Chapter 26 – Burial at Sea

Disclaimer: Don't own TSCC

This chapter is darker than most in this story. Cameron, like any human with emotions, is capable of horrible things. Terminators are not cruel. They simply feel no remorse. They do what they were made to do. They kill without question, without hesitation. Cameron is not a typical Terminator. She feels. Threaten what she loves and fear is the first emotion she feels. Fear is one of the most powerful emotions a human can feel. Combine fear with her Terminator nature and need to protect her John, and a most dangerous predator is on the hunt. Derek, having suffered so much in the future, will do anything to protect his unusual family and prevent the horrific future he has survived from coming to pass.

Ten minutes had passed. Derek slipped from his Dodge Ram, glanced both ways, and walked across the street. He smiled at the couple who walked by him as he made his way into the courtyard of the apartment complex. Stopping to make certain none of the residents saw him, Derek noted most of the lights were out and several of the safety lights for the courtyard were broken.

How convenient. Tin Miss doesn't miss much.

Keeping to the shadows created by the newly broken lights, Derek walked to the door of Jesse's apartment. A final glance around the courtyard showed Derek was still the lone occupant. Knocking lightly on the door, he waited, hands in pockets.

Seeing the light coming from the spyhole darken, he pulled his hands from his pockets. The sounds of chains being slipped and locks being unbolted traveled through the steel door. Finally, the door opened a mere two inches.

"Derek?"

"Yeah, Babe! Thought I would drop by and, well, see if you had an itch that needs to be scratched."

The door opened a bit more and the raven-haired Aussie looked at Derek with a puzzled expression.

"What's the matter? Surprised to see me? Alive."

Before Jesse could react Derek kicked the door open and rushed for the female resistance fighter, slamming her against the wall in the foyer. Reaching for a vase on the small table in the entranceway, Jesse smashed it against Derek's temple. Stunned, Derek lost his grasp on Jesse who slipped away and ran for the back of the apartment.

Shaking his head to clear the cobwebs from the blow, Derek heard the sound of a body slamming to the floor followed by muffled sounds of shouting. Stepping into the apartment's living room, he saw Cameron standing up with a roll of duct tape in her hand. Jesse lay flat on her back with her mouth taped shut. Within seconds Cameron had Jesse's ankles, knees, hands and elbows taped together. For good measure she wrapped more tape around Jesse's entire head, covering her mouth and making certain the Aussie's beautiful black hair was firmly stuck in the adhesive of the grey tape.

Stepping back from their captive, Cameron delivered a kick to Jesse's rib cage, eliciting a moan of pain.

"That's for John."

Reaching down, Cameron grabbed Jesse's black tresses and yanked her into a sitting position before hoisting the captive over her shoulder. Derek nodded before heading to the front door. A quick survey of the courtyard revealed it was still empty. The pair made their way quickly to the street and then sprinted to the truck. Cameron unceremoniously tossed Jesse's body into the back of the pick-up before climbing in back. Using previously prepared restraints Cameron tied Jesse down and covered her with a tarp.

In less than four minutes, the pair had captured their quarry.

Somewhere in a warehouse…

The office was dusty and smelled of mildew. Old pinup calendars gave away the fact the building had not been used for a number of years. The single working light bulb cast shadows on the old office furniture. The dim light made everything look old and worn.

Jesse sat in a steel chair. Her limbs were taped to the chair as was her torso. The tape covering her mouth, along with a fair amount of her hair, had been removed. There was no possibility of escape.

The door opened and Derek and the metal came in. Jesse knew her life would end in the crummy office. The question was how much she would reveal before she died.

Derek sat down in one of the desk chairs. Its unoiled wheels squeaked as he turned the chair to face her. His face displayed both rage and a sense of betrayal.

"Couldn't separate them so you decided to kill all of us?"

Spitting the words out in hate, Jesse glared at Derek as she spoke. "It had to be done. You allowed the metal to get too close to John Connor. Her influence had to be removed. If it meant killing all of you for the cause of the resistance, so be it. Another leader will emerge to lead us against Skynet."

Blinding pain coursed through Jesse's head. Lights flashed before her eyes and Jesse saw a red mist of rage descend. Blood poured from the gash Cameron's blow opened above Jesse's eyebrow. Despite knowing escape from her bonds to be impossible, Jesse struggled as she screamed in rage.

