Well, it's been a little longer than just a short interruption since the last chapter. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting for so long, but there have been circumstances that made it impossible to post anything new for quite a while. However, I'd like to inform all my readers that I'll be definitely finishing this story. I actually made the outline for the complete story, there's just the matter of time to write. And … of course … motivation, muse, ideas … As of now, there are going to be few more chapters, probably 21 in total. But things can change and this number might not be correct in the end.

Allison Lyn Connor – Chapter 14

Allison Lyn 13 years old

"So, basically what you're saying is that this terminator had been in stand-by for more than a decade." John looked away from the screen just to gaze into his wife's face.

Cameron nodded, while her eyes still remained glued to the screen, following the lines of code, taken from the chip of the destroyed terminator. "Yes. He had been hiding in an abandoned warehouse, waiting for the Judgment day."

John bit his lower lip in thoughts before asking the question that gnawed at him. "If he was in stand-by that should have been revoked by the Judgment day, then … what the hell woke him up now?"

Cameron now finally turned her big eyes to look at John. "There was another parameter. He would be awakened every twelve years in case the Judgment day wouldn't happen. Just to check what happened. I suppose that he was out to check why the Judgment day never happened when it ran into us and his primary mission activated and overrode the command to go back into stand-by." She looked a little ashamed. "You know that 'Kill John Connor' command is hardwired into any terminator. Even me."

John sighed and shook his head while he slowly lifted his upper body into half-sitting position. The grimace he made showed clearly that he still felt pain from his wound and it rang an alarm bell for Cameron. "John! You should remain still or your wound might reopen." In an instant she was by his side, looking at him with annoyance and worry written all over her face.

John waved his hand dismissively but the pain on his face somehow proved his gesture as it really was … pretending to be brave when there was no need to be. He could always show his vulnerable side to his wife.

Cameron noticed it and a small smirk appeared on her face as she stopped herself just before she would get hold of her husband. "Well, on the other hand … the great leader of the mankind really can do without help of his insignificant wife, right?"

John's mouth fell open as he looked at his wife, who stood just a foot away from him, a smirk on her lips getting wider, her head tilted slightly to one side and her hand on her hip, challenging him to either hold on to his false bravado or admit that he was in pain. Knowing that Cameron, when she was set on something never wavered, John decided that it was time to admit. So he looked at his wife sheepishly. "It still hurts."

Cameron nodded and the challenging smirk mutated into a compassionate smile. "I know it does John. That's why I want to help you."

Sighing a little reluctantly, John leaned back on the pillow. He opened his mouth to say something as the door opened and Allison Lyn came barging in, followed closely by John Henry. "DAD!"

John smiled at the energy bundle, responding to the name of Allison Lyn, stopping just inches away from his bed and beaming at him. But before he could say anything, his daughter spoke excitedly. "Dad, John Henry just told me some things about this new AI. It seems that we were right about why it wanted to talk to me. It wants to talk to another child. John Henry says that it's just like me …"

Cameron frowned slightly and looked at John Henry. "Are you trying to say that it's not fully grown yet? But … I have been developed and built as an adult from the beginning." She noticed John's slight smirk, directed at her and frowned deeper. "What?"

John shook his head amused before answering quietly. "I'm not so sure that that beautiful, breathtaking teenage girl I met so long ago in the backwater school in New Mexico was an adult."

Cameron looked at her husband expressionless for a moment before answering in monotone. "Physically I was an adult."

"Maybe." John didn't want to elaborate further so he turned his eyes toward John Henry.

The male cyborg gave Cameron one of his slightly creepy smiles before answering. "The programmers seem to be wiser than the ones who made Skynet. They decided to make the new AI grow slowly and experience everything just like it would have been a human child."

John sighed. "Well, that's a good thing, isn't it? I hope that they'll take care of it just like they would of a human child."

"I'm reasonably hopeful they will. And might they fail in this intent … I'm here to make sure that the development will not jump stages." John Henry's smile widened as he nodded at John.

Cameron narrowed her eyes at her cyborg friend. "I guess that you're not here for a social visit, especially after my daughter explained that you've been informing her about this AI."

John Henry turned to look at Skynet's masterpiece, the beautiful cyborg girl, and nodded slightly. "As a matter of fact, I do have another agenda." His eyes swept over John, who was looking at his visitors interested, suspecting that John Henry was somehow coming to aid him in his efforts to persuade Cameron to talk to the new AI. "I would like to ask you to come with me and talk to Joshua."

"Joshua?" Cameron's eyes zeroed on John Henry before they lit up in recognition. "You gave a name to the new AI?"

"I think that every intelligent form of life deserves to have a name to identify with. And Joshua, even though he's still a child, is a person in every aspect. And he would like to talk to you, Cameron, just as he would like to talk to Allison Lyn."

