A/N: For all of you Terminator 1 & 2 fans out there- this story and it's sequel in the works, is for you! :) This was a special request from my girlfriend, given that she's a huge Terminator film fan and wanted me to bring it into the SQ universe. Here is the first chapter, which I hope I do justice, too. I will attempt to stick close to films as much as I can, but there will be some changes along the way. I hope you all enjoy it. Don't forget to review. The more you review, the more I'll update it sooner lol. Happy reading! :)
Great to be back writing for this fandom! Don't forget to check out my update for Forbidden Temptations as well as The Life and Love of Regina Mills.
It was the year 1984 in the city of Los Angeles. A gust of wind picked up that could only mean more rain. The streets and alleys were still wet from a previous, unexpected shower that poured down onto the city. A bright, lightning strike hit the ground, near a park, that if you looked closely at it, you would swear it could blind you. Except this was no sign of bad weather. This was no ordinary gust of wind. There was no lightning strike.
After the bright flash of light, a man, cuddled up underneath a newspaper along a bench, trying to find a decent place to sleep had been awoken by whipping sounds of the bright source of light and witnessed another man's body, hunched over in a perfect landing form. His legs stretched straight up, until he stood tall and with broad shoulders.
The only thing the man underneath the newspaper could do was remain hidden. But he saw everything. He witnessed that same man walk away without an injury of any kind bestowed upon him. He walked away without a care in the world that he was naked as the day you are born. Its muscular tone was brought out by the few street lights that surrounded the area. As he walked, a glass crunching underneath his bare foot could be heard, and to add amazement, the man didn't even flinch nor gave any indication of an injury. There was a chill set strongly along the air tonight, and there was no trail of goosebumps seen on his skin.
He just continued walking. Like a man on a mission, determined to get it done.
The newspaper lifted a little, giving the man underneath a chance to see a little better. Three others, a group of friends, were walking along, approaching the naked stranger while murmuring to themselves, exchanging comments and cackling laughter.
"Hey, check out this guy." One of the three commented, laughter exploding behind him.
"Hey, buddy," the second one of the bunch grinned. "Where's the party?" He asks, laughing along.
Their eyes avert downward, unable to help themselves to a very quick look before looking back up into the man's eyes. There was no type of emotion behind them. His lips were thinned out into a grim line. No sign of a smile to be seen. His muscle structure along with the fine jawline of his clean shaved face was almost intimidating. It would have been, if the three friends weren't drunk off their hinges.
"Yeah, it must have been some night, huh?" The third one of the bunch asked. The corner of his lip reached his eye.
"Some night." The stranger's voice was deep and robotic. Like something out of a record player telling a story. But as much as it surprised the group of three friends, they decided not to show intimidation. Even as the stranger's eyes scanned over one of them, from head to toe.
"So, what's your story?"
"Story." The stranger repeated robotically again, his expression remaining blank. But his eyes scanned over him again. He was the only one out of the three with a perfect size to his clothes.
"What's with this guy?"
"He's clearly on something."
The third of the bunch smirked, his eyes looking into the stranger's dark and brooding ones that continued to stare at him blankly. "So, what are you doing here, man?"
"Your clothes." The stranger said. "Give them to me. Now."
Laughter echoed along the park.
The first of the bunch pulled a knife, the blade shining in front of the stranger's face and yet he seemed unintimidated by the sight of it. Nor by the other two knives that were pulled out on him.
"Fuck you, asshole!" The third of the bunch launched his blade forward, feeling the blade pierce the man's stomach. There's a streak of blood trickling down his ab muscle, and yet he doesn't flinch.
The stranger's head dips down, examining his injury with familiarity as if he were looking at a bug that had just landed on him with no bite or threat what-so-ever. Once his dark eyes looked up, locked dead-on onto the now frightening man's own that stood before him. His hand launched forward, fingers gripping tightly and surprisingly along the man's throat.
His eyes grew wide to the feel of the man's grip only tightening more and more along his neck. It was becoming difficult to breathe. His feet were hanging up off the floor, he could feel them swinging, begging to be released. Bones cracked inside his neck.
"Hey! Let him go!" Another knife was plunged into his arm, simply causing the man to turn his head, his eyes looking down at his bleeding arm. "What the fuck?!"
The stranger pulled the man within his hand, shoving him far back while his friends watched his lifeless body fly across the park, busting right through another park bench. Next, he reached for the second guy's wrist, pulling the blade out of his arm as if it were merely a piece of tape before plunging it into the man's eye, so deep his body dropped to the floor a second later.
"Oh, shit! Oh, God!" The first of the bunch dropped his knife, fearing for his life as he ran as fast as he could. "As he turned back, taking a quick peek over his shoulder, he could see the man power-walking right behind him. Not even his feet could keep up long enough, before he was yanked back by his black leather jacket. "No! No, please, no! Please!"
The homeless man underneath the pile of newspapers could see how easily the man plunged his bare fist into the man's abdomen, tearing a hole right through it, raising him up off the ground until his body hung like an old shirt that he quickly disposed of. He didn't even flinch to the sight of his own bloody fist. The man simply undressed one of the corpses, along with one of their jackets to complete his look and walked off like nothing.