Cameron moved her face to within inches of Jesse's. "You tried to kill my John. The same bomb was meant to kill Sarah and Derek. I don't care if you tried to kill me. I am unimportant. John on the other hand is my life. I have no reason to exist without him. Sarah and Derek are John's only blood family. Trying to kill them is almost as unacceptable as trying to kill my John. You are going to talk before you die. Make no mistake. Nobody tries to kill my John and lives."

Jesse felt rage spread through her body. At the same time she felt a chill go down her spine. The big brown eyes staring at her were filled with rage every bit as intense as her own. They were not the eyes of a soulless Terminator. Jesse felt fear of what lay ahead for her.

The sound of Derek clearing his throat broke the silence between the two women. "Tin Miss, before I let you start, let me talk with my ex-girlfriend."

Cameron backed away several feet and moved to the side. The angry cyborg's eyes never left the face of the captive.

"I don't really think it's a case of wanting to separate Cameron and John. Nope. I think its something really pathetic."

"You have no idea what you're talking about. Everything I do, the reason I live, is to serve the Resistance in the fight against Skynet!"

"Then why not help us try to destroy Skynet before it's created? Every time I asked you to join us, all you could do is talk about the metal. Well, the metal has a name. Cameron."

"I see it's beguiled you with its looks as well? Are you having sex with it like John is?"

The sound of Derek's laugh filled the office for a brief second before the sound of Cameron's hand slapping Jesse took its place.

Blood pouring from her mouth, Jesse fought against the pain as she focused her vision on Derek.

"Want to answer her question Cameron?"

Grabbing Jesse's hair Cameron yanked the Aussie's face around. Her face blank, devoid of all emotion, Cameron whispered in Jesse's ear, "I am a virgin. No man, including my John, will have me until they make me their wife. When you insult Derek like that, you insult me and my John. Do not do it again." Stepping back, Cameron slapped the bound Aussie again.

Groaning sounds came from the old office chair as Derek stood and walked over to Jesse. Leaning over to look in her face Derek frowned.

"You see, I think you're jealous. You're a beautiful woman Jesse, quite a catch for any man. I loved you. But let's face it. You're no Sarah Connor. I could live a thousand lifetimes and never be worthy of Sarah."

Jesse spit, striking Derek's face with a mixture of saliva and blood.

"Yep. You're jealous. I know you hate the metal. Killing Cameron, not a wise thing I realize now. Jesse, future John separated himself from people because everyone who got close to him became a target for Skynet. It was the only way he could stay sane and lead the Resistance. I think you came to realize it too. When did you realize I was falling for Sarah?"

"You talked about her all the time. You even called her name once when we were in bed. I have hated her ever since. She allowed John Connor to be with the metal. You were useless. The metal has bewitched you all, everyone of you! You all have to die!"

Wiping the spit of his face, Derek looked at Jesse in disgust. "Couldn't get your way so you just decided to kill everyone. You're as evil as Skynet. Just as self-centered."

Stepping back, Derek turned to Cameron. "Are you certain the building is secure?"

"Yes."

"Administer the IV. We wouldn't want our friendly traitor hear to die of dehydration now would we?"

Jesse stared at Derek. Her emotions torn between hatred of Cameron and regret for her decision to kill the man she loved. Tears began to run down her bloody and bruised face. "Why? Why Derek? Why did you have to fall in love with Sarah Connor? How could you let John fall in love with the metal? All you had to do was burn it! Then we could have lived in peace until Judgment Day."

Cameron stepped away from their prisoner, nodding to Derek she was finished.

"I did everything I could to stop John and Cameron. I still don't like it. But here's the thing. Tin Miss has changed. She will do anything to protect John. What's more, she'll do anything to make him happy. She always does what is best for John. I hate to admit, particularly to myself. But I have seen it with my own eyes. She's saved my life. She's saved Sarah's life.

Oh, and Jesse, she feels. When Cameron takes bullets to save a Connor or Reese life, she feels the pain. At some point and time, you have to recognize the good she does. She's still metal. She could still revert. But for right now, today, she's family. You aren't. As for Sarah, what can I say? You just don't measure up. Let's just say, I decided to trade up in the world."