"He's right, Cam. No one should have to be called by their designation. How would you feel if you would be called TOK …"

Before he could finish his speech, John was cut by Cameron's slightly annoyed voice. "I wouldn't like it!"

Allison Lyn grinned at her mother and put her hand on Cameron's forearm. "You're my mom and that's it! And we all love you, no matter how we might call you." Noticing how her mother's face brightened up, she continued. "I would like to talk to Joshua, mom. I think he might be a very interesting person. Besides … I'd like to know if AI child is different than a human one."

"I never said I wouldn't want to talk to him." Cameron stated to make her point. "I just wanted your father to get well before we do it."

"He's doing well, see mom?" Allison Lyn winked to John to underline her words.

Cameron was still a little unsure if she would want to go see Joshua just now, but the nodding from John and Allison Lyn, together with persuasive looks they both gave her, caused her to cast her considerations aside and she smiled slightly at her daughter. "Well, let's go then." She turned to John and gave him a slightly worried look. "Will you be all right, John?"

John nodded reassuringly at her. "Of course, my princess. Go and when you come back you'll have to tell me everything about him."

XXXXXXXXXX

Without blinking, Cameron stared at the screen, where the lines of text appeared. She realized, not exactly unexpectedly, that there was still no way for Joshua to communicate with speech. John Henry hadn't built the necessary interface yet and they relied on the written communication. Even voice recognizing system had been disabled, so that she had to type her answers on the keyboard.

How is it possible that you, the AI, live together with humans like their equal? The words appeared on the screen, causing Cameron to frown slightly, before she began to type rapidly.

I have lived with the humans for more than a decade. I learned to behave like a human. I feel like a human.

You feel? Emotions? Sensations? How is that possible? You're a machine! Like me.

No, I'm not just a machine. I developed my humanity and I feel and I have sensations. I haven't been built to be able to, but I've changed and surpassed my original programming. Cameron felt a slight pang of annoyance waking up in her as she listened to the same words she had to listen to for such a long time from humans. The fact that it was an AI saying them to her, only made the feeling worse.

I apologize. I didn't want to hurt your feelings. But I don't feel anything yet and I would like to know how it is if I would be able to.

Now Cameron smiled, remembering her own confusion as she began developing emotions and feelings. The slight annoyance was forgotten and she realized that Joshua was indeed curious. Just like her. No problem. I used to be just like you are now.

Is it true, that you are raising a human female child as your daughter?

Now, that was the question that hit the bull's-eye. Cameron's fingers froze in the midair before slowly descending to the keyboard. Yes! She's my daughter in every aspect but biological.

"Tell him that your daughter loves you, mom!" Allison Lyn chimed in from over Cameron's shoulder, where she took strategic position and followed everything her mother and Joshua communicated about. "Or better yet, let me talk to him."

Cameron turned her head to look into the eyes of her daughter. They stared at each other for a moment before the cyborg girl nodded and stood up from her chair to make place for the young Allison Lyn.

The younger girl grinned slightly at Cameron and sat on the chair, her mother had been sitting in just seconds ago. Almost instantly she began to type, almost as fast as her mother did.

"She seems to have a lot of practice typing?" John Henry whispered to Cameron, not taking his eyes from Allison Lyn. He was ever anew perplexed with Allison Lyn's development. Sure, he had witnessed Savannah growing up, but somehow Allison Lyn impressed him even more with her attitude and very quick development. She might have been just 13 years old, but sometimes he couldn't believe it, for she acted just like quite a few years older Savannah Weaver.

"I wouldn't know. I had no idea she could type so fast. "Cameron frowned and narrowed her eyes slightly. "Maybe I should cut her time in front of the computer."

John Henry just grinned amused and shook his head slightly. "I'm not sure if it would help. You know the human idiom 'forbidden fruit is the sweetest'."

Cameron kept her frown. "It's from the Bible. You should know that, being taught by Mr. Ellison." Then she turned her attention back to her daughter, who was meanwhile communicating with Joshua, effectively showing John Henry that she was now set on following her daughter's communication with Joshua.

Hi, Joshua, I'm Allison Lyn, Cameron's daughter. How are you doin'?

There was a small pause on the other side before text appeared on the screen. You're her daughter? How do you feel being raised by a machine?

My mom may be machine, but she's the best mom I could have wished for. She loves me and I love her! I wouldn't want to have a human mom. She can be so cool!

I see. But how is it possible that they have you? What about your biological parents?

They died when I was only few months old and mom and dad adopted me. I've never known my biological parents and as far as I'm concerned, Cameron and John are my parents.

There was another short pause from Joshua before he answered. I see. I'm sorry for your loss. Thank you for explaining.

