Chapter One – Cameron Has Much to Learn About Being a Girl
Disclaimer: Don't own TSCC. If I did it would still be on TV.
I stand in the shadows near the street corner. Having completed the fourth circuit of my nightly patrol, I conceal myself near several Elm trees, allowing the shadows and my clothing to blend in the darkness of the night, hiding me from any human, or animal, eyes that might seek me out.
No threats have been detected during the patrols and the night has, thus far, been quiet by human standards. I hear all of the insects, birds and animals moving about during the night, noting the position, species and activity of each, assessing their individual threat to John Connor.
Standing completely still, I tilt my head upwards to gaze at the stars in the sky, noting the position, color signature and radiation level from each star. I adjust my filters in my cyborg eyes to only measure the same light spectrum as human eyes. Noting the distinct decrease in available information concerning each object in the sky, I wonder why humans considered stars to be so beautiful. Stars are useful for navigational purposes if your GPS is malfunctioning at night. Sol, the Earth's sun, provides light and heat, and can be used to determine time in a crude fashion and it is a star. Why do humans find stars beautiful? Is utility of function beauty?
A car driving through the neighborhood broke the silence in the distance and I perform a threat assessment within seconds.
Threat Identification: Mr. Browning returning home from his night shift.
Threat Level: None
In the distant East, the first rays of the coming sunrise began to pierce the night sky. It was time for me to finish my final patrol and return to the domicile and make the necessary preparations for school.
As I walk to the house, I stop for a final survey of the area, wishing I had noted something John would find interesting about my patrols I could share with him. Why do I wish this? Nothing of note taking place is much better for John's safety, making it much easier for me to protect him.
Quietly I climb the stairs and walk down the hall stopping in front of John's room. Turning my auditory sensors up I listen through the door. The sound of John's breathing was regular and measured indicating he was resting peacefully, untroubled by nightmares for once.
The door to Sarah's room opens and I quickly turned to enter my room across the hall from John's door.
Never one to miss anything Sarah hissed, "Tin Miss, what are you doing outside John's room?"
"Listening to his respiratory rate. John is resting well at the moment. I suggest not disturbing him. I have finished my patrols for this night. I am now going to select a tight outfit to wear to school today," I replied in her normal emotionally nuetral manner as I enter my room and walk to my closet. Selecting a short skirt and top, I hear Sarah enter my room and stop.
Without looking at Sarah, I walk to my dresser and opened my underwear drawer and selected my undergarments for the day. Placing my selections on the bed, I sit in my chair and removed my boots, quietly placing them next to each other on the floor. Standing, I looked directly at Sarah and first removed my blue jeans, then my top, tossing both on the floor by the bed. Continuing the staring contest, I removed my bra and panties and tossed them with the other clothes on the floor.
Silently I move to my bed, picking up my panties and slipping them on, followed by my bra. I then slip on my denim skirt and pull the t-shirt on. I pick up my soiled items of clothing and place them in the hamper, return to my dresser to select a belt, socks and other accessories for the day. Sitting back down in the chair, I pulled on socks followed by my combat boots. Standing, I put on my studded belt, bracelets and picked up my brush by the mirror. I comb out my shiny hair, all while maintaining my Terminator glare at Sarah.
Finally, Sarah breaks her stare by glancing at me in my attire for the day, shaking her head. I had move to view myself in the full-length mirror on the back of the door of my closet. Turning to and fro like a normal teenage girl examining her handiwork after dressing, I turn to look at Sarah. I ask, "this is a tight outfit. Boys will think I am hot. Will girls think I appear fat in this outfit?"
Appalled at how short Cameron's skirt was, not to mention how her skin tight t-shirt revealed her curves, Sarah commanded, "you are not leaving the house wearing that. You might be a machine, but I will not have it said I let you dress like a harlot. Change clothes now!"
Sarah shook her head and left Cameron's room, heading downstairs to begin preparing breakfast. Thank God, Tin Miss is not my actual daughter. She and John combined would have already put me in my grave.
Puzzled, I examine my appearance again in the mirror. This is a tight outfit. John has commented before that boys will think I am hot when I wear this outfit. I do not appear to be fat in this outfit. Note: the females who commented on my being fat could have been feeling the human emotion known as jealousy because males of a comparable age find me to be hot. I must ask John if this is a possibility.
The sound of John's door opening caught my attention. I note John stepping into my room and leaning against the doorframe. Smiling with a twinkle in his eye, John shook his head as he spoke, "I heard what Mom said Cameron. I hate to agree with her, but you need to change clothes."
Accessing my CPU, I pulled up and replayed past comments from John regarding the skirt I have on as well as t-shirts with a similar fit of my frame. "John, in the past you have said attire such as this was tight. It made me look hot. Boys like hot girls. Several girls at the mall remarked I was fat. Do these clothes make me look fat or were these girls experiencing the human emotion of jealousy because potential male suitors will find me more attractive?"
"Cameron, you're not fat and no, those clothes do not make you look fat. The problem is you do look hot. You're going to draw a lot of attention to yourself dressed like that. Don't forget we want to avoid drawing attention to ourselves. So, as much as I hate to agree with Mom, wear something that makes you look less, hot. Oh, and yeah, those skanks are jealous that you look hot when you're dressed like that."
"John. You are correct. Unnecessary attention should be avoided when possible. I will comply with Sarah's request. Thank you for explaining."
John's eyes widened and his face flushed as Cameron quickly removed her top and began unfastening her belt. Leaving the room quickly and heading downstairs, John called to his mother, "what's for breakfast Mom?"
For some reason, John does not want me to appear to be hot. I wonder why? Is John jealous if possible suitors find me hot?
