Fic: The Idol in the Stone (SCC; Skynet)

[the_grynne]

This was written for rodlox as part of the scc_reloaded Back to the Future Ficathon. Thanks to jebbypal for organising! I hope you like it, Keenir.

The prompt given: "Parents plan for when they're not around any more - does/did Skynet plan for after it was replaced?"

Title: The Idol in the Stone
Author: the_grynne
Fandom: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Characters: Skynet
Timeline:

Comments

Thank you!

[rodlox]

Çok guzel!
it's the only thing I can say to this - it means both "very lovely" because this story sits on the shoulders of your other superbly-well-written stories, and it also means "very delicious" because when I read your work, I say it to myself, savoring the feel of the words and how they fit together.

This is a fantastic story you wrote. thank you!!

I also like how the Terminators' numbers hold signifigance. (and even a reference to Odin)

Re: Thank you!

[the_grynne]

You're very welcome! I'm glad that you liked it.

Re: Thank you!

[rodlox]

I loved it.

factoid in case you wondered: "chok guzel" is Turkish.

[heron61]

Utterly brilliant, I loved how the AIs have such a different sense of time than humanity.

[the_grynne]

Thank you so much.

[orange_crushed]

That you are human, that you indulge in the singularness of every human life, is why you will never use Time Displacement as it was meant to be used.

You put words to something very true. Because they keep searching for the exact moment, the unique person, the single computer tower, as if cutting off one branch would cause the tree to wither. Looking at the first movie, that seemed to be Skynet's plan, but I think by now we've seen things move beyond that.

In this intersection of time and causality - this limited territory directly before you - John Connor is seventeen. A fugitive from the law.

This tugged at my heart for a second, even if it's just a recitation of the available facts. Oh, John.

You learnt fear on your own; perhaps you always will. You write inevitability with beauty and power. Strange to say, as a reader I'm drawn in by your Skynet, maybe more than I should be. Because that understanding of the multiple realities, and the acceptance of them, is so well-done. It's resigned to its multitude of fates

[the_grynne]

This was the most difficult thing I've written in a while, mostly because there's absolutely nothing to like about Skynet, but there is a lot to understand. So there's the contradiction between resignation/hope, omniscience/doubt, death/birth, to make Skynet somewhat more human. I know it's not for everybody, but I'm glad you were drawn in.

Oh, John.

I mentioned John as much as I dared, because I knew if nothing else, we could have an emotional reaction to him. So John features pretty heavily in Skynet's thoughts - like Skynet, he's not limited to one time or place, one birth, one fate.

Anyway, I'm so thrilled that you approve. Thanks for getting me through it!

[missnyah]

This is really impressive. I think I was struck most by the idea of Skynet giving and receiving its own inheritance. While human beings put their souls into their children - their bids at the immortal- you have Skynet bequeathing life to itself. This is a war of meme vs gene.

I loved too that there was a sese of fear and dread but also impossibility of failure. Though Skynet thought of humanity as a cancer, it is the same. As long as one cell remains, the world is not safe.

Thanks so much for writing!

[the_grynne]

While human beings put their souls into their children - their bids at the immortal- you have Skynet bequeathing life to itself. This is a war of meme vs gene.

Yes, that is exactly it! Thanks for reading and commenting. I'm glad you liked it.

[ancarett]

And in each iteration, there's another chance for Skynet as well as another chance for the resistance. Very spooky in the relentless focus that both have on securing their safe harbour.

[the_grynne]

Thank you!