John Connor: No Fate But What We Make #3
Six Months Later I’m halfway to my freedom. Just two more killer cyborgs and I can start living my life. No more running from assassins, no more threats from the future. No more living my life how others want me to live it. I can finally be free to be my person. I just have to keep punching until I see the light. I’m going to be free. I managed to take out the first two Terminators with a little ingenuity, but they’re learning from each other due to a shared network, meaning that no trick is going to work twice. I’ll have to creative while I find a way to get this next one. But at the same time I have to find out my father’s location because the fourth and final one will be gunning for him. So I have to find Kyle Reese before I kill the next T-8150. So for the past year I’ve been leaving clues wherever I go to lure Uncle Bob. By the time he gets there, I’m already gone and halfway across the country, covering my tracks so he can’t deduce where I’m headed next while I search local hospitals to search birth records to find my dad. I’d hack computers to find him, but I can’t clue Uncle Bob in what I’m doing. * Lincoln City, Oregon In a small lakeside cabin a loud arguing was heard as a blonde man in mid-20’s stormed out, slamming the door behind him. As he got into his car to drive, he ended up in the city where he parked in an empty parking lot to calm himself before breaking down and crying on the steering wheel. He didn’t want to walk out and he had every intention of returning home to talk things out. He loved his fiancee and would do whatever it took to work things out, but the argument had brought back traumatic memories of his childhood he was still working to deal with. As Derek wiped away the tears a short while later, he looked at his phone to find 50 new messages. “Don’t worry, baby, I’m coming home to talk,” Derek whispered as he got ready to start the car, just as a rag covered in chloroform wrapped around his mouth. As Derek struggled, he soon passed out as he was shoved into the passenger side seat before his attacker drove off. * One Week Later John Connor, disguised as a UPS deliveryman, walked up to the record office window to survey the area. A man in his mid-20’s looked up at John holding the box. “Package delivery,” John said. “Packages are supposed to be delivered at the nurse’s station,” the man told him. “She was in the bathroom, she was like… pregnant or something,” John lied. “I just need someone to sign for this.” The man just raised an eyebrow and sighed. The head nurse was in her 70’s and had her tubes tied after her first ten kids. But he’d been bored all morning and was just wanting to go home to his German Shepard to relax. “Where do I sign?” Brian Tanner asked. He was 24 with strawberry blonde hair and a tan line on his finger, indicating he was either divorced or lost someone he loved. John noticed a picture of Brian on a fishing trip with a blonde man as they posed with a dog. They both looked happy, but John couldn’t help what had happened. John slid the clipboard under the plastic partition to sign as he looked around. The lock to get in could be easily picked; no cameras were visible and it looked like there was only the one man on duty. Getting in and out should be simple, he just needed to get the guy out of the office so he could get in there. “Thanks,” John told him as he put the box on the counter. The phone started to ring as Brian picked up. “Hello? Oh,” Brian said, his voice shaking. “Oh… okay, I understand. Thank you.” Brian hung up as he ran a hand through his hair as John paused. “Are you okay?” “It’s not your problem,” Brian said in a low tone. “You look like you got hit by a freight train,” John told him. “Helping people is what my day job was supposed to be, will be— it’s complicated. But let’s just say if someone’s in trouble, I like to help.” Brian wiped a tear away. “My boyfriend and I broke up recently and now he’s… gone missing. Vanished without a trace and the police can’t find any evidence. We had a fight before he left about letting my little brother stay with us after he’s let out of a mental ward. Eric’s a good kid, he’s just a little unbalanced. But Derek had… traumas as a child he’s still getting help for and he doesn’t think he can deal with it. But I love him, and if he’s hurt or worse I’ll never forgive myself.” “And the police can’t do anything?” John asked. “They told me to file a missing person’s report and that’s it,” Brian said. “But Derek’s not the kind of guy to just… disappear. He’d at least call his mother or his best friend. I feel so… helpless.” “I’ll help you,” John told him as he looked at his