Fifteen minutes later, I silently descended the stairs and entered the kitchen. John had finished breakfast and Sarah was washing up the dishes while John hurriedly showered. Sensing my presence, Sarah turned to glare at me.
Without blinking, Sarah scanned me first up and then down. "Much better Tin Miss. You don't look like you are advertising it now."
Puzzled, I tilt my head before asking, "advertising what? I have nothing I wish to sell."
Before Sarah could answer, John flew through the kitchen, grabbing his backpack off the table, his hair still damp from his shower.
"Come on Cameron. We need to leave. Mom, I'll try to explain it to her," he says as he leaves through the back door. I follow John carrying my backpack.
I increase the length of my stride and quickly catch up to John and then adjust my speed to match his. I have questions to ask John.
"John, inn the past you have found the skirt I put on this morning attractive when I wore it. Why do you find it poor taste in attire now?" I ask.
"Cameron, there are different kinds of attention a girl can attract based on the way she dresses. Some kinds of attention are appropriate, others, not so much. That skirt you had on attracts the wrong kind of attention," John explains to me.
"I do not understand. In the past you said I looked hot in that skirt and style of t-shirt. It is a tight combination for an outfit," I tell John.
John sighs and appears to ponder how he can explain what appears to be a more complicated concept than I thought. After 58 seconds pass he states, "Cameron, it's just not appropriate to wear to school. It's like you're telling all the boys at school you are willing to put out, that you're loose, you know? We, and you especially, do not need to deal with the kind of boys and the attention dressing like that will generate."
John's explanation raises more questions.
"What does put out mean? I do not provide spare parts or anything of a similar nature to other people. Nor do I share my clothes or other possessions."
John rolls his eyes at my response and his face turns red. Evidently I have much to learn.
"Cameron, you ask the strangest questions. Are you sure your CPU can't find a file on this?" John seems to be embarrassed by this question. I take note of this for investigation at a future time.
"No, John, I do not have the term 'put out' in my dictionary file for teenage dialect," I tell him.
John's face turns redder as we continue walking to school. He ponders his response for an additional 48 seconds before responding. "Cameron, it means you're willing to have sex with any guy who takes you out on a date. That's what to put out means, OK!"
"John?"
"Yes?"
"What does 'loose' mean? I do not have any loose parts or connections. I am not in disrepair."
John moans and looks at me with a frustrated expression. "Loose means you'll have sex with any guy, OK? No more questions about this today."
"Thank you for explaining," I tell him.
"John."
"Cameron?"
"I am not loose. I would not engage in sexual activity with random males."
"I know you wouldn't. The problem is, when you dress like that, some guys will make inappropriate advances and touch you in places they should not," he explains.
"That is unacceptable on their part, but you need not worry John. I can defend myself"
"That's the problem Cameron. You'll put those guys in the hospital or worse and that will draw attention, the kind of attention, we can't afford to have."
"I understand now. I will not wear a skirt that short in combination with that style of top to school. Thank you for explaining."
Another question comes to my CPU.
"John?"
"What now Cameron?"
"Do you still think I look hot in the outfit, when it is appropriate to wear?"
John smiles at my question. He does not respond.
I take this to mean he thinks I look hot in the outfit. The fact John thinks I can look hot pleases me for some reason. I file the query to determine when the outfit is appropriate for a future discussion with John.
Being a teenage girl is much more difficult than Skynet originally thought. My programming in this regard leaves much to be desired.
Why does John's opinion of how I appear matter to me? It has nothing to do with my primary directive of protecting him.
Author's Note: Having watched the entire Terminator franchise, both movies and TV series, I believe the success, or lack thereof, in each of these stories, is rooted in who the real "star" of the franchise is. While many may disagree with me, the best Terminator film was T-2. Why? The stars of the film were Uncle Bob, the T-800, and his nemesis, the liquid metal T-1000.
When the storyline in other films made Sarah or John the central character, the story was not as enthralling. This is not to say Sarah or John are not important, indeed, there would be no Terminator story without them. They just weren't the most interesting characters.
The failure to make Cameron the centerpiece of The Sarah Connor Chronicles, I believe, is why the series had a short run in its TV format. Cameron had by far the most potential as a character to develop. Sarah's story has been told in previous franchises and to some degree is bound by the canon of the Terminator mythology. The same is true of John. He has to mature and become the leader who defeats Skynet. This is part of the universe the story is set in and is not truly open to change.
Cameron, on the other hand, a female, teenage terminator who has the ability to learn and adapt, is a new character introduced to the Terminator mythology. During the course of serving as John's protector, how much will Tin Miss change? What is her part in the attempt to stop Judgment Day? How does the necessity of Cameron living with a human family, albeit dysfunctional, impact her?
Attending high school as a teenage girl creates seemingly limitless opportunities for humor, social commentary and drama to display Cameron's growth as she changes and develops. It should be pointed out, Cameron, unlike her fellow teenage girls who merely want to fit in, MUST fit in so she can protect John. Is there a point where Cameron wants to fit in as a teenage girl rather than having to fit in to protect John?
Of course, the philosophical questions that could have been examined through the eyes of Cameron are many. The love story of John and Cameron begs the question, "how do humans love?" As Cameron becomes more human and more determined to be with John, does she at what point does she become a person and not a machine? What is it that makes us human? What gives us value as an individual and makes us worthy of being loved? What makes us alive?
The possibilities are much greater and it's a shame, in my opinion, that making Cameron the center of the storyline was not the path the writers chose to follow. Summer Glau was amazing in her depiction of Cameron and was the true star of the show. I guess we'll never know what could have been.
It is with this in mind that I have decided to try my hand at writing stories that center around Cameron's view of the world as she "grows up" and becomes a person, complete with Free Will and emotions.