Thanks to everyone for reading and also to those who reviewed!!!
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Olischulu: It's good if it's confusing but after reading this chapter: hopefully it cleared up a lot in your mind! Sorry about all the pain. Thanks for reviewing!
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A/N: I know the last chapter stirred up a lot of confusion and questions but this chapter would be explaining generally everything, I hope. Just PM or review your questions if you have any after this! Thanks so much for all the support so far! Enjoy!
Chapter 12: A kid
"Zan, I'm right here." He could feel her beside him, weighing his smaller hand in hers His head has been aching since this morning and didn't stop. He couldn't understand why but at least Mom tucked him under the blanket in his tent and stayed by his side the whole time, raining his face with kisses from her soft and warm lips.
Just then, he felt her kiss each of his fingers gently. Then she pressed his hand on her cheek and he felt the dampness of her tears of worry that she had shed for him.
"Cam?" Dad entered the tent but he didn't want to open his eyes, he was certain they'd fall out of he does. His skull was splitting open with the pressure, he was sure of it, "How is he?" Dad felt his forehead. With some effort, he cracked his eyes a little to meet his Mom's soft gaze.
"He has not been sleeping well." Mom replied. With a gentleness never thought possible, she held him under his arms and carried him into her embrace. His aching head lolled onto her shoulder.
"He'll be okay. Zander's a tough kid." Dad's strong voice reassured Mom. Slowly, he buried his face as best as he could into Mom's neck. Dad settled down opposite Mom and patted her arm. They sat there all night with Mom occasionally giving him water and some berries.
At night, they stayed by him. Mom kept stroking his hair back and every time he open his eyes, he see them smiling at him. That night, he slept and the next morning, he felt so weak that he couldn't move, couldn't open his eyes. His head felt like it was floating and he slipped in and out of consciousness.
"Zander." Cameron stroke his arm, trying to 'wake' him.
"Maybe he just fainted. His fever is getting worst." John said to her, frowning. He moved out of the tent and returned with a pail of cool water and a cloth. Instantly, Cameron dabbed at his brow gently. No matter how he struggled, he couldn't move. His arms and legs ached too.
"Baby, wake up." Cameron mumbled, closing her eyes as John pulled her into his embrace, stroking her back. He cooed gently into her ear, "I just wanted him to be healthy." She sobbed quietly into his shoulder, her voice muffled.
"Just like what every parent wants for their child." John replied, his tone happy and light hearted. .
Zander, 6 years 6 months old.
John focused his gaze onto Cameron. She looked beautiful but hurt and every movement she made ached right on John's heart. Her eyes were closed but she was facing him. She'd blacked out about two minutes ago while John tried to take in who hurt Cameron so badly, according to Catherine Weaver.
John had spent his whole life, where life was really worth living, protecting Cameron and loving her with his heart. Now, Weaver came along, cutting right into her and all he could do was sit there and stare. And when he asked, she told him that she was trying to kill herself. What is this? John sank into his seat, eyes fixed on Cameron.
"Cameron Connor." Catherine Weaver said. He hadn't realized he'd asked that aloud, "It's her work and plan."
John tore his gaze away from Cameron and turn to glare at Weaver, tensing in his seat all of a sudden, "What fucking plan is this huh?" He demanded.
"Cameron Connor's plan." Weaver said monotonously.
"Not my Cameron Connor." John growled dangerously; unwilling to accept the fact that Cameron would betray him but that was not possible. He strained on his bounding, ready to leap on her.
"No," Weaver replied, looking at Cameron. John let himself breathe, relieved, "but your creation none the less." Weaver replied flatly. His hostile tone and posture did all but affect her, not that John was expecting anything.
That did surprise him though. He faltered upon hearing that. John froze, "What?" his lips parted.
"Everything she does have her reasons and they would be to help you. Everything she does is for you." Weaver turned around and stroked the side of Cameron's face gently with the back of her finger.
"Don't touch her!" John shouted before he can stop himself.
Slowly, she removed her finger, not seeming to have heard him, "And similarly to that, you are affected by her in a way." She continued.
