In the distant future, the war between mankind and the machines had reached its final act.
Led by the legendary John Connor, the last human resistance finally destroyed a major Skynet base — the central node that had controlled countless Terminators across the globe.
But when the dust settled, John discovered a massive machine still humming in the underground complex — a time displacement unit.
His expression hardened.
"I need a soldier."
His voice was solemn, echoing through the ruined chamber.
"Skynet's final contingency plan is to send a Terminator through time — to kill my mother before I'm ever born. We need someone to go back… and protect her."
At once, every battle-worn fighter straightened their backs. Each one was ready to sacrifice themselves for their leader — the Savior of Humanity.
But John's sharp eyes quickly landed on one man in particular.
"Kyle Reese!"
Reese stepped forward, his face full of resolve. "I'll do it, sir. I'll protect Sarah Connor with my life!"
The room filled with silent respect.
Yet deep within John's eyes flickered a trace of something else — sorrow, perhaps… or guilt.
Because only he knew the truth.
The man standing before him wasn't just a loyal soldier — he was his father.
The one destined to cross time, fall in love with Sarah, and die ensuring John's own existence.
That secret died behind his lips. He forced the emotion down and began issuing orders.
"Prep the time displacement field. Get it running!"
The resistance crew scrambled to life, reactivating the ancient machine.
Kyle stepped onto the glowing platform without hesitation, his face the picture of determination.
The machine's coils roared, power arcing through the chamber like lightning.
Just as the time field reached critical energy, Kyle's instincts flared —
he saw movement behind John Connor.
"No!"
He shouted, but it was too late. A shadow lunged — a humanoid figure creeping close behind John.
And then, the world twisted.
A vortex of light swallowed Kyle whole.
The last thing he saw before the pull tore him apart was that figure — a Terminator — driving an attack straight into John Connor's back.
Then everything went white.
When consciousness returned, Kyle hit the ground hard.
Pain lanced through every bone. He'd fallen like a meteor, lungs heaving as his vision cleared.
Everything around him was… intact. No ruins, no ash — just normal city buildings.
The past.
"I made it," he breathed.
"Now to find Sarah Connor. Protect her at all costs."
"Protect me? With that weak physique of yours?"
The teasing voice came from above. Kyle snapped his head up — and froze.
A young woman sat casually on a rooftop ledge, swinging her legs in the breeze. She looked like she might fall at any second, yet her posture was completely relaxed.
And her face —
That face.
"Sarah… Connor," he whispered.
She looked just like the photos. No — even more beautiful. Like a spirit carved from sunlight.
"Idiot," she said flatly. "Watch your back."
Kyle's instincts took over. He dove sideways just as a cluster of razor-sharp blades pierced the air where he'd been standing.
The knives hissed as they hit the ground — and melted.
Liquid metal.
Kyle's heart lurched. He knew that weapon too well.
"T-1000…"
A shape emerged — cold, expressionless, metallic eyes gleaming with mechanical malice.
Kyle's hands clenched. No guns. No explosives. Just his fists.
A soldier's nightmare.
The T-1000 moved — a blur of killing precision.
The impact sent Kyle flying several meters. Blood filled his mouth.
Even a veteran like him was utterly outmatched barehanded.
Still, he forced himself up and shouted to the rooftop.
"Run! It's a Terminator! He'll kill you!"
But Sarah only sighed and crossed her arms. "So this is humanity's elite soldier from the future? Disappointing."
Then she tilted her head, a smirk forming.
"Dad, looks like it's your turn."
Dad?
Kyle blinked. What?
Then the world shook.
A deafening BOOM tore the night apart.
Something — someone — crashed down like a meteor. The impact created a crater ten meters wide, concrete splintering under his boots.
When the dust cleared, Kyle felt his blood run cold.
A man stood in the pit — massive, immovable, terrifying.
It was a T-800, but… not like any he'd ever seen.
The sheer pressure radiating off that body made every nerve scream.
Kyle's instincts screamed louder. Run.
But he couldn't. His body refused to move.
That killing intent alone froze him in place.
The newcomer's obsidian eyes swept over him once — and Kyle felt like he'd stared straight into a god's wrath.
No Terminator he'd ever faced compared to this.
Then the giant turned toward the T-1000.
He moved.
Just one punch.
A single, simple motion — and the air detonated.
The T-1000 flew backward like a ragdoll, smashing through the street and skidding for dozens of meters before crumpling into a puddle of metal, circuits dead.
The massive T-800 walked forward, grabbed the liquid heap, and casually stuffed it into a heavy black bag — as if taking out the trash. Inside the bag, other broken Terminator parts clanked together.
He hoisted it over his shoulder, never glancing at Kyle.
Then he looked up at the rooftop and called out calmly:
"Let's go. His Excellency is waiting."
The ground cracked beneath his foot as he leapt into the sky — vanishing into the night like a living warhead.
Sarah stretched lazily, gave Kyle a small smile, and said:
"Do yourself a favor and head back to wherever you came from. You're too weak. I don't have time to babysit— especially not some fragile man."
Then she blurred into a streak of light, chasing after the towering figure.
For a long moment, silence.
Then— slap!
Kyle smacked himself in the face, eyes wide with disbelief.
"F— what the hell was that?!"
A T-800 stronger than any model ever made?
Sarah Connor — the supposed civilian mother of the Savior — moving like a demigod?
He cursed under his breath.
"John Connor, you bastard… You've known all along, haven't you?!"
The realization hit him like a truck.
"You knew your mom was a superhuman! And you sent me back to protect her? You were all acting this whole damn time!"
He kicked the ground furiously, shouting into the empty street.
"You and your god-tier mom set me up! The whole war was just— you playing me, wasn't it?!"
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