Disclaimer & Notices: Please see Chapter 1.

Started: May 28, 2009

Series 2: No Fate, Story #2


I, Human

by Red Hope

Chapter 11 – Breaking

"Show them in, Candice." Sarah Connor listened to her assistant's response then she was surrounded by brief silence before Candice entered the CEO's office. She took a deep breath and stood up from her desk. As Sarah rounded her desk, Candice appeared with two unsuited police officers.

"Is there anything else you need, Mrs. Connor?" the assistant checked.

"No… thank you, Candice." The CEO followed it with a nod and waited until Candice was on her way. She shifted her focus to the police officers. "Good afternoon." She carefully approached them.

"Hi, Mrs. Connor." The right officer stepped forward and held out her hand. "I'm Detective Melissa Helms."

Sarah just nodded then pivoted on her feet as she took the second detective's hand.

"Detective Emily Gore," the older officer politely offered.

Sarah flashed a brief smile then took a step back. "I presume you're here to tell me you caught the bastards that hit my car?"

Briefly Detective Helms's eyes flickered to her partner then cut back to the CEO. So indeed it was true that the wealthy CEO was only concerned about what'd happened to the luxury hover car.

"Afraid not, ma'am," Detective Gore filled in. "We're still working on your case."

"There have been some new developments," Detective Helms cut in. She found the CEO's curious green eyes centered on her for more details. "The young woman, Cameron Phillips, lives with you?"

Sarah Connor slightly raised her chin then claimed, "Yes. She's a friend of the family and plans to attend UCLA."

Detective Helms nodded and continued speaking about Cameron Phillips. "Are you aware of the fact that she knows a local Hispanic gang called La Resistencia?" From the tense shift in the CEO's body, she became very curious.

"No, I was not aware of this."

"Phillips has an exceptional record with the army," Detective Gore mentioned while she retrieved her touchpad from her pant pocket. "We're a little confused as to why she'd be anywhere near La Resistencia."

Apart of Sarah wanted to ask the officers how they found out about Cameron seeing Chola. But she knew it didn't matter now because the link between Cameron and Chola was already established. She just needed to work around it.

"Who is the La Resistencia?"

Detective Gore inhaled deeply then explained, "They're an extremist gang that's very dangerous. They're heavy into drug trafficking but their main operations surround weaponry arsenals."

"Weaponry arsenals?" Sarah tempted. She clenched her jaw at the thought of the police getting close to her and Chola's silent pact.

"We believe La Resistencia is stealing military weapons and selling them on the black market." Detective Gore carefully studied the CEO of Cyberdyne Systems. She wondered why the CEO wasn't more aware of the gang since the company heavily dealt with military weaponry contracts.

Sarah merely nodded then walked away from the detectives. "Most likely you're concerned about whether or not Cameron Phillips is somehow involved with them." She faced them once she was near her desk. She took one step back and leaned against her surface desk.

"Extremely concerned," Detective Helms implied. She lowered her touchpad some. "If she is involved with La Resistencia then that places you into direct trouble, Mrs. Connor."

The CEO folded her arms and shook her head. "Is there hard proof that she's involved with them?" She watched the detectives exchange glances then Detective Gore relented first with a head shake. "If there's no hard proof then I can't suspect her. Her family goes far back on my father's side."

Detective Helms gave a low sigh then seriously focused on the CEO. "Have you given it any thought, Mrs. Connor about whether or not that car accident may have something to do with Miss Phillips? If it is true she's involved with La Resistencia then you're a perfect asset to get the newest weaponry… for the right price."

Sarah had her hands clenched under her arms, and she couldn't drown the instant flare of anger at their deluded concept about Cameron. She shoved off the desk and dangerously fired back, "Are you insinuating that the woman, who came for me and my daughter, would set up for us to be kidnapped and ransomed?"

Detective Helms clutched her touchpad tightly once the furious CEO was upon her and her partner. She sensed the warmth in her body drain away. She hoped her partner was feeling the same wrath.