"What the hell happened between us? Where are you from?" John stuttered out, lost and confused. He didn't know if he should believe what he heard but it all seemed real, she doesn't seem to be lying. Of course not. She's a terminator. They hardly blink. Just one lie after another…
"I was sent back by Cameron Connor. In a different timeline. Or should I say the timeline changed when Riley Dawson made an appearance. Jesse Flores was a good soldier I have to say." Weaver said. John's mind struggled to catch up.
"What does Riley has got to do with anything?" John demanded, getting something caught in his throat. He didn't like mentioning her, particularly when he hated her for almost tearing Cameron from him forever.
"Everything. She was the reason for Cameron's every action in my timeline." Weaver replied, "Riley Dawson and Jesse Flores came across time from your original timeline where Riley never interfered. And when she did, things changed."
"Riley's from the future." John mumbled in realization.
Weaver ignored him, continuing and leaving John to catch up, "In the future I was sent back from, you loathe Cameron." John's eyes went to Cameron, on the table, being vulnerable. He could never imagine life without her much less life filled with hate for her, "For many reasons. Cameron Connor killed Riley Dawson in 2027 after Judgment Day during the war when she realized Riley Dawson is becoming a distraction for you. However, Cameron proved to be a valuable asset to the resistance, she captured me for instance."
John sat there in silence, gazing at Cameron.
"She does good things all the time but you hated her. She wasn't allowed in your quarters even when she has to protect you, no one is. Then in 2030, you attempted suicide while alone in your private quarters." Weaver paused, looking at John as if the scene was playing her mind, "I, who was the only one who could, entered your quarters to stop you in time. You were placed under strict surveillance from that day on. Cameron Connor knew something had to be done. So she sent me back."
It took a moment for John to register the fact that the story has ended, "What is your mission? And why are you building Skynet?" He got himself to speak, his throat raw and hoarse from the shouting earlier. He'd never forget how Ryan died. Not after when Cameron bought him to the grave; and Kyle's grave.
"I am not building Skynet. I am building something to fight it, something you destroyed but through my time with my creation, we managed to find a weakness in the enemy. Judgment day is postponed because of that." Weaver explained.
"You tried to kill me." John scowled, starting to doubt every single word of her story, particularly how he had hated Cameron in her story.
"I didn't. I was trying to protect myself from the attack and I was killing whoever poses a threat to my creation for stopping Skynet, excluding you." She said monotonously, "I chose to join you. My main mission protocol is still set to terminate you but I've made my choice."
"So," John paused, glaring dangerously at her, "WHAT IS YOUR MISSION? What did your Cameron Connor ordered you to do to my Cameron?!"
"To make her human. And in turn, make you love her."
*
Zander pushed open the door of the warehouse he found. It was located at the end of the city. In his hand, he held his Glock. It was quiet and his acute hearing didn't detect anything at all. After making sure it was safe, Zander stowed his Glock into the holster and closed the door behind him.
Finding a clean spot, he threw down the two bulky duffel bags and pulled out the locater from his pocket. He noticed the van has already stopped. Zander tapped the screen on the location and it zoomed in, "Zeira Corporation?" Zander frowned to himself. He had heard it somewhere. Pushing that out of his head, Zander made out a plan. He didn't know what he can do.
Pulling out the laptop he'd packed, he accessed the internet and starting doing another thing John taught him, against Cameron's wishes; hacking.
*
"She said that?" John asked an uncertainty in his voice if he even wanted to know.
"You needed to love someone and Cameron Connor knew. She knew if she were more human, you'll love her instead of Riley Dawson. You'll be a great leader you're supposed to be; only she can help you with that. Riley Dawson could make you happy but she couldn't help you be the leader you are. So if Cameron Connor was human, Riley Dawson's plan would never succeed, Cameron Connor would never have to kill her and you'll never hate her for the rest of your life." Weaver replied matter-of-factly.
"Well, you've done it. I love her. So let her go." John demanded.