Her worst fears confirmed, Jesse broke down sobbing. Having failed to separate John Connor from Cameron, she had also lost her man Derek Reese to the legend Sarah Connor. What else could Jesse do but kill them all?

The light in the room went out, leaving the office in total darkness.

"We're gonna leave you here for awhile. Let you and the rats think about whatever it is rats and traitors think about," Derek paused, "it didn't have to be this way Jesse." And then he was gone.

12 hours later…

It had not taken long for the rats to find their way out of their lair to investigate the changes made to their domain, to investigate the new inhabitant. The only thing Jesse hated more than rats was Skynet. Well, that was not completely true. She hated The Connor family, all four of them.

When Riley had not been able to seduce John Connor, Jesse had killed the poor girl. Riley had been nothing more than an expendable pawn in her game. Jesse had learned as appealing as Riley was to men, she could not compete with the beautiful metal Cameron. The metal had stolen John Connor's heart. He simply had not known it. Jesse realized it was a matter of proximity. Cameron was always there.

Sarah Connor had become a problem. She was not just an attractive woman. Sarah Connor was a legend to the Resistance, the warrior mother of their great leader, General John Connor. Like Cameron, Sarah was with Derek far more than Jesse could ever be. Sarah had stolen Derek's heart without even trying. Like John, Derek had not even realized what was happening.

And so it was Jesse's mind had begin to formulate another plan. Like the Connor/Reese family was so found of saying in the future, "there is no fate but what you make." Where was it written John Connor had to be the human leader of the Resistance? Why did it have to be a man? Why not a woman?

Riley's death at her hands had been the catalyst that pushed Jesse over the edge. Murdering Riley gave formation to the idea of killing John Connor and his family. Jesse would then begin positioning herself to become the leader of the Resistance before Judgment Day ever took place. Like the Connors, she would seek out and destroy Skynet resources when she could. She would create weapons caches in key locations. Learn as much as she could. She would be the leader who led humanity to defeat Skynet.

All of her plans were for nothing. Her revenge on the Connors and their pet metal would never come to fruition. One stupid truck parked in the wrong spot kept her bomb from doing its job. Perhaps fate really did control the future.

Distant sounds of footsteps brought Jesse back to the moment. Her executioners were approaching. The rats heard the sounds as well and vanished to watch from their hidden places. The door opened slowly and Derek Reese entered with the metal following behind. Derek once again sat in the old, squeaky desk chair while the metal turned on the light.

"How are you feeling? I would imagine you're hurting pretty good. Cameron here packs a pretty mean punch."

Jesse simply stared at her captors. She had accepted her fate. The best she could do is hope not to talk.

Cameron stepped forward and removed the IV from her arm. Turning to Derek the cyborg noted without emotion, "the traitor urinated in her clothing while we were gone. Do you wish to continue to hydrate her?"

"No, I don't think that is necessary. She'll just make a bigger mess for us to clean up."

Without a word Cameron faced the helpless Jesse and slammed the butt of her hand into the prisoner's nose, shattering it. Blood poured profusely down Jesse's face onto her blouse. Minutes passed and the pain began to subside.

"So, you're going to torture me? I won't give you anything easily."

Derek laughed. "Who said we want information? You're going to learn a little lesson. One I learned the hard way. The only difference is I didn't try to kill anyone. Never piss off a female Terminator who is in love. You on the other hand, you tried to kill her John. To add insult to injury, you tried to kill his mother and as strange as it might seem, Tin Miss here is even a little pissed you tried to kill me. Must be because I'm "her John's" uncle."

A flicker of hope ran through Jesse's mind. Teach me a lesson? Does this mean they might not kill me?

The sickening sound of bones snapping broke the silence in the room. Cameron had stomped her foot on top of Jesse's foot, crushing the numerous bones composing the human foot into fragments. Agonizing pain sped up her leg in waves. Jesse blacked out.

45 minutes later…

Jesse's mind was shocked into awareness. Cold water dripped from her hair, face and body. Mixed with blood, the water pooled around her feet and beneath the chair. It was then Jesse felt the wind blowing through her hair. She was no longer inside. The smell of the ocean and the sound of swells breaking against the piles of a pier filed her damaged senses.

