Disclaimer & Notices
Please refer to Chapter One for disclaimers and notices.
Started: May 28, 2009
Series 2: No Fate, Story #2
I, Human
by Red Hope
Chapter 4 – From Philips to Phillips
Cameron Philips slowed the Harley Davidson as she maneuvered it over the crest of the hill. But she throttled the engine just a bit so they came closer to the cliff.
Sarah had become tense once she realized where they were headed after Cameron left the city on Route 1. She shifted her left hand onto the terminator's hip then removed her HUG from her face. She scanned the local terrain that hadn't changed in almost twenty-two years.
The terminator shifted the Harley into park and leaned the bike to one side. She pushed out the kickstand and shut off the engine.
Sarah dismounted the heavy bike and stepped aside while the terminator checked that the bike wouldn't topple. She then peered up at the taller woman that came to her side. "Why here?" Cameron had brought Sarah to the location where they'd destroyed the T-888 back in 2008. It truly unnerved Sarah because of her memories about this place.
But Cameron didn't seem bothered at all. She removed her helmet and coolly replied, "I come here for the sunsets." She set the helmet on the sissy bars then walked away and approached the cliff that overlooked the Pacific Ocean. Indeed she had a beautiful view of the sunset that kissed the western horizon.
Sarah oddly studied the terminator's back. However, she removed her helmet and set it on the bike seat. She put her sunglasses on her head then quietly neared the terminator. She could understand Cameron's pleasure from the breath taking sunset. She admitted it'd been a long time since she actually watched one. She came up to the terminator's side and folded her arms.
Cameron stood silent and still. She let the sunset's symphony fill her HUD and the colors warmed her. She was always dazzled by sunsets. She also discovered a serenity that silenced her constant data analysis in her systems. For a brief twenty minutes, she was not a terminator but just another individual watching the sunset. She could be Cameron.
Sarah sensed that the terminator was lost in the sunset. She stole a brief glance at the terminator's profile, and Sarah saw hidden vulnerability. She witnessed the human in the terminator. Sarah shut her eyes upon seeing Cameron's new depth that had been developing in 2008. But now Sarah couldn't deny that Cameron was more than a machine.
After a minute, Sarah shifted behind the terminator and took a seat on a large boulder that protruded from the ground. She propped up her soles against the rock's side, and she hunched forward. Yet, she lifted her head and wistfully watched the last minutes of the ruby sun. She couldn't silence her ramped thoughts that plagued her this evening. She felt silly for going on this adventure tonight because it left her alone with the terminator. She almost felt open to the terminator, who had obviously grown rather keen on human emotions.
Once the brick red sun faded behind the horizon, Cameron broke her stare and looked over at Sarah Connor. She took a slow, deep breath that almost seemed to refill her. She neared the seated human but sat down on the ground, next to Sarah's propped up legs.
Sarah lowered her gaze to the larger woman nearby. She gently asked, "You watch the sunsets here... in the future?"
"Yes." Cameron didn't reveal why or how this habit had developed in her. She refused to let the hardened human know that she'd come to this location in the future because it was the very spot that Cameron discovered her emotions were solely hers, not programmed in her. Cameron couldn't confess to Sarah that this overlook made her think about Sarah Connor. Nor would she tell that she'd wait until the night cloaked her, and she could see the stars overhead. After awhile the overlook had become a sacred haven for Cameron.
Sarah nibbled on her bottom lip but wouldn't press the terminator further. She wasn't sure she could handle anymore than the simple acknowledgment that the terminator had a human like habit. She instead thought this would give her an opportunity to find out more on the terminator's mission.
"Tell me why you are here, Cameron."
The terminator twisted her head around and her steeled features revealed nothing. "I have told you."
Sarah shook her head and argued, "I don't think you've told me everything." She dropped her boots to the ground. "It just doesn't add up... your mission doesn't make sense."
Cameron just shook her head at Sarah's doubt. She stared back at the sunset's remaining light show. "You are bitter... you want to remind yourself that I'm just a machine." She shifted her hand onto her knee. "You want me to have a set mission because that'll give you comfort that I have a focus besides us getting close again."
Sarah was jarred by the terminator's perceptive assessment on what was happening now. She slid her right hand down onto the rock and harshly gripped it. "Close? Again?" She shook her head and insisted, "There is no again."
Cameron let out a low sigh and muttered, "You have proved my point." She lifted her hard blue eyes to the human. "You don't trust me, Sarah."
"I don't believe this whole cockamamie mission," Sarah hissed.
"My mission is to protect Jean," Cameron reminded. "It may not have specific threats listed out that I can check off. But she is my mission." She tilted her head and asked, "Why is that so hard to believe?"
"It's not that simple... it's never that simple with the UR, the Resistance, Omega... you."
Cameron turned her head away at Sarah's obvious doubt. She shut her eyes once she registered the bitter undercurrents in Sarah's voice. She softly whispered, "Twenty-two years is a long time." Her eyes drifted open. "For a human," she sadly added.
Sarah hadn't expected the conversation's new direction. She tried gauging what was Cameron's point.
The terminator stayed silent then curiously tested, "What is the highest FLOPS rating for a supercomputer today?"
Sarah, the CEO of a leading technology company, faltered at the pop quiz question. "I believe it's up to thirty-three zetaflops now. The supercomputer is at the University of Texas and pushes thirty-three ZFLOPS at ten point twenty-six terahertz." She noticed how the terminator seemed amused by this record.
The bemused terminator peered back up at the human and casually informed, "I can do thirty-three ZFLOPS on standby." She noted the human's now annoyed features. Cameron became more serious and explained, "I typically average seven hundred novettaflops at about fifteen point eighty-three yottahertz."
Sarah attempted fathoming how a computer, Cameron's physical size, could accomplish such a measurement. The best supercomputers in 2030 that took up a large office didn't match seven hundred novetta floating point operations per second. Nor were there any CPUs that worked in yottahertz, yet. She let out a held breath and murmured, "Impressive."
Cameron ignored the compliment and looked back at the sunset light. "I process immeasurable amounts of data in a week."
Sarah had no argument to Cameron's fact. She thought more deeply about what Cameron was telling her, and the logic hit her. She bit her lower lip then mentioned, "There's this misnomer in human culture where we say that one human year is equal to seven dog years."