"It's not complete before you abducted her from the lab 11 years ago. I'm intending to change her endo skeleton into real-"
"Enough!" John barked, "You've done so much that hurt her." He said, angry and yet feeling hurt himself.
"Cameron Connor ordered that-"
"I don't want to hear any of that and I love Cameron for who she is now so just let her go!"
"That is not entirely true. You loved her because she became more human, when she got hurt, you were awakened from the delusion Riley Dawson had created for you to be a normal boy and you-"
"NO! That. Is. Not. True." John glared at her.
"Got worried that she might hurt herself again, you took care of her and in that time, you acknowledged your love for her because you know she's human now and that it is possible you'll lose her. Humans tend to cherish those they know they'll lose." Weaver continued as though she has never been interrupted.
"No. I love her for who she is. I love her; I always have from the start. It is something a machine, like you, can never understand." John gritted his teeth together in frustration with how Weaver's point was possible but yet not true.
"You said it yourself Mr Connor. A machine can never understand love. A machine like Cameron Connor. She can never understand love because she was a machine under her human tissue." Weaver spun around to grab a scalpel.
John jerked up only to be pulled down by the chair. It almost toppled over. He wanted to jump on her and pound her with his fists. He wanted to kill her just like he wanted to kill anyone who called Cameron a machine, "She's more than a machine." He growled.
"Because I made more her human. I helped her become what she is."
John was stumped. Before he can think of an answer, Weaver pressed scalpel into Cameron's flesh at her left inner arm. She woke instantly, weakly groaning in pain. Fresh blood seeped out from her new wound. John sat there, heart aching for her and there's just nothing he can do anymore. He even had problem rebutting Weaver's point. He wanted to tell her it was Cameron's emotions, her personality that made him love her so much but that would just bring him back to the fact that Weaver had made the Cameron he'd love so much, the Cameron that had undergone the changes...He was too pained to talk.
Later when Weaver had gotten a long cut from Cameron's inner wrist to under her shoulder, she filled up the syringe and inserted the liquid into Cameron's body.
"Don't hurt her!" John shouted out all of a sudden when Cameron squeezed her bleary eyes shut in pain. He would be guilty to admit but he couldn't careless about the baby anymore. He'd rather give up the child than let Cameron go through this if he had to.
"I'm helping you. The both of you." Weaver stated.
"What have you done to me?" Cameron asked weakly, turning her head to face her.
"I made given you organs and blood." Weaver replied as if it was the most normal thing in the world, "From one of my subjects. After the transplant, I'm quite sure you felt pains in the abdomen, it is what I expected which says it is a success. Your half human body is adapting." She added. By this time, Cameron was numbed by the pain, she felt too much. All Cameron wanted to know now was details.
"But the blood?"
"You are created as a double of Allison Young; a special creation. That includes your DNA and genes that existed. All this time you had those from Allison Young. Only a few additions would make you a perfect human being." Weaver explained automatically.
"So my baby…"
"Isn't yours. It's the baby made between John Connor and Allison Young. You are just a vessel for it to happen." Weaver said coldly. John rolled his eyes in frustration at what was destroying their relationship. It was just too typical of Weaver to blurt it all out in a harsh manner. Cameron froze, barely wincing as Weaver began cutting again. She was visibly numbed.
"No." Cameron mumbled, "John loves me." John felt a swell of pride grow in his chest for the faith Cameron had in him. Now his only worry would be Weaver 'explaining' everything to her about the future she came from and spite Cameron whether intentionally or not.
"John Connor loves you because you're human. You're not just a machine. No human would love a machine." Weaver said quickly, "You told me that yourself."
Cameron's head snapped in her direction in shock and denial.
"No! Cameron don't listen to her!" John shouted. He can't take this laying down any longer, it'll destroy her to hear it from Weaver, "I love you for who you are and not what!"
Cameron turned to him and shot him the warmest smile she can manage. The conversation ended there but John could see she was noticeably bothered by what she was told and not just the pain. Her eyes were also connected straight into his. He understood small looks and even a glance away. He knew how she felt.