It didn't take the stranger long to bust his fist through the window of a car that was parked nearby and take possession of it, not even minding the shreds of glass that struck his face as he slammed the door in place. Reaching into the breast pocket of the jacket, he pulled out a piece of paper, a page from a phone book he had ripped out earlier and focused on the names. His finger stopped on the first name out of many along the list.
Regina Mills… 4112 Clover Field… 213-455-5555
Regina's back arched again and again until her stomach couldn't throw up anymore. Her hair was being held back by a pair of hands that were careful and determined not to let any vomit land on a single strand of her jet black hair. It wasn't until Regina stood up right, her hand flushing the toilet while she wiped at her mouth with the back of her other hand, that the pair of hands released her hair.
"You really should go home, Regina. I can cover your shift for you." Said Kathryn, standing behind Regina while the brunette rinsed her mouth, ridding it of any traces of throw up left behind.
"And risk getting fired?" Regina scoffed, shutting off the faucet. "Not a chance. Besides," she reaches for a paper towel that Kathryn graciously offers her and wipes her mouth. "It's probably just a stomach bug. I'll be fine."
Kathryn's eyes followed Regina's as she walked over to the trash bin in the restroom and disposed of the paper towel. "Yeah, one that you will get to meet and name in nine months time." Said Kathryn.
Regina's eyes glared directly at her friend. "Don't even joke about that, Kathryn. It was one night. It meant nothing. It was a stupid mistake."
"Yeah, well, one night can change the entire outcome of your life, sweetie."
"Knock if off, Kathryn." Regina closed her eyes, her hand cradling the back of her neck as she massaged the knots already forming along like a string of pearls.
"Regina, you have to think about this." Kathryn stands before her friend, face to face. "I mean, it was a simple mistake. Anyone can make those, but really- a kid? Are you truly ready for that? You're going to face it alone, you know-"
"I know, Kathryn. I know." Regina snaps a little too irritated that Kathryn's eyes stare at her widely. "Just… Let me think. I have to think this through. But, right now we have to get back to work, so let's go."
Kathryn looked at herself quickly in the mirror, delicately combing back loose strands of her blonde hair before following Regina out of the bathroom. Her hands straightened out the apron of her uniform.
"About freaking time, you two!" A man from within the kitchen yells out at them. "You know, I'll never understand why women like to go to the bathroom together."
"Oh, put a sock in it, Joe, huh?" Kathryn shouted back, turning her attention back to Regina. "Listen, Gina," she waited until Regina's eyes locked into her own. "Whatever the outcome of this. I want you to know that I'm here for you."
Regina reached for Kathryn's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. A smile settled along the corners of her lips. "I know. Thank you."
"Hey, are you two done or what?" Joe shouted, causing both friends to jump. "Wasn't the bathroom enough?"
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Joe!" Kathryn's head snapped to attention. "You know, the food isn't going to cook itself back there. It's bad enough you're terrible at it." She bites back.
"Yeah, you want to take a crack at it?" Said Joe.
"Step aside and I'll show you how it's done, sweetheart." Kathryn shook her head, turning back to Regina. "Note to self," her voice is low. "Remind me again to give up men and join your side of the territory. I'm starting to see why you've been eyeing women lately. Everything's so much easier with them."
Regina chuckles as she walks her way from behind the counter, notepad in hand. "You'd be surprised. Had my failed relationships with women not been so bad, I wouldn't have had that one night stand with a guy I hardly knew."
Kathryn waved a hand in the air, carelessly. "Oh, honey, you're human. Live a little. Besides, now you know what you really like. Maybe the right girl is out there for you." She serves coffee into a mug of a man sitting near the bar. Her eyes glare in his direction as he is overhearing their conversation, looking at them in disgust. "Oh, what? Times are changing, alright? Mind your business."
"Times aren't changing that much, Kathryn. If your suspicions are true, no one is going to want me with a baby growing inside of me. Forget my dating life. I'll never have it again." Said Regina, gathering up empty plates and mugs off of a table.
"Please," Kathryn rolls her eyes. "You just need to have faith. Women don't care for that sort of thing. I'm sure you'll find someone worth the effort who will go nuts over a human drool machine."
Regina chuckles, "Right. I'm sure she'll just fall right out of the sky, too. You let me know when that happens."
A flash of light, followed by a lightning strike of white and blue rumbled through an alley. There was hard wind, followed by another flash of light that touched the ground and everything around it. "Aagh!" A naked body landed hard along the concrete floor. Long blonde hair covered part of the woman's naked back.
The woman's breath trembled from the cold, a white cloud was breathed out from her trembling lips as her body stood on bare hands and knees. Her body ached, but she had to push herself to keep going. She needed to find her. Protect her like she promised.
"Hey, check this out." A man in worn out jeans and an oversize, torn jersey approached the alley with another companion trailing behind him. His eyes never left the body that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere as they were walking by.
His friend whistled, which brought the woman on the ground to stand to attention. "Well, look at this. It must be Christmas." He smirked. His eyes wandered over the blonde's body, oblivious to the hardened look along her stone-cold face and dark green eyes.