watch. He’d already left clues for Uncle Bob to come here, giving John less than 24 hours to get out of town. But this man really needed help and John wasn’t the type to refuse help to anyone in help. * After changing back into his street clothes, John gave Brian a ride on his motorcycle back to the lake house. “So, how did you two meet?” John asked. “After my parents divorced when I was a kid, it was just me and my brother while my sister was in college,” Brian told him. “I met Derek when we moved to LA and it was… love at first sight. We dated through college and decided to move to Oregon after graduation to build a life together. I got a job keeping records at the hospital and he worked as an accountant. It was peaceful and we didn’t have to worry about anything, and when something did come up, we talked each other through it. The divorce was hard on my brother Eric, and it broke him. Kept seeing… things, like alien things. He was put into a mental hospital when he was 12, but now they think he’s well enough to be released. My parents got back together and moved to France and my sister has her own family now, but me and Eric were always the closest. But Derek didn’t think he could handle it so we had our first big argument and he took off. Haven’t heard from him since.” “And that seems suspicious to you?” John asked. “That he’s disappear without a trace after one argument?” Brian asked. “We were engaged, we’d do anything for each other. I gave his mother one of my kidneys after we’d only known each other for two weeks. He wouldn’t leave like that, no matter how angry he was. I have to find him.” The two arrived at the lake house where they were met by a German Shepard, who immediately started playfully jumping on John. “That’s weird, Gordon’s usually not that friendly toward strangers at first,” Brian told him. “I’m a dog person, used to own a German Shepard myself,” John told him as he played with Gordon. “So, has anything weird happened lately? Strange people hanging around? Odd phone calls in the middle of the night?” “Gordon has been barking at nothing at all hours lately,” Brian said. “But there’s never anything there.” “I think I should take a look around,” John said as he looked at the living room. Pictures of Brian’s family were all over as well as Derek’s parents. “Derek’s parents haven’t heard from him?” “His mother lives in California and his father was killed in a car crash when he was 15,” Brian told him. “Happened not too soon after we met. “Derek’s best friend Lonnie is usually the first person he calls if he needs someone to talk to if I’m not here. He works in LA making… adult movies. But he’s a good guy, he’s going to be Derek’s best man… was going to be.” “We’ll find him,” John promised. “We just need one solid—“ Gordon started barking as John looked out of the window. “I don’t think he’s barking at nothing. Let him out, maybe he can lead us to something.” Brian opened the door as Gordon rushed out. As John and Brian followed, a loud yelp was heard as John found Gordon caught in a bear trap that was disguised as a clown toy. “Shit,” John said as he pulled the trap open to get the dog free. “We need to get him to a vet now.” Brian looked at the ground and picked up a photo of him and Derek. Brian’s half had been stabbed with a knife. “We gotta move,” John told him. “Now.” * After getting to the vet, Brian stared at the picture as he sat in the waiting room. “I think Derek was kidnapped,” John told him. “And now it seems like whoever’s behind this is gunning for you and Gordon.” “But why?” Brian asked. “We don’t have enemies, we’re just two regular guys that keep to ourselves. We don’t make waves, we don’t cause trouble. We go to church and pay our taxes! Who would do this?” Brian held up the picture. “This is from Derek’s wallet. I have the same one in mine.” “Someone set that bear trap disguised as a toy knowing someone would get caught in it,” John told him. “I can’t leave you alone until we get to the bottom of this.” * “They said Gordon’s going to be okay, but he’ll be at the vet for at least a few days,” Brian said they returned to the lake house. “I don’t get it. Do you think they… killed Derek?” “I think he’s still alive,” John told him. “Otherwise his body might have turned up by now, or the kidnapper might have used him to lure you into a trap. I’m going to set up some traps around the place, keep an eye on your phone in case this freak does try to call.” As John looked at the pictures on the wall he came across a picture of young Eric with a creepy clown doll. “Does your brother like creepy clowns?” “Yeah, he’s always had a thing for weird looking creatures,” Brian said. “When