"Hey! Stop it! It's enough." John ordered angrily from where he sat.
Weaver looked up blankly, "I have my orders." She replied flatly.
"Well, I order you to stop!" John snapped. Without a warning, Weaver walked over to John and hit the back of his neck, hard with her fist. Cameron whimpered out in protest, her muscles weak and useless. John went out cold. Almost with a satisfied look on her face, Weaver walked back to Cameron and continued.
"Can you fix me?" Cameron mumbled, looking straight up at Weaver.
Weaver turned her stare into Cameron's eyes, "I am."
"No," Cameron said patiently, having overhearing the conversation she had with John, "I mean make me a machine. A real machine."
"But Cameron Connor said-" Weaver began but was quickly interrupted by Cameron.
"Well, she wasn't married to John since he hated her so technically she isn't a Connor. I am…so listen to me. Please. I need to be a machine." Cameron said, breathing a little harder from the energy she put into strengthening her words.
"Why? In the future it wasn't what you needed to be." Weaver replied monotonously, not visibly surprised at all that Cameron had heard the story she told John while he, on the other hand, thought she didn't know.
"This is not the future and John needs protection." Cameron mumbled, feeling her head start to throb from the intense pressure she was giving herself in order to speak, "Please. Just do it. I want to protect him."
With a little hesitation Weaver nodded. Cameron managed a small nod of thanks and turned to face John, who had his head lolled forward.
"I love you too." Cameron mouthed weakly before feeling pain shoot up her arm all of her sudden and her world turned black. She swore she heard John call her name just the gentle way she loved it so much
*
"Damn it!" Zander swore under his breath angrily. He was sitting in the car he stole; to hide the fact that he could ride a bike from Cameron and to transport them later on. He was parked just outside Zeira Corporation and instantly was on high alerts of all the guards.
Zander winded up his tinted window and sat back in the car. The van was just parked in front of his car but there seem to be no one around. He got the floor plan of Zeira Corporation and he suspected his parents to be held captive in the basement but they would be guarded, heavily guarded; probably with terminators… His head hurts and he didn't know what to do.
He began to wonder why he wasn't allowed to have a life with his parents. He'd given up about wanting to forget the machines but the least he wanted was for him to be with his parents, letting them do their stuff like making decisions? Why'd he had to do this? He's just ten years old. Zander wondered if everyone forgotten; if he himself had forgotten that.
He sighed, coming out from the car and squinted to have a look as the guards retreated into the building. He glanced at his watch and realized it was noon. Time for lunch…but not for him.
Zander arranged his jacket which covered his weapon belt. He began to walk to the building, trying to look brave.
"Excuse me?"
He jumped and turned around instantly. Behind him, stood a tall and slim girl. She looked older than him at about 16 years old. Her red hair stood out on her shoulders compared to her pale skin and white clothes. She was carrying a sling bag across her torso from her shoulder to her hips and was looking at him curiously.
"Erm…" Zander looked at her for a moment, eyes wandering away from her face and glanced over her body.
"Can I help you?" She said in a gentle voice. Zander looked up, eyes meeting her greenish ones.
"Uh…No, no one can…" He said nervously, shifting to the other foot. God, I'm hopeless…Mom's probably the only woman I talk to my whole life…I'm never good with women.
"Are you lost?"
"No." Zander looked away, uncomfortable with the constant stare. Far from it…
"Hi, I'm Savannah." Savannah held out her hand, "Weaver." With hesitation, Zander bit his lips and shook hands awkwardly, making eye contact as he does. It was also the first time he'd shaken anyone's hand. At least Cameron taught him these weird greetings so he wouldn't seem like a monkey…he heard even monkeys shake hands… It felt odd…and Weaver; that name…why is it so familiar? "You look really familiar." She commented, snapping his train of thoughts.
"Really?" Zander forced a nervous smile.
"Yeah." Savannah nodded, "If you're not lost, then what are you doing here?" Savannah asked patiently.
"I'm looking for someone." Zander stated, deciding to come clean, maybe she can help him, "You?"
