Chapter 3- Fallout

Pictures after pictures, John carefully looked at every one Derek had required on the camera's memory stick. Tapping on the keys on his on laptop, he used Sarkissian hard drive to match up any of the pictures from that data collected from the deceased man. Being up since five in the morning, he felt anxious from this task his mother had given him. He wasn't sure if it was the new vowel he took in trying to stop Skynet before his next birthday, or the fact he told himself that it maybe him in the end to stop it. Either way he wanted to end the running and gunning his life have always been, and live a normal life for once.

A light knock was heard as John looked to his left as his mother entered into the room. He gave her a light smile but directed his attention back to his laptop.

"Hey," said Sarah. "Breakfast is ready."

She heard no answer from her son, watching his full attention glued to his laptop screen. It made her curious as she walked over to him.

"What are you doing this early in the morning? School work?" Sarah asked hoping not to be to nosy in her son's personal life. Her son has a tendency to hid things from her when ever she asked too many personal questions. She knew it annoyed him sometimes but it was her way of keeping her son safe.

"Going over the pictures Derek took," said John clicking on a picture of a British old man. "I have noticed repeated people that the new CEO was associating with, but I'm not sure if the people she associates with are her friend, colleague or paid assassins."

Sarah was surprised that he was taking this task serious and in the early morning. If her son kept this up, maybe the answers she seeks will unfold quicker then usual. She rubbed her son's back, proud of his dedication to there goal. She slightly smiled towards him.

"When you get back, you can start where you left off," said Sarah not wanting to exhaust her son before school. "School starts soon, okay."

John saw his mother leave his side. "Sure, I'll be right out."

Sarah paused and turned around. "Oh, and bring Tin Miss while you're at it."

Curious, John looked at his mother. "She's not waiting like usual?"

"No." she answered which spark her suspicious about Cameron from before. A person can never be too careful around a machine that can lie easily such as her.

Her answer worried John as he saw the expression of his mother's face which made him quickly react.

He smiled. "I'll get her. She's probably putting on blush or something."

Sarah gave her son a slight smile and walked out of his room towards the kitchen.

Without wasting time, John closed his laptop and stood up from his chair, more concerned about Cameron then the others in his family. He walked out of his door and went towards Cameron's bedroom door. His heart started to race for unknown reason, wondering why he was feeling nervous that perhaps his mother was right, there's possibly something wrong with Cameron to be behaving like this.

John collected himself, trying to block out the possibility and knocked on Cameron's door.

"Cameron, come on school's about to start. You can only play hooky unless it's an emergency," said John chuckling of his comment, but made sure his voice wasn't loud for Derek and his mother to overhear.

However, there was no answer from her room which made him even more nervous then before. He knocked on her door again.

"Come on Cameron, you're starting to act like a girl taking twenty years to get ready for school." John said.

He hoped the Teen Magazines wasn't teaching his protector bad habits about being pretty every waken minute of her life. That would just run him up the wall like a normal brother wanting to kill there sister of beauty products all over the house.

Still frozen in the position from yesterday on her bedroom floor, the voice from John reactivated her entire systems. Though not hundred percent perfect as her view mode was still having problems of focus from the static, she pushed herself up to a standing position. She scanned the area realizing she was still in her room which meant nobody entered her room or the Connor's would have been asking numerous questions by now. Questions she would like to avoid from the time being before she could fully answer them herself.

"Cameron open up, this is not funny," said John still not hearing a response. He dug into his back pocket and took out his lock pick. He placed it into the key hole trying to open the door.

Before he could open the door, it opened as Cameron stood in front of him. John pulled back his lock pick seeing her give him her usual blank stare like a lifeless doll.

"Are you okay?" He asked in a low voice.

"Yes," said Cameron. "Why were you banging on my door? It's the afternoon. Do you need anything in particular that you need assistance with?"

John glanced at her oddly. "But it's 6:45 in the morning. Remember its Friday."

"Friday?"

Cameron titled her head confused. She zoomed in on the TV, having the news running as the news anchor said the time and date before announcing the weather. She quickly corrected the date and time in her view mode which have been malfunctioning along with her CPU chip controlling her entire body functions.

Cameron gave John a reassured smile. "I guess I'm picking up your bad habits of forgetting things."

She walked passed him and into the kitchen knowing Sarah would have breakfast waiting for them as usual before they go to school. Worried by her response and expression, which seemed more human like when he first met her, John knew something was wrong with his protector. The nervousness in his stomach and his mother's concern was coming true. He had to fix it before it became worse. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure how to accomplish that as this moment.

He glanced into her room as newspaper clippings were spread out on her bed. If something was causing Cameron behavior to become irregular then it was a start.

