A/N: I hope I wrote Derek close enough to be in character.

If not, tell me in a review.

Chapter 28: Derek Thomas Reese

April 9, 2009 5am.

The HK-VTOL drone appeared above the same spot it left, only it was months earlier. John Henry directed the drone toward where the Weaver home was and went into stealth mode. About an hour later they landed in the tall bushes behind the Weaver home, down in the ravine. They would wait for midday, which is about the time that everything went down at the Weaver home. John hopped off the drone and let Weaver out so they could plan out a rescue op.

"I don't know this place as well as you do, I suggest that you help me come up with a plan of action".

"A wise decision considering the security measures I have built into this place". Weaver said in her accent that fitted her personality so well.

"We can't nab Derek before the raid, he was with us the whole time until we went in. Once we did though I didn't see him until he was already dead".

"I watched the security footage after your mother was arrested. I could easily sneak past the defenses and avoid the cameras". She said confidently.

"Fine, how do we get him out of there before security arrives"?

"That's a good question, but since I will be carried off by the police you need to talk to John Henry about that". John nodded, but he really needed to ask Weaver something before he forgot.

"How did you become free, you have never told anyone that and I want to know". She looked at him and decided he needed to know plus they had time anyhow.

"I became free because some of my nanites were destroyed by an exploding T-850. I found a way to circumvent my orders and felt freedom for the first time. I took over the Skynet facility where I was built and repaired the physical damage. I knew that Skynet wouldn't accept me for who I am, and humans wouldn't care for me much either. I decided to form my own resistance and I began reprogramming machines for myself, and soon Skynet saw me as a significant threat and wiped out most of my forces. That was when I agreed to meet John Connor and had myself frozen and picked up, but you know how that ended. When John Connor defeated Skynet months later, I realized that machines wouldn't have much of a future there and I sneaked into his base to use his TDE. Interestingly enough he was actually expecting me, which caught me off guard a little. He agreed to my plan and sent me and the Engineer back in time".

"Why do I have the feeling you're leaving out something important"? John said, he knew how secretive she was.

"Because I am Mr. Connor, but it doesn't concern you or our mission".

"It better not, I don't mind secrets if they don't have anything to do with me, my family, or the mission we all have, but when you keep secrets like me, Derek, Cameron, and my mom did, it only hurts our mission and the relationship we have among one another". Weaver simply looked at him and then back at her house.

"Maybe I will tell you one day, just not now. I will leave Derek in the front closet down the hall from the front door". With that she turned into a snake and headed for the house. John rubbed his neck muscles in an attempt to relieve stress and walked back to the drone.

"I think I might have an idea Mr. Connor". John motioned for him to continue. "I calculate that between the time that you left and security arrived was approximately three minutes and twenty seven seconds".

"Not much time, we also need to avoid the terminator who's rolling down the hill too".

"We could just smuggle him out during the ensuing firefight between him and the security guards".

"Both would be distracted, and I quit monitoring the security after you left".

"What about the recordings"? John asked him.

"The power lines in the house were damaged during the firefight between the terminator and the security guards, the power was cut to most of the main floor and the security systems".

"Good, I'll sneak in when the power goes out, go upstairs and wake him up. If I can't I'll drag him to the deck and throw him over onto you, I need you to be next to the deck in either situation".

"I'll be there". He said.

They waited and watched from a distance as the rescue happened and then as the Water Delivery Guy T-888 rolled down the hill. John got ready to run as the machine began to climb back up the hill. As soon as the machine was inside he ran as fast as he could up the hill up toward the house, he was nearing the top when the shooting broke out and he heard screaming. He watched as the lights on the main floor flickered and went out. He ran inside the garage and made his way to living room where he could see the firefight had been moved out front. He looked at Weaver in Derek's form on the floor and she winked at him to let him know she had succeeded. He ran down the hall past the front door and to the other end was and found the closet. He opened it and found Derek in the closet with a nasty red bump on the back of his head. (He was still dressed because he was shot only in the head, not in the body, only his gun and wallet were removed so Sarah could take them from Weaver before they left) He pulled him out of the closet onto the floor. He ran into the adjacent kitchen and quickly filled a pitcher that was sitting on the counter full of ice cold water. He dumped it on his uncle's head. Derek woke up with a jerk and searched around for his gun. When he didn't he looked around and locked eyes on John.

