Chapter 10: Reed, Claire, Blaire

Blaire Powers let out a deep breath as she ran her fingers through her short, choppy, jaw-length black hair, smiling at her reflection in the mirror. She checked from every angle, loving what she was seeing; including her annoyed twin sister and brother's facial expressions. Claire's arms were folded across her chest as she stared angrily at Blaire and Reed's voice dripped with annoyance as he spoke.

"Will you please hurry?"

Three pairs of light brown eyes looked between one another and Blaire smiled as she turned around to look at her siblings.

"Chill out, I'm done."

Claire didn't budge and smiled sarcastically as she flipped one of her long black curls over her shoulder.

"Are you sure you don't have another layer of lip gloss to put on? You know, just in case you meet someone important in this time."

"Stop trying to be mom, Claire."

Every one of the Powers' expressions dropped at the comment and a moment of dead silence passed between them. Blaire drew in a quick breath and spoke softly.

"I… I'm sorry. I… I just…"

Claire rose to her feet and smiled sadly, clapping a hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay, Blaire. Just… think about it next time before you say it."

Claire turned and left the room and Reed followed silently behind her, leaving Blaire there in her guilt. She didn't understand why she couldn't control her tongue for once. They didn't need another reminder of how they had become orphans in the middle of a war. But as they hopped in their car to meet two more members, Kenneth and Bea Jones, Blaire couldn't help but think of the moment that had changed their lives. How could she? It was something no child should have to see.

She remembered seeing panic on her father's face and knew it was bad because he would never tell his kids when something was wrong. He instantly grabbed his gun and turned to his wife, whispering something Blaire would never get to hear. She remembered the way the ground rumbled and how gun shots and screams were the only thing they could hear. The base was huge but it was no match for the metal monsters that should have only existed in dreams.

Claire had started shaking and crying with fear as any seven year old would as their father ran out. The next second, their mother was sitting in front of all of them, wrapping her arms around them for a few long seconds as she kissed each of their foreheads. Blaire remembered hearing and feeling the building beginning to come down as the machines crashed through but didn't know what to do. After saying a quick prayer, they all rushed to their feet and had run.

Blaire had held tight onto her mother's hand, not wanting to feel her grip slip for one second as they pushed through the other frightened people. Reed and Claire were right behind them, looking back over their shoulders as much as they could. They had pounded through hallways, trying every exit they could, looking for a way out. She remembered Reed asking why the Resistance wasn't coming to help them and watched as hope seemed to drain from their mother's face.

She didn't turn to the triplets and kept looking ahead for anything that looked promising. Blaire remembered turning to see the hallways and the people behind them covered in orange flames. The gun shots drew closer as did the machine's heavy footsteps. Time was running out. The Powers ran as fast as they could, jumping over rubble, fallen bodies, and equipment that had been left behind. Dogs barked madly as the Terminators moved forward, destroying everything in their path.

Blaire remembered seeing vehicles and people ahead with red scarves on their sleeves and felt like there was still hope. Claire was first out the exit door, then Reed, then Blaire, then their mother. They ran toward the vehicles and straight into the arms of Resistance soldiers gathering them survivors to get them out as quickly as possible. She remembered how they were pressed together so tight because there were so many people trying to escape. Then they heard plasma blasters going off and the vehicle erupted into flames seconds later.

Blaire remembered feeling her mother's arm go limp around her and felt her entire world fall apart when she noticed she had gotten shot. Claire backed away with a hand over her mouth, shaking her head slowly, while Reed and Blaire shook their mother, trying to get her to open her eyes. Blood seeped out of her chest and her entire body was still and lifeless. Blaire remembered feeling her heart shatter inside her as she sobbed and screamed for her mother to come back.

Then the soldiers grabbed the triplets and pulled them away from the vehicle seconds before it had exploded. Reed tried to run into the fire but was pulled back while Claire had curled up in the soldier's arms, sobbing. Then they ran and ran and ran until they reached safety. And then they met Sarah Connor. And they never did see their father again.