"It is not impossible," Detective Gore argued, more hotly. She kept her backbone against the CEO, especially when fiery green eyes set on her. "How much are you worth, Mrs. Connor? Perhaps ten trillion?"

Sarah was grinding her teeth and attempted to cool some of her anger. Her steely green eyes stayed on Detective Gore.

"There is no proof that Phillips is linked with La Resistencia," Detective Gore agreed. "But she has been seen going in and out of their territory." She tilted her head then softly mentioned, "An antique Ford F-350 does stick out in traffic." She saw something in Sarah Connor's eyes that she couldn't quite place fast enough before it was gone.

Sarah was taking a few heavy breaths, but her chest settled some as her temper gave way. "I have no reason to suspect her."

"You may not." Detective Gore nodded once then seriously added, "But we have every reason to, Mrs. Connor."

The CEO bit her lower lip then moved away from the officers. "Do not involve my family in your mindless witch hunt." She'd taken a few steps from them but turned again. "Especially my daughter." She folded her arms. "She has enough stresses at school."

"We must question her as well about that day," Detective Gore fought.

"She was already questioned by the other officers at the hospital," Sarah reminded them.

Detective Helms sensed the air thickening again between her partner and the CEO. She lowered her focus to the touchpad and breathed deeply.

"We have to do a follow up," Detective Gore insisted and barely kept an edge from her tone.

Sarah hated to play bad guy in any of this, but she had plans to block these officers with any means. She tilted her head and studied Detective Gore, carefully. "How long have you been an officer, detective?"

Melissa Helms sensed the tension rise to new heights at such a question.

"Over ten years," Detective Gore supplied.

"And you?"

Detective Helms swallowed hard and replied to the CEO. "Seven, ma'am."

The CEO nodded a few times then softly suggested, "I'd hate to see either one of you lose your badges." She started back to her desk but paused beside it. She centered her dark features on the officers. "If you disturb my family any further, I will see that your badges are melted down." She gently laid her hand on the desk's corner. "I promise." She could see the fear in Detective Helm's eyes, but she knew her threat only fueled Detective Gore. "Anything else, detectives?"

Detective Helms was fighting a faint weakness in her legs thanks to the CEO's dangerous warning. She knew, without doubt, that the CEO of Cyberdyne Systems could easily carry out such a dark promise. She tried stilling her heart's wild beat and waited for her partner to handle it.

"No, Mrs. Connor," Emily Gore replied after a long silence.

"Good." Sarah Connor went behind her desk and looked at the pair. "Please keep me informed on what you find out about my case."

"We will," Detective Helms responded. She decided it was best to exit now. She slid her touchpad into her right pocket and glanced at her partner.

But Detective Gore took a few steps closer to the CEO. "Mrs. Connor," she tempted, "if you were in any immediate danger, would you contact us?"

Sarah had just sat back down at her desk. She lifted her attention to the detective and deciphered what the officer was really asking her. "Yes," she smoothly lied.

Detective Helms looked from the CEO to her partner and hoped the interview was over now.

Detective Gore didn't budge for a moment and held a brief staring contest with the CEO. She backed off once she was satisfied that perhaps the CEO wasn't hiding something, finally. She nodded at her partner and headed out of the office.

Sarah eyed the leaving officer's backs. She would wait until they were completely gone from the premises.

Once out of the office and into the lobby, the officers were greeted by the CEO's assistant, who directed them to the elevators. Shortly the detectives took the ride down to the main lobby but certainly not in silence.

Detective Gore sensed that her partner had calmed from the earlier interview. She leaned closer to Melissa then taunted, "Gumshoe."

Detective Helms shot a dark glare at her partner. "Please," she muttered under her breath. "You can't tell me she didn't make you tremble in your boots." She caught Emily's grin, and she sighed before shaking her head. Melissa was still a new detective and hadn't interviewed as many people as Detective Gore had over the years.

