Terminator: Realities

LI/ANG QIAN UNO

John and Quin walked towards the little building with an escort of two other soldiers. It was safe with so many other Resistance soldiers combing the area.

"Gotta hand to you," Quin said. "Very few people could have pulled off a victory like this."

"Thank my mom," John replied. "She's the one who taught me everything I know."

"You don't talk about her much," Quin said. "It's said she was killed by the machines when I was a baby. If you don't mind me asking, 'cause I'd like to hear it from the man himself. What happened?"

"HKs," John answered. "Not like these. They were different back then. My mom was leading a convoy out of Mexico when it was ambushed by a squad of HK's."

They entered the building and found it to be a single large room that resembled an empty office. The only thing in the room was a plain desk that was more of a regular table and a chair behind it.

Quin sighed looking around the room. "Looks like a dud." He said.

John shook his head and sighed also before sitting. "I don't get it," he said. "Intel was solid. This is what we fought all night for?" He sat back in frustration reclining the chair back slightly. Instantly, the sound of gears clicked and the whole room began to sink.

Quin and the others immediately raised their weapon weapons as John jumped up. It was a surprise development and they needed to be ready for anything.

The room was a giant elevator, going down at least a hundred feet.

"I wonder where this is going?" Quin asked.

"Isn't it obvious," John said."A secret elevator in what should be a secret base. TDE has to be here somewhere."

The elevator eventually reached the bottom It was certainly a much bigger facility than the small building above ground. It was dark, with the only light coming from various computer panels along the wall.

John and the rest slowly stepped off the elevator with flashlights pointed forward.

"What the hell," Quin said. "Haven't these things ever heard of lights? Where's the switch?"

"Terminators have night vision," John replied. "They wouldn't need'em."

They found most of the rooms lit pretty well by the ambient light emitting from the numerous electronics all over the place.

"You and Ryka got any plans this Friday?" John asked.

"No," Quin answered. "Probably just watch a fire or something."

"Kate got her hands on some stuff to make PBJ sandwiches," John said. "Why don't you two come over and have some? Kate's invitation."

Quin and John entered a long hall followed by the others. "Sure," he replied. "I love PBJ Is it cool with you though?"

"Of course," John said. "Gotta treat my número Uno like my número uno. By the way, you gotta do something about that call sign. Just trust me, you can't be Sext."

Quin glanced over to John. "I'm open to suggestions," he said.

"Don't say Sext," John chuckled. "You gotta go with something you know, like, 'Viper'."

Quin thought about the name for a moment. "Viper sounds cool," he finally said.

"But if you really want to put the fear of God in'em," John continued. "Go with 'Virus'."

'That's even better." Quin thought.

A large door slid open automatically as they reached the end of the hall, revealing a large room with the TDE right in the middle and just below it, sitting at the controls, One-four, and his team.