Connor rightly judged that it was not a good idea to talk to General Brewster about Skynet and Judgment day on the phone. In the end, he wouldn't believe it and in a few minutes he'd send John to hell. And the potential savior of humanity did not need such a scenario at all. So he confined himself to telling Kate's case and urged the general to get to the hospital as soon as possible.
Once there, he or the two of them with Kate, if she is able, will try to convince her father to stop Skynet. Sure, it's going to be damn hard, but they have no other choice. Without Brewster, trying to infiltrate CRS and do anything on their own is simply unrealistic. Moreover, there is no T-850 nearby, and T-X can appear at any time from anywhere.
It's time! It's time! Damn, it always works against it! Even now, if it weren't for Catherine's injury, they might have been halfway to CRS and then convincing the general, but instead he is forced to waste precious hours here, tormented by the unknown and idleness. Of course, Kate couldn't be blamed for this: she hadn't asked T-X to shoot her. But Connor's nerves were stretched to the limit, so all sorts of thoughts flashed through his head every now and then, and he was beginning to get angry at everyone and everything, even at the fate itself that had forced him and Catherine to relive the same nightmarish day.
John was also apprehensive about a potential encounter with the police who would have to interrogate him, so he looked around nervously as he paced up and down the waiting room. There was no news from the operating room either, and John hoped that Kate hadn't gotten worse — she had lost a decent amount of blood after all. Finally, when his tension had reached its limit and was about to erupt like a volcanic eruption, three things happened at the same time.
First, a helicopter with U.S. Air Force symbols on board landed on the site next to the hospital, raising clouds of dust, to the surprise of people nearby. From there, as soon as the speed of rotation of the propellers slowed down somewhat, General Brewster got out and literally ran to the entrance of the building. He never changed his military uniform, so he looked very solid.
Secondly, two police officers were already coming through the doors of the hospital, and John knew instinctively that they had come to his liking. But before he could think of a way to avoid talking to them, the third thing happened.
The head nurse in the emergency room called out to Connor with genuine joy in her voice and told him, putting the phone back in place, that the operation to remove the bullet had been successful, and that Kate was doing well and that her life was not in danger. Despite all the excitement, John couldn't help but smile happily.
"Hello, ma'am! I'm Inspector Lewis, and this is Inspector Hall," one of the cops said to the head nurse. Both immediately presented their badges.
"We need to talk to a certain John Connor about the incident at Emery Animal Hospital. Where can we find it?"
Without further ado, the woman gestured with the palm of her right hand to John, who was standing there a few steps away. Inspector Lewis was about to address him when Connor, in his peripheral vision, caught sight of General Brewster entering the reception room and hurried to him, seeking to escape interrogation.
"General Brewster! Sir! I'm John Connor! I was the one who called you!"
The general's face, gloomy and anxious, brightened somewhat at these words: apparently he felt relieved that the person who had called him was at least real and had actually been in the hospital of which he spoke. At the same time, Brewster looked at the young man from head to toe with a trained eye for a couple of moments and involuntarily, although he was all focused on a speedy meeting with his daughter, he drew some conclusions: "He is dressed carelessly, he is kind of twitchy, it seems that he has never served in the army... A strange subject… Where could Kate have met him?"
Connor looked older than his age. With a height about six feet, he had the physique of a football player, poor muscle mass, thin features, and dark, serious eyes under a cap of medium-length hair. In jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, and an old brown suede jacket, he was just an unknown traveler.
Aloud, however, the general said something quite different.
"Yes, all right, Mr. Connor. How's Kate? Any new information?"
"I've just been told," John gave the head nurse a glance that Brewster followed, "that the operation has been completed successfully and that Kate is well.
"Excellent!" The general's face brightened. "I want to see her!"
He had already uttered the last sentence to the nurse, who was looking at Brewster with a mixture of fear and deference.
"Me too," said John. "If you don't mind, I'd go with you."
The guy looked at the cops carefully, assessing their reaction to his words.
"Yes, of course," a faint hesitation crossed the general's face before he answered.
The policemen, who had been watching the scene attentively, and looking at Brewster, whose jacket was adorned with many decorations, and whose epaulettes bore three silver stars, with no less timidity and reverence than the nurse, nevertheless tried to object, for they had no particular desire or time to wait for the witness to return.