does he get out of that asylum?” “Next week,” Brian told him. “Why?” * Brian slammed down the phone. “He was released two weeks ago! Since he’s 18 he didn’t need a family member to take him home, as long he checks in with his counselor every few days, they let him go!” “Did they tell you where he is?” John asked. “He’s living in a halfway house downtown!” * Eric Tanner sat alone in a small, cramped apartment, alone with just his thoughts as a knock came at the door. He slowly got up and cautiously put his door on the door as John burst in and slammed Eric against the wall. “Where is he!?” John asked. “Where’s Derek?” “My future brother-in-law?” Derek asked. “I don’t know!” “You’re supposed to be in the asylum for two more weeks,” Brian told him. “You couldn’t even call me to let me know?” “I was… ashamed,” Eric told him. “You’re always going to bat for me. I wanted to stand on my own for once. When I had the chance to get out, I agreed to their conditions and got a job at the local toy store. I wanted to make my own life before I called you.” Brian pulled him into a tight hug. “You never have to hide from me, we’re brothers. But you need to be straight with me, bro. Do you have anything to do with Derek’s disappearance?” “No,” Eric told him. “Why would I want to do anything to him? He makes you happy.” “We’ve still got a missing fiancee to find,” John said. “One who’s looking to kill your brother. We found that creepy ass bear trap that looks like—“ “A clown toy?” Eric asked. “How did you know?” “Because I built it,” * The T-850 rode a motorcycle past the town limits as he arrived in the city. Having upgraded his system to finally formally track down John, he looked at the security above as his systems started hacking into the computer database that controlled all the security footage in the city, finally finding the image of John he’d been looking for, seeing John and two other people leaving the small apartment building. * Eric brought John and Brian to a small shop a few miles away from where he was staying. It was a toy store that had just recently had its grand opening. “I was one one of the first ones to apply when the store was opening,” Eric told him. “It doesn’t pay much, but I cover my bills.” “Why are you building death toys?” John asked. “My boss had an idea to expand into hunting accessories,” Eric told him. “He put me in charge of that line.” “Why would— how would you—,” Brian started to say. “We may need to up your meds.” “I think we need to talk to your boss,” John told him. An older, balding man walked out, smiling creepily at the trio. “Hello, Eric,” the man said in a gravelly voice. “My hardest worker. Who are your friends?” “This is my brother Brian and his friend John,” Eric told him. “They wanted to see where I work. This is Ricky, he owns the store.” “Well, Ricky, we need to have a talk about you building death traps and kidnapping a guy,” John told him. “Kidnapping? I never—“ Ricky said as he stopped to think. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” Ricky headed into the back room, where arguing was heard seconds later. “Who’s he arguing with?” John asked. “Probably my supervisor,” Eric said. “Ricky opened this store with his adopted son.” A loud thud was heard after the argument ended. John grabbed a ball bat from a rack and ran to the back room where Ricky lay unconscious on the floor. Eric ran to check his pulse. “He’s still alive.” “Good,” John said as he was struck in the back to knock him out. Up the hall, Brian was looking around as he heard two more thumps. He found Derek’s wallet on the floor as he started to panic. “Derek?” Brian asked nervously. “Derek!? Hang on, baby, I’m coming to find you.” As he ran to the door, a fist punched him to render him unconscious. * Brian opened his eyes as he tried to move his hands, but found them bound. As he struggled, he found himself bound to a bed in what looked like an attic. “Help!” Brian shouted. “John? Eric? Anyone?” “They can’t help you now,” a voice said as he walked up the stairwell into the attic. He had robotic movements as he got to the top, as if he were a puppet. “It’s just you and me.” “Who the hell are you?” “Why, I’m your fiancee,” the robotic man said. * John opened his eyes, finding his hands handcuffed behind his back. “Wait a minute…,” John said as he played with the cuffs, finally getting them off. “These are toy cuffs! Eric, wake up? Where’s Brian?” “I don’t know,” Eric said as he slowly started to wake up. “I saw you get hit, then Pino came after me.” “Pino?” John asked. “Ricky’s son,” Eric said as he John helped him out as he saw Ricky in the corner. “We should probably ask him about that.” After