DISCLAIMER: "One day they'll have dreams," is a quote by the Alfred Lanning character in IRobot. Hershey is a registered trademark and all. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles belongs to the brilliant people who thought it up...oh...and the WB and Fox (the tossers who don't know a good thing when it prances around in a hot pink bra right in front of them).
One Day They'll Have Dreams
"We are not built to be cruel."
"We are not built to be cruel."
"We are not built to be cruel."
Her voice repeated over the speakers, a mockery of an image playing across his screen. A hand. It could almost be an innocent twitch. Blinking text: "Servos Malfunction Sector 23." A wall of text scrolls down following the descent of the now dead bird. Diagnostic functions covering the screen. Analysis indicates directive was to release bird. Sarah Connor said, "Don't touch that bird." Repair is necessary. Images of John's neck snapping. It didn't happen. Twitch—snap. It didn't happen.
John Connor stares at the screen as he watches his younger self collapse. Flashing text, "Analyze. Analyze. Analyze." Walls of diagnostics. Image not consistent with database. Searching directives. No directive found. Function search. Infiltrator Function found. Function consistent with Infiltrate Directive. Function Name: Simulate Worry. Determination: worried about killing John. Mission would fail. Trigger for the Function: Simulate Worry....not found. Infiltrate Directive Status: Inactive. Storing parameters for further analysis. Suggested action: Immediate Repair.
"So, deep down, you want to kill me?"
"So, deep down, you want to kill me?"
"So, deep down, you want to kill me?"
He heard his voice repeating over the speakers, and he stared at the image on the screen. His younger self. He could have just been asleep in that bed except there was blood everywhere, and it just kept flowing. A hand applying pressure, but it was futile. "Suggested action: Self-Terminate. Impossible Function. Error. Error. Error. Error." The HUD shut off. John knew that scene never happened. He stared at the face lying on the bed. Hershey hair splayed, lips smiling, and she looked so peaceful.
"I'm not capable of self-termination."
"It's a small amount, but it's enough."
"It's a small amount, but it's enough."
"It's enough."
Another scene. His younger face was so close. Her voice. "It's time to go." The image froze. He could see the look in his eyes...the lust. The image of himself, interfaced with her HUD. The scene rewinds. She doesn't speak. He kisses her. It repeats. It plays over and over. The HUD flickers, and then there's one line of text before it's just him on the screen: "You gave me dreams."
John pulls the memory, and enshrines it in proper sequence on the new chip.
"One day they'll have secrets...one day they'll have dreams." --Alfred Lanning, IRobot