seem like the proper time to point it out yet.

"I've been protected as well." John said.

Allison nodded slightly. It was still hard for her to comprehend everything.

Derek shook his head in disbelief.

"Where did it go? It sounds like some kind of - magic." Derek said. "Can you hear yourself? Can both of you hear what you're saying to us? Everything you've described or mentioned is impossible as we know it."

Allison grew a little irritated. She was very appreciative of what was done for her.

"It helped me. It SAVED me, and then it was gone." Allison said.

Kyle wondered how something could come from nowhere and then disappear back into nowhere. The more he tried to process it by any known technology, only seemed to make it more difficult to believe.

"Where did it go?" Kyle asked. "It needed to come from someplace and go back to somewhere."

Allison felt defensive.

"It was gone." Allison said.

"Where did it go?" Kyle asked.

"It was just gone." Allison said.

Kyle went over what Derek said. It was what he felt too.

"It came from nowhere and later it just 'disappeared'?" Kyle asked. "It really does sound like - magic."

John was afraid things were about to go from bad to worse. He still had a few cards to play.

"She's from a different future. It's what I've been trying to explain. I'm here from the past. I've told you the story three times." John said. "Allison and I are both telling the truth. It's all real."

Kyle trusted Allison and knew John to be a stand up guy, and natural leader.

"Listen to this, to yourself. You've told us of a different future, time travel and someone here from the past. It's so hard to accept everything at face value." Kyle said. "If Allison wasn't telling us these things herself, I wouldn't believe it. I wouldn't believe any of it. It's unbelievable to anything we know."

John told Mrs. Weaver where the meeting was going to take place. She said she would be there waiting and listening. If it looked like it was going to be too big of a problem, she would remain out of sight.

John figured it was 'Showtime'.

"Will you join us?" John asked.

Derek looked at Allison and then at John.

"My instinct is to say, NO." Derek said. "Terminators are the enemy."

Kyle almost felt hopeless. The new insanity didn't help.

"We're losing the war. Between Skynet Metal and Scavengers, our hope and chances of survival are running out of time." Kyle said. "We're fighting a losing battle."

John wanted more.

"Will you join us?" John asked again.

Derek let out a long breath.

"Kyle?" Derek asked.

Kyle shook his head back and forth in resignation.

"What do we have to lose? It's only a matter of time at this point until we're obliterated." Kyle said. "We're losing."

Kyle and Derek talked among themselves. They asked Allison her opinion and for her input.

Allison believed they could use the assistance of the Liquid Metal Terminator.

John thought there would be a bigger argument than there was.

Allison was in John's corner on the issue and made it clear. The fact she wasn't abused and was still alive was all the proof she needed.

John noticed the side of the 'wall' morph into an 'Irish Setter' in the background. He said nothing.

"Will you join us?" John asked again.

Derek didn't look happy.

"We will, but at the first sign of treachery, deception or a double cross…." Derek said. "You're asking us to join part of what we've been fighting for years."

Allison agreed with Derek and Kyle. She also saw a new possibility.

"Maybe it's time to think in terms of a new ally." Allison said.

John indicated with his head for Derek and Kyle to turn around.

"Look." John said.

They turned and looked. There was a dog there now. They didn't see it enter the room. The room was empty when they'd arrived.

The 'Irish Setter' barked once at them.

Allison drew in a slight breath as her mouth opened slightly.

"Whose dog is that?" Allison asked. "It's beautiful."

It reminded Allison of Savannah for some reason.

Kyle looked from side to side.

"Where did it come from?" Kyle asked. "It wasn't there earlier."

Derek was amazed at the breed of dog, it was on top of everything else.

"I haven't seen one of those in years, not since I was a kid." Derek said.

John played another card.

"A few seconds ago it was part of the wall." John said.

It didn't make sense to anyone there but John.

Derek looked very confused.

"Part of the wall?" Derek asked..

John played another card.

"Derek, Kyle, and Allison, I'd like you to meet Mrs. Weaver. She's a Liquid Metal Terminator. She will help us in our fight against Skynet. Don't panic or do anything irrational or stupid. She is about to change form into a - female."

Before their eyes, the change occurred. Kyle and Derek instinctively backed away, as did Allison. The look of fear was on their faces. It was terrifying to them, but it was what John told them three times earlier.

John stood to the side between them to reassure them. He moved closer to Mrs. Weaver. He wanted to show them she didn't pose a threat to him.

Mrs. Weaver looked at Allison and showed a faint smile.

"Miss Young, it is nice to see you again. Mr. Reese, and Mr. Reese, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Mrs. Weaver said.

Derek was unable to return the greeting. He was still trying to process everything.

"Is that thing dangerous?" Derek asked nervously.

Mrs. Weaver looked at him. She still remained where she was, since she could see the fear in them.

"I'm very dangerous. I'm also deadly, swift and ruthless. I believe Miss Young can confirm that." Mrs. Weaver said. "She's watched me in action."

Mrs. Weaver stood there in a white dress and high heels. She looked like she'd stepped out of a high end fashion magazine. It was just like Allison said.

The two brothers couldn't fathom what they'd just witnessed.

Allison was the first to respond. She was very appreciative she'd been rescued from the Scavengers before the abuse was taken too far.

"I'd like to thank you for saving my life and rescuing me." Allison said. "I really mean it. Thank you."

Mrs. Weaver liked the praise.

"You're welcome." Mrs. Weaver said. "I'd do anything for Savannah's true love."

Derek and Kyle quickly glanced at each other when Savannah's name was mentioned.