"My Mother works here." She said matter-of-factly.
Zander was instantly on red alert. It means she can enter the building, "The person I'm looking for works here too." He swallowed a lump in his throat.
Savannah seemed to be studying him before she smile, "Then let's find that person. Think it's alright?" She asked. Zander nodded and followed her into the building. The guards, who just came out, walked towards her with a small bow of respect.
"Ms Weaver, I'm afraid your mother gave strict orders not to-"
"I know what my mother said. He's my friend. Now let me in." Savannah said and they scrambled out of the way instantly. She flashed Zander a backwards smile before guiding him into the inside of the building. Then she bought him to the top level where it seemed to be her mother's office.
Wow, her mom's sure holds a high post here…Zander marveled at the beautiful and spacious office. Savannah sat down by the huge coffee table and sat down on the carpet. She gestured for Zander to sit, "Maybe you can stay with me for a while? Everybody's out to lunch." She added hopefully as Zander sat. He gave her a brief nod.
"Your mom's not here? She at lunch too." Zander decided to ask.
"Nope. She rarely eats. She's always here and there around the building. Busy." Savannah shrugged, "You seem really mature for your age." She commented.
He gave her a nervous laugh, "Do I?" An awkward silence hung in the air as Savannah gazed at him thoughtfully. She seemed to be matching his face with all those she remembered. Zander shifted uncomfortably before she seemed to blink in realization, blushing and flustered.
"Erm, can I…get you drink?" Savannah asked, looking away. Zander nodded quickly and just as he hoped, she stood up and walked away from the table. Taking the lift, she went down. Cautiously, Zander ran to the lift and hit the down button hastily, noting that Savannah went all the way down to the first floor.
The lift came and he slipped in. Being the careful person that he was, Zander kept his back to the camera in the lift, pulling out a device given to him and scrambled the signal for the security camera. He waited 2 seconds and kept the device in his pocket.
Zander pulled out the stuff John gave him to hack computers and knelt down by the buttons of the lift. The first thing he did, when he got in, was of course to prevent the lift from stopping and taking in any passengers, next, he made it go all the way to the basement.
*
Cameron couldn't move but she could open her eyes. Her muscles felt softer than ever and she felt more tired than before. When she opened her eyes, Cameron noticed Weaver was not in the room and John was sitting there, looking at her. His eyes betrayed hurt as he looked at her.
"John." Cameron whispered out, trying to call him as loud as she could.
Instantly, his eyes met hers and relief seemed to drown him, "Cam, are you okay?" John choked out. She managed a small nod as he struggled with his bounding, "Damn it!" He cried out in frustration.
"John, I'm alright." Cameron repeated, wondering what's wrong with him.
"You're not. I let it hurt you. Again." John's eyes closed as he looked away, tears running down his cheek. Cameron watched, just wanting to get free and go over to hold him, "Cam…."
Cameron looked at him for a while before turning away to look at herself. It wasn't surprising to her that she was still naked. The only covering she had seemed to be the dried blood. The IV tube was still in her arm, seemingly providing blood for her. She secretly thought of what she pleaded of Weaver and how she agreed to it. Cameron wondered if she actually did it.
Pain shot up her body once or twice every minute. The amount of stitches she had was so many that she herself didn't bother counting anymore. The scalpel lying on the metal tray beside her table accompanied by many other tools scared her to death and she restrained from looking at it but the light they caught on their shiny surface keep catching her attention.
"John," Cameron choked out, feeling another wave of pain shook her body.
He instantly looked at her, heart hurting at the sight of blood. He wanted to go over to whisper to her, nurse her pain and kiss her where it hurts. Cameron probably felt cold and lonely on that table. She's scared but there's nothing he can do. John cursed everyone responsible for this and particularly future him. It's all his fault. Although, John highly doubt it was the same future John that came back years ago.
He heard her whimper in pain again. That was all he could take. Crying out in fury, John rocked his chair to the floor, hard. The wooden chair fell to the floor along with its occupant. John heard Cameron call his name before he felt his body hit the floor harshly. The wooden chair was shattered to pieces from the impact and splinters strike John's body and one stray one cut him onto his cheek but he couldn't care less.