The terminator agreed it was a misnomer, but she held her silence.
Sarah bobbed her head a few times after it made complete sense to her. She softly whispered, "Two years is a long time for a computer."
Cameron lifted her left leg and wrapped her arm around her knee. "Yes," she agreed. "Two computer years equates to about twenty human years."
"But a computer's lifespan," Sarah argued, "is expanding greatly." She focused down on Cameron. "Granted technology is constantly evolving but so can a computer."
"If it is properly upgraded, yes." However, Cameron also reminded, "But when does it become a different computer after so many upgrades?" She eyed the human, who was a mechanical engineer. "Perhaps after the CPU is upgrade or the storage array?"
Sarah sighed at this heavy debate and replied, "I don't think we'll find that answer tonight."
"No," the terminator conceded.
Sarah wondered how she and Cameron seemed to end up in another hefty conversation in this same spot similar to back in 2008. But a sudden vibration in her jean pocket caught her off-guard, and she jumped up from the rock.
The terminator curiously studied the human, who fished out her earpiece and hooked it to her ear.
Sarah hit the blue lit button after she had it properly in her ear. She was pleased that it was Chola calling her. "I'm alright. How about you?" She sat back down on the rock. "You do already? That's great." She propped her right boot against the rock's side. "Well, Cameron and I can come by tonight and pick it up."
Cameron was glad that her digital documents were complete. She wasn't opted on waiting another day or two.
"Alright," Sarah agreed. "We can probably be there in forty-five minutes to an hour." She lowered her stare to the terminator seated next to her. "Can you tell me your address so I can give it to Cameron?" She carefully listened to Chola and repeated it aloud for Cameron. She then promised, "I'll call you five minutes from your place. Thanks, Chola." She ended the call.
"It will only take us thirty minutes," Cameron promised.
Sarah was glad to hear it. "Let's get moving then." She put away her earpiece in her pocket.
The terminator climbed to her feet and easily surpassed the human's petite size. She lowered her cool blue eyes to Sarah.
Sarah detected that Cameron wanted to say something so she moved away to avoid it. However, a large hand pressed into her leather-clad stomach and cut her off. She twisted her head up to the terminator.
Cameron shifted closer to the human's side and didn't remove her touch. She bowed her head closer and locked eyes with Sarah. "I admit that my mission is vague... even for me." She watched Sarah's features for any indicators to Sarah's emotions. "But I am here to help."
Sarah turned away and stared at the crisp green grass around them. She brushed her hair from her face when the breeze caught a few strands. "I held out... wasting years on thinking you'd be back." She shut her eyes at her own admittance. She didn't want to tell this to Cameron, her former lover. She was trying to be strong and hard, but some resolve cracked at Cameron's touch and concern.
"You are bitter... angry at me for leaving," Cameron concluded. Her monotone faltered with emotions.
Sarah lifted her head again and looked out at the world. "Maybe I am angry and bitter." She peered up at Cameron finally. "I wasn't suppose to... to feel for you. I wasn't allowed it because it wasn't meant to be fated." She indeed showed crossed emotions on her face. "All my life, I have had no say or choice in what I want but instead I'm suppose to follow this goddamn path that brings Apocalypse to the world."
Cameron tasted the human's slowly developed dark fiery after so long. She moved a bit closer until she almost brushed against the human's side. She then gingerly slipped her left hand under Sarah's jacket and pressed her palm against Sarah's lower back.
Sarah dropped her head, and her eyes fluttered at the feel of Cameron's hand against her skin. She clenched her teeth and hotly whispered, "I help bare evil to this world." She shook her head. "How do I live with that?"
"You do not bring evil to this world, Sarah." Cameron searched the human's dark profile. "You bring good... you give humans hope."
"It's my technology that brings terminators to life," Sarah snapped. She instantly looked up at Cameron now. She gripped the terminator's right arm with her hand. "I gave John hunters and killers."
"Only because John wiped out their original programming and reprogrammed them to kill," Cameron quickly explained. "There was nothing you or the government could have done to stop it." She could tell her words hadn't completely settled the distraught human. "If it wasn't for your research then Omega and your daughter could never build terminators for the UR. If the UR didn't have your research then there'd be no hope of survival."
Sarah just wasn't positive anymore. There was many times where she wanted to just give up and disappear from her fate. However, she kept driving forward and pushed Cyberdyne harder to develop the fated terminator that would either kill or protect humans. Through the days, she kept asking herself one question that never had an answer.
"Why me?" Sarah whispered to Cameron. She brought her hand up to her chest, and her fingertips touched her Saint Christopher necklace. "Why is it me?" She gazed up at the terminator.
Cameron frowned at the human's question that could never be truly answered. But at Sarah's pleading features, she felt her own resolve crack, and she sadly admitted, "I do not know." She reached up and lightly touched the human's jaw line. "I ask myself why I was chosen as the Omega terminator." Her frown grew deeper. "I have not found an answer."
Sarah didn't expect the terminator to know either. She understood why Cameron asked a similar question because Omega and Jean's theory about humane terminators rested on Cameron's shoulders. Sarah would bring the terminator technology into the world, but Cameron would either prove or disprove that machines could become sentient beings.
"I may have not chose this," Cameron started, "but I will succeed. I will break my mold." She found curious green eyes upon her. "I have a heart... I have a soul."
Sarah looked away and muttered, "I don't... anymore." She now broke out of Cameron's hold and walked away.
"That's because you let it go," the terminator explained. She saw Sarah stop so she approached the human's backside. "You put your heart and soul into Cyberdyne. It will take it all away if you let it."
Sarah gazed sidelong at the terminator. "But that's my fate, remember?" She turned her head slowly as Cameron came in front of her. "I'm doing what you asked of me." Her eyes glistened in the last rays of sunlight.
Cameron clenched her hands at her sides.
"I didn't turn or look back once you got out of the truck," Sarah swore. "But I kept hoping..." She suddenly grabbed her necklace and held up the Saint Christopher charm in midair. "I had faith in your words... that what I'm doing is right." She dropped the necklace to her chest. "For some reason, God has granted me the strength to live with this curse I learned about back in 2008."