John felt triumphant.

"Do you still think I'm insane, or a Gray now?" John asked.

Derek started to accept what he'd witnessed. It was right in front of him.

"Are there any more surprises?" Derek asked.

Mrs. Weaver felt confident in her new audience. There were a lot of things she wanted to accomplish. She could use the help of the Resistance to do it. To play some of her cards seemed the best way to be able to do it.

"Actually, there are going to be quite a few more. In this timeline, Skynet doesn't yet know of our arrival or my ability. There don't appear to be any other Terminators like me here." Mrs. Weaver said. "I should have quite the advantage."

Mrs. Weaver looked at each of them. She wanted to reveal a little more information. It would further indicate her ability to operate clandestinely.

"I would also like to clean up the Scavenger 'problem'. I became aware of the problem from Savannah. It was very disturbing to me. I've saved Miss Young from three attempts to violate her."

It was news to Allison. It wasn't good news either.

"Three attempts?" Allison asked.

The faint smile returned to Mrs. Weaver's face.

"I ended the other two attempts without you being aware of them. They were real. and they would have happened." Mrs. Weaver said. "I've also assisted others in the Resistance when I was able to do so and remain undetected. John has stressed the need for us to work hand in hand to accomplish the most."

The thought of almost being abused several more times made Allison cringe. She knew what it was like to have force used against her. She had personal experience. She also had the experiences Savannah told her about. She understood what it was like to be held down by a group of men, or to have a gun held to the side of her head, or a knife to her throat. She absentmindedly reached up and touched three small scars on the front side of her neck. Those three times drew blood. The others didn't.

Mrs. Weaver wanted to express some concern over the latest near abuse of Allison.

"I apologize for being late on the third attempt, Miss Young." Mrs. Weaver said. "There were two Terminators stalking you. I needed to terminate them. They were a threat to the patrol you were separated from. They would have terminated the entire patrol. It didn't take me very long to neutralize the threat."

Derek remembered finding two destroyed Terminators. They didn't know what happened to them. It was clearly something traumatic.

"We found them split apart. Their skulls were shredded." Derek said. "Are you the one who did it to them?"

The faint smile returned to Mrs. Weaver's face.

"Yes. My kind is unstoppable. Mr. Connor and his mother have defeated one of my type in the past. It was with the aid of an endoskeleton Terminator. They've also destroyed several Terminators. It was done in the past where he came from, where we both came from. Sarah Connor, John's mother, along with a Resistance fighter sent from another future timeline, destroyed another Terminator decades before Judgment Day."

Derek tried to take it all in. The proof was in front of him. He tried to recap some of what he heard. It still all sounded so impossible.

"Another future? Time travel? Liquid Metal? A kid and his mother destroying Terminators?" Derek asked. "I guess seeing is believing."

Kyle was impressed with hearing about John's mother. She sounded like a good warrior.

"I would like to meet Sarah Connor." Kyle said. "It sounds like she is the 'Mother of the Resistance'."

Mrs. Weaver moved next to John.

"In my future, John Connor is the leader of the Resistance. It results in the destruction of Skynet." Mrs. Weaver said. "He was the one who led the Resistance to victory."

Derek looked at Kyle, and then at John.

"Maybe we should put him in charge then." Derek said.

John smiled at him and saluted.

Mrs. Weaver knew things could be different.

"I came back from the future, to John's past, to try to prevent Skynet. Things don't always work out as planned." Mrs. Weaver said. "Being in this timeline is one of them."

Kyle wondered where it went from there.

"What's the plan?" Kyle asked.

Mrs. Weaver hadn't found John Henry yet.

"I'm looking for my son." Mrs. Weaver said.

Derek thought he'd heard it all already. He was wrong.

"Your - son...?" Derek asked. "What's next?"

The three Resistance fighters looked bewildered.

Kyle thought at this point anything was possible.

Mrs. Weaver wanted to offer a few more details.

"Yes. He arrived here in this timeline a year ago. He should have gone to my future. I set our arrival to be ahead of his. I wanted to be here to protect him. I think the use of the TDE so soon after the first use of it, resulted in this anomaly. To make a long story short, he was the 'Colonel' from the Regular Army who took Savannah away." Mrs. Weaver said. "I wanted Savannah out of the future."

Allison felt her heart come alive inside of her. She'd just heard the name of her beloved mentioned.

"Where is she? Where's Savannah? She said she wouldn't be back for a long time, maybe never." Allison said as tears filled her eyes. "It sounded like we would never see each other again. I wanted to die."

They could all see how much Allison truly missed Savannah.

"Savannah is alive and well at my place of business." Mrs. Weaver said.

Derek thought it never ended. Here was another one.

"Place of business?" Derek asked. "Like a - company?"

Kyle knew what the Wastelands and cities looked like.

"Where's that at?" Kyle asked. "Everything is wrecked around here."

The faint smile showed again on Mrs. Weaver's face.

"She's in the past of course." Mrs. Weaver said. "Savannah is in Paradise."

Derek, Kyle and Allison looked totally bewildered.

Closing monologue by Cameron:

Magic

Life is hard and cruel
Sometimes it's very tragic
To help us move ahead
We'd all like to believe in magic

Happy endings are nice
Just as they are in a fairy tale
In life's daily struggle
We hope that we will prevail

Along with the good
There's always the bad.
What sometimes is happy
May end up being sad

We reach for the stars
We wave life's magic wand
To believe that something good
Will be spawned

So here we are
Back to where we started
Why does it hurt so much
Whenever we're parted

Nobody