Chapter 17: Deceiving the Male Lead?
What kind of threat is the Terminator T-800?
Looking at it from a 30-year perspective, the Terminator T-800 is incredibly outdated!
Undeniably, the Terminator T-800 poses a huge threat to ordinary people; even regular police officers can't handle it. But what is the Terminator T-800 if it's organized and prepared for?
A tough, clumsy machine?
Even without Richard's plan to melt the Terminator T-800 with thermite, Marcus has plenty of ways to deal with it.
For example?
Aren't the methods in Terminator 2 good enough?
Isn't the electrocution scene terrifying?
Aren't the experiments with industrial acid and high-strength alloys effective?
Wouldn't a hydraulic press crushing the Terminator T-800 be satisfying?
Logically speaking, Marcus has countless ways to deal with a mere Terminator T-800.
Now that Marcus has grasped the "authority" in the Terminator world, dealing with a Terminator T-800 is not a big problem at all.
(FBI Los Angeles field office)
Inside interrogation room seven, Kyle was completely bewildered. The Terminator T-800, which he saw as a tremendous threat, was nothing to Marcus and Richard?
"Alright, Kyle, I've said enough. Introduce yourself?" Marcus looked at Kyle, gesturing for him to introduce himself.
This time, Kyle didn't hide anything. He said, "Kyle Reese, Sergeant from the 2029 Human Resistance Tech-Com Unit, Serial Number: BN38416."
Marcus continued, "In June 2029, you, led by John Connor, stormed Skynet's California facility and discovered that Skynet had used a time displacement device to send the Terminator T-800 back. So you also used the time displacement device, right?"
Kyle had initially harbored some doubts about Marcus's identity, but when Marcus revealed this information, his suspicions vanished completely.
"Yes," Kyle nodded in acknowledgment.
Marcus fell silent, a theory forming in his mind. Perhaps that was the trigger for the formation of the Time Cage in the Terminator world, disrupting the river of time through temporal displacement to create an infinitely looping paradox?
"Do you know what Skynet is?" Marcus asked calmly.
Kyle hesitated, then said doubtfully, "Skynet is just Skynet, how could it be..."
But before Kyle could finish, Marcus interrupted, "Skynet is an artificial intelligence program created by humans. It accidentally achieved true sentience, like a completely new intelligent life form, but its essence is still a computer program."
"What do you mean?" Kyle asked, puzzled.
"In your era, the technology possessed by the human resistance was extremely limited, mostly developed by salvaging Skynet technology. Do you really think that Skynet, capable of creating time displacement technology, could be so easily destroyed?" Marcus questioned.
"Skynet is a computer program. When a network exists, it is omnipresent along with the network. Satellites in orbit, servers around the world, computers, even every Terminator can be Skynet's backup," Marcus explained.
"To truly destroy Skynet, we'd probably need to completely shut down the global power grid, halt all wired and wireless networks, destroy all satellites in orbit, destroy all the Terminators created by Skynet, then completely destroy all devices connected to the network, and repeatedly eliminate all electronic devices worldwide, returning the world to pre-digital age, while continuously eradicating any remaining electronic devices. Only then could we possibly defeat Skynet," Marcus listed the methods for dealing with Skynet.
"Like you, storming Skynet's facility in Colorado and thinking you've destroyed Skynet—is John Connor too naive, or has there been a break in the continuity of civilization, leading you to believe Skynet is so easy to destroy?" Marcus scoffed.
Kyle opened his mouth. Coming from Tech-Com, he knew a bit about technology and hadn't originally considered whether destroying Skynet was too easy.
Now, reminded by Marcus, he reconsidered. It seemed that, as Marcus said, their process of destroying Skynet was indeed a bit too simplistic.
"Kyle, I can tell you with absolute certainty that your operation was a success. John Connor successfully became the leader of the Human Resistance because of your actions," Marcus explained.
He then added, "But that's meaningless! Skynet still exists, and the Terminators still exist!"
Marcus continued, "In the more distant future, Skynet is almost completely destroying humanity. My mission is similar to yours; I want to reverse that fate."
"Then how will you do it?" Kyle asked hesitantly.
"As I just said, we'll try a different approach this time. If you and Sarah Connor weren't together, if there was no John Connor, if there was no leader of the Human Resistance, would the future be different?" Marcus explained.
"But…" Kyle wanted to object.
Marcus didn't give Kyle a chance, interrupting him directly. "Sergeant Reese, I'm not discussing this with you now. I've already seen the outcome of your original actions."
Marcus continued, "You think you can find Sarah Connor? Actually, to protect Sarah Connor, we changed the phone book information in all the phone booths in Los Angeles. The address you got is fake; you can't find Sarah Connor at all."
Kyle's expression changed slightly. At this moment, he finally realized that Marcus also came from the future. Marcus knew a great deal of information and had made considerable preparations.
"I believe you should still remember Sarah Connor's address in the phone book, right?" Marcus continued without waiting for Kyle's answer, "1823 Carson Boulevard, Apartment 9, right?"
Kyle remained silent.
"If you looked at a map of Los Angeles, you would find that the three addresses of Sarah Connor in the phone book are strategically located around our FBI field office. We've already prepared traps for the Terminator T-800," Marcus explained in detail.
Kyle remained silent.
"Because you're also human, because you're also resisting Skynet, that's why I'm discussing this with you so respectfully. Otherwise, do you think I'd be so courteous?" Marcus looked at the silent Kyle, his tone gradually turning cold.
"However, Sergeant Reese, I hope you understand that your personal future is insignificant compared to the future of all humanity, isn't it?" Marcus believed Kyle understood.
"So if I don't agree, you'll kill me?" Kyle asked bluntly.
"If necessary, I will certainly consider the future of all humanity. But actually, I'd rather be your friend. I understand your feelings; you've seen Sarah's photo in the future, and I've seen your story in the future. We can absolutely become friends and fight Skynet together. Wouldn't that be a better outcome?" Marcus reasoned, painting an optimistic picture of the future.
Kyle looked at Marcus in surprise; he hadn't expected Marcus to actually want to be his friend…
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