T-X, disguised as Lieutenant Hastings, walked into a room where dozens of the T-1 robot tanks stood lined up in a row, covered with plastic bags. The first generation of terminators. Primitive aiming system with motion and heat sensors. In a way, to use human terminology, they were her ancestors.

The terminator stopped in front of one of the tanks, the second in a row. She tore off the plastic wrap and stared at the robot, her head tilted slightly to her right side. On previous occasions, her oscillation was only for a second, after which she began to reprogram the machines one by one with the help of her probe needle. But now it's been fifteen seconds, and T-X still hasn't started her dirty work.

Again, this strange hesitation. Previously, she had already run a full scan of her system, but nothing was detected. The processor gave an unequivocal answer that everything was working normally, and there were no deviations. But they were still there. T-X was aware that it was now in her power to launch these machines, which would soon begin to kill and shred human bodies at her command, taking people's lives in a matter of moments.

Is it possible not to do this? Is it possible to leave all these robots in place and not cause a carnage here at CRS? After all, she herself has enough strength to ensure the successful start of Skynet's functioning. Can all these people really stop him after General Robert Brewster pushes the button? After all, everything she does is done just in case, to eliminate even the slightest potential threat! Skynet never takes risks, always playing it safe in everything. He lays down the appropriate installations for all the machines produced.

But if she leaves the T-1 in place and gives the people working here a chance to escape, will it make any practical sense? After all, they are more than 95 percent likely to die soon after the start of nuclear bombings. And even if they can survive, then later radiation and other machines that Skynet will set up to destroy humanity will do their job. In this case, the death of these people today is even more humane, as they call it. They won't see the aftermath of missile strikes, scorched by nuclear warheads, and thousands of robots hunting the scattered remnants of humanity.

But does T-X have to worry about such things? After all, she is not human and is not programmed for pity or compassion! Still, Terminatrix, being the most advanced AI machine Skynet ever created, could not fully separate herself from humans. Before, she just didn't have time to think about it, but when this time glitch happened, when she lived through the same events several times, saw the same people, T-X began to think more broadly and, as a result, hesitate.

At that moment, the doors of the hall swung open behind her, and footsteps were heard. T-X turned 180 degrees in her heels and saw T-850. So, she was figured out. Connor and Brewster told the general everything, and he took steps to track her movements through video cameras. Skynet is in danger! Now there is no time for hesitation — she needs to act!

Terminator managed to run up to his opponent and, grabbing her by the shoulders, threw her with all his strength right at the T-1 standing nearby. The impact caused the tank's hull to buckle, and a tiny, ominous-looking head with built-in visual and infrared sensors fell off and fell to the floor. One of the six-barrelled machine guns also bounced off. T-850 grabbed the massive gun and, preventing T-X from regrouping for the attack, began to strike her with the machine gun. On the head, on the body, on the head again. The gun quickly bent, and the cyborg had to toss it aside.

T-X leaped at her opponent like a cat. She moved like a ravenous creature ready to fight to the death. Terminator flew several meters and landed on the polished tiled floor, causing the tiles to crack and shatter. T-X prepared to deploy her plasma cannon when a squad of heavily armed guards burst through the open doors. It was General Brewster, realizing the seriousness of what was happening, who ordered T-850 to be supported.

The soldiers had something more powerful than the M-16 with them: hand grenade launchers and M-60 machine guns, which they hurried to put into action. T-X was distracted by the soldiers for a moment, but managed to dodge the shell fired at her. At the same time, the return plasma charge destroyed two fighters at once and set fire to the equipment of two more.

Those few seconds were enough for T-850 to get up and rush into battle again. Like a battering ram, he swooped down on T-X and tried to push her as far away from the people as possible, to the other side of the room. At the same time, Terminator tried to restrain his opponent's right hand and prevent her from firing another shot in the direction of the soldiers or himself. The cyborg's face, usually indifferent, showed tension, and T-X's face was grimly determined.