What's important is, he was free. John scrambled to a sitting position and tugged away the ropes. Getting to his feet, John broke into a dash for Cameron, almost collapsing over her. Her wounds and blood were more horrifying up close. He heard a horrified gasped and realized it was him.
He focused on looking into her eyes as he leaned over her. Bringing one gentle hand to her cheek, John caressed it with the back of his finger, watching Cameron lean into his touch. He slowly leaned over and pressed his face into her neck, not daring to press his body against hers in case he hurt her. Cameron seemed fragile and precious. He didn't know how to help her or touch her, "I'm sorry." It was all John could manage as he took in the soft vanilla scent of her skin which was mildly there.
"It's not your fault." Cameron replied softly, her complexion paler up close. John pecked her on her lips before retreating to figure how to release her from her bounding. His eyes scanned the room frantically, spotting an emergency fire axe at the corner of the room in a glass casing. Dashing to his hope, John elbowed the glass to retrieve the axe.
His mind was twirling. John's cheek stung but it was nothing compared to his torn heart. His son was not with them and they had no idea if the baby Cameron carried was hurt. Plus, he had to get them out of this place alive, wherever they were. It was his duty now, his promise to her that he'd always protect her. He'd failed.
He bought the axe down onto Cameron's bounding, careful to not chop her hand off. As metal strike metal, John's arm rang from the impact, sending him a few steps back. The axe seemed to have chipped off a little whereas the bounding looked barely scratched.
"Damn it!" John cursed, throwing the axe across the room as far as he could despite he know that it would draw attention. It landed with a loud clank on the floor. With nothing he could do, John let a tear he held in roll down his cheek.
"It's alright, John. You tried your best." Cameron whispered, smiling at him. John frowned, pinching his lips together as he pressed his head down by her side on the cold metal table, "John." He looked up instantly, eyes glittering from the tears in his eyes, "It's time to go."
*
Zander would definitely jump off a balcony if there was one around. Unfortunately for him, he's in the basement and it was like a maze with many rooms. So far, he was only too scared of being found to try any of the doors. They all seem quiet and he guessed, his parents would be anything but quiet.
His legs were starting to ache and he's itching to set a C4 on the walls and blow the walls down. Sure enough, he'd been able to see clearly then. But that was stupid and he knows better than bringing down the ceiling on them.
All of a sudden, a crash was heard and Zander jumped, turning around. His ears instantly worked to determine and remember the source. He broke into a quick dash to the source. His heart beat could be heard in his ears and it wasn't long before he came to a dead end. Literally, a maze… Zander muttered a curse under his breath, knowing the waves had bounced off the walls of the basement as the echoes hit his senses.
He restrained the urge from screaming and stomping like he use to when he was a kid. Zander was lost and he felt like crying but this time, he can't.
Zander walked away from the dead end, moving aimlessly till he heard a second noise. It sounded like metal hitting metal and then again. This time, it can't go wrong. He ran to the door he was so sure it came from and burst into it.
Inside was not what he expected after what he saw of the Corporation so far. The inside of this room was dirty and dark. It smelled staled and there were cobwebs around. At the corner of the room was a mess of wooden splinters but that was not what caught his attention.
The only light source in the room was a surgical spotlight hung above an experiment table and on it…was his mother.
John stood between him and Cameron, shoulders tensed. Zander stood there, still like a statue. His eyes met his father's before they fall on Cameron.
He began breathing hard as he took in her state. Her clothes were in a bloody mess around the experiment table and there were dried blood splattered on the floor around that area. She laid there pale and naked with a needle in her arm, connected to an IV bag hanging on the stand. Zander could see the stitches on her body with his amazing eyesight and now he wished he couldn't.
Neat and perfect stitches cover her abdomen and arm. There were countless and not to mention blood, so much blood over her. Her eyes were closed and her body was limpless.