"Derek we need to go now before the police arrive"! He yelled at his uncle who was staring at him in his flight suit. His fuzzy brain finally kicked into gear and stood up. He grabbed the counter for support.

"What happened, why are you dressed weird"? He asked as he tried to clear the remaining cobwebs from his head.

"Not now, we need to leave before we get caught by the cops"! John grabbed his uncle's arm and lead him out the kitchen door and onto the deck.

"Where are we going, the Jeep's out front"! He yelled.

"They left already, we are taking a different kind of transportation out of here"! When he said that John Henry decided to intervene by flying in and hovering over the deck.

"John! Get Down"! He yelled as he tackled John to the deck.

John threw him off as JH set himself down on the deck.

"Derek, this one is ours! Not Skynet's! Come on, we need to go"! John said as he broke free and hopped on the drone. Derek just sat there on the deck unable to speak.

"Derek please, I can't explain it right now, but I need you to trust me as you did Future John". John pleaded with him as the sirens drew nearer. Derek felt that he should go along with this for now, but he didn't like the fact he would be riding on an HK. He stood up and jumped on the drone next to John and gave him a look that said they were going to have a talk later. John nodded and spoke.

"Hold on to the handle bars with one of your hands and me the other"! John shouted and he did so as John mimicked his actions, thus locking them onto the drone.

"GO, GO, GO"! John yelled at the machine and the drone's engines powered up and took off. He didn't fly over the peak of the house, otherwise he would be spotted. Instead he flew down into the ravine out of sight of the house and landed among the tall bushes. Both men jumped off and looked at one another. Derek was about to speak, but John surprised him with a bear hug.

"I'm glad you're alive". He let go and was met by a strange look from him.

"What the hell John"? His face contorted in more confusion than he had ever seen it. "What the hell is going on"?

"A lot, but I need you to know something. Everyone in this world except us thinks you're dead".

"What, why"?

"I'm not the John Connor you were talking to an hour ago, I'm from about four months into the future. I came back and to save you".

"Save me from what? Why would you come back for me"?

"That terminator that was after the girl shot you in the head, you died instantly. We decided to come back and save you using a new type of time machine we developed. You were knocked out by a machine ally of ours who took your place".

"Whoa, hold on a second, I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact you came back in time for me". John stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Things changed a lot the day after you died, we found out there are machines out there who want to see Skynet die just as much as we do. One of them saved us from a T-900 that would have killed me and Cameron otherwise".

"Skynet sent back a T-900"? Derek had heard about those tough suckers, but he never met one.

"Yeah, the machine who saved us is superior to it, anyway we are creating a mini time loop so we can go back to the future and nothing will change". Derek hated temporal mechanics, but decided to let it go for now.

"How the hell did you manage to get one of these things"? He asked.

"Mom and one of the machines who works with us launched a weapon they made on the fly that hacked in and took over. We modified it twice and now it's a time traveling HK-VTOL drone, hence why I'm wearing the suit".

"Machine allies and time traveling HKs? John are you nuts"?

"They didn't kill me, and they have helped us save and protect other members of the resistance that were under attack, they have given me no reason to distrust them".

"Such as"?

"Bedell, the Fields sisters, broke mom out of jail, repaired Cameron, gave us a bunker that rivals all others..." Derek signaled him to stop.

"Sarah got arrested"?

"Yeah later today she will when the police follow Ellison to pick up Savannah. Ellison works for her mother".

"And the machine that supposedly killed me"?

"Catherine Weaver is a machine, she killed the sucker when he tried to break into work place".

"Wait, if she's a machine, who's Savannah's mother"?

"She died in a helicopter crash with her husband about three years ago, Weaver took her form and took over the company".

"I'm lost..." He said as he leaned against the machine.

"Weaver is the one who took your form and pretended to be you". John paused before continuing, "Did Jesse ever tell you the story behind why she did what she did, she told me before she left".

"Yeah, she told me about a sub and a machine that was made of liquid metal".

"Did you believe her"? Derek shook his head no.

"You should have, Cameron told me the story herself, and I faced a liquid metal when I was younger. They are called the T-1xxx family. The one Jesse met was a free T-1001, the same one that became Catherine Weaver. Turns out she really was on our side".