"Excuse me, general, but we have to ask Mr. Connor to stay and answer a few of our questions — he is a witness in the case of your daughter's injury," Officer Hall said as delicately as possible.
Brewster looked back at John and met his eyes.
"Sir, I'd just like to see Kate for a few minutes and say a few words to her—"
Brewster saw no falsehood in his voice. It was obvious that this guy was really worried about Kate, and therefore it would be impolite to refuse him, since it was in his power to make the police wait.
"Gentlemen, it's only a few minutes... Then he—" he glanced at Connor again, "is all yours."
The officers looked at each other, and Lewis sighed and nodded reluctantly.
"Thank you, gentlemen!" The general replied and turned to the nurse.
"Where do we go?"
"Uh... third floor and then to the right... Elevators are right down the hallway."
"Thank you, ma'am!" Brewster hurried in the direction indicated, and John hurried after him.
They walked all the way in silence, and in the elevator they did not exchange a single phrase. John knew that there was no need to say anything now: the general must be absorbed in thoughts of his daughter's condition, and he could be understood. And when he is convinced with his own eyes that everything is all right with her, he can proceed to the most important thing.
Catherine was lying in a comfortable single room, connected to medical equipment. She had already recovered from the anesthesia, but she did not look well. Her face showed weakness and weariness from what she had experienced. However, when Kate saw her father, she immediately cheered up.
"Dad!" The girl exclaimed with relief.
"Katie!" Brewster rushed to his daughter and embraced her tenderly and kissed her on the forehead. "How do you feel, my girl? Oh, and you made me nervous!"
The nurse who had let her and John into the room tactfully stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind her, while John, after waiting a few seconds for her to move away, cast a questioning glance at Kate and, catching a slight nod from her head in response, stepped closer and addressed the general.
"Sir, Kate and I have something to tell you. This is very important!"
Brewster, who had forgotten his existence for a while, shuddered and turned to face John. "Maybe he got the idea that Kate and I were having an affair and she was leaving her fiancé for me," Connor chuckled to himself, but he was still serious.
"Yes, Father, please listen to us and try to believe," Catherine agreed. Brewster looked at his daughter in bewilderment.
"First of all, the shooting in the clinic was not caused by drug addicts—"
Kate and John alternately told the general about Skynet and Judgment Day, about robots from the future, and about how he, General Brewster, had the power to stop the end of the world. Over the course of the story, the high-ranking military officer's face changed several times, from disbelief to fear, from anger to bewilderment, how could these two know such things, especially about Skynet. The sincerity and passion of their tone convinced him that they were telling the truth. No matter how unbelievably bitter it may be. In the end, however, Brewster's reaction was not what they would have liked.
"God only knows how you knew about Skynet and the research we're doing at our facility, but I'll tell you what, young people!" He alternated his gaze from one to the other and back again. "Forget everything, no matter where you get this information! This is all top-secret data that concerns the national security of the United States!"
Brewster didn't scream, but there was an unwavering harshness in his voice. He could be like that when he needed to.
It was only then that John realized how foolish and naive their plan had been to convince the general of what they had already seen and experienced, and that knowledge now haunted both of them. Neither John nor Kate prudently mentioned the time loop so as not to look crazy, but there was no weight in their words, which were not supported by evidence. No, Brewster won't even believe his daughter until he sees living evidence of a terrible future! And T-850 could be such evidence. But where is he now? Is he alive? Or did T-X destroy him entirely?
"And if you saw such a robot in person, would you believe us?" Connor went all-in.
Brewster looked at him as if he were crazy.
"What are you talking about, John? Well, that's enough! Enough!"
"Sir, I beg you to give me two or three hours, and I will try to find him and bring him to you."
But the general was relentless. He was very upset by the whole conversation. And while Kate did end up in the hospital, and Connor didn't deceive him about it, but that's all. Why did they come up with this?! And Kate! How could his own daughter be involved in such a thing? He didn't even know what to call it.
"I need to go back to CRS! They're waiting for me!" Brewster said in a peremptory tone.
"Dad, please." Kate called to him pleadingly. The resentment made her cry again.
"Don't, Katie! I... I'm glad you're on the mend, and I'll try to see you again soon," his tone softened, but not much. "But I say it again: get all this nonsense out of your head!"
Brewster turned to the young man.