"It is not a curse," Cameron refuted.
"It's certainly not a blessing," Sarah yelled at the terminator. Her eyes burned hot from her emotions.
Cameron quickly compiled her logic and stated, "If you see it as a curse then what was between us in 2008 was evil."
Sarah sharply lost her ire and her angry features dulled.
"You must regret what we shared," Cameron concluded. She became bitter herself at how Sarah wouldn't find the light out of the darkness. "It was not special as you said." She narrowed her eyes and whispered, "You lied to me, apparently."
"I never lied to you," Sarah fought in a weak tone.
The terminator didn't believe it for a beat. "Perhaps not at the time, but now you see it as a mistake and hate yourself for giving in, for being weak with me." She shook her head. "My opinion didn't change."
"It was all heat of the moment," Sarah muttered. But she didn't seem to convince herself. "I was a kid," she weakly added. "I was foolish."
"I was not foolish," Cameron rebuked. She found distraught jade eyes on her. "What we had was unique, and you still know that today." She deciphered Sarah lied to herself in hopes that Sarah would believe the lies and could let go. But in reality, she and Sarah could never let go what was between them from so long ago despite they both were told to do so.
Sarah stood fixed on Cameron. She hadn't expected for Cameron to see through her like she was transparent. She'd spent nearly twenty-two years desperately convincing herself that what happened in 2008 meant nothing to her. Yet, she clung to solid reminders from the past like the Ford F-350, Harley Davidson, and Cameron's jacket. There was always a shard of her that firmly believed Cameron would return one day. Now Cameron was back, and Sarah was forced to confront a past she both hated and loved at once.
Through time, Sarah's bitterness about her fate made her loathe ever meeting Cameron. But she realized that she allowed her darker emotions to get to her. Perhaps she wasn't as strong as she believed earlier. Sarah fell into her own trap.
Cameron knew that Sarah was working through the surfacing emotions. She read each of them on Sarah's face then Cameron's instincts drove her feet forward. She just knew by the sudden dread on Sarah's face.
Sarah lost her long ridden strength through her next exhale. She started sinking to the ground from the weakness. But she never fully fell because Cameron had her.
Cameron stilled the weaken Sarah Connor. She had her knees bent enough but her arms were solidly around the human's petite waist. She then slowly stood them back up. She felt Sarah grasp her hips.
"I..." Sarah faltered at her words. "I can't keep..."
Cameron understood the unfinished statement. She bowed her head closer and confidently whispered, "You don't have to anymore, Sarah." She read the unasked question in the human's eyes. She simply informed, "I'm here for the duration."
Sarah just wasn't sure, but she couldn't handle anymore for right now. She could only move in closer and hugged the taller woman.
The terminator adjusted a bit and returned the warm hug. She felt Sarah's cheek pressed against her chest, and she lowered her head down. She was quiet for awhile but made a last attempt. She whispered, "I'm here to help... let me."
Sarah reached up and grasped the side of the terminator's neck where the blue Omega tattoo proudly displayed. She let out a low but shaky breath and replied, "I... I just need time." She lifted her head up and met Cameron's curious gaze. "So much is happening right now. I just need time to get my head around it... please."
Cameron nod then promised, "We have time now." She relaxed at seeing Sarah's smile despite it was wistful.
Sarah moved her hand and rested it on Cameron's shoulder. She seriously mentioned, "I'm not the same Sarah Connor you once knew."
Cameron tilted her head at such a statement that didn't bother her. "I know." She arched her right eyebrow and informed, "I'm not the same Cameron Philips you met in 2008."
Sarah was caught off guard by Cameron's declaration. However, it was very true, and Sarah knew it. "Yes," she murmured, "I can see that now."
The terminator sensed that the human had regained her strength so she slowly withdrew. "We should go."
Sarah silently agreed and broke away from the younger woman. Together, she and Cameron continued the walk to the Harley Davidson that shined in the early night. She sadly smiled and mentioned, "I'm glad I kept the truck and bike."
"You enjoyed the size of the truck," Cameron concluded.
"And that Power Stroke." Sarah added a warm hum to her words. "But I like having the bike's power just under us and the open ride."
Cameron could relate with the human. She collected Sarah's helmet and handed it to her first. She then grabbed hers and started putting it on too.
Sarah faltered because she remembered her promise to Chola about a five minute approach phone call. She pulled out her earpiece and hooked it in place. She then put on her half helmet followed by her HUGs. Once she had it situated, she climbed onto the bike behind the terminator.
"Night vision," Sarah softly ordered to her heads-up sunglasses. Shortly she viewed the world in shades of green that gave her better details.
Cameron waited for the human to get comfortable then she started the motorcycle. She throttled it once too before she sat down.
"You good on directions to Chola's?" Sarah checked.
"Yes." The terminator placed her boots on the controls then put the bike into gear. "Perhaps we should do dinner afterwards." She switched on the bike's large headlight.
"I was thinking the same thing." Sarah encircled the terminator's waist.
"Hold on tight," Cameron instructed. She was concerned the downhill ride would be harder on Sarah than when they came up the path. She took it slow and careful though. Luckily, her own night vision and superior strength gave her a great advantage over the dark terrain.
Sarah indeed clung tightly to the terminator. She wasn't worried in the least because she trusted Cameron. But she did take in some of the view through her night vision. But soon enough, her and Cameron were on a motorway and headed back to Route 1.
Cameron kept their speed around seventy despite Route 1 allowed them to do a hundred miles per hour. But she knew the higher speeds were more adequate for hover cars rather than wheeled vehicles like the Harley Davidson. She sensed that Sarah sat closer to her than earlier, and she suspected it was due to the temperature dropping after sunset. At this thought, Cameron sent an order through her chassis to increase her overall body heat in hopes it'd keep Sarah Connor warm.
Sarah was chilled, but she noticed that Cameron slowly became warmer. Initially she thought she was imagining it, but Sarah was positive that Cameron's body had warmed up considerably. She made a mental note to ask about it later.