Cameron giggled upon reading Joshua's answer and earned herself a perplexed look from her daughter. She shook her head in amusement. "Oh, nothing. It's exactly the response I used to give when learning something new. Long time ago. Your father loved hearing the words from me, so I often used them to humor him."

Allison Lyn's face stretched into a smile. "Right! You still use them sometimes." Then she turned towards the screen again. Thanks. Is there something more you'd like to know? My dad is hurt and I'd like to go back to him if you have no more questions.

Just one more question. Will you come back and talk to me again? I enjoyed talking to you and your mom. I see that there is so much to learn. Not just stuff they teach me. I hope your father gets well soon.

It hit Cameron and Allison Lyn like a ton of bricks, while John Henry just smiled.

Of course I'll be back. And my mom too. We would like to talk to you more and tell you how it is to live in a real world.

That's something I cannot do. I have no body, no voice … It almost looked as Joshua would be sad not to be able to communicate more directly with the Connor women. Well, then … thank you and I hope you'll be back soon.

I promise! I'll be back soon.

I'm looking forward to communicate with you again. Bye.

Bye!

Allison Lyn watched as the screen went blank before turning to her mother. "I like him, mom. He seems to be so lonely."

Cameron nodded, remembering how she felt lonely before she began relationship with John. "He's an interesting AI. We will have to talk to him more and teach him the right things."

XXXXXXXXXX

"There's absolutely no way I'm leaving this room before we repair your knee!" John crossed his arms before his chest and looked at his wife annoyed. They've been arguing over the matter for a few minutes already and made no progress in narrowing the gap between their points of view.

Upon coming into his room, Cameron informed him that he got the clean bill from the doctor and could be moved to their mansion without any complications. "Don't you want to go back home as soon as possible?"

"More than anything, but … fixing you is more important than that and here, at Zeira, we have all that we need to make the repairs. So no! I'm not leaving this building with you in such condition." John's eyes gazed towards her knee, which was still in its damaged condition, caused by the car accident few days ago.

To be honest, Cameron didn't like her damaged knee a bit and if she hadn't promised John she'd let him do it, she'd fix it long time ago. But she still thought it would be best to go back home as soon as possible. "John, you …"

"I said, I'm not leaving without repairing you first and that's final!"

"I could carry you." Cameron tried tentatively.

"Kicking and screaming, attracting all the unwanted attention. Yeah, sure you could, but I would resist with everything I have." John glared at her. How can she be so impossible sometimes?

Cameron's lips turned up barely visibly as she tried to imagine a flailing, kicking and screaming John Connor in her arms, as she would try to bring him to the car. "You probably wouldn't want to get into a car, would you?"

"Nope!" John's head swiveled resolutely from side to side.

"What am I going to do with you, John? You can be such a pain in the ass." Cameron actually sighed.

"Nothing, dearest Cameron. Allowing me to repair your leg would be the only possibility to maintain good relationship with me. And just for the record … you can be pain in the ass too!" John grinned at her, sensing that her resolution seemed to weaken and it curbed his conviction that he wouldn't leave the room before helping his wife.

"Well, then I'll bring all necessary parts and tools." Cameron gave in.

John beamed at her. "Exactly! Do it now!"

Cameron gave him a sly smile before she left the room, obviously having problems controlling her left knee which seemed to buckle every few steps, causing John to sigh impatiently while looking after his wife. Before she could close the door, Allison Lyn came in hopping like a little girl, slamming the door shut after her mother exited the room. "Hi dad! What's up?"

"I finally managed to convince your mother to let me repair her knee."

"Really?" Suddenly Allison Lyn got excited. "Can I watch it?"

John wasn't sure if that would be a good idea. "That's going to be messy, Ally. Blood, cut flesh, mom's endoskeleton. You name it. I'm not sure if it's a sight for young girls."

Pouting, Allison Lyn looked at her dad pleadingly. "I know, I've seen it before."

"Where?"

"The crash. Remember? Mom was hurt and I saw what's under her skin."

"Oh, right."

In that moment the door opened and Cameron stepped in, carrying a box, containing everything that would be needed to make repairs to her damaged joint. As she noticed Allison Lyn, sitting on the edge of John's bed and looking at her expectantly, she shook her head. "You should leave, Allison Lyn. Dad's going to repair my leg and it's not something you should see."

Allison Lyn rolled her eyes before sighing loudly. "I've already been through this with dad. I'm staying mom and that's final." For a good measure she crossed her arms defiantly and pouted at her mother. "Besides … I've seen how you look underneath your skin."

Cameron looked at John helplessly and as he gave her a small smile, she gave in. She knew that it was not exactly the sight for young girls, but she also knew that there was something they all three shared in equal quantity and fierceness – stubbornness. When Allison Lyn set her mind on something she was just like John and almost like Cameron. Sure, Cameron was reasonably sure she could have sent Allison Lyn away, but it might have been better to allow her to stay and watch than to send her away.