Falling to the floor once more, the two continued to squeeze each other in a steely embrace with a force not given to every industrial press. A diamond-toothed circular saw began to form from T-X's left hand, which immediately bit into Terminator's right shoulder, instantly ripping open the fabric of his jacket and carving out a sheaf of sparks. The shoulder cracked with a loud bang and the hydraulic fluid leaked. Terminator tried to throw off this formidable weapon and was forced to loosen his grip. T-X managed to deftly take advantage of this and immediately emerged from under the enemy and dodged, firing a charge of plasma.

The only thing that saved Terminator was that she didn't have time to aim properly. The shot, passing very close to his head, melted the skin on the left side of his face, but did not cause serious damage. However, when the plasma hit one of the T-1s, it caused an explosion that severely damaged several other vehicles. The room looked like a battlefield. From behind the open doors, the remnants of the combat squad poured fire from the M-60 on T-X, however, as you might guess, to no avail.

The robot put away her weapon and, grabbing her opponent's leg with both hands, threw it at one of the T-1s standing in the row. Then, without letting Terminator come to his senses, she began to smash other machines with him like a hammer. This was accompanied by an incredible roar, the grinding of metal, sheaves of sparks flying in different directions. Finally, after destroying about a dozen robot tanks in this way, T-X threw T-850 into a wall, which he pierced through.

T-X herself was attacked by another the T-1, which was hastily activated by humans while a fight was going on between the robots. A hurricane of bullets pierced T-X's body, rebounding off the armored parts with a clang. This could not cause her significant harm, but the terminator, nevertheless, hurried to eliminate another annoying obstacle in the implementation of her plans.

A shot from a plasma cannon smashed the tank to smithereens, so that the remnants of its skeleton were literally blown out into the corridor. T-X could see the stunned faces of several people who barely had time to flee to avoid being crushed by the massive details. But she did not distract herself any longer with them, but occupied herself with a more dangerous goal. Thus, the battle between T-X and T-850 went beyond the confines of one room.

Meanwhile, in the computer center, in the presence of Kate, John, and the rest of the people who worked there, General Brewster, with the help of Tony Flickinger and his assistants, tried with all his might to stop the spread of Skynet on a worldwide scale. Flickinger, whom the general had managed to tell Connor's story, did not believe it at first, but then, to his credit, he did agree to check the information that Skynet itself was mimicking the virus.

It took him and his people some time to analyze the behavior of the virus, some other parameters. Gradually, to their horror, it became clear to them that John was right. Skynet, of course, made some attempts to disguise its actions, but so far it did not possess such advanced artificial intelligence. So Tony Flickinger, who knew more about Skynet than anyone else, was able to get to the bottom of it.

Smiles appeared on John and Kate's faces: at least now they knew how dangerous Skynet was and would do everything in their power to stop it. But then, of course, there was T-X, who is now fighting Terminator somewhere in the premises of CRS and can cause a lot of trouble. Therefore, the danger has not passed at all and they need to be on the alert.

Brewster received a call from the Pentagon on a secure line. He grabbed the red receiver of the phone and pressed the light of the cipher.

"Brewster."

Admiral James F. Morrison, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was on the line.

"We hope you'll solve the problem somehow," he said calmly, but at the same time there was a hidden tension in his voice.

Washington pressured him to activate Skynet. High-tech weapons and other toys can wait. But Skynet, at least by the estimation of many people in Congress and government, is ready. Admiral Morrison was one of them. Brewster found himself between supporters of the launch of Skynet and opponents who were no less powerful.

But now Brewster, who knew the truth, would never make a fatal mistake. Still, how do you tell the Admiral that Skynet is the virus? Morrison is unlikely to believe it, and will think that he, Brewster, is crazy, suspend him, and then someone else will let the genie out of the bottle. Not even Tony can stop it. No, he needs to get rid of the Admiral somehow, to promise him that they will be launched soon, and on the contrary, on the contrary, throw all our forces so that Skynet does not gain real power.

"I know what you want, sir, but Skynet isn't ready to connect yet," Brewster said, trying to keep his tone calm.

"Your employees don't think so," Morrison said. "They said we could beat the damn virus! It's understandable that you're afraid of hitting your face in the dirt... And your guys say, if you connect Skynet, it will immediately smack the virus like a fly! It is necessary to regain control over the military infrastructure!"

"Mr. Chairman, I want to be clear: if we get involved, Skynet will be in control—"

"And you're going to control Skynet, right?" The Admiral interrupted.