On the ride into Los Angeles, Sarah spied three hover motorcycles that came up on their left in the fast lane. She stole a glance at them because they'd slowed down near them. She wondered if it was because they were riding a historic Harley Davidson while they rode more modern hover bikes. But what surprised her was that Cameron freed her left hand and held it out to the bikers. In return, the bikers also held out their hands then zipped off. Sarah was slightly slack jaw at the fact that Cameron knew the traditional greeting between bikers.
Once they were in the city again, Sarah was able to talk somewhat to Cameron over the motorcycle's heavy growl. She brought her lips close to the terminator's ear and requested, "Can you pull over when we're five minutes out from Chola's?"
Cameron easily heard the human due to her excellent hearing. She just nodded then made a left onto a busy street. She carefully maneuvered between the hover cars but made another left at the next intersection. She knew they were not far, and she spotted a wide shoulder so she pulled over for Sarah.
The CEO freed her right hand after the terminator stopped the bike. She hit her earpiece's button and ordered, "Chola." She only had to wait three beeps then Chola's voice greeted her. "We'll be there in five." She waited a beat. "Great... bye." She ended the call and put her arm back around Cameron's waist.
"Did you bring a gun, Cameron?" Sarah noticed the terminator's hesitation then there was the confession.
"No, I did not." The terminator's displeasure was obvious in her tone.
Sarah let out a low sigh and muttered, "Damn." She considered their options plus her past visits to Chola's place. "We should be fine. It's never Chola that worries me but her second in command on the other hand is another story."
"Who is he?" the terminator checked.
"Carlos," Sarah supplied. "He's probably created your identity... that's his specialty."
Cameron nodded then suggested, "Point him out to me."
"Oh I probably won't have to," Sarah argued. "You'll know, right away."
The terminator decided not to ask and instead put the bike into gear. She followed her internal GPS to the address that Sarah had given her earlier. She slowed the bike down once they pulled into a large community block that had several people walking past and scattered parked cars. She spotted Chola's house address on the mailbox, turned on the right blinker, and slowly pulled into an open spot on the curb.
Sarah dropped her feet to the ground from the pegs. She climbed off the bike while Cameron popped out the kick stand. She removed her helmet and set it on the sissy bars. She then put her HUG on her head then waited for Cameron.
The terminator shoved the Harley's keys into her jean pockets then took off her half helmet. She stacked it on Sarah's then took the human's side for the walk to Chola's house. She zoomed in on the two large men that sat on the porch.
Sarah noted that the terminator was protectively close to her, and she faintly grinned at old habits. She went up the porch steps first and only nodded at the guy on the right, who got up and opened the front door for her.
Cameron briefly assessed him but followed Sarah into the more modern house. She stayed behind Sarah but was very close by. She quickly scanned over the living room they'd just entered. But she focused on the only human that was familiar to her besides Sarah.
From a sofa, Chola Santiago gracefully climbed to her feet and focused on the two visitors. She still had stone cold features and her skin beautiful dark to match her rich brown eyes. Her ruby red lips were striking. She glanced up once at Cameron but held out her hand to Sarah.
Sarah stepped forward and took the UR agent's equally small hand. "It's good to see you."
Chola's hard features broke with a faint smile. "You too, Sarah." She released hands then turned to the tall terminator behind Sarah Connor. "It's been awhile, Philips." She tilted her head and remarked, "You haven't aged a damn day."
"Connor's food works miracles," Cameron joked with the older woman.
Sarah furrowed her eyebrows and curiously peered up at the terminator.
Chola cracked a brighter smile and held out her hand to Cameron. "The perks of being the Omega terminator, I take it." She briskly shook the terminator's hand. She stepped back after the handshake and became her usual serious self. "I have the digital documents ready to go."
"What you need in return?" Sarah prompted after a beat.
Chola considered the offer and folded her arms. "Trade is always good, Sarah."
"Not cash this time?" the CEO checked. At Chola's negative response, she put her hands on her hips. "I'll get some drops done. We'll work out a day and time later."
Chola nodded in agreement then she turned her head sidelong. "Consiga a Carlos," she ordered in Spanish to one of her men sitting in the living room. She then looked at Sarah again. "How is Cyberdyne?"
"Busy," Sarah reported, "We're getting back into government work."
"Excelente," Chola agreed. "The government spends big."
The CEO bobbed her head because it was true. "It's always good money." She then slightly tensed at seeing Carlos quickly approaching them.
"Connor." Carlos appeared to be in his late thirties and had dark features not only from his complexion but also his aura. He held out a black stick to Sarah Connor.
Sarah took the stick that had Cameron's documentation. "How are you, Carlos?"
"Bueno, bueno," Carlos replied. He slowly smirked and glanced up at the tall, dark woman behind Sarah Connor. "She looks more like twenty-one, Connor... rather than twenty-five."
"Does it matter?" Sarah rebuked. She reached up for her HUG but paused and mentioned to Chola, "Can I check this?"
Chola held out her hand at the stick. "Please." She waited for the CEO's decision about the fake documentation.
Sarah put on her HUG then ordered, "Bluetooth enable." She saw it came on then she ordered, "Pair." She watched the meter's progress as it paired with the stick. In a moment, her HUG's screen filled with citizenship data about Cameron such as place of birth, age, height, weight, and so on. But she frowned at a detail and quickly removed her sunglasses.
"Good huh?" Carlos had a wicked grin.
"You put her in the system as Phillips... with a double 'l'," Sarah chewed out. Her angry expression centered on the small man.
"Carlos?" Chola looked at her second in command and glared at him. "Didn't you pay attention to the email forward from Sarah about what to document?"
"May I see it?" Cameron prompted the CEO.
Sarah suspected Cameron could easily link up to the stick, but that would also break Cameron's human cover. Only Chola was aware of Cameron's true nature unlike Carlos or the others. So she handed over the sunglasses with the stick. But she glowered at Carlos.
"It is a minor mistake," Carlos refuted. He held out his hand at Cameron. "Who is going to care if it's one or two 'l's in her name?"
"It's the details," Sarah snapped. She was use to stupid mistakes in her company that could be costly. "It's Philips like the damn television." She pointed at the large wall television in the living room that was indeed made by Philips. She shook her head and dropped her hand. "Did you screw up anything else?"
"No," Cameron reported, "the rest is flawless." She removed the HUG and returned the items to Sarah.