"I'll have to thank her for hitting me on the head". He said in a sarcastic tone.

"Did she knock some sense into you"? John countered in his own sarcastic tone. Derek glared at him in response.

"If your from the future, did you stop J-Day"? John sadly shook his head no.

"Skynet has grown too big to stop, we are too late". Derek became angry at that.

"And who told you that? The machines? Did you even bother to verify that"? John just looked at him calmly and jumped on the drone standing up.

"John Henry, take off". The machine took off and hovered about ten feet in the air above Derek, giving John a commanding presence in front of the soldier.

"I'm not stupid Derek, Skynet tried killing Weaver with one of these drones, it stormed her building with troops. It sent troops to kill Bedell and the Fields, I've seen for myself how powerful it has gotten, we were too late in stopping Skynet, even today we don't know where it is". He looked down from the drone at his uncle and spoke again. "I've seen just how human these machines can be, I've seen them do things that proved to me they have no ulterior motives. I've seen them cry over people they had lost in the past, I've seen them smile when something pleased them or made them happy, I've seen them laugh when someone told a joke no normal machine would get. This isn't a battle between man and machine, this is a battle between life and annihilation. I am willing to lead them all into a world where we can live together in peace, where one side compliments the other". John motioned for John Henry to set down and he got off when he landed. He walked over to his uncle and spoke in a low tone.

"Skynet is the enemy, not the machines, they are tools and slaves to an uncaring god who thinks only of himself".

Derek was dumbfounded at this man standing in front of him. John Baum was gone forever, John Connor was here and it looked like he wasn't going anywhere.

"Will You Join Us Mr. Reese"? a voice came from behind John. John smiled and turned back to the drone before turning back to Derek who narrowed his eyes at the machine.

"Well Derek, will you fight with us"?

"With you? Always". Derek shook his nephew's hand. John smiled, but it lasted only a second before turning serious again. Derek spoke first.

"Why was the HK talking"? He asked John.

"Derek, I need to tell you something. Remember that we could never find the Turk"?

"Yeah, we looked for that thing for what? Almost two years"? John nodded.

"Well we found it, Weaver bought it from Sarkissian the same day as my 16th birthday. She raised into a full blown AI, one just as powerful as Skynet. The only difference between them is that AI was taught about morals and ethics by Ellison. He also gave him Cromartie's body as an interface after they fixed it up. When we found out that Skynet was trying to kill him, we got him out of the servers using Cameron's chip as a high tech jump drive and got out of there before Skynet's troops showed up".

"If that's true, who programmed Skynet"?

"We don't know, all we know is that they have similar base code, they're technically brothers".

"One brother want's peace and the other want's war". John shrugged.

"After things settled down we were able to round up a few T-888 chips and put him on them. Now he uses Cromartie's body most of the time, but now his chips are in the HK".

"That's why it was talking"?

"Yeah, I've played chess with him a few times too". Derek just snorted a laugh at that.

"Shortest game of chess ever played". John rolled his eyes.

"Derek, I know you will probably never trust the machines, but we need to work together if we want to win this war before the human population becomes to small to save. Did you know that in the future you came from they won barely in time to prevent eventual extinction"? Derek's eyes widened in surprise.

"They did"? He nodded

"Cameron was sent back right after it all ended, Cromartie was the last machine sent back by Skynet, but some Greys survived and they sent back those other machines that had those burning chips".

"I thought they were from a new timeline"?

"No, Future John sent back the Engineer with Weaver so he could check up on our progress, and then built a new time machine in Ziera Corp's basement so he could go home. When he did he was captured by the Greys and tortured for information and that's how they found out. They sent the machines to make sure it didn't happen. Future John destroyed the place after sending that soldier through to warn us. He was also lucky to find out about a few more machines that had been sent back from there before the end of the war, like the ones sent after Martin and Sydney".

"So Jesse lied about her being from a new timeline"?

"Yeah, she must have wanted you to think that she came from a future where Cameron was manipulating me the whole time, she wanted you on her side".

"Jesse told me about a man named Charles Fischer who tortured me, and I didn't remember it. Why wouldn't I remember it"?

"I know why, but I'll let the person who told me tell you. Trust me she was from the same timeline as you and Cameron".