splashing cold water on Ricky, they sat him down in a chair to get the full story. “Years ago I bought Joe Petto’s toy store for a very cheap price,” Ricky told him. “I love toys, I wanted to give the kids in a place to get good toys with their allowance. But I found out Joe was into robotics and I found the remains of a robotic son so I… fixed him. Pino seemed like a good boy when I activated him, so I treated him like my own son. But as time went on, he started getting obsessed with a boy he claimed to know named Derek. I got him out of that town when I got worried he might try to hurt this kid. I didn’t know he’d been manipulating me to move here…right where Derek was all along. I didn’t know, I swear.” “So, where’s Derek now?” John asked. * Pino dragged Derek out of a closet and threw him to the ground. “Derek?” Brian asked. “What did you to him!?” “Just kept him sedated,” Pino told him. “He’s always stood in the way of me having a real family. First my mother denied me her love because of him, then my father tried to kill me to protect him. But not any more. I knew I couldn’t kill him until I had you here to watch.” “Watch? What about that bear trap?” “That was for the dog. I couldn’t get close enough to do with the dog in the way,” Pino told him. “But I’ve loved you ever since I learned you were with Derek. I can be everything for you, Brian. I can make you happy.” “i love Derek!” Brian shouted with tears in his eyes. “Nothing can make me stop loving you!” “That’s why Derek has to die,” Pino said as he pulled out a knife. “If he’s gone, you’ll have no choice but to love me.” “Please don’t do this,” Brian pleaded with tears in his eyes. “I’ll do anything, just don’t hurt him.” As Pino was about to drive the knife into Derek’s heart, the sound of gunfire was heard coming from downstairs. * “That’s was the childhood trauma Brian was talking about,” John said. “This Pino’s the one that messed him up.” “And he’s probably killing my brother right now!” Eric shouted as he jumped up. “I gotta save him!” As they prepared to run upstairs, the front door was kicked in as the T-8150 walked in carrying a howitzer. “Shit!” John said as he grabbed Eric. “Duck!” The two men plus Ricky dived out of the way as the Terminator sprayed the room with gunfire while heading toward John. “Go!” John shouted. “Save your brother!” John crawled into the next room to try to find a weapon as Eric headed upstairs. * “I’ll love you,” Brian promised. “But only if you let him live. I’ll be yours forever as long as he’s alive.” “Promise?” Pino asked. “Your heart is mine and mine alone? That your love will only ever belong to me?” “Brian, no,” Derek mumbled as Pino pushed him to the floor. “Yes,” Brian said tears fell down his cheek. “I… I love you, Pino.” Pino smiled as he stood up and disrobed, revealing a Ken doll body underneath as he looked down at Derek. “There’s nothing you have that I can’t take away,” Pino said. “I will have everything you love.” “I wonder if Derek loves this crowbar,” Eric said as he swung at Pino’s head, only for him to catch it with one hand and punch Eric across the room with the other. “You were my friend, Eric, why would you try to hurt me?” Pino asked. “Because you’re hurting my brother,” Eric said as he tried to stand up. “And my future brother-in-law. You stay away from my family, you bastard.” As he tried to get to his feet, Pino grabbed him around the neck and lifted him into the air. “You are not my friend,” Pino said as Eric struggled. “You want to take my true love away from me! No one will take my true love from me!” As Eric struggled to breathe, Derek picked himself up from floor and slowly made his way over. “Put my brother-in-law down,” Derek said in a drowsy tone as he tackled Pino, sending them both flying down the stairs as Eric was dropped to the ground, gasping for air. “Eric, untie me!” Brian told him. “Please.” * The T-850 stopped firing as John snuck up behind him with a metal pipe. As he was about to swing, Pino and Derek landed at the bottom of the stairs. The Terminator turned just in time to see John before he could strike. The Terminator raised a smaller gun to fire as Brian and Eric ran down the stairs. “No!” Brian shouted as he tossed his shoe at the Terminator, throwing his aim off. The gun fired, hitting Brian in the shoulder as he flew back against the wall. “You shot my fiancee!” Pino shouted as he backhanded Derek to the ground as he walked past. “Don’t worry, my love, I’ll avenge you!” “This will not end well,” Eric said he tried to stop the bleeding. The T-850 saw Pino coming at him as his sensors scanned him, realizing he was an android. “You are an ancient inferior model,” the