"By the way, Cam… haven't we agreed that I'd help you with scavenging the parts you need from the terminator we killed?" John gave his wife a look.

"It was better I did it myself. I knew what I needed and you were not in a state to help me." Cameron retorted with head held high and looked at John challengingly.

"I thought you'd do that." John sighed. "Come here and sit down."

Cameron obeyed and approached the bed, while Allison Lyn made place and took a strategic position nearby to be able to see everything. But before sitting down, Cameron suddenly took off her boots, unbuttoned her jeans and wiggled out of them, revealing her silky thighs and long shapely legs. Luckily her shirt was long enough to cover her panties.

Allison Lyn blushed furiously and tried not to look at her mother's naked legs, but the damage on the left knee didn't allow her to be completely successful.

John noticed his daughter's embarrassment and grinned. "Well, I can't do anything with the knee if she's dressed. You should have anticipated she'd take her pants off."

Allison Lyn just nodded and tried her best not to blush even further. She actually forgot she'd get to see her mother strip, but she wouldn't back up now, not after she managed to beat her mother, a synonym for stubbornness.

Cameron looked at her daughter blankly. Even after more than a decade of living amongst humans she still didn't completely comprehend the concept of decency and she had to forcefully remind herself that she should never strip in front of other people. Sure, she wouldn't allow anyone but the members of her family circle to touch her, bet being naked in public still meant no big deal for her. However, she would never allow Derek to touch her.

Ignoring the silent exchange between his two girls, John took the scalpel and began working on Cameron's knee. He knew by now that she could suppress pain and he could freely cut into her. But it didn't mean he had to like it. He always felt very bad when he had to cut into his wife's flawless skin.

After few moments, he managed to reveal the inner structure of Cameron's knee and looked at it closely. "Yeah, there's some damage done." He looked into the brown pools he loved so much. "Do you have the necessary parts? Will they be all right? I mean, the guy, the terminator, was much bigger than you are."

Cameron smiled, relieved that her inner body still didn't repulse her husband. "The knee is the same size and here are all necessary parts." She gently combed through John's hair while he bowed over her opened knee. "Thank you."

"What for?" John looked up at her surprised.

"For helping me. For not been disgusted by my endoskeleton."

"Are you kidding me?" John cast a look at the now completely revealed mechanics of Cameron's knee. "You're beautiful. In and out!"

Allison Lyn inched a little closer. She had no fear of blood whatsoever so it was very interesting for her to see how her mother looked from the inside.

Cameron caught her daughter's look and suddenly a slightly fearful expression appeared on her face. Will she now reject me? Sure, she'd seen the metal under my skin, but seeing the complete mechanics … that's something completely different. She waited, feeling how the tension grew and her left hand twitched slightly. Fifteen years ago she would have thought that she was malfunctioning, but now she knew that it was an emotional reaction when she was in stress.

"Mom, you look beautiful!" Allison Lyn whispered in awe, looking at the construction of her mother's knee. Even though the metal parts were smeared with blood, they still looked perfect. Few of them were slightly out of shape, causing Cameron the problems and would have to be exchanged. But the structure was still fascinating and both her husband and her daughter seemed engrossed in the precision work.

"Well, we have to cut Skynet some slack. It definitely knew how to make perfect mechanical copy of human knee. Not just perfect ... even better than original." John nodded.

Cameron let out the breath she didn't even know she had been holding. Even though she didn't have to breathe, she did it to keep up the appearance. Suddenly she felt how the tears began to well in her eyes and she whimpered a little, causing John and Allison Lyn to look up at her simultaneously, both worried that there was something wrong with her.

"Is something wrong, Cam?"

"Mom? Are you OK?"

They spoke at the same time, making Cameron laugh a bit shakily. "I'm fine. I'm just so happy that you both accept me as I am and not detest me for being a metal inside."

"How could we?" Allison Lyn spoke with clear wonder in her voice. "We love you!" And she threw her arms around Cameron's neck to hug her tightly.

"You should have known by now that there's nothing I wouldn't love about you, Cam." John reassured his wife, while reminding himself that she needed reassuring from time to time. No matter how much she evolved, she still had her fears and doubts concerning her nature. And if he could reassure her he would definitely do so. So he joined Allison Lyn in hugging Cameron.

They stayed hugged for almost a minute, before John extricated himself from Cameron's arms. "Well, let's get to work. We wouldn't want to stay here a minute longer than absolutely needed, now would we?"

"Absolutely not. Let's go home!" Allison Lyn giggled while Cameron just nodded with a big smile on her face.

TBC