"It's no big deal," Carlos argued. He looked between Sarah and his leader.
Chola crossed her arms and looked from Carlos to Sarah. "We can change it if you're really worried about it." She peered up at the terminator.
Sarah turned to the terminator and murmured, "It's your call." She put her HUG back on her head.
"It's not worth correcting," Cameron concluded.
"Fine," Sarah agreed. She shifted back to the UR agent. "I'll get in touch with you about the drops later."
"Bueno." Chola held out her hand. "Call if you need anything else, Sarah." She shook hands then also took the terminator's hand. She softly promised, "I'll let the network know you're back."
Cameron bowed her head in appreciation. "Take care, Chola."
Chola shifted closer to the terminator and whispered, "Keep them safe, Philips." She didn't wait on a response and walked away from the group.
Carlos back stepped once but offered, "Hasta la vista, Connor." He slid his hands into his pockets, glanced at the taller woman, and turned away to leave.
Sarah huffed and muttered,"Él es estúpido." But she quietly left the house with Cameron in tow.
Cameron still had a faint smirk at Sarah's earlier remark about Carlos. She returned to the bike with Sarah and put on their helmets. "Where do you wish to eat?"
Sarah considered their options while she hooked on her helmet. "You still like seafood?"
"I rarely eat it," Cameron confessed.
The CEO grinned and asked, "Ever have sushi?" At the terminator's arched eyebrow, she easily made her decision. "Search up Sushi Sasabune... it's down near the ports and such."
"12400 Wilshire Boulevard?" the terminator checked. She mounted the bike then waited for Sarah to get on it too.
"That's the one," Sarah agreed. She sat down comfortably on the seat. She gripped Cameron's hips and listened to the Harley's throaty growl.
Cameron considered her new identity and amusingly inquired, "Can I now speed?"
Sarah couldn't help a small laugh and argued, "Do you want to keep the bike?"
"You prefer that I drive it with you on it," the terminator concluded. She had a faint smirk because, like Sarah, she knew it was the truth.
Sarah squeezed the terminator's stomach extra hard then needled, "Don't let it get to your head."
Cameron had a small smile but put the bike into gear and pulled out into the empty street. "Sushi Sasbune has excellent reviews."
"Oh I know," Sarah murmured. She was easily heard though over the motorcycle's engine.
Cameron said nothing back and focused on her drive to western Los Angeles for Sarah's restaurant pick. It only took them fifteen minutes, and they pulled into the somewhat packed parking lot. She found a small open spot for the bike and parked the bike.
"Let's take the helmets in," Sarah suggested.
The terminator silently agreed after she removed hers. She tucked it under her right arm then unzipped her jacket. She followed the human into the restaurant's entrance.
"Good evening," a young Asian woman greeted the pair. "Two?"
"Yes, please." Sarah unzipped her jacket while she followed the hostess to their booth seat. "Thank you."
"Enjoy," the hostess offered then slipped away.
Cameron took a booth seat while Sarah had the other. She put her half helmet down the booth then sat down.
Sarah took off her leather jacket and covered her helmet with it in the booth. She scooted into the booth and became situated just as their server arrived at the table.
"Good evening, ladies." The server was Asian too and wore a traditional full wrap. She handed the guests two hot, damp hand clothes for cleaning. "Would you also like a sushi menu?" She set down the menus in front of them.
"Yes, that'd be great."
The server nodded at the older woman. "What would you like to drink?"
Sarah considered it and requested, "Kurashizuku."
"Ochoko or masu?" the server checked.
"Ochoko," Sarah replied.
The server nodded then looked at the younger woman. "You, miss?"
The terminator wasn't quite use to being addressed formally. But she easily replied, "Ice tea."
The waitress softly bowed then walked away with the used hand towels.
Cameron focused back on the human. "You like rice wine?"
"Only with sushi," Sarah answered and grinned. She looked down at her menu. "You may want to order a regular entree in case you don't like the sushi."
"Are all rolls raw?" the terminator inquired.
"Most but if you see tempura then it's been cooked... fried actually." Sarah broke the conversation at seeing the server returning to their table. She took the digital sushi menu and set it aside. She then watched the server pour her first cup of unfiltered sake from the glass bottle.
"I'll will be back shortly for your orders," the waitress promised. She then went to another table of hers.
"Let's see..." Sarah shifted the digital sushi menu around so both her and Cameron could see it on the table. "I'm going to mark a few I like myself." She started tapping various rolls on the touch-sensitive screen.
Cameron tilted her head and asked, "The Mexican Roll?"
"Mmmm." Sarah tapped that roll twice to get two because it was one of her favorites. "It's tempura shrimp roll with rice, avocado, lettuce, and a type of spicy sauce on the top." She then tapped another roll for one order.
"The Maryland Roll?" the terminator inquired again.
Sarah had a small grin at the terminator's curiosity. "It's rice, crab, and Old Bay spice." She then turned the menu to the terminator. "Add anything you want to try."
Cameron drew the small menu closer and scanned over the menu by moving her index finger up and down.
Sarah returned to the main menu in front of her. She rolled the menu's touch-sensitive screen upwards until she came to the entrees. "I think I'll do a miso soup."
Cameron had seen the appetizer earlier. "Is it good?"
"At first, it doesn't taste that great, but it grows on you."
The terminator considered this silently but went back to the sushi menu. She tapped the Dragon Roll for one order. She then put the menu aside and returned to the main menu.
Sarah sipped on her sake and enjoyed the cold sweetness from the rice wine. She set down her cup just as the server came back. She and Cameron gave their orders, and Sarah was pleased that Cameron was trying out the miso soup.
Cameron tried her ice tea and found the flavor to be from a homebrewed style rather than from a can or bottle. She preferred it that way, but she'd already decided that she hadn't tried any others better than Sarah's red tea back at the Connor home. She'd had a few types since returning to 2045 after her experience with younger Sarah, but now none matched Sarah's home brewed red tea.
Sarah put down her small ceramic cup after she finished off the sake. She would refill it in a few minutes. "Here..." She reached into her jean pocket and retrieved the stick. "All yours." She held it out to the terminator.
Cameron obtained the stick and held it up. She did an instant connection with it and downloaded the files into her system for backup purposes. "Thank you," she seriously offered after she put the stick away.
