Terminator: Infinity

RESISTANCE/TERMINATOR

Minutes later, back at HQ, in the command center, everyone watched nervously as Quin walked through with Ryka right behind him.

"Shouldn't you take a gun?" Ryka asked.

Quin picked up a cord with a special connector off a table and pocketed it. "No," he answered. "This should be enough, maybe. I have what amounts to a wireless router, but it looks like it only receives commands."

"What's it saying now?" Ryka asked as she followed.

Quin kissed Ryka on the forehead before moving on. "I'm inside a bunker," he said. "I get nothing. Outside, it's like a second voice my human side can ignore. I always knew I'd be safe in here, didn't know how it would affect me until I stepped out. That's just one of the reason's I stayed in. Kate shooting me should tell you the other."

In the room as well at some distance, Kate was armed with a sniper rifle, not once taking her curious eyes off Quin. "So you took that risk while holding my kid?" she asked.

Quin looked at Kate. "I'm very sorry," he replied. "I just knew I wouldn't hurt him in a million years."

"You can't be serious about this," Ryka said. "It's suicide."

Quin headed for an exit. "I'll be fine," he said. "It's our own people I'll have to worry about."

As Quin began to open the door, Ryka grabbed a plasma rifle.

Kate latched onto Ryka's shoulder. "What are you doing?" she asked.

Quin looked at his wife. "Ryka," he began. "Please stay. There's no guarantee I can protect you from other Terminators."

Ryka pulled away from Kate. "Promise me you'll be back." She said.

"I promise," Quin said. "I'll be back."

Ryka marched quickly towards a surprised Quin.

"Wait, wha...?" Quin gasped.

Ryka began to push Quin to move on. "That was the crappiest promise I ever heard."

Now standing just outside the door, their voices became muffled. Kate looked over to a soldier standing next to her. "If I don't come back, you take charge," she said, then jogging over to join the squabblers. "Take care of my kids." She added before closing the door behind her.

Quin held Ryka gingerly by her shoulders as Kate stepped out and beside them. "Ok, maybe that promise was a little fast," he said. "You should still stay. John's got the new intel and is probably on his way already. It's not far and things are gonna get crazy if Skynet really is there, which I'm sure it is."

Ryka looked back and forth between Quin and Kate, then she began to walk past Quin. "Nothing you say," she said. "Will stop me."

"Ryka," Kate called. "You don't even know where to go."

"I'm not going anywhere," Ryka said, then looking to Quin. "I'm following you. Want me to stay? Then, you stay."

Kate walked over to Ryka, placing one hand on her shoulder. "Quin's right. It's gonna be dangerous. You'd likely run into the middle of a battle. Quin, I'm sorry but I can't have you here."

Quin gave an understanding nod. "I know," he said. "Hey, you're second in command, just order Ryka to stay."

Ryka turned to Kate. "Sorry," she said. "But that's one order I intend to disregard."

Kate's head reeled back in frustration. "Ryka, please," she said. "You're my best friend. Don't make me go after you and leave my kids."

Ryka sobbed. "Janelle and Todd need you."