"You'll get it," Emily promised her younger partner.

Detective Helms nodded once then quietly asked, "You think there's more going on?" She watched as they came closer to the lobby's floor.

Detective Gore ignored the question and saw her partner's curious features on her. She just shook her head once because she didn't trust, at all, that the walls didn't have ears here at Cyberdyne Systems.

"Lobby floor, Detectives Gore and Helms," the computer, Vicki, spoke up once the elevator slowed down. "Please make your first left to the main doors. Have a good day."

"Thanks," Melissa supplied once she silently agreed that her partner was right about being careful what was said here. She took her partner's side once they left the elevator. But on the walk to the main doors, she suddenly felt very watched despite there were no apparent cameras anywhere in the facility or so it was made to seem that way.

From a live feed through Vicki, Sarah Connor continued watching the detectives leave the building via the lobby. She kept the small screen on the upper right corner of her surface desk, and it gave her time to consider the issue of Cameron and Chola's link. She certainly wasn't concerned about Chola but her thoughts were wild with worry about what this had done for Cameron.

Once the detectives were gone, Sarah scooped up her personal earpiece from the desk and immediately called the terminator. For once, she actually cursed her love for the F-350 truck and keeping it when it indeed stuck out like a sore thumb. After a few rings, she was greeted by Cameron's usual monotone.

"We have another problem," Sarah clipped. She dove right into the officer's interview she had only moments ago. She liked keeping the terminator informed, but she made sure Cameron understood not to tinker with the collected data from the detectives. She also expressed that the detectives had to be left unharmed. She firmly believed that if she and Cameron stayed away from Chola for some time that eventually the detectives would give up the hunt. That only left their means of communication with Chola through the earpieces due to the fact that Cyberdyne Systems encrypted them.

After her talk with Cameron, Sarah took a moment to calm down after being stirred up by this morning's events. She needed to focus on her job right now and let Cameron handle protecting her family. In some ways, it was a relief to now have help protecting her family but at that thought, Sarah became solemn. She knew soon, very soon, her family would become one less and there was nothing she would do to stop it. She decided last night that it was for the best, hopefully.

The rest of the workday went slow for the CEO. She was in and out of several meetings, but they did nothing to speed up her day. She finally left the office at six o'clock and immediately drove to the hover car dealership closest to her home. She expected Cameron and her daughter there already and probably waiting for her. She wasn't the least surprised to find them already prepared to drive off the lot with two hover cars each. Both Cameron and Jean knew exactly what they wanted in their hover cars. It didn't take long for them to settle on the cars and drive off the lot as new owners. But Sarah decided to reclaim her prior, black hover car that Jean had been using while Jean took the new car. Sarah had always been fond of the black car rather than the new white one that'd been recently wrecked.

After the exchange at the dealership and switching of cars, the women started out of the lot towards home, which was ten minutes away. However, Sarah decided to go to the Ronald Reagan Medical Center back in the city. Sarah was following behind Cameron's hover car, but she made a right at the next intersection instead of going straight like Cameron and Jean. She hung up from her call with Jean then called Cameron next.

"Hey," Sarah softly greeted the terminator, "I'm going to the hospital." She was driving her hover car manually and rounded the intersection behind another hover car. "I probably won't be home until midnight… maybe eleven." She now freed her right hand, reached for the touch screen in the center dash, and began programming her car to go to the medical center.

"I can follow," Cameron offered.

"No." Sarah's hand danced across the screen while her eyes flickered between the screen and outside traffic. "Please stay with Jean. I need to see Charley alone." She absorbed the terminator's long silence.

"Be safe, Sarah." The terminator's tone held a note of displeasure, but she didn't bring it up either. "Will you get dinner out?"

"If you and Jean cook then save me a plate…?"

"Of course," Cameron promised. "I'll send you a text if we do."