"Not a problem," Sarah brushed off. She caught Cameron's curious glance because Sarah used Cameron's old catchphrase from 2008. She quickly prompted, "So, how's the war going against the Resistance?"
Cameron let out a low sigh and placed her arms on the table's edge. "We've lost key, strategic locations."
Sarah narrowed her eyes at this news. "Like what?" She picked up her sake bottle and refilled her cup.
"We lost control of Serrano Point's power plant only a month before I returned here." Cameron was obviously displeased. "Either we had to give it up or watch it melt down thanks to John's move."
Sarah leaned back but held her refilled cup near the table's edge. "Can the UR get it back?"
"It will be very hard," Cameron replied. "The Resistance has better aerial support than the UR." She could tell that Sarah didn't like this information. "The UR's planes are operated by humans-"
"And the Resistance has computer operated ones," Sarah guessed.
"Yes."
The CEO let out a low sigh and shook her head. "That figures." She drank more of her sake and mulled over the Resistance's strength.
Cameron considered the factors and mentioned, "The plant benefited us greatly because much of the power supplied a terminator factory." She let out a low sigh and confessed, "Without Serrano Point, our terminator production is down."
Sarah shook her head a few times at the snag the United Races now had thanks to the loss of Serrano Point. "It can't be the only terminator factory in the UR?"
"It is not," Cameron agreed. "However, it was a major factory that produced about three to five hundred terminators per month. Most other factories produce between two to three hundred per month."
Sarah tried fathoming how in the future there were factories pushing out terminators like they were automobiles. "Are the UR terminators..." She wasn't sure how to handle her question, politely without bothering Cameron. "Are they governed by Omega?"
Cameron studied the human's features, and she debated how deeply to go into the future. She'd told much to Sarah back in 2008, and she wondered how much Chola may have told Sarah. But after a moment, Cameron decided the Timeline Directive no longer applied to Sarah Connor. "Yes."
Sarah toyed with her refilled cup of sake. She stared at the pearly liquid in her cup. "So you're still the only UR terminator that has free-will?" She peered up with hooded eyes.
"Technically, yes." Cameron sat back in her booth seat rather ridged. "Most UR terminators are on read-mode only... the terminators who are soldiers. But terminators who are not in the field have been given controlled read-write mode. They also may have learning chips depending on their mission, but there are very few."
"Learning chips?" Sarah prompted.
Cameron knew she'd opened a can of worms by dabbling into this topic. "Not all terminators are built equally or the same. A terminator may be equipped with a learning chip, which will allow them to grow and develop. However, Jean is unsure what the long term developments will be. Those terminators are carefully monitored by Omega."
Sarah thought about this information, and she became curious. "But they trust you." She narrowed her eyes and her hand fell from the cup. "They sent you back when they know they can't monitor you."
"Yet I am the most suitable terminator for the mission," Cameron reminded. "I can easily adapt to posing as a human."
"It also gives you the best chance to experience and learn to be a human," Sarah muttered. She started seeing a few more puzzle pieces. After a long minute of deep thought, Sarah whispered, "Jean was counting on me taking you in." She sharply focused on the terminator. "It doesn't make sense for them to order you to not make any contact with me in 2008 then order the absolute opposite on your mission for 2030."
"It is... contradictory," Cameron agreed. But she and Sarah held back anymore conversation because the server arrived with their soups. She curiously studied the stock soup that had small pieces of tofu.
Sarah took the spoon that was provided to her. Once the server was gone, she stated, "There's more to this mission than I think Jean told you."
The terminator was stirring her soup just so she could determine the contents. "Perhaps you can ask her when we return to the house."
Sarah paused from taking her first taste of the soup. She glanced over at the terminator and realized it was a joke after a beat. "Funny," she muttered. She tried her miso soup, which warmed her stomach and chased away the last of the cold from the ride here.
Cameron tempted her tastes buds and merely drank the stock first without any tofu or seaweed.
Sarah smirked at the terminator's squinted features. "Try the tofu with it." She eyed the cautious terminator, who indeed tried the tofu next. "About the sixth mouthful, you'll love it." She chuckled because Cameron shot her a dubious look. But Sarah easily ate her soup, and it gave her time to think about the future. She set aside her empty bowl and took her sake cup.
"Is Jean married in the future?" Sarah sipped on the rice wine.
"Yes." Cameron finished her soup then set the bowl aside too. "However, I don't expect she'll be married much longer." She had a frown and explained, "Her husband is very displeased with her constant work with this new project."
Sarah had an annoyed face but asked, "What project?"
"I'm unsure," Cameron confessed. "Neither she nor Omega will disclose it to me. But I suspect it has to do with new terminator technology." She picked up her ice tea glass.
"Her husband doesn't like how focused she is on the project?"
"Yes." Cameron set her glass back down. "He feels he has to compete with Omega for Jean's time. What free time Jean has, she often spends it with her son."
Sarah lost her ire because Cameron's words made her think about her, Charley, and Jean. She often did the exact same thing with Jean and Charley. But at the mention of a son, she started softening and checked, "I have a grandson?"
Cameron caught the human's excitement and pleasure so she couldn't help telling Sarah more about Jean's son. "Yes, he turned six in February."
Sarah had a smile at thoughts of a grandchild. She did the mental calculations that her grandson would be born in February of 2041, after Judgment Day. She sadly realized she would already be dead before he would be born. She cleared away the dark thought and asked, "What's his name?"
"He is named after your father," Cameron replied.
"John?" Sarah tempted. But her stomach twisted at the thought of her grandson having the same name as the Resistance's AI.
Cameron shook her head. "She named him Jonathan after your father. She didn't want him to have the same name as the AI." She tilted her head. "But we call him Johnny for short."
Sarah chuckled at the nickname for her grandson. She liked it, a lot. But she peered up from the sake when Cameron gave a dramatic sigh.
The terminator drummed her fingers once against the table and mentioned, "He calls me Aunt Cammy."
Sarah quickly covered her mouth in hopes it'd stop her laughter. But her green eyes went bright from amusement.
Cameron shook her head a few times. "Sometimes he torments me further and calls me Auntie Cammy." She focused on Sarah's amused features. "It is very inaccurate. Jean says I let him push my buttons."