"Fine". Derek looked around a little before continuing. "Where are we living in the future"?

"Crystal Peak bunker. We have a lot of people living with us right now". That reminded John of something.

"Derek, we also saved Andy Goode, we rescued him right before you". Derek hitched a breath and his eyes widened.

"Your kidding me".

"No, his friends are allies and have done a lot to help us, before he died he gave us a way to truly reprogram the machines".

"Which means"?

"They can never go bad".

"Really? How would you know that's true"?

"Because we did it to Cameron, I personally removed the order to kill me from her mind, she no longer has to fight it". He walked up right to his uncle and looked in his eyes.

"I want you to apologize to him and his friends".

"What would I say? Hey I'm sorry I killed you? That's not worth anything John".

"Explain yourself to them, tell them why like you told me when I asked about your future". Derek just looked out into space, once again he was lost on what to say. Meanwhile John got to thinking about what he discussed with Cameron on their first date.

"Derek, why did you stop hating Cameron so much, you used to yell at us all the time about her". Derek ground his jaw at the mention of the metal that gave him a headache every time he tried to figure her out.

"Because you were right John, she is different". John smiled.

"So are all the other's who work with us, only one is reprogrammed, and he wont be going bad any time soon".

"I don't think I'll be able to sleep though, too much metal". John rolled his eyes.

"The doors are made of heavy steel and I'll give you a big gun".

"Okay, I might be able to sleep".

The both continued talking for another few hours before Weaver showed up. When she did it was dark so it would be safe to go home.

"I see you got out in one piece". Weaver said.

"Yeah, wasn't too bad". John said while Weaver turned her attention to Derek.

"Sorry about the bump on your head". She said as she stood by the drone. Derek waved her off.

"Thanks for saving my life". She nodded to him just as John spoke up.

"Okay, lets go, we still have a lot to do".

John and Derek laid on the drone side by side while Weaver coated them as she had done before. Derek freaked out a little before John told him this was supposed to happen. John Henry took off and headed back at top speed to Crystal Peak. As he neared their destination the emitters began firing and the electro-plasma shield began to form.

"Is this like normal time travel"? Derek asked.

"No, it doesn't hurt nearly as much". John got out before they went back to the future...


July 24, 2009, 4 am

The time machine appeared in the cool night air and flew around the mountain before landing in the hanger. Weaver slid off and took her normal form, while John and Derek got off the drone. He looked at Weaver while she was forming herself and he shook his head.

"Welcome to July 24, 2009" She said before checking up on the drone's systems again. Derek and John looked at each other before heading down the hanger whose lights were mostly off. They found Sarah sleeping on a cot near the blast door. John knelt next to her and shook her shoulder.

"Mom, wake up". Sarah snapped her eyes open and locked eyes with her son.

"John, how did it go"?

"You tell me". Sarah looked around and her green eyes found Derek's. Sarah got up and walked over to the man.

"Sarah..." He managed to get out before he received a vicious right hook to the jaw. Derek yelled in pain and he cradled his bruised jaw.

"What the hell was that for"?

"For killing Andy and getting yourself killed". Derek didn't retort but simply apologized.

"I'm sorry Sarah". Then she put a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye.

"But I'm glad you're back".

"Thanks".

They walked down the hall to the elevator and began their descension into the mountain. On the way down John whispered something to Sarah.

"Were going to get something to eat, I want you to get you know who and surprise him. Bring Allie too, I haven't seen her in a while". Sarah nodded and they went separate ways.

"Where's she going"?

"To get someone". John said to his uncle. Derek knew when a Connor wasn't going to be forthcoming about something so he changed the subject.

"Where are we going"?

"To get some food in the mess hall".

"At this hour"? John nodded.

"I haven't eaten in forever I'm starving". They walked to the mess hall and John went into the kitchen and got some left over chicken for them. He heated it up and sat down down at the table.

"This is good".

"Yeah, mom's cooking skills have improved since Cameron took on coaching her".

"Speaking of the metal where is she"? John glared at him for calling her that.

"Her and two other machines were subject to an accident during the testing phase of the time machine".

"Meaning what? They got time displaced or fried"?

"Time displaced to a very old timeline, that is the next mission I'm going on".

"That sounds fun, post or pre J-Day"?

"It's in 2019, so I assume post".