"What's a pretty girl like you doing out here all alone?" The one in the oversize jersey licked his lips.
"Is this Los Angeles?" She breathed, eyeing both men, whom she knew had no intention of helping her.
"Mhm, City of Angels as I like to call it. And by God," one of the men chuckled, "It certainly is living up to its name." His eyes wander to the perfection of her naked breasts, all the way down to-
"The date. What date is it?" She asks.
Both men share a laugh. "It's Thursday, sweetheart. You look like you could use a drink. Why don't you come with us-?"
"Regina Mills." Her eyes dart from one man to the other. "Where is she?"
"Who?" Their brows furrow as they share a smirk. "Boy, are we getting lucky tonight, huh?"
"That's enough talking," one of the men approaches the woman, eyeing her from head to toe. "You got a name, honey?"
She hesitates at first. "Emma." She murmurs.
"Emma." The man closest to her smirks, while the other one joins in. "Boy, are we going to have some fun with you." His hand lifts up, a dirty finger running along a lock of her blonde hair. "Don't worry. We promise to be gentle."
Emma's hand wraps along the man's wrist, her fingers wrapped skillfully that when she quickly presses down, she hears a loud snap, followed by the man's screams. With quick motion, Emma pulls the man in, holding him in a choke against the brick wall, his chest slammed against it with a loud thump.
"Hey! Let him go!" The guy wearing the oversize jersey wrapped his arms behind Emma, right along her throat, so hard, she grunted in anger.
Emma's hands released the man she had pinned against the wall to grip onto the man's arms that stood locked behind her. Her bare feet raced backward, feeling the man's body press harder against her back as she slammed his back along the brick wall. "Ugh!" Her foot raised to deliver a kick directly to the other man's groin. Once the arms along her neck were loose, Emma jerked her head back with such force, it broke his nose.
As his body fell along the floor, Emma balled her fist, delivering a punch to the man in front of her. Her eyes turned away from the knocked out body along the floor to focus on the man with the busted nose. "I'm sorry! It was his idea, alright? Don't hurt me!" The man's trembling hands lift up in front of his face.
A trail of blood was visible along his nostrils as Emma balled her fist along his oversize jacket. "What's the date?" She asked him through clenched teeth.
"I told you! Thursday!" The man shouted inches away from Emma's face.
"What year?!" Emma shouted back, her eyes darkening.
"Wha- what the fuck are you talking about?"
Emma pulls him up as she stands, slamming his back against the brick wall. "What year is it?" She repeats, ignoring his grunt.
"Jesus! 1984!" The man cried. "Just let me go, man!"
Emma allowed his body to fall to the floor. She quickly removed his oversize jacket, followed by the other guy's pants and quickly placed them on. "Hey! What are you doing?" Emma's head whirled to a bright flash of light pointed in her direction. Her feet wasted no time in sprinting down the alley, hearing the two cops chase right behind her. "Hey, hold it right there!"
She did not travel through fucking time to be caught by police. She needed to find Regina, and she needed to be fast.
Emma crouched down, keeping herself hidden behind a row of parked cars. She needed a new pair of clothes that fit her. These pants were beginning to slide down with every movement she made. She wasn't here to fit into this world that wasn't her own, but simply to protect the woman she had volunteered to protect with her life. But if she was going to find her and protect her, she needed to find clothes that wouldn't get in the way of that.
Sirens could be heard crying in the distance, causing Emma to hide within another alley before swinging open a door that was halted by a lock and chain. It was a good thing her body was able to squeeze right through the opening, enough to hide from the cops. As she entered, Emma remained low to the ground. Her eyes scanned the clothes around her as she hid behind a glass counter. Eventually, Emma gathered up a pair of jeans that were her size, along with a white, long sleeve shirt to shield her from the cold, a bra and a pair of clean underwear, and a pair of converse to complete her look. Lastly, her eyes looked up a corner of the room, spotting a security camera moving from side to side. As the camera looked away, she gathered a hair tie to pick her hair up into a messy ponytail. She reaches for the man's oversize coat once again, throwing it on herself before she heads out a window.
Walking along the building, Emma pulls back, seeing the same police cruiser parked right in front of the clothing store. Her eyes peek out, waiting for both officers to enter the store before she moves along the cruiser. Her hand pulls on the door handle, feeling it open, and reaches inside to retrieve a shotgun from the front seat. Hiding along the alley, as well as she knew how to hide, Emma pulled back on the chamber of the shotgun, checking for ammo.
She needed more. Much, much more. She wished she had the kind of weapons she was used to handling back where she was from to take down these machines. But, she would work with what she had.
Hiding the weapon within the oversize jacket, Emma walked out of the alley, going unnoticed by the police officers who were still searching inside of the store. Once she neared a payphone stall, Emma opened up the phone book, her finger running along the yellow page until she spotted not one, nor two, but five different Regina Mills listed. "Shit," she muttered. Finding Regina would not be easy. But, Emma had no intention of giving up.
If she was going to find Regina and help her. She needed a car. Tearing the page off of the phone book, Emma then sprinted in the opposite direction of the cruiser.