Back at HQ

[John Connor]

“Who’s there?” A resistance soldier popped out the door peep hole and sighed “Tech-Com DN38416. Sgt. Kyle Reese” Wait, huh? You were d-?

“It’s a hell of a long story and I don’t want to talk about it.” Sgt. Kyle Reese muttered under his breath as the door opened, letting the soldier in.

Marcus and John stood around and sighed “We heard what happened out there. Everyone did. that took guts risking your life out on the battlefield like that against the Unmade and against a potentially risky enemy we knew something to very little about: Megatron.

Kyle Reese took a breath “I don’t know what happened sir, one time the terminator was fighting Megatron and suddenly, I was down and now I’m back, how in the hell am I still alive?

John stood there, staring “Nobody knows, father. Nobody knows exactly when and how you got back. Though I have a request for Shinku, however. His contact should be eager for another job.”

John dug through his pockets and pulled out his private comms and searched for the name Shinku/Trevor and Sgt. Callon Michaels

“This is Bear, you recognize me still, Sgt, right?”

Not only did Kyle Reese appear at an awkward time, but there was also something else pressing on John’s mind.

Human collaborators, not only that but they claim they are working for Skynet.

"We need you soon, you two." John nodded and waited for a response.

 

[Shinku]

"We need Shinku. Now," a distorted voice over the phone whispered in Callon’s ear as he disassembled his rifle for a routinary check. The message forced the soldier to put his hands off the rifle for a while, his attention now focused on the John Connor that spoke on the other line. He fell silent for a moment, knowing that a call for Shinku was no small matter.

Callon hesitated for a moment, before opening his lips to respond. “Shinku is not here right now, but if it’s really that urgent then I’ll look for him right away.” Callon sighed, as if the weight of the world's fate was pressed on his shoulders.

Shinku rarely stayed at their shack as of late. And he knew most of all that when the assassin of shadows is away, it is usually nigh impossible to locate him. Still, if it’s a request from his former commander, he knew that it had to be done no matter what. He needed to employ every trick he knew and find his current master.

Hastily, his fingers worked its way to the buttons of his communication device. He navigated through his gadget’s panels, reaching out to every contact he had and surfing over the “Medium” to look for any trace of his master. Hours turned into a long night as he scoured his network of contacts and followed every lead.

Finally, a cryptic message came through an encrypted channel. Details of a quest accepted by someone under the name of Trevor O’ Skully appeared on the screen of his communication device. Wasting no time, he packed his things and left.

“Oh hey! Come with me!,” Callon called out upon seeing the figure of Jack as he stepped out of their hideout.

“Arrr, what’re ye up to mate!,” the pirate grunted, his eyes peeled upon the pouch of gold coins on his hands.

“We need to look for Shinku right now,” the soldier promptly responded.

“Arrr, Shinku ye’ say. Ye’ know’ how hard it is to look fer him did, ye?”

“John needs him and it seems urgent. Besides, I already know where to find him. I just need your help once we’re in the area.”

“And what say ye’ need me help for?,” the pirate grunted once again, finally placing the pouch of coins inside his pocket.

“You have that device in your arm that can detect him and bring you right where he is once you’re near him at a certain distance right? Well, that’ll make things easier for us. Besides, if it’s Connor, then that means it’s for a paid quest. You wouldn’t want to miss out on that would you?”

“Arrr! Fine, count me in!”

Having convinced Jack to join him, Callon wasted no time on setting forth to journey further into the innermost city of the Hinterlands. It was a complicated journey to say the least, navigating through a complex network of labyrinthine pathways, dark alleyways, and dimly lit underground passages.

“Ah I think we be nearing ‘im mate!” Jack exclaimed, as his armband glowed a purplish hue.

“Good, now teleport to where he is right now. Tell him that Connor needs him in his base as soon as possible and tell him that it’s urgent.”

“Aye!,” the pirate nodded in response and quickly let himself be swallowed by the shadows created by his armband.

Upon appearing in front of Callon, Shinku regarded him with an enigmatic stare before finally speaking. "What business does Connor have with me?"

“We were cut off before he could go into details but it looks really urgent.”

Shinku's eyes seemed to flicker with a mixture of curiosity and reluctance. “Hmmm now what could this be about?"

For a moment, Shinku remained silent, as if contemplating the weight of Connor’s summon. The seconds seemed to stretch into eternity, and just when Callon thought his master would turn him down, Shinku finally spoke.

“Very well, let’s visit Connor right away and find out what he needs.”

 

[John Connor]

It’s when Shinku, Jack and Mike Cullans appeared almost literally unannounced.

John Connor, Kyle Reese and Marcus Wright weren’t quite used to the instant showing up thing yet and John blinked too fast as they showed up.

Marcus soon cleared his voice and John stood over a table, a map on his table. He seemed to like the old fashioned way of maps and when and where to go.

“Anyways, I’m getting down to business. This might involve everyone here. John frowned and lightly growled “Anyone else at this table not familiar with Skynet? If you don’t know about it, this is the time I will use to explain things from then on out.”

John continued, "Skynet, for those of you who might not know, is an advanced artificial intelligence system that became self-aware and triggered a catastrophic global conflict known as Judgment Day. It initiated a nuclear apocalypse, wiping out most of humanity and leaving the survivors to face a relentless army of machines, including the infamous Terminators.

 

[Shinku]

Shinku absorbed John's explanation with a stoic demeanor, his figure casting an enigmatic shadow in the room. As the commander mentioned the devastating wipeout of humanity at the hands of Skynet, a chill of recognition crept down Shinku's spine. He couldn't help but recall the haunting vision he had of Govermorne's destruction at the merciless hands of a dark Arbiter.

“Judgement Day you say? If they get their hands on this world, then that means the destruction of this world as well. We have to do something right away,” Shinku urged.

Jack leaned forward with a glint of arrogance and suddenly interrupted. "Arr, matey! So, where be this Skynet ye be speakin' of? I'll hoist me Jolly Roger high and deal with it, I will!"