Dark Futures

weapons dealing with unenhanced human beings.

Enrique held his position for a minute. 'All right,' he said, lowering the shotgun and waving to his kids to relax. 'You better come in and tell us what this is all about. I hope it's good.'

Sarah stepped up to him, hugged him quickly. 'It will be,' she said.

The tension left like air from a tire tube. 'That's okay, Connor. You just can't be too careful.'

Inside the trailer, they met up with Yolanda and the remaining kids. Everyone had aged or grown. Enrique was getting really bald. Yolanda's hair was distinctly gray. Their children were that much older—Franco was in his mid-twenties now, and even little Paco was nine or ten, much the same as John when they'd last met.

Enrique and Yolanda offered drinks all round. Specialist gratefully accepted his tequila. Maybe there was a shortage in the future. Enrique looked from one to another, obviously intrigued. 'So what's this all about?'

'I don't know how we're going to get you to believe us,' John said.

'Yeah? Try me.'

'All right,  but you won't like it. These guys are from the future.' He might as well tell it straight out.  The Specialist  could prove it if they had to.

'You're right, John. I don't believe you.'

'That's crazy,' Paco said.

John gave a broad smile. 'You saying I'm crazy, or that your dad is?'

'You're crazy, of course.'

'Moi?' he said, theatrically outraged. Somehow, he'd have to change their minds. 'That's pretty wounding, Paco. You know that?'

Enrique glanced across to Sarah. 'Is this the usual crap, Sarahlita? Not more stuff about Judgment Day and these Terminators coming back to kill you and Big John? Hey, he has got big, hasn't he?' He laughed.

'I'm afraid so, Enrique. About the Terminators, I mean. Our friends come from a time after Judgment Day.'

'Judgment Day was supposed to have been years ago.'

'1997,' Sarah said. 'Let's say it got postponed.'

'Sarahlita, can't you just give it up?'

'I wish we could. I really wish we could. If only you knew, Enrique.'

'It's true,' Danny said.

'Yeah?' Enrique looked him over. 'And who are you?'

John said. 'Anyone remember that scene in Blade Runner? Where Pris grabs the egg from the boiling water?' Paco nodded at that John sized up the Specialists, looking from one to the next. 'Maybe someone should show these guys something.'

The Specialists were silent for a few seconds, making no move. Then Jade's hand snapped out, seizing the tequila bottle from Enrique. In the same motion, she crushed the bottle with her fist.

'Madre de Dios—' Enrique said.

She held up her palm, bleeding where the broken glass had penetrated it. Within seconds, the wounds had healed over. Magic!

John grinned, a bit cheekily he realized. Jade had made his point, or at least given him a little credibility. 'Now who's crazy?' he said to Paco, who stood there open-mouthed. 'Anyone need to see more?'

'Nice trick,' Franco said with a cynical grin. 'But maybe we do.'

Selena walked over to him, offering her hand. Franco took it uncertainly, and Selena squeezed. In a second, the grin washed off Franco's face and he sank to his knees. Juanita drew a handgun, but Enrique shook his head at her as Selena let go and stepped back. In another sudden movement, Jade snatched the handgun, bent its barrel out of shape, then passed it back.

'Okay,' Enrique said. 'Your friends are tough, Connor, Ill give you that much. But it doesn't mean a thing. I had a pretty tough uncle back in Guatemala, but he didn't come from the future.'

'For God's sake,' Sarah said, 'just believe us for once. You haven't seen half of what these people can do, but we can't spend all night convincing you about it. We've

got a job ahead of us. You can help us willingly, or we can take what we need. Don't think you could stop us.'

Anton stepped right in front of Enrique and just stood there, arms folded. Enrique was a tough guy himself, but, after seeing Jade and Selena in action, he didn't look ready to argue with the big Russian.

'We need guns and ammunition,' Anton said. 'And explosives. That's all.'

'No, it's not,' Sarah said. 'We need a truck that's not stolen. You'll have to lend us one, Enrique. You know John and me. We brought your Bronco back last time.'

'Yeah, sure,' Enrique said. 'But that's all you brought back, remember?'

'We can pay you for the guns and ammo,' John said. 'At least for some of it.'

'I think it's okay,' Yolanda said. 'Sarah and John are our friends.'

'Yeah, yeah. That's what I was thinking, too.* Enrique stepped around Anton, laughing good-naturedly. 'Whatever you need, Sarahlita, you know it's yours. So when do you want all this? It's getting kinda late. I suppose you wanted it yesterday, right?'

'Yeah, right. Sony, Enrique.'

'Sure you are.'

'We'll sleep here tonight,' Anton said. He glanced at the wristwatch he was wearing. 'We'll leave before sunrise.'

John considered it. What was the T-XA doing while all this was happening? Surely it didn't need to sleep, and nothing was going to stop it crossing the border. Would it head straight to Colorado, or to L.A., where Cyberdyne had its headquarters? He caught Anton's eye. 'Isn't tomorrow a bit late?'

'It's already too late.'

'So shouldn't we act even faster?'

'It was too late for that as soon as the T-XA appeared,' Danny said. 'We'll have to work around it, but we can't do everything. And we've got to be fully recovered next time we face it. We can use a few hours' rest.'

'Well, if you say so. I hope you know what you're doing.'

'I told you we do,' Selena said.

'I sure hope we do,' Danny said. 'Tomorrow night we'll find out'

'It'd just be nice if you could keep us posted,' Enrique said to Sarah, ignoring John and the Specialists. 'Or even come and see us. Sometimes it's hard to know who your real friends are, who you can trust. People can turn into strangers.'

'Not us,' Sarah said. 'But I'm not sure you really want us around. If your connection with us gets known...'

'What?'

'It might be very dangerous for you. We have enemies you don't even want to know about.' She clapped him on the shoulder. 'If you think these guys are tough, you ought to see the other side.'

'Yeah, sure.'

'I'm serious, Enrique.'

'Whatever you say.'

'No. I'm really serious.'

'I said, 'Whatever you say.' All right? Hey, what do you expect from me? This is all pretty sudden, you know. I'm only human.'

We all are, John thought. Even Jade.

'I'm grateful, too,' Sarah said. 'You don't know what we owe you.'

“No, I don't.' Enrique gave another laugh, more mischievous. 'But I'm starting to suspect. Now, who originally said that?'

'H.G. Wells,' John said quickly. 'The guy who wrote The Time Machine'

'Yeah?' Enrique looked at him closely. 'Keep your money, John. Buy me a drink next time you drop by.'

'Sure. Or maybe we could all see a movie. You guys should get out more often.'

Enrique and Franco led them to the garage, turning on a ingle fluorescent lamp. Enrique pointed out a 1992