Looking at Cameron one last time as she was in the kitchen, John went into her room. He quickly made his way to her bedroom noticing this was the first time he seen it messy with material on it. Unlike his room, Cameron's bedroom was always neat and perfect, as one would expect of not using the furniture in the room.

He picked up a newspaper clipping, recognizing it right away from the article he was looking at the other day. Knowing this and had a hunch then, it was evident that his protector was looking for something.

His body tense suddenly as a chill ran up his spine, sensing a presence behind him as he turned around quickly. Startled, at a lost of words as if seeing a ghost, he saw his protector standing behind him. What scared him almost half to death was the fact he didn't even hear her footsteps. She sometimes reminded him of a cat which was one trait he didn't like from her.

"Sarah is looking for you." Cameron said monotone not surprised to see John in her room unlike other girls that would scream at there brother catching them in this act.

Nervous, feeling awkward, John smirked at her. "Okay."

He placed the clipping on her bed and left out of her room using the same expression she gave him earlier. Although it was a warm temperature in the house he still felt a cold chill as he looked behind him, catching the eyes of his protector that resembled dolls eyes in which he thought were creepy.

In the kitchen, Sarah saw Derek place a 9mm gun behind his back and into his pants while fixing his jacket to make sure it was covered completely. This put Sarah on alert every time he put one of those in his hands. Constraint was something new she found out Derek doesn't know how to control, like an adolescent feeling trigger happy that they had a deadly weapon in there hand as if on top of the world.

"You're not planning on killing anybody are you?" Sarah asked just making sure they were on the same page of no killing.

Derek picked up a fork and started to eat his scrambled eggs she made for them.

"If it gets what we need does it matter even though there the ones going to blow up the world in less then four years?" He asked in a leisurely manner as if not caring what the consequences were with a gun in his hand.

"We're not monsters or like them," said Sarah looking at Cameron out the corner of her eyes. "Being invisible helps keep us under the radar and out of police custody. No killing unless I say so."

Derek smirked forgetting that she wasn't like him or seen the horrors when he was a teenager just alone. He gave in to not cause anymore confrontation with her.

"Scouts honor." Derek responded.

Sarah slightly smiled. "I would believe that if you went to Boys Scouts."

"I have when I was young. It's kept me alive so far."

"Seriously?" She looked at him oddly in disbelief.

"On my honor I will do my best, to do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout laws; to help other people at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. Boys Scouts of America." Derek recited as he smiled at her.

John sat down at the table and picked up his fork.

"I didn't know you were in the Boys Scouts. It's hard to imagine." John chuckled as well as his mother at the notion.

"My brother and I were in it when we were young. It actually does work out in the end. Builds character." Derek said and ate a piece of his toast.

"You know, it's good to follow more of it…about help other people at all times, even though they don't know they will blow up the world in less then four years. It's why we're here." Sarah told him.

Derek gave her a gesture as if saying fine and will obey her command for now.


The bell rings in the hallway as students scatter like mice to get to there next class. John rushed to his Math class as he had to make a second trip back to his locker of forgetting his homework. Last thing he needed was Mr. Booth causing a scene that he forgot it to the entire classroom. He was one of the teachers, John had to make sure everything was done for his class or he would put him on there radar as his mother would say.

Walking into his classroom, he paused. His eyes widen, surprised of the girl he meant yesterday was in his classroom sitting two seats behind him in the next row. Was he really oblivious of his surrounding that he didn't notice her from before?

Riley glanced at him and smiled. She pointed out her hand as if assisting John to take his seat but amused by his shocked expression.

John gripped the strap to his book bag and went to his seat. He felt nervous as he peeked behind him seeing the smirk Riley was giving him then back in front trying not to be noticeable. He wondered what his problem was. She was just a girl, a weird girl that greets strangers on the streets without thinking of her safety.

"Why are you nervous?" a voice said.

Startled, John looked to his right to find Cameron sitting right next to him. Yet again her cat like silence surprised him again. How many times was she going to do that in one day?

"Huh?" John looked confused acting as if he didn't hear her words.

"Why are you nervous? You forget your homework?" Cameron asked.

"Ehh…no. It's nothing." John took a deep breath and then looked forward seeing Mr. Booth come into the class.

However, Cameron was watching the entire incident John stepped into the room and what affected him. She glanced to her left and saw the girl he was talking with yesterday. She forgot to ask him yesterday about her. This was a perfect time to ask before it turned into something serious.

Before she could ask her view mode started to become static. Every word the teacher was saying started to become gibberish as if a person was trying to find a radio station on an old radio. She looked in front knowing her CPU was affecting her abilities to control her body functions again. An emergency error appeared, critical system overheating. Cameron didn't panic and transferred one bar to another, like a generator sharing power with another, to supplement her power supply.