"That applies to you too, John! If I didn't have a lot to worry about, I'd still take care of you and find out how you know so much about our secret projects, but I just don't have time right now! Consider yourself very lucky. Oh, and by the way, I never thanked you for saving Kate's life... Please forgive me and accept my gratitude!"
Brewster kissed his daughter once more, and as he passed John he shook hands with him, but before he left the room he said, "And the policemen are waiting for you down there. It's not good to keep them waiting that long! And finally, John: tell them that it was drug addicts who attacked the clinic, not something else! That's another piece of advice I give you!"
The door slammed shut behind him, and there was a heavy, oppressive silence. John and Kate looked at each other doomedly and couldn't find the words to express their emotions. Tears rolled down the girl's cheeks. Finally, John made up his mind, "Well, I'm not going to sit idly by anyway! I need to find Terminator and use it to infiltrate CRS! I'll do it! There's still enough time!"
"Please do it, John." Catherine's tears prevented her from saying more.
John suddenly felt such a rush of tenderness for his friend that he quickly embraced her and kissed her on the lips. And Kate returned the kiss. At that moment, a nurse tried to enter the room, but when she saw such a scene, she only smiled and closed the door knowingly.
"Take care of yourself!" Kate said breathlessly as their embrace unclenched.
"And you're too!" I hope that in any case we'll see each other again... Maybe we're in for another replay."
John exhaled and hurried out of the room. Under great stress, he almost got into the elevator, but he remembered in time that it was better not to do this, so as not to run into the policemen waiting below. So John turned the corner and took advantage of the service staircase.
Going downstairs and finding himself on the street, in the parking lot in the backyard of the hospital, the guy cautiously looked around, but did not see anything suspicious. Kate's car, which he had driven here while he was waiting for Brewster, was parked in the same place.
Apparently, the cops continued to wait patiently for him in the emergency room. Although, more likely, they might have already gone upstairs, especially if they saw the general leaving the hospital. In any case, he will soon be grabbed, so he needs to get out of here as soon as possible.
John walked resolutely toward the car, ready to be hailed at any moment by Inspector Lewis or his partner, but he was able to safely start the Toyota and drive out of the hospital grounds. He decided to first check the veterinary clinic for the presence of T-850 there, no matter how dangerous it was. Connor didn't take the same route they had taken, but a rather confusing route of streets that weren't very close to the highway. He lost an extra half hour on it, but it was better to be safe.
When John got next to Emery, he saw that the parking lot was fenced off with a stretched police tape, which usually marks the boundaries of crime scenes. Other than that, however, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Not the silver Lexus in which T-X arrived, nor the brutal Dodge driven by Terminator, nor his, John, old Triumph. "The cops must have taken them as evidence. But where is Terminator?" thought Connor.
No one guarded the area near the clinic, so the guy risked getting out of the car and quickly wandering around. However, to no avail: he did not see any traces of T-850. Then John wondered where else he could look for his iron acquaintance, and finally came to the only logical conclusion: since T-850 did not know where he and Kate were, he would probably act as he did that time, that is, go either to CRS or to the Valley of Peace Cemetery. But which of the two places?
After thinking about it a little more, John decided that the cemetery was more likely, since there was a mini-cache of weapons in the coffin where his mother was supposedly buried: a modified 30-gauge Stoner-63A machine gun, several Russian-made AK-47s, nine-millimeter Glock pistols, a cartridge belt with H&W grenades used by U.S. Special Forces, an anti-tank missile, a forty-millimeter MK-19 grenade launcher with grenades, small bricks of C-4 plastic explosives, and much more. Even Terminator won't go against an entire military base with his bare hands. And it doesn't hurt him to get hold of a couple of barrels plus explosives. So, he's going to the cemetery!
He remembered the road well, although last time he spent most of the way in the back of a Toyota, so in twenty minutes he was on the outskirts of the city. The car was now in excellent condition, with no damage at all, so John was hoping for a faster ride. If only he could not obey the speed limit! But it's okay, as soon as he's away from Los Angeles, he'll push the car as fast as he could!
On the way, John stopped at the same 24 Hour gas station where he, Kate, and T-850 had once refueled, and whose employee had so poorly "copied" their number. But this time everything went well: he paid for a full tank (the money had to be borrowed from Kate's purse) and drove on. And the blond man in the gray T-shirt behind the counter, if he looked at Connor suspiciously, it was more to do with his unpretentious appearance as a professional tramp.
