[Video] Arrival of A Terminator

[unclebob]

[At first glance, the face on the screen looks handsome, though perhaps a little intense. Staring off into the distance, the Terminator holds the locket in a fragile grip, like he’s afraid he might break it. Then he turns his face into the camera’s view and the once-handsome features turn into a nightmarish looking visage. The right side has mostly been ripped away, revealing the metal skull and glowing red eye beneath the bloody organic covering. He looks like he's been put through the ringer and no mistake. A fairy hovers in and out of the video, occasionally perching on his shoulder. He keeps shrugging it off. With only one working hand, he can't swat the little pest away.]

Is this device working properly?

[He doesn't wait for an answer. If it is working correctly, he'll know soon enough by the response he gets. The Terminator stares off again, turning the locket so that whoever’s watching gets a good shot of what he’s staring at: the flowery barrier between the Station and the rest of the Drabwurld.]

I cannot cross.

[His voice is flat, but underneath, there’s a current of wonderment. He’s never found anything able to keep a Terminator in check before. To have it happen now is a curiosity that he wants to explore further. He takes a few steps more, until he’s right at the edge of the line, but he doesn't cross over. He's had enough of the sensation of glitching and his systems shutting down for one day, thank you very much. He stands there, far too still to be natural, like he's waiting for the barrier to just disappear and let him cross. Hey, in this place, anything could happen.]

Comments

[unclebob]

[Magic. Great. Cyberdyne systems had never been prepared to deal with such an anomaly. But he can't ignore it, even though integrating the data into his systems puts a pressure on it like he's never felt before. He's got the living proof of this place sitting on his shoulder.]

It appears I am confined to this 'Station' until a solution presents itself.

[He sounds resigned to his fate. If something cannot be overcome, he must learn to cope with it.]

[chromosomes]

There's a [ pause ] situation going on right now, but we might be able to find some people who can head over and see what they can do.

[ Ugh. He's no wizard, this magic bullshit is all foreign to him. But... ]

My first instinct is to fight fire with fire; have someone who can use magic try to make it so that you don't malfunction once you go past the barrier.

[unclebob]

Situation? What kind of a situation? [There's something about that pause that the Terminator picks up on. Vocal stresses in humans usually mean something important.]

Would that work? [The question is directed at the fairy sitting on his shoulder. It hesitates for a long moment before it dips its head in a curt nod. Great. Now the Terminator just needs to find someone powerful enough and willing to help him out.]

[chromosomes]

Giant worms. [ Good catch, Terminator. ]

There are several people around here with magic. I can talk to them, see about making a trek that way to get you out of there. [ At least the fairy seems to think it would work, which means they have more of a chance of it working than he really thought. ] Maybe we can find someone to patch up your face, too.

[unclebob]

Sounds fun. [He's going to be disappointed on missing out on all the carnage. After all, it's what he was originally made for.]

[He searches his databank for an appropriate response. Possible options all include some variation of the phrase 'Thank you,' so he picks one from a list.] You have my thanks. The organic covering-- my face, it will heal on its own in time.

[chromosomes]

They regenerate. [ Extra fun. Well. "Fun". ]

Let's hope so. [ 'Organic covering'. Good thing Sam isn't here or she'd try and get samples. ] You have a name or... designation, or something?

[unclebob]

Have you tried extreme temperatures? [He's got quite a bit of experience facing an opponent that could regenerate. Cold and heat had worked wonders for him.]

I am a Terminator. Was a Terminator. [He stands up a little straighter.] 800 series Model 101.

[chromosomes]

Fire seems to work. Burning them, anyway. It's also definitely more accessible than extreme cold.

[ Yeah, he was right. This guy -- robot -- person? -- could be useful. John might even like him. ]

Well. That's a mouthful. [ Not that his is better. ] Staff Sergeant John Grimm.

[unclebob]

I shall keep this in mind if I encounter one of these creatures.

[The mention of staff sergeant puts him back in familiar territory. Well, as familiar as he's going to be in a magical land with an honest-to-God fairy on his shoulder. He doesn't smile, exactly, unused to the expression, but his face does become more relaxed.]

Army or Marines?

[chromosomes]

If you do, let me know. We're tracking the attacks as best we can.

[ Familiar enough, at least, and John knows how much that can be a comfort. There's almost a grin, something like a twitch of his lips and a different light in his eyes. ]

Marines. RRTS -- Rapid Response Tactical Squad -- Hellfighters, if you're looking for specifics.

[ No one's ever looking for specifics, but the guy's a machine, he probably loves them. As much as a machine can love anyone. ]

[unclebob]

You shall be the first one I inform. [And now he's wondering if a worm will actually show up in the limited radius of the Station. He may be broken-down, but he's not ready to be turned into scrap metal just yet. Then his systems register the plural form of the sentance.]

We? Who is we?

[He searches for an appropriate facial expression to accompany his question, settling on a raised eyebrow that would look less out of place if he actually possessed two of them right now.]

[chromosomes]

Myself and an elfking named Thranduil, at the moment. And anyone else he's roped in, I guess.

[ Pause. Wait. ]

The fairies mentioned the whole 'war' thing, right?

[unclebob]

Yes. They said I was in the Seelie faction.

[Not the most obvious side he'd be on, based solely off of his appearance.]

[chromosomes]

You and me both, then.

[ Definitely not the most obvious, but it makes John feel a little better. ]

[unclebob]

Good. It would be unpleasant to be on opposite sides.

[The fewer people that were potential enemies, the smoother things would run for him.]

[chromosomes]

[ 'Unpleasant'. That was a good word for it, sure. ]

Very.

Like I said, Terminator -- I'll talk to some people, see if they can help you.

[unclebob]

My thanks, Grimm.

[He gives a little nod to the camera.]

[chromosomes]

Just remember what I told you about the worms.

[unclebob]

I will watch out.

[Or rather, they should watch out for him. There's that hint of a smile around his eyes again.]