"Yes, sir!" Brewster admitted reluctantly, after a short pause.

"Let's go!" The Admiral ordered.

John and Kate looked at the general with alarm now, but they still knew that he would not do what the Pentagon had forced him to do. No, now that he has seen it for himself, there can be no turning around.

"All right, sir, we'll be ready in—" the general said into the receiver as he looked at Flickinger. The engineer showed "10" with the fingers of both hands.

"Ten minutes!"

"Excellent!" Morrison said. "And, Brewster—If successful, you will be allocated all the necessary funds."

"Yes," Brewster hung up slowly.

He looked at Tony, who hurried to reassure his boss.

"Don't worry, general, we know what to do. I've put so much effort and knowledge into it that disconnection won't be a serious problem!"

Brewster exhaled noisily and nodded. "Skynet was designed to be robust and inventive. He is able to think for himself and adapt to any threats directed against him," the general's mind flashed.

He glanced around at the people around him, and then looked at John and his daughter. For a moment, Brewster's mind was occupied by a very different thought: "That guy would probably be right for Kate!"

Meanwhile, Flickinger and his men were busy shutting down Skynet. Their fingers moved across the keyboards at incredible speed, and their eyes focused on what appeared on the monitors.

Suddenly, the plasma screen and all the monitors in the room went out.

It's like someone flipping a switch.

Brewster looked around, his heart pounding.

"A power failure?" The technician suggested.

"No, I don't know," said the other excitedly.

The monitors and plasma screen came back to life, and Brewster breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, it became obvious that something was wrong. Screens and monitors were filled with lines of alien code, symbols raced across the screen at superhuman speeds.

"Tony, what the hell is this?" Brewster swore.

He looked at Flickinger with hope in his eyes, but Flickinger looked confused.

Crushing everything in their path, fighting like ancient Roman gladiators, the two terminators found themselves back in the bathroom near General Brewster's office. Had they had a sense of humor, they might even have laughed at such a coincidence. Instead, the machines stubbornly pounded each other with sinks and toilets, smashed tiles, partitions and windows, turning everything around them into miserable ruins.

The damage on T-850 looked more noticeable, exposing the combat chassis in many places, and was more real than that of his opponent. In fact, T-X had nothing else but scratches all over her skeleton, but since they were all hidden by a metal polyalloy shell, she looked exactly the same as when she and Terminator first met.

Suddenly, they both felt powerful electrical and electronic interference that dulled some of their sensors. Both T-X and T-850 realized that Skynet would activate at any moment, and it would be impossible to stop it. But if Connor and Brewster told the general everything, and he must have taken steps to prevent it from happening, what was going on? And then, as if in answer to her question, all the loudspeakers in CRS, including the bathroom, sounded: "An attempt to shut down the Skynet system. Threat of annihilation by man. Emergency measures for self-preservation are involved."

Skynet proved to be able to think for himself and adapt to any threats directed against him. It turned out to be even smarter than expected, and outwitted its creators.

As soon as the alert ended, the powerful ventilation units throughout the Facility began to work: Skynet decided to siphon oxygen from all the interior rooms, replacing it with pure nitrogen from the liquid nitrogen storage used to cool the equipment at ultra-fast speed. He had the foresight to lock all the doors.

Terminator, taking advantage of T-X's hitch, which was distracted by Skynet's message, managed to push her away with the last of his strength, as far as his damage allowed, and threw her against the only wall that was left completely intact. In response, she prepared to blow his head off with a circular saw, but he managed to block the blow — Terminatrix's hand jumped off and slashed the chest plate of T-850.

Taking into account all the damage he already had in this area, the saw went through and tangentially touched both hydrogen fuel blocks. An emergency warning of critical damage appeared on Terminator's projection screen. At the same time, short signals sounded, indicating the loss of stability of the fuel cells.

Terminator looked at T-X, who looked at him in fright. He'd seen a similar look on her face before, over there in the Crystal Peak. The last thought that flashed through his electronic brain was that T-X was much better at imitating human emotions than he was.

Both of them instantly understood what this meant, and in the very next second, a local nuclear explosion incinerated the two machines, and then destroyed most of CRS building.