Sarah dropped her hand to her lap, but her body trembled from silent laughs. She finally gained control and asked, "Does he know you're a terminator?"
"Yes, and he loves to brag that his aunt is a terminator." Cameron let out another sigh. "At school, he tells other kids if they don't leave him alone that his Aunt Terminator will find them." She grinned at the human, who was softly laughing.
"It sounds like you two get along famously," Sarah teased.
"Johnny is family. I'm often there for him when Jean is too busy," the terminator seriously informed. "I protect him like I protect Jean or you."
Sarah stared at the terminator for a beat. She noticed how Jean's husband wasn't included in that list, which told her that Cameron selectively chose family members like any normal human would do. "It sounds like you've developed a good relationship with Johnny."
"Yes." Cameron thought more about it and revealed, "I was cautious with Johnny when I first came online. He was three years old at the time, and I initially avoided him because I was confused by young humans." She was thinking back on her memories from those days in 2044, but she focused back on Sarah. "But we grew very close after I returned from 2008. As he's grown, so have I, and I learn much from his growth."
Sarah had a smile during the terminator's story. She admired the terminator for stepping outside her safe box and becoming close with a child human, especially her grandson.
"At night before he sleeps," Cameron continued, "he often asks me to tell him the same story about you and me from 2008." She noticed Sarah's furrowed expression so she elaborated, "He likes the story about our fight against the triple eight in the factory." She shook her head and mentioned, "After each time I tell the story, he repeats that he hopes to grow up to be..." She knew the exact word but hesitantly said it. "To be as cool as Grandma."
Sarah huffed, but she had a wild grin. She didn't comment back because the waitress showed up with their plate of sushi. She also received her chopsticks and saw that Cameron wasn't so sure about them. She merely waited until their server was gone then she grinned at the terminator.
"Here, let me show you." Sarah could tell the terminator needed a fast lesson on chopsticks. She held up her hand with the chopsticks properly set between her fingers. "Like this... you want your thumb here." She watched the terminator mimic her etiquette. "You only move the upper stick while the lower remains stationary." She demonstrated it by picking up a sushi roll from the large, square platter.
Cameron easily followed Sarah's lead and took a roll. Like Sarah, she set the roll down on her small plate.
Sarah chuckled at the fact that Cameron was an instant learner. It was something she greatly appreciated after dealing with so many levels of intelligence at her company. "Soy sauce," she reminded and picked up the small soy sauce container. "That green item there on the side of the plate," she explained, "is wasabi. It's a paste material that's made from horseradish in it. It's wicked strong." She grinned at the terminator. "It'll clear out your sinus in about ten seconds."
"What is this?" Cameron pointed at the other item by the green wasabi. She could easily research it, but she enjoyed Sarah's version.
"The Japanese call it gari. It's sweet, pickled ginger that's cut into thin slices." Sarah shook her head and watched the terminator take the soy sauce. "I don't really use either. I just like the roll's flavor with the soy sauce." Sarah picked up her California roll with her chopstick and grinned at the terminator. "Try it."
Cameron rarely had seafood due to its rarity in the future. But what little she'd had, she always enjoyed but none of it had been raw. She picked up her roll, dipped it in the soy sauce, and popped it into her mouth. She slowly ate it because she was tasting every flavor in the roll.
Sarah had a smirk because she knew the terminator was doing a full analysis on the sushi. She took her rice wine and finished it off then refilled it from the chilled bottle. By her second sip, she saw that Cameron had fully eaten the roll. She amusingly asked, "How was it?"
"Satisfactory," the terminator merely answered.
Sarah chuckled and used her chopstick to push a yellowfin tuna roll closer to the terminator. "Try this one." She then scanned over the plate and noticed one she hadn't ordered. "Did you get this one?" She pointed at the bright yellow roll that had gold leaf on it.
"Yes." Cameron was dipping her next roll in the soy sauce. "I read it has mango on it. I have never had mango."
The CEO shook her head and just went back to her meal. She and Cameron silently ate for a few minutes because Cameron was so immersed with doing analysis for each roll. Sarah suspected at the end of dinner, Cameron would have a list on the sushi in order from best to worse with detailed reasoning.
Eventually, Cameron broke from her silence and resumed talking with Sarah. She and Sarah discussed more about the future and what was happening between the Resistance and the United Races. But eventually, Cameron started asking about what had happened to Sarah since 2008. Finally, Cameron started feeling comfortable with the human, who was her first and last lover. She could tell that Sarah had settled down a considerable amount compared to yesterday.
After the two finished off all the rolls, Sarah ordered a dessert that was rather common Asian variant. Just after the server left with their empty plate, a new customer came into the restaurant and started passing their table. But the woman back stepped after she caught something of interested in the booth seat.
"Is that your motorcycle out there?"
Sarah lifted her eyes to the younger woman, and she became slightly leery. "Yes, it's mine." She noted the woman was looking at Cameron's half helmet. "It's a 2008 Harley Davidson."
"What model?" the woman curiously inquired.
"It's an Electra Glide," Sarah replied.
"It's absolutely beautiful," the woman complimented. She then held out her hand. "I'm Heather."
Sarah took the young woman's hand. "Sarah." She then looked at the terminator. "This is Cameron."
Heather focused on the woman, who was about her same age. She had a sexy smile and admired the beautiful woman. "It's really nice to meet you, Cameron." She shook Cameron's hand too then stepped back once from the table. "Where did you buy it?"
Sarah shook her head and explained, "It's been in the family for some time. I'm really not sure the exact history. But I'm only the second owner."
"Wow," Heather murmured. She glanced at the two women then a thought came to her at seeing Sarah's wedding band. She faltered but gathered her courage. "Are you two married?"
Cameron arched her right eyebrow.
"Yes," Sarah started but realized her mistake. "Not to each other," she hastily added. She then sensed that Heather was clearly interested in Cameron because Heather kept looking at the terminator. She bit her lower lip to stop a smirk. She easily understood Heather's keen interest in the beautiful, blue-eyed terminator.
"Actually, I can't operate the bike," Sarah started after a beat. "Cameron drives it, but I do all the mechanical work on it." Her eyes filled with mischief once she saw how her words entertained further thoughts in Heather's head.