"Thanks." Sarah released the steering wheel once it started moving on its own. "I'll let you know when I'm on my way back. See you in a bit."

"Bye," Cameron properly replied. She then hung up and fully focused on her drive back to the Connor home.

Sarah though rested back in the seat now that the car was on automatic. She knew the drive back to the city would be about twenty minutes since traffic was light at nine o'clock. She hadn't made one phone call that she'd wanted to make all day. She gently touched her earpiece's touch sensitive button and waited for the voice.

"Chola," Sarah ordered the earpiece. She listened to the low, ringing chirps until Chola finally answered the call.

"Que pasa, Sarah?" Chola greeted in a normal tone.

"Too much," the CEO replied in English. "Como estas?"

"Asi, Asi," Chola admitted. "Y tu?"

Sarah slouched in her seat then after a faint sigh, she replied, "Asi, asi." She rubbed her brow then softly mentioned, "I had some detectives show up at my office today."

"About the hit and run, I presume…?" But Cholas was somewhat skeptic because it didn't make sense for Sarah to call her about it.

"Not really." Sarah bit her bottom lip. "Somebody saw Cameron drive into your territory… they saw the F-350."

"Maldita sea," Chola cursed. "I knew that terminator's attachment to that old truck would stir up trouble."

Sarah slightly huffed but reminded, "I believe it's my attachment."

"I don't know, my friend," Chola argued, "It's one of her distant great grandmothers probably." She listened to Sarah's low chuckle and was grateful to hear it. "Did the cops say how they saw her?"

"It probably was some uniform officers that spotted her coming and going from your area." Sarah combed back some of her midnight hair that'd moved in front of her face. "Cameron and I will only be able to contact you through earpieces until they give up the hunt. Right now, the cops think Cameron is somehow involved with you in trying to kidnap me for weapons or money."

"Very plausible idea," Chola agreed. She considered it then gently teased, "I don't know why I didn't think of it myself."

"Because I already feed you all the weapons you could ever need," the CEO reminded in a light tone.

Chola wistfully smiled because indeed it was true but the purpose behind it was cold and harsh. She lost her smile and mentioned, "I'm afraid I'm not having much luck on my end either. Has Cameron come up with anything?"

"No," Sarah sadly admitted. "This guy is a ghost."

"It doesn't totally make sense," Chola argued. "Why, after all these years, would somebody try to kidnap you and Jean for ransom?"

"Somebody might not be happy about Cyberdyne," Sarah offered. "Or they are just after money."

"It could be the Resistance." Chola still believed somehow the Resistance was involved with the attempted attack.

"It's too organized," the CEO debated. "It's too in depth for what the Resistance would do."

"And they may be trying a different tactic," the UR agent continued arguing. "We can't ignore the possibility, Sarah until we find out who hired those kidnappers."

Sarah gave a low sigh and rubbed her taut brow. "I don't know, Chola." For a moment, she was grateful Cameron was here and handling the situation. Indeed it would be too much for Sarah to handle by herself. "But I'll let you know if we find out anything. Cameron is still digging."

"I will keep poking around as well," Chola promised. "How long shall we wait until a visit?"

Sarah tilted her head back against the headrest and watched the zipping traffic as her car entered the highway to the city. "I'm not sure yet. Cameron is going to monitor the detectives' reports until they drop the case."

"Excellent." Chola shifted in her sofa chair. "Keep in touch, Sarah and stay safe."

"You too, Chola. Thanks again."

"De nada, my friend. Goodnight."

"Night," Sarah murmured then ended the call. She removed her earpiece, set it down on her center counsel for wireless charging, and ordered, "Cyberdyne email." She observed the hologram screen that suddenly projected from the front dash and in front of the window. She began manually going through her newest email since she left the office. Never could Sarah Connor, the CEO of Cyberdyne Systems, be truly punched out from work.