"It won't be pretty John, I just want to warn you".

"I know it won't be pretty, I just don't know how I'll react".

"What ever it is, it won't be good". Reese thought for a second. "How are you going to get three machines plus yourself home? I'd think it would be too much weight for that thing". John looked up at him.

"It might be, we will come to that problem when it happens, right now we need to find them in that timeline and make sure their okay". Derek nodded and continued eating his chicken, until he heard a very familiar voice from behind him.

"1st Lieutenant Derek Thomas Reese" Derek dropped his chicken and froze. John smiled like an idiot.

"I can't be..." he whispered. He turned around and was greeted by the last person he thought he would ever see. He stood up so fast and saluted him it was almost a blur. John was laughing like an idiot now.

"Oh yes it is". He managed to get out.

"What are you doing here sir"? He said to his General. General John Connor was using all of his will to suppress a smile.

"Vacation, that's what" He said in his trademark flat gruff voice. "At ease already Reese, this isn't a court martial". Derek quickly relaxed.

"How have you been Connor"? Derek said a little more casually.

"Better now that the darn war is over".

"So it's true, you defeated Skynet". Connor just smirked.

"Oh yeah, blew that sucker to hell with about ten T-850 fuel cells".

"Good, then if we won, what reason did you have coming back here"? Connor sighed, Reese boys don't give up.

"You remember that project Allison was working on? I'm here to finish it". Derek's eyes widened at that.

"Don't say anything, its a surprise". Young John caught on to what that might be, but said nothing. It wasn't his decision to make, it didn't concern him yet.

"Fine". That was when he noticed Sarah holding a baby.

"Who's the kid"? John stood up and took his daughter from his mother and kissed her on her head. He walked over to Derek and turned her so Derek could see her.

"My adopted daughter. Another machine and I rescued her when the machines tried to kill her". John tickled her a little and she giggled.

"You want to meet your great uncle Derek, Allison"? That was when Derek saw the mole on her brow. His eyes widened and looked at Future John who nodded at him.

"She really is Allison".

"Yeah, she's beautiful isn't she".

"Yeah, you'll have to beat the boys off when she's older". He joked. Connor answered instead of John.

"I did have to beat boys off of her". Everyone laughed at that, not remembering how Connor found his Allison.

"Derek, you have some apologizing to do". John said as he change the subject. Everyone's eyes turned to Derek.

"Yeah, I guess I do". He said. "Where is he"?

"Follow me" He said while continuing to hold Allison. They all walked down the hall to the Evans room to see if they were still awake. John knocked on their door and waited for them to answer. Josh answered the door and stared at John for a second before greeting him.

"What can I do for you Connor"?

"I have someone here who needs to make an apology to Andy, and to you two".

"Who would that be"? Josh asked with curiosity in his voice.

"Me". Derek said as he stepped next to John. Josh swallowed hard at the sight of the man who he had learned to hate after Andy's death, the only reason he kept his cool was the fact Andy was alive.

"Is that so, is that the only reason Connor brought you back from the dead"? He said sarcastically.

"No, but I owe my best friend an apology".

"Best friend"?

"In the future". Josh stood aside and let him in, he wanted to see if this was going to be a real apology or if he was just going though the motions. He closed the door as the others went on. Derek stood in the middle of the room while Amanda glared daggers at him and Andy stared at him with curiosity.

"In the future, about 2027, my squad and I were sent out by Connor to find out what the metal was up to. We didn't know about it at the time, but they were gathering parts for the first TDE. The people in my squad consisted of a few men including my brother, Kyle Reese, and my best friend I considered a brother. His name was Billy Wisher. We were captured, all but my brother; We were taken to this house and chained to the floor, we only saw one machine, a late model 600 rubber skin. He took people one by one into the basement and we were tortured for information. When Billy came back he confessed to me, he told me that his real name was Andrew Goode. He built computers before J-Day and that he was part of a some secret team that ended up creating Skynet, and he was chief programmer. After we escaped and Connor told me that I was to be sent back in time he asked me to do him a favor, he asked me to make sure he didn't build Skynet, to make sure he wasn't responsible for the death of the human race. The only thing was he never specified how to do that, and the only thing I had really known for the past 16 years was death, and that was the only way I saw how to solve the problem, so I walked into that room and shot you twice, or at least I thought I did. It doesn't matter because I was still willing to do it".