Curious, Riley was watching Cameron the entire time realizing her eyes wasn't blanking at all for over a minute. She looked at John to see if he noticed but his attention was on the teacher. Then she saw Cameron body become animated again as she opened her notebook and started to write.

As math class was done, John and Cameron were walking in the hallway together. Cameron went to her locker and took out her brown lunch bag to eat as John gave a yak look wanting to eat real food today for lunch.

"That girl in class, Riley," said Cameron as this gained John's attention of how she knew her name. Cameron closed her locker. "She was staring at you a lot during class today. Did she offend you in some way? I can take care of her."

"No," John muttered quickly. "I just met her yesterday."

John looked around making sure she wasn't following him as they were walking down the hallway again to the cafeteria.

Cameron heard the bell as lunch period started. "You should make a story up or she'll become curious. Girl's don't like to be ignored."

John smirked. "How would you know?"

"I read it in Teen Magazine, if a guy ignores a girl, if they weren't in a relationship before, then the girl will become intrigued by the boy's shyness towards her." Cameron explained reciting every word the dating page said.

"That magazine said all that?" John asked as this was amusing to him and he didn't feel nervous around Cameron like before.

"Yes, I can lend it to you when we get home."

"No thanks." John chuckled. "Last thing I needed is my mom walking into my room reading Teen magazine. I get enough questions from her already."

"Hey Cameron!"

Both John and Cameron looked to there right seeing Morris walking over to them from a different hallway. Morris had a huge smile on his face staring at Cameron as if she was a movie star. John saw this and laughed inside thinking this guys was lost if he only knew what Cameron really was. He glanced at his protector's blank expression which made him laugh even more as she didn't understand how much Morris liked her.

"Hey John," said Morris as they started to walk again. "You guys going to lunch?"

John looked down at his pathetic brown bag then back at Morris disappointed. "I guess."

"Good, I want to talk to Cameron about something." Morris said still smiling like a little school boy.

They walked to a table outside as Morris sat next to Cameron. John looked at his brown bag and finally gave into his apatite.

"I'm going to eat cafeteria food. I'll be back." John said and walked off back into the school building.

Cameron watched John leave while scanning the area to make sure he was safe.

"Okay. About prom..." said Morris as Cameron looked at him. "Which is in two months, were you kidding about that?"

"Kidding?" Cameron repeated.

"Yeah, I just wanted to know before I pick out my tuxes and everything."

Cameron gave him a blank stare which put Morris on edge sometimes.

"Yes." She responded.

"Yes," Morris looked confused. "Yes you were playing around about prom?"

"Yes."

"Yes what?" Morris was puzzled at what was the real answer.

"Yes I will go to the prom with you." Cameron said remembering what John told her to say of not understanding the event.

Morris eyes brighten and smiled crazy. "Alright then. Would it be okay to bring you to meet my mother? She really wants to see you."

Cameron stared at him with nothing to say at this moment. She wasn't sure if this was required for this special event that John never mentioned it to her.

Moving in the line for food, holding a tray of food in his hand, John was figuring out what was good on the menu. He saw taco bell, pizza, burger, hot pockets and chicken wings. He took a pizza and four piece chicken wings, placing it on his tray. He took a bottled Pepsi from the small little refrigerator and continued around the lunch line making his way to the check out line.

"So we meet again, Mr. Baum."

John heard a familiar voice and turned around. Surprised, he saw Riley right behind him as John again didn't notice her. He told himself he needed to learn to pay attention to his surroundings better.

"How you know my name?" John asked.

"For the first time, I paid attention during role call in math class today." Riley smiled at him.

"Oh." John felt nervous as his eyes diverted forward wondering why the line was moving slow. Any other time kids would be zooming out of the line.

Riley noticed John's shyness around her. "What's your story John?"

John froze. "Ehh…story?"

"Yeah," she glanced at his cuts on his face. "You get beat up by the bullies in school or something? Or you made your girlfriend mad at you which could explain why you're nervous all the time."

John knew what she was addressing from his appearance but needed a lie quick like Cameron said. "No girlfriend and I didn't get beat up."

Actually he did from his sister but that wasn't one of the conclusions she came up with, John thought.

"I was playing football with my friends and it got a little out of hand." John said knowing football was his least favorite sport.

"Guys and football…enough said," said Riley and then looked around curious. "Where's your sister at? Cameron right? She's normally with you."

John looked at her wondering how she knew about her which alerted Riley's attention.

She smiled. "I told you, I paid attention in class."

"She's eating lunch."

"Can I join you?" asked Riley feeling nervous asking the question already knowing he thought she was weird. "My friends actually went out to McDonalds to eat and my mother gave me only a little bit of money today for lunch."

She looked down her plate having hamburger, corn and mash potatoes.