Sarah continued checking her email on the ride into Los Angeles. She only shut down her email once she was five minutes away from the hospital. She then took over the car because she wanted to drive it through the parking garage. She came to the visitor's gate and gave them her identification, which automatically allowed her in since she was married to Doctor Charley Dixon.

Shortly Sarah was parked and stepping out of her black hover car. She had her earpiece in her right hand and heard it beep then gently vibrate. She knew it was a text message, but she waited to check it. She instead pressed the palm of her hand against the car and ordered, "Lock."

The hover car flashed its lights once then it was locked up, tightly.

The CEO strolled away and headed directly the elevator lobby in the garage. She took a ride to the fifth floor and stepped out into the busy floor. She hadn't been to the UCLA hospital in some time, yet she knew the way to her husband's office. A few nurses greeted her with smiles or nods, but once she came upon the nurse's station, she was verbally welcomed.

"How are you tonight, Mrs. Connor?"

"Good, Jenn." Sarah paused by the station and offered a partial smile to the nurse. "Is my husband in his office?"

The nurse, Jennifer, glanced over a screen on the surface desk behind the nurse's station. "Yes, he's in there."

"Thanks, Jenn." Sarah received a brief smile from the nurse just as she headed down the hall. She walked at a slower pace with each step as if her shoes turned into weights. But she was only a few doors away from her husband's office, which was left slightly ajar. She quietly approached the frosted glass door and took in Charley's voice and a familiar woman's voice.

"I'm sorry to hear it."

There was a long pause then Charley murmured, "I don't think there was anything I could have done to avoid it." He sighed and added, "Nothing done differently would have changed it."

Sarah hesitated against the door and bowed her head. Her heart throbbed hard against her chest, but she shoved it down deeper. She then knocked on the glass door and started into the office. She entered and found her husband leaning against his desk while the friendly nurse was seated on his small love sofa off to the left.

"Sarah," Charley surprisingly whispered. For an instant, he had hope in his eyes then it died once Sarah's attention flickered to the nurse on the sofa.

"Hello, Mrs. Connor." The nurse stood up once the doctor's wife came into the room. She offered a small smile.

"How are you, Michelle?" Sarah tried being friendly despite the nurse, Michelle Baum, always caused her stomach to clench harshly. She'd never disliked the nurse but envied Michelle's friendship with her husband. Somehow Michelle Baum managed a friendship with her husband that she could not develop. But Sarah felt she only had herself to blame and reminded herself that Charley was fortunate to have a friend, somewhere.

"I'm well, Sarah." Michelle swept back a lock of feathery, honey-brown hair. She still remained warm towards Sarah Connor despite she'd just heard from Charley some of the ongoings between the couple. She suspected that Sarah Connor had her own story to tell despite she hid it. "Yourself?" she prompted.

Sarah nodded once. "Busy." She tilted her head some then asked, "How's your son?" She developed a furrow in her brow. "John, right?"

Michelle slipped her hands into her pockets and dipped her head some. "Yes, it's John. He's doing… pretty good. He's a bit spirited at his age."

Sarah couldn't hide a smile now and softly joked, "Yes, that's a kind way to put the teen years."

Michelle chuckled and considered their daughter. "I'm sure Jean is keeping you both busy."

Sarah still had her smile, but it slightly slipped for a beat. She looked over at her husband. "She has a good head on her shoulders." Her cheeks filled more from a better smile. "Thanks to her father's genes."

Charley huffed and crossed his arms.

Michelle gazed over at the doctor, and her features softened some.

Sarah looked from her husband to the nurse, and she caught Michelle's gentle gaze on Charley. She slightly bowed her head but couldn't withhold the new tension in her body.

"It was good to see you, Sarah." Michelle was edging to the door. "I have to get back to my shifts."

"Good to see you too," Sarah offered in kind just as the nurse left. She listened to the door shut and her attention centered on Charley.

"I'm surprised to see you here," Charley softly mentioned.