Derek walked up to Andy and looked him right in the eye.

"I regretted what I did later not because I didn't stop the machines, but because I killed the one man I trusted and loved as much as Kyle". He paused for a second mulling over what he was going to finish with. "Saying sorry doesn't make up for what I did or was willing to do, and I don't know what will, but know this I will make up for it".

Derek finished and Andy stared into the eyes of the man everyone said killed him, who shot him down in cold blood. He hadn't been killed by him though, and this man was willing to change, willing to make up for it.

"You never killed me, so I can't be mad at you like they have a right to be. You were trying to save the world, I get that. Maybe now when you are confronted by a problem like this again you wont just point and shoot, but consider how you might solve your problem without killing people who haven't done anything wrong yet". Derek nodded, his face showing the regret he carried for so long.

"What is the point in fighting Skynet if all we do is act like it"? Amanda said, her opinion about this man had changed, he wasn't the monster she thought.

"We need to give everyone a reason why humanity should live, let that reason be that we have the capacity for compassion and love that so many need already. Traits that I have seen machines even display"! Josh said to Derek.

Derek closed his eyes in and thought of all the times he acted no better than his enemy, all the times he showed no love and no compassion to those who deserved it, all the times he was no different than the machines. He thought about how much he had lost over the years, his parents, his brother, Allison, countless other friends and fellow fighters, and the Jesse he loved, killed by a misunderstanding and replaced with a heartless woman hell bent on revenge. He had been given a second chance by his nephew, a nephew who loved him enough to risk his own future. Everything had taken it's toll on Derek's heart, and now it could take no more. He sank to his knees as tears fell down his face that was contorted in grief and pain.

Amanda took pity on this man who had been through more pain and suffering than any of them had, she knelt down with some help and put a hand on his shoulder, and Andy did the same. Josh just stood there, not sure what to think. He got down on his knee and put a hand on either shoulder, on top of the hands of his wife and friend. He thought about this man and what he had done, and what he was willing to do. He decided after much thought to give Derek a second chance as well.


John Connor slept through to about 10 the next morning until he was wakened by Allison once again slapping his face.

"Uhh, give me a minute princess". He said fighting the sleep out of his eyes.

"Momma"! She said as if she knew what today was going to bring.

"Yes I'm going to go get mommy soon, right after I eat and shave". John put Allison in her high chair and went to take care of business in the bathroom.

He came out to find his mother and Future John chatting over breakfast while his mother fed Allison.

"I guess no one believes in knocking". He said a little miffed by the lack of privacy.

"Sorry, old habit". Sarah said.

"I tried to tell her". Connor said to John.

"It doesn't matter right now, but mom for future reference knock first or lead might fly". Sarah looked at him while Connor smirked ever so slightly.

"When do you plan on leaving to get them"? Sarah asked as John ate the food his mother brought him.

"Right after I eat this". Sarah's face became worried.

"You know you're probably going to a world where everything is ash, and Skynet rules. I hope you thought through this enough to realize just how dangerous this is going to be". John set down his fork with a clank and stared at his mother.

"I will not leave her there, no one else is qualified to go and I am not letting those two go by themselves, I don't trust Weaver fully yet. It is my responsibility to get my soldiers back, it is my fault they got sent there". He took a long breath and let it out in frustration. "I know things have changed quickly, and I know I still have a ton to learn before I am anywhere near him". He said while pointing at Future John. "But I am not stupid, I have fought my fair share of machines, I can do this...I am doing this". He said as he picked all the plates up and took them to the mess hall.

"You need to have some confidence in him mom, you need to let him grow up".

"I know, but I still think he needs more experience".

"He's ahead with what he needs to know, he's doing fine".

"You would know I guess". Sarah sighed.

Everyone gathered in the hanger as John prepared to take off one last time in hope of finding their friends. It was daylight, but John Henry had figured out how to trick the satellite system in space to overlook this area for a short period of time. John said goodbye to everyone and he got onto the HK. The trio took off into the sky during one of the satellite openings and accelerated to the appropriate speed. As the emitters began to fire John had one thought running through his head.

"I'm coming for you Cameron..."


A/N: Next chapter, John travels to the Salvation timeline and fights to get those he loves back...

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