"No wonder teenagers are emotionally depressed during classes," said Riley. "Look at my poor hamburger and this is on a good day. I'm afraid to see it on a bad day, probably explode in my face when I eat it or something."

They both glanced at a pot of gravy that she wanted with her mash potatoes. However, it resembled more of a tar pit as it looked inedible to the teenagers' eyes.

"I don't even want to know what's in there." Riley said thinking she will do without the gravy today.

John smirked at her comment.

"I need to really get a job."

"You and me both." John said as she smiled at him feeling him loosen up to her.

They both paid for there food and started to walk back to the lunch table where Cameron and Morris was sitting.

"Sorry about yesterday." Riley said.

"Why?"

"If I scared you," She chuckled. "I'm not a weirdo that talks to guys on the streets if you got that impression about me."

John smirked. "It's really okay."

She kindly smiled at him. "What football team do you like anyway? I heard guys just beat each other up if you're rooting for the wrong team."

Riley glanced at the cut marks on his face. "I hope that didn't happen to you."

John gritted his teeth as he wasn't into football but had to improvise since he lied about it to begin with.

"The Seahawks." John made it up real fast.

"Seattle Seahawks, not bad."

"You have a football team you like?" John asked since they were on the subject and to make conversation.

"Philadelphia Eagles," she told him. "They haven't won a ring yet but this is there year, but then again I say that every year. I have a gamble with guys this year, they'll win all the way."

"How much?" John asked curious.

"Three hundred dollars."

"Wow."

"Yes, I know which is why I'm stuck with cafeteria food until Christmas time." She smiled at John.

Cameron heard John voice in the distance and looked up. He was smiling and laughing while talking to the girl he thought was spying on him. She thought she told John to make up lie not become friends with her. She wondered was this a good or bad idea in her book. Making friends, they ask weird questions and act funny which can become complicated when one have to lie to not tell the truth, like Morris, Cameron thought. Unlike John, who thought using Morris to get Cromarite from not blowing a hole in his head, Cameron thought Morris was useful to her. Lying keeps them alive and off the grid, something she thought John still needed to learn.

"So will you come?"

Cameron turned around hearing Morris voice as he was still asking to meet his mother. However, she needed to say something or he wouldn't stop bugging her about the question which could lead to blowing her cover.

"Yes." Cameron flat out said like before. "You have to ask John."

"Yes, Yes. Cool no problem. Don't worry my mom is really cool, she'll like you." Morris felt excited and drink his Capri Sun juice. He placed it back on the table. Then he saw John walking with a girl beside him which caught his interest.

"I didn't know your brother knew Riley." Morris said.

"He doesn't." Cameron said as they come to the table.

"Hey guys, this is Riley. She's going to eat with us." John said introducing her to the gang.

"Hey Morris." Riley said already knowing the goofy kid in her classes with him.

"You guys know each other?" John asked.

"Yeah, we have Art and Home Economics classes together." Riley said and sat down at the table followed by John.

John smirked. "Home Economics?"

"Morris almost burnt down the school last year and this year." Riley smiled at him. "I never forget Mrs. Smith's reaction to the whole ordeal. She looked like a chicken with her head cut off putting out the small fire that wasn't that serious."

"Why take the class if you suck at it ever year?" John asked Morris.

"Easy Bro, free food. I never turn it down." Morris said of actually having cooking class today which he was ready for his second lunch.

Keeping quiet the entire time and the only one suspicious of the new girl in front of her, Cameron eyes was solely on Riley and nobody else. Something about her she didn't trust as she knew the looks she was giving John was more then just wanting to become a new friend.

Catching her stare, Riley notice Cameron was looking at her the entire time since she sat down. She glanced at John and Morris as they were oblivious to the awkwardness at the table but Riley always knew Cameron was not like a normal girl. Her behavior seemed different from most girls she encountered with and it disturbed her.

"Hi." Riley said almost in a whisper but quickly looked away from her eerie stare.

John finally sees the uneasiness from Riley and Cameron looking at her like a piece of meat. He cleared his throat which got Cameron's attention to look at him.

"So…Cameron…"

"Oh yeah Cameron agreed to meet my mom." Morris interrupted John smiling crazy again. "Would it be okay this week? She told me to ask you John."

However, that same excitement didn't flow with John as he looked at Morris serious; almost in shocked that Cameron would agree with something like that. The speech she told him to make up a lie she didn't even follow her own words in which John thought she was a pro at lying.

"Wait a minute. What?" John said astonished.

"I just said yes." Cameron said repeating what John told her when they were being followed on there school trip a few weeks ago.

"Morris mom is a sweetheart, you'll like her." Riley said meeting his mother already when she picked him up from school.

"Wait a minute. What?" John gave Cameron a serious look, still baffled about the news Morris told him. He had to quickly figure something out or his mother was going to blow a gasket.