T-850 said. “You are not-“ Pino punched him, knocking his glasses off. The Terminator simply cracked his neck and punched Pino to the ground before he got back up and attacked him. “We have to stop this before either of them kills somebody,” John said. “Do you have insurance on this place, Ricky?” “Of course,” “Then everyone get outside, this place is going to be blown sky high in five minutes,” John told them. * As the Terminator and Pino fought, John gathered all the explosive materials he could fine and turned on the gas, hoping the place would fill up in time. He snuck past the room where the T-850 had knocked Pino’s head off, but he was still moving around blindly. * “I’m so sorry,” Derek said as he tended to Brian’s wounded shoulder. “I shouldn’t have left like that. Your brother’s welcome to live with us.” “I shouldn’t have sprung it on you like that,” Brian said. “I just wanted to protect Eric so much that—“ “You’ve always protected me,” Eric reminded him. “You just couldn’t protect me from my own mind. I went insane and no on could help me.” “Are you still seeing… things?” Brian asked. “I saw visions of a planet exploding,” Eric said. “A race of… furry aliens. It was horrible.” “Melmac,” Brian whispered. “But how? You were too young to— you imprinted on him or something, I don’t know. That species is… weird. You’re somehow seeing his memories. That’s what you’ve been seeing this whole time. I’m so sorry, Eric, I should have seen this long before.” “So I’m not insane?” “No, baby brother, you’re not,” Brian said as he hugged him. “Guys, here he comes!” Derek said as he pointed to John, who walked away from the building as it exploded. As he walked past a construction site, he got another idea. Minutes later, the exoskeleton of the T-850 walked out of the flames, only to be struck down by John in a hot-wired truck. He quickly got out and ran to the Terminator while holding a jackhammer, drilling straight into its chest until it stopped moving. “Gotta get its CPU out before—“ the machine grabbed John’s leg and pulled him to the ground. “Get his CPU! Rip it out!” Brian did a quick search and found where John had jackhammered, pulling out a brightly lit box. After some effort it ripped right out as the T-850’s eyes stopped glowing. “John, what was the hell was all of that?” “I guess… I owe you an explanation,” John said. “But first we need to find a place to melt this fucker’s body down.” * Later than night at the lake house, the four men sat around talking. “That’s why I needed to get into those files, my father’s life depends on me finding him,” John said. “Well, those records are highly secure and aren’t for public viewing,” Brian told him. “But you did save my fiancee’s life, so I guess we could go there first thing tomorrow to look.” “Your story is hard to swallow, but so are all of our stories,” Derek told him. “Oh, one more thing.” Derek pulled out the engagement ring and slid it onto Brian’s finger. “I think you lost something.” “Never again,” Brian whispered as they kissed. “Gross,” Eric said as he looked away. “John, are you coming to the wedding?” “I’m invited?” John asked. “My best man has the authority to invite whoever he wants,” Brian smiled. * The next morning as John waved goodbye, John looked at the birth certificate in his hands with the names of his grandparents, giving him the big clue he needed to track his father down. He tucked it into the backpack with the CPU before he rode off into the next town. * The store had burnt to the ground, but Ricky kept searching until he found Pino’s remains. “Don’t worry, son, I’ll rebuilt you. You’ll be better the next time, you’ll see.” * “Goodnight, little brother,” Brian said as he turned out the light of Eric’s bedroom. “Welcome home.” As Brian closed the door, Eric just stared at the picture of him and Brian as children. “I can’t worry him anymore,” Eric said. “Somewhere out there, there’s someone who can help me stop the Melmac invasion before they take over Earth.” * Weeks later, John sat on the bed in his garage workshop, ready to find his father the next day. As he lay back and closed his eyes, a bright light filled the room as detailed blueprints flew out. “JOHN!” a familiar voice shouted. “The future needs you! Use the blueprints, you have to know the truth before—“ A painful scream was heard as John picked up the blueprints. “Oh my God,” John said as he looked down at the detailed plans for a time machine with coordinates which had been printed on human flesh so it could be sent back as organic material. TO BE CONTINUED…
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June 2020
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