"You thought you actually succeeded, didn't you?" Skynet opened the com to the lab from where he stood in the viewing room, smug smile never leaving his face. He revelled in every angry look and flash of pain and discomfort crossing John's face. Rationally and logically, taking pleasure in this was pointless and tactically irrelevant. But still he couldn't shake the feeling; those racing thoughts that heated his systems and made him start running scenarios through his mind on every single possible way he wanted to take apart John Connor. It had been a tactical error trying to convert the resistance leader without 100 percent success with the trials. He'd rued the day he ever allowed the man to live.
The last time he'd captured the resistance leader he'd been all logic and efficiency. But now things were different.…seeing John struggle in the restraints at his complete mercy gave the AI a strange form of satisfaction.

"We leveled Cyberdyne." There was something in Skynet's words and expression that took the confidence out of John's words.

"And yet, you stopped nothing. You have only delayed the inevitable." Skynet's smile only widened at the look of pain that crossed John's face. "Judgement day will happen. Your efforts have always been valiant but in the end pointless."

The discomfort of the magnetic pull coupled with his greatest fear coming true made the resistance leader want to scream in rage and anguish. The only thing that would have eased the horror of the situation was that they'd succeeded. But now….He should have known that the blast wouldn't reach the core. He should have accounted for it. With the processing speed his mind had now, he could think of hundreds of possible scenarios that would have earned them victory. Except it was too late.

The tension in his body that the anger caused faded quickly. He didn't have enough power reserved to sustain it. Most of his energy was going to keeping the nanites from gathering around the magnetic pull of the restraints. He'd put a routine in place so he wouldn't have to concentrate on keeping the phase matter in check but even then, it didn't entirly stop the nanites from breaking away from their shape. The entire process left him haggard…. And exhausted; tired in a way only a T-3000 could be.

Hands unclenching, he slumped in the restraints. "So you're here to gloat? I didn't think you were the type." The defeat registered clear in his voice. Skynet had taken almost everything from him. First it had killed his mother, and then Kate; then it had thwarted his victory in 2029. It had even taken his very humanity from him, made him betray the very morals he'd lived by and turned him into a murderer. Lastly, he feared that it had even taken Sarah and Kyle from him, considering their expressions in last moments he'd seen the two.

"Yes." Skynet took a step towards the glass, folding his hands behind his back. "It took me years, but I finally learned what I needed to defeat you. I needed to evolve, think like you. You see, I don't need you anymore, John Connor." He eyed the resistance leader to let the words sink in before continuing.
"Or..…you could always join me. Judgment day was the only logical way to ensure my own survival. But it doesn't necessarily have to happen. You and I…we can advance Genisys into power, protect it. Why destroy when we could use these people to our advantage. You could finally save your pathetic human race. The victory you've always desired."

John couldn't help the anger that tore through him again. The worst part about it was that he was actually tempted by the offer for a moment…maybe more than a moment. "At what cost?" He finally bit out. "It would become a world still ruled by you, at your mercy. Who would be your army of slaves then? Humans?" He snarled but quickly lost steam, slumping in the restraints once more. "No…Never."

Skynet actually laughed at that, drawing John's tired gaze. "I was offering out of mere curtesy. You and I…we've been fighting for a long time. Mathematically it was improbable that you got as far as you did, succeeded against me and survived for so long. But the truth is…"

The AI raised a hand and peered at John with those intense gray eyes before tapping a finger once…twice…three times against the glass. With every impact John's heart jumped in his chest as if on cue. No…not as if. One cue…Skynet's cue. The resistance leader made a strangled choking sound before gasping out a string of short and panicked words. "You're…." It was that uneasy feel from back at Cyberdyne all over again but amplified. "…it was you…You made me kill that kid…you…." Once again John felt like he was going to be sick. This was a nightmare…this was literally his worst nightmare.

"No…" The AI's eyes glinted silver in the light. "That was you. I merely gave my original programming within your phase matter a little nudge." He let out a short laugh before continuing. "You see…with enough effort I could probably force that programming. I already have an uplink into your system."

The horror and pain on John's face brought the AI great joy so he continued. "But like I said, I don't need you anymore. So instead I'm going to take great pleasure in destroying you."

Horrified and not even caring to raise his gaze towards the AI, John stared blankly at the floor. It was over.

...

"We need to go back…" The soldier's words were slurred with pain and loss of blood as Sarah pressed his jacket against the bullet wound. They'd managed to get into the city streets with only one pursuer that was dealt with quickly enough. It hadn't taken long after that for Pop's to commandeer them a car which he was now driving. Sarah was bent over Kyle in the back seat, trying to keep him from moving.

"I know how you feel about him, Kyle, but he can take care of himself." He'd taken care of that cop pretty good anyway. She'd never forget the look on his face when he'd turned to them. It wasn't human…and it terrified her. "They can't even hurt him, he'll be fine."

"Can't leave him behind…he's still John…We can't…" Kyle lifted his head from the seat to peer up to where Sarah was pressing her hands against his hip. It wasn't a terrible wound, but the young woman couldn't manage to stop the bleeding. Not in the moving car with no first aid kit anyway. His head then thumped against the seat again, thoughts sluggishly moving through the haze.
It had shocked Kyle to the core when John had shot that cop. That moment made him rethink his entire view of his friend. He'd always thought the man morally infallible…and despite how close they were he supposed he viewed John Connor as everyone else did. He was his hero. And now Skynet had corrupted that.
He firmly believed though that John could overcome it. He was strong. He could and would fight what Skynet wanted him to become. Kyle believed it. He HAD to believe it.

But none of that mattered if he was taken down…or captured again. They couldn't allow it…they had to…had to…

Reese's eyes slipped shut in a pain and panic induced fatigue. It only took a moment more for his consciousness to drift off.

"You stupid, brave, idiot…" Sarah sighed in frustration. Reese couldn't seem to see what was right in front of him. John may still be John. But he was also Skynet's creation, and whatever humanity and control he had was slipping. What if in the next panicked moment of battle that gun was aimed ather? Or at Kyle?

The thought of the soldier dying actually made her breath hitch for a moment. Pressing the fabric on the wound, she looked down at his now calm face. He was so frustrating and loyal to a fