"So, Cyberdyne is underground this Dynamic Industries?" John asked Catherine, groggily trying to process her information. It was early in the morning-- not that it mattered to the machine—but John was running on very little sleep.

"Yes, we must infiltrate Dynamic Industries, find Cyberdyne and replace its software with Cameron's."

"How did you find out all of this?" he asked suspiciously.

"Some of us don't have to sleep." She responded.

"I doubt any one of these soldiers would have told you any of this."

"I downloaded the information on the Resistance's Database." She said unrepentantly.

"You can't just hack the network and steal information from the people who are sheltering us!" he protested.

"I needed information, now I have the information—I am not programmed to have a conscience, Mr. Connor." She retorted.

He sighed, "Obviously."

Cameron sat silently, watching the exchange, then spoke up. "When do we leave?"

"As soon as John is ready."

"I'm ready," he mumbled, disliking the feeling that he most definitely was the weakest link of the group. "I just need to say goodbye… to… Kyle." He stood up and Cameron immediately followed. "No, if you don't mind—I'd like to do this myself."

Cameron thought for a second, processing threat levels undoubtedly, she still was his bodyguard, and then nodded.

He stepped out the door only to run into Alison. She looked as angry as ever, but there was a new look on her face that John couldn't quite identify.

"Oh, hi Alison, I was just going to look for Kyle have you seen him?" he asked, keeping a polite tone.

She just shrugged, opened her mouth then closed it, then finally "Why did you call me Cameron?"

"What?"

"When I woke you up that first morning you called me Cameron. And you said that your Terminator friend in there is in a different body or whatever. I'm not stupid. When I first saw it, it looked almost surprised to see me too, and then it apologized. For no reason. Tell me the truth."

John rubbed his hand over his eyes, finally recognizing the look on Alison's face: fear. "Look, Alison, if there's one thing I know it's that the future is relative. You can't be sure of anything except that in one future, in one order of events…"

"That's easy for you to say," she snapped, "You didn't just find out that some metal bitch is modeled after you, and then becomes super important in saving mankind."

John nodded, what he had to do to save the human race was survive, but what Alison had to do was to die. He decided against telling her that he'd gladly switch places with her. "Life sucks," he agreed.

Tears sprung into Alison's eyes, "And then you die?"

He reached out instinctively to comfort her but she shook him off.

"Kyle is over in the Machine room, down that way to the left."

"Thanks."

Alison nodded, "See you in another future, John Connor."

"Bye Alison."

She nodded then turned away.

"Alison," he called after her.

She paused and looked back.

"For what it's worth, I wish you didn't—I wish that nobody had to die."

"A commander who wants a war where nobody dies? Sounds like a pretty boring war to me." She said sarcastically, but before she turned to leave again, he could have sworn he'd see her smile.

"Leaving already?" Kyle asked as soon as he saw John. Kyle was covered in grease a wrench in one hand, some part to something in another. John took a mental picture, one that he would always carry with him.

"Yeah, it may surprise you but Terminator's aren't really the type to stick around and visit." John retorted.

Kyle laughed. "Well, everything should be set, Tommy's usually manning the 'Time Machine'—no matter how many times I use it I will never get used to it – he knows that you're coming."

He knew that Kyle really had little reason to, but he was disappointed that Kyle wasn't seeing them off. "Got a lot of work to do here?" he asked casually.

Kyle nodded, a little uneasily, "That, and I honestly don't know how to say goodbye to you. I think that if I came to see you go I might just wind up going with you and I'm not quite sure the time-space continuum or whatever could take it."

"I wouldn't mind breaking time travel, it'd make for a pretty cool story." John said, still trying to be light.

Kyle laughed then got serious. "Look, I know that once you go back, that everything will change, and if I do meet you again—"

"I won't tell you who I am." John finished for him.

"Right." Kyle ran a hand through his hair, "So I just want you to know that I understand, and also I am damn proud of you, Son."

Kyle pulled John into a fierce hug and when they pulled away both hid their faces from each other to wipe away the tears.

Kyle cleared his throat, "Right, so what do you say you go save us all?"

John smiled ruefully, "Some fathers just ask for their kid to become an engineer or maybe a doctor."

"I have high standards." His father replied. "I have a feeling you can live up to them."