"Really?" Heather turned her attention to Cameron. "Do you have a hover motorcycle too?"
"No," Cameron replied, "I prefer the older style much more than the hover bikes."
"I do too," Heather quickly agreed.
Sarah was sipping on her sake while Heather gushed over Cameron. She set down her cup and casually mentioned, "Actually, Cameron is single... Heather." She drew out the young woman's name in a husky tone. She warmly smiled up at Heather and her eyes twinkled. "She's also gay... and looking."
Cameron briefly stared in disbelief at Sarah Connor then she slotted her eyes as she quickly caught Sarah's plan. But she saw that the human, Heather, was transfixed on her again. She weakly smiled at Heather and clenched her right hand, which was under the table.
"Why don't you give Heather your number... or email at least," Sarah suggested to the terminator. She hid her wicked smile behind her sake cup.
Heather was beyond shocked at her good fortune. She swept back her blond strands behind her right ear. "We could hang out."
Sarah bowed her head after she put her sake cup down. She closed her eyes in pure desperation to control her burst of laughter that was behind her lips.
Cameron gritted her teeth at Sarah's trick. But she quickly came up with a way to get out of it and pleasantly smiled at Heather. "Yes, actually that'd be nice." She spotted Sarah's sharp head lift, but she ignored it. "Sarah and I were just discussing how hard it is to find a good date in LA."
Sarah folded her arms, leaned back against the booth, and waited for this one.
"Oh I know," Heather enthusiastically agreed.
Cameron smiled and shifted her fake smile to Sarah. "I just don't get why nobody will go out on a date with me just because I'm a single mother."
"Single mother?" Heather weakly checked.
"Yes." Cameron focused back on Heather. "I have three boys... one from each marriage." She noticed how Heather paled so she kept going with it. "Sarah suggested I try women because then at least I don't have to worry about getting accidentally pregnant again." She let out a dramatic sigh. "Their fathers are so... well you know..." She peered up from her sushi plate. "Hard to stay in touch with for any financial support."
"Right," Heather muttered, weakly again.
Sarah bowed her head and bit her bottom lip even harder than earlier. She had to hand it to the terminator, who had obviously grown just as devious. Her body started shaking from silent laughter.
Cameron was about to fire off another rant, but Heather stopped her.
"I have to get my take out order... I'm sure it's ready by now." Heather edged away from the table. "It was nice meeting you... both." She offered a fake smile.
Cameron acted put off by Heather's sudden leave. "Did you want my number at least?"
"No but thank you for the offer." Heather backed away further.
"Nice to meet you, Heather," Sarah offered to the young woman. She caught Heather's nod then she turned back to the terminator. "Touché... touché."
Cameron shook her head a few times then declared, "You have grown much more obnoxious, Sarah Connor."
"And just to think you told me it was enduring," Sarah teased. She refilled her sake cup and noted she only had a quarter of the bottle left. She smiled at seeing the fried ice cream delivered to their table. She and Cameron shared the large fried ice cream then eventually the bill arrived. Sarah paid for it and left a good tip for the server.
After Sarah finished her sake, she scooted out of the booth like Cameron and gratefully stood up. She stretched her legs a little then grabbed her helmet and jacket from the booth seat. She took the terminator's side once they were outside.
"Do you drink often?" Cameron inquired. She'd never seen the human drink until last night and wondered how often the occurrence was with Sarah.
Sarah shrugged and merely explained, "It helps me sleep at night." She shrugged on her jacket because the night was a little chilly. "I can't shut my brain down otherwise." She followed the terminator through the parking lot to their motorcycle that was under the light post. Once they came to the bike, she put on her helmet after she lowered her HUG to her face.
Cameron climbed onto the bike and adjusted her half helmet carefully. She then noticed how Sarah hesitated from getting on the bike.
"I think I may have had too much sake," Sarah admitted. She touched her own cheek, which was burning up from the alcohol but she truly couldn't tell. "I forget how strong that stuff can be." She cleared her throat then made an attempt to get on the motorcycle behind the terminator.
Cameron quickly helped Sarah so she wouldn't hurt herself. "You should have stopped halfway through the bottle."
"That suggestion would have been nice earlier," Sarah mildly teased. She really didn't care because she wasn't operating the bike. All she had to do was hold onto Cameron and enjoy the ride. She hooked her arms around the terminator's waist and leaned into her. "Just don't jerk the bike around too much because I'd hate to throw up that hundred dollar meal."
"Your jokes are getting less comical as the night progresses," Cameron mentioned. She started the engine and backed up the bike from the parking spot.
From Cameron's side profile, Sarah saw that the terminator had a faint grin. "That's why you're smirking huh?" She patted the canvas covered stomach. "You're not so good at hiding your emotions anymore like you use to be."
"Perhaps I wish for you to see them," the terminator argued. She put the bike into gear and quietly rolled out of the parking lot.
Sarah hummed at the truth behind Cameron's good point. She didn't say anything back because the ride was getting louder from the engine. She clung tighter to the terminator as the bike gained speed on the street. After a few minutes, she slowly worked her right hand under Cameron's jacket and tank top. Her wits were only half there, and Sarah didn't care about any consequences either.
Cameron visibly stiffened when the human's warm hand touched her skin. She hadn't expected such a daring move from the withdrawn human. But she suspected the rice wine had greatly impacted Sarah's normally high guard.
Sarah detected the terminator's surprise about her move, and she grinned. She soothingly ran her thumb across warm skin just near Cameron's belly button. She moved her head in closer and whispered, "For twenty minutes, I just want to forget."
Cameron heard the ache in the human's voice. She wasn't exactly sure what Sarah wanted forget, but she suspected it was their assumed roles that the future wrote for them. She understood Sarah's need so she relaxed again in the human's embrace. She then felt Sarah hug her harder for a few beats then calmed again. She suspected it was in appreciation to her agreement.
Sarah rested the side of her face against the terminator's broad, muscular back. She shut her eyes and allowed the earlier alcohol to sooth away her inner conflicts. She easily enjoyed Cameron's closeness and the motorcycle ride back to the house without feeling any guilt, for now.
To be continued.