In the cemetery, as soon as he was near the crypt where the coffin with the weapon was kept, John noticed his motorcycle parked on the side, and immediately understood everything. Terminator was found inside. He had already pulled out the coffin, opened the lid, and was now sorting out the trophies, analyzing what to take.
"I'm glad you're safe!" John said sincerely in lieu of a greeting.
"John Connor! What's up with Catherine Brewster?" T-850 asked calmly.
John noticed a sharply defined oblique scar, or rather a stitch, on his face. He quickly guessed that it must be the mark of a T-X's circular saw, but he didn't ask.
"Yes, she's fine. I took her to the hospital. She underwent surgery. She and I... talked to General Brewster and tried to persuade him to stop Skynet, but—" John sighed heavily, "it didn't work!"
"Of course!" Terminator chimed in, much to Connor's surprise. "People can't believe the worst until the very end."
"Your knowledge of psychology again?" The guy guessed.
"Only the general foundations were laid in me."
"Okay, what I wanted to say is that we have to go to CRS and try to prevent Judgment Day! You and I, there's no one else!"
"The answer is negative. T-X will surely be waiting for you there, and you'll die."
When he finished speaking, Terminator selected several weapons and began to collect them into bags, which he had apparently taken off the motorcycle, throwing away John's own junk.
"But, wait... Do you even understand what happened? This day, July 25, 2004, is repeating itself! And this is our chance to make things right! We couldn't do it that time, but now we know what to do!"
"No, we can't go to CRS!" Terminator's stubbornness was to be envied. "My mission is to save John Connor and Catherine Brewster. We have to get to Mexico so we don't have to be in the epicenter..."
"Yes? Why aren't you trying hard to save us?!" John lost his temper. "You're chilling out here while she and I don't know where! What if we were killed?"
"You weren't killed." The terminators have amazing logic. "I've been looking for you, and my processor has chosen the Valley of Peace cemetery as the most likely location for you. According to my calculations, you should have acted as you did last time.
"Then you've got a dumb, slow processor!" John exclaimed in despair that they were wasting time again. "You're no smarter than a calculator!"
"Your insults don't bother me," T-850 announced indifferently and continued to gather his weapons.
Then John realized that there was no way to negotiate with him and, quickly grabbing an AK-47 from the coffin, rushed to the exit.
"Where are you going?" He heard behind him.
John threw the gun into the front seat and was about to get into the car when Terminator stopped him by grabbing him tightly by the arm.
"Come on, let me go! I have to do what you can't: stop Judgment Day!"
"I must not let you die. And Catherine Brewster."
At the mention of the girl's name, John came up with the idea of how to get T-850 to go with him.
"And how are you going to accomplish your mission if Kate is in the hospital in town right now? If we don't stop Skynet, she will die in a nuclear fire!"
Terminator seemed to hover for a few moments, staring at John with lifeless eyes, and then gave his usual uncompromising reply, "We've got to go to Catherine Brewster and get her to safety."
"Yes, that's right!" John eagerly agreed, hoping that she would be the one who would be able to get T-850 to go with him to CRS, since Terminator obeys only her commands.
The coffin with the weapon was quickly loaded into the back of the Toyota, from where all the contents were previously extracted: a cage for dogs, various devices for providing medical care to animals, and the like. Terminator got behind the wheel and the car sped back toward Los Angeles.
"There's still time!" said John to himself, though the hope of a happy outcome grew more and more illusory with each passing minute. But maybe they'll get another chance...
The missiles, having left their silos, began to fly in different directions, like some kind of hellish fireworks. Noticing this, Connor was horrified. He looked at T-850 in an unconscious attempt to find some kind of salvation in its equanimity.
"T-X managed to launch Skynet earlier," came the brief comment. There was no need to say anything more. And there is simply no time left.
The explosion occurred when the city was only a few kilometers away. A man and a cyborg saw a terrifying picture of Los Angeles being blown to smithereens. John cried out and closed his eyes mechanically, unable to see the blindingly bright light. But nothing could help them, and the shock wave swept the car off the highway like a toy and spun in the air, incinerating both flesh and metal at the same time.
"Good-bye, John!" was the last Connor could hear, and then the darkness engulfed him.