Looking around, Jesse realized she was on a pier in the industrial district of the Greater Los Angeles port. The area was abandoned and slated for repurposing. Derek had never intended to let her live. Or had the machine reverted to its true nature and killed Derek so it could bring Jesse here?

"You were a naval officer once and a good one. You should have stayed in the future."

Hearing Derek's voice, Jesse felt a spark of hope. "Where's the machine?"

"I sent her home. Cameron was worried about John. She has a hard time functioning optimally when she thinks he has been harmed. It's better this way. You know, they really aren't cruel, most of the time. They just kill without remorse. Cameron has trouble with her emotions. Bet you didn't know that? She can feel."

"That's a lie. No metal can feel! No metal can feel!"

"Yeah, that's what I thought. You should see her dance. Make a grown man cry it's so beautiful. No, she feels."

Derek sighed and shook his head. "Want to hear something twisted? Tin Miss really does have plans for John. Some time back Tin Miss made it clear in no uncertain terms John would have to marry her to bed her. Oh yeah, when Sarah is gone Cameron plans to become the matriarch of the family."

"You've got to burn her! You can never let that happen! It's an abomination! Skynet will win!"

"See Jesse, that's where I think you've it all wrong. Skynet doesn't just hate the human species, he hates what makes us human. Cameron is far more logical than any human. That's the machine. But I've seen her react to things with humor, compassion, love, anger, you name it, she can feel it." Shaking his head again, Derek chuckled, "once you get her sense of humor, she's actually pretty funny, not that I would ever tell her that."

Derek walked and leaned over close to Jesse, looking her in the eyes. "You see, Cameron is fighting so hard to gain her humanity. I'm not going to do anything to prevent that from happening."

"Humanity," Jesse spat out, "she's a machine. It's not possible for her to become human."

"You just don't get it. Tin Miss knows she's a machine. Knows she will never be human. She just wants her humanity. Wants to become a regular person. Wants to love John and to be loved. Wants to have purpose and to fulfill it. Wants to be treated with dignity, something I cheated her of for a long time."

Derek walked behind Jesse and took the chair in his hands, one on either side of the back of the chair.

"Cameron is trying so hard to gain what you threw away. You see Jesse, among other things, Cameron has detailed files on a wide range of chemicals that can be used to induce a person to talk when their asleep. That IV, it wasn't just to hydrate you. It had painkillers and sedatives, a little something to help you talk when you slept, to answer questions. That's how we know why you decided to kill us. So you could take John's place in the future."

"Derek, it was a mistake. I learn from mistakes. Please, you don't have to do this. Let me go and we can leave, hide until Judgment Day. You can be the leader of the Resistance. The metal will kill John. Please, it doesn't have to be like this!"

"Another thing you don't know about me Jesse. I have learned to spare people pain if I can help it. I know the remorse that comes with killing in cold blood, killing for revenge. Cameron doesn't need to learn that feeling just yet. It would be better for her to not experience that until she has to. She needed to hurt you for endangering her John, threatening her family. I needed for you to be in physical pain, so it worked out for both of us to let her slap you around. But I'm not going to let her experience just killing someone who is not putting John's life in immediate danger."

"Derek, no please! I beg you! Think! I love you!"

Without a word, Derek shoved the chair over the edge of the pier. The chair snapped to a stop just short of the water, suspended by heavy chains attached to three concrete blocks.

Suspended upside down, Jesse began to wail in sheer terror. Derek pushed the first block over the edge and quickly pushed the second over as well. The chair with its captive splashed into the water. The combined weight of Jesse, the chair and the two concrete blocks pulled the third over the pier's edge. The splash of the last block was absorbed into the dark of the night.

Derek stared down at the water. The sounds of the swells breaking against the pilings of the pier and the calls of the gulls taking flight in surprise were the only sounds to move through the darkness of the night.

Tears fell from the hardened fighter's eyes. Why Jesse? I loved you. There was no reason for this. You brought this on yourself. This is on you, not Skynet. You murdered Riley. The poor girl just wanted to be safe and eat on a regular basis. I guess I never really knew you.

The gulls settled once again on their perches. The only movement was the dark figure of a trench-coated soldier walking away.