A/N: My first fanfic was an attempt to continue the Heroes television series into Volume 6. I tried to format my fic like the show, and have an ensemble cast, like the show…it failed. Miserably. So I tried writing another fanfic, this one more localized. I focused on two characters until I got their relationship figured out, then added more and more characters to the mix, making sure I had the interrelationships right before moving on. This second fic was (by my standards, at least) a success. When I got into the TSCC fandom, I (for some, unknown reason) started my first fic like my first Heroes fic, and to my complete and utter amazement…it also failed. I've since deleted both failed fics from my account, because to be honest, they're slightly embarrassing and I have no plans to continue them. This is my attempt to work on hyperfocused character sets in the TSCC universe. Hopefully it does as well as my Heroes fic (Possessed, in case you want to read it [hint: do it. And review.])

John Connor was in a prison camp. It wasn't the nicest place he could have been; it was pallid, and dusty, and all things considered, a really shitty place to live.

It happened to be his home until further notice.

He remembered what his uncle had told him: that this time, there would be no Skynet work camp, no heroic escape. This time, Skynet knew who he was. The last few months had been proof that his uncle was wrong. He'd been stupid when he arrived in the future. He'd thought he was prepared, but he'd been careless and it had landed him here, in this cell.

The T-800 that guarded him opened the cell door before stepping aside. A brunette walked in, completely naked, with a wide-eyed curiosity that he knew so well…

"Cameron?" he asked.

"I am TOK-715," she replied flatly. "I am here to question you."

So, John thought, this was Cameron…before. Should I answer the questions? Weaver is either going to get me or leave me here. If she gets me and we go back in time, this future won't matter, and if I stay here, answering their questions is going to increase my life expectancy.

"Ask away," he replied, patting the ground next to him.

She tilted her head. "Why are you receptive of my interrogation? Most humans are afraid of machines."

"I'm not," he replied. "I've seen what's underneath. I've seen the innermost parts of the machines, and being scared witless doesn't help anything."

"Thank you for explaining," TOK-715 replied, accepting John's proffered seat. "Who is Cameron?"

"I'm sorry," said John, "but I'm no expert in temporal mechanics, and telling you that might alter things."

"You come from a different time," TOK-715 said. It wasn't a question. She paused. "When?"

"The past."

"I see. A machine sent back in time told Skynet to destroy you immediately. You were never found until now. Why were our orders to kill you?"

"Why haven't you?"

TOK-715 did not answer.

"If I'm going to answer questions, would you at least answer some of mine?"

"No."

"Then I won't talk."

"Then we'll make you talk."

"It would be more efficient to simply answer my questions."

TOK-715 paused. Her eyes glazed over as though she was deep in thought. John figured she must be in communication with Skynet.

"We did not kill you because we did not understand why one human would be so important," TOK-715 finally responded. "Why were our orders to kill you?"

"Because in another future, I was to become leader of the human Resistance. I was winning. Are you unique?"

TOK-715 seemed taken aback by his question. "I…am the only one of my model, yes." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "Why are you not the leader of the Resistance in this timeline?"

"That's a complicated answer," said John. "Can we break it down?"

"What do you mean?"

"A lot of factors went into this timeline," John elaborated. "Can you ask something more specific?"

"Thank you for explaining. Is your time travel the reason you are no longer leader of the Resistance?"

"Yes."

TOK-715 paused. "Why are you here, Mr. Connor?"