Zander dragged one tired foot after another. John looked away from him, seemingly ashamed and heartbroken. He went past his father, completely dumbstruck by Cameron's state. He stood over her. Being the lovely young son Cameron remembered and always cared for, his heart shattered. She looked worst up close. Zander reached out, slipping his smaller hands into hers.
With a small whimper, he tugged on it, begging her to open her eyes and tell him that everything would be alright. Zander squeezed her soft hand, letting out a more audible whimper, pleading with her, "Mom." He whispered out from his parted lips.
Cameron slowly opened her eyes. She felt his hand, her baby's hand. She'll recognise it anywhere even in her sleep; the perfection John and her created but the disturbing fact that it wasn't her baby made her uneasy. He was Allison Young's baby. Then she felt John's hand on theirs, assuring and always their dependable husband and father.
Her eyes met Zander's first, which is just like John's. Right now, both father and son seemed to bore the same emotions: Worry.
"M'okay." Cameron mumbled.
"Mom." Zander whimpered and leaned forward, placing his head on her rib area, avoiding the wound. He didn't care about the blood; he wanted to feel her warmth. Something which never failed to touch his heart before. Right now, her skin felt cooler than normal.
Cameron struggled with all her strength to reach down and stroke his smooth and beautiful brown hair but she couldn't, the bounding was in the way. John watched, his hand lingering on Cameron's. He gritted his teeth in anger, pulling out the gun from Zander's belt and marched to the rack of computers.
He pointed it at the controls, pulling the safety off and shot, again and again till everything was destroyed.
"Zan." John went back and tried to work on the bounding but couldn't get them off. He glanced at his son, crying on Cameron, "Zander Connor!" John snapped.
Zander looked up instantly, his tear streaked face and innocent eyes being very endearing for John but they had work to do.
"Did you bring the laser?" John asked, fingering Cameron's hand gently in a silence assurance. Zander nodded, pulling it from the pouch on his belt and handing it to John. He pressed on the red button by the side of the 'pen' and used the laser to cut through the metal. John drove it into Cameron's bounding, careful not to cut too deep. The smell of metal burning filled the air.
Years ago, Cameron mentioned she wanted to create the earliest plasma rifle in history. That didn't work out due to John's immense objection but she managed to make something at would cut through even the hardest metal, even coltan. John hid a smile as he released Cameron's hand and worked on her ankles and waist's.
When that was done, John slipped his arms under her knees and neck, ready to lift her when Cameron mumbled for him to stop. He paused; watching as Cameron gritted her teeth together, grasping the needle in her arm for blood transfusion. She pulled, gasping in pain before John scooped her off the table. Zander followed closely behind John, almost touching. Subconsciously, he grasped the hem of John's shirt.
Crisis was an amazing thing. It could bring families closer but it could also destroy it. It could also change a person forever. In the face of crisis, Zander couldn't help but want to feel like a kid again, to be the little boy that he hadn't been in his life; the other side where he could've lived in and the one he preferred. But Zander knew that as time passes, he'll be on his own; to fend for himself and make his own decisions. It was only a matter of time…
He looked up a little and met Cameron's eye, giving her a small smile. He reached up with his other hand and let her hold his.
*
Catherine Weaver stood unmoving as she faced the brightly lit screen in contrast to the dark room. She tilted her head as she watched John Connor walking briskly past the camera she planted, which was a detached from the main frame that was scrambled, carrying Cameron in his arms. She turned around the moment he left the screen.
She walked to her desk, her heels clicking on the marble floor. Reaching out, she pressed the intercom, "Victoria, bring my daughter to me."
To be continued…
Next chapter: [John]: Look, I don't want you to think about what you learnt at Weaver's. That might be all a bunch of bullshit she made up to get your head off the game." [Cameron]: "There's nothing to talk about. Leave me alone……Catherine Weaver mentioned Riley and Jesse Flores." [John]: "I'll kill them both." [Catherine Weaver]: "They might return to the house." [Sarah]: "I'll go with you." [Catherine Weaver]: "You miss him."