Sarah didn't reply right away. She trailed over to the sofa and took the cool seat that Michelle hadn't been in earlier. She didn't sit back or become comfortable but instead stared down at her black heels. She was still dressed in her business attire from work.

"I've been concerned about you," she admitted after a quiet minute. She peered up with slightly hidden features from her dark hair.

Charley briefly bit his lower lip then confessed, "I'm okay." He now clutched the desk's edge. "Yourself?"

Sarah softly cleared her throat then just nodded a few times. She didn't really answer and instead asked, "How's the apartment search going?" She shrugged and sat up more. "I got your messages."

"I think I found something," Charley solemnly answered. "It shouldn't take long for me to move in it after I sign the documents." He started fidgeting because he wasn't sure how they could so casually discuss this after years of marriage. He just kept pretending his life was okay despite it was falling apart all around him. He could only imagine how Sarah managed any of it so calmly.

Sarah merely listened because she wasn't sure how to respond. She never imagined this day in her life. She'd envisioned many things like Cyberdyne, Jean's birth, her marriage, and certainly Judgment Day. But she didn't picture her divorce or it being so cut and dry.

"What about Jean?" Charley was gripping the desk and white knuckles showed his deeper emotions. "We need to tell her."

Sarah nodded once then swallowed hard at a sharp reality. "Yes." She licked her dry lips then lifted her gaze to her husband. "We will tell her together." She bowed her head and attempted blocking the anger and pain that she already saw on her child's face.

"When?" Charley asked in a broken voice.

Sarah brushed her hair away in a quick motion that caused it to be more wild than normal. She suddenly stood up and looked at Charley. "By the end of this week… maybe Thursday."

"After Jean knows then I will let my parents and sister know too," Charley informed.

Sarah knew she needed to tell her mother too. She wasn't looking forward to any of it. She inhaled deeply then started towards the door. "If there's anything…" She lost her words and dropped her eye contact after she realized how pathetic it sounded now. She pushed the door open and pleaded, "Keep in touch, Charley."

"I will." Charley watched his wife go, and he dropped his head once the door shut. He dug his nails into the desk and desperately fought off his upset. He hated how there were no words or actions that could change his wife's mind. But they could no longer pretend or survive off of nearly empty love.

Charley staggered over to the sofa and collapsed into it. He needed some time alone before he went outside his office to his patients and the nurses. He gazed back at the frosted door and watched Sarah's silhouette grow smaller.

Sarah Connor strode down the hallway without anything revealing on her face. Despite her crumbling marriage, she still had a daughter at home waiting for her. And now, she also had a protective terminator standing watch over her and Jean until the day of judgment. There was enough purpose left in her life to keep her walking down the hospital hall without looking back at Charley Dixon.

At thoughts of the home, Sarah fished out her earpiece and lifted it just after she activated the pop up virtual screen. She waited until the holographic screen materialized, solidified, and revealed the home screen. She tapped the softly blinking text message icon and quickly found a message from Cameron Phillips. She opened it and was pleased to find out that a plate of dinner was being saved for her. Sarah quickly replied to the message then sent it.

After Sarah deactivated the holographic screen, she put the earpiece away and fully focused on the last of her walk to the elevator lobby. She soon arrived at her car, which she started by holding her earpiece in her pocket and verbally ordering for it to start. Sarah climbed into the waiting car and put it onto automatic to go home. She was far too weary to drive home after today.

All that Sarah could think about was her altered future from what Cameron Phillips had told her as a kid. The Omega terminator's prediction was incredibly wrong about her marriage. Now she considered if this would forever change Jean's future and their relationship as mother and daughter. All the questions made a heavy throb begin behind Sarah's forehead. There was not enough computer processing power in the world to calculate what could happen from here out.

What Sarah wouldn't give to have a break from her dark life, but she accepted it was too late for that. In the future, Sarah Connor was God to killer terminators and the Devil to struggling humans for all that her company would develop in the next decade. Indeed there was not rest for the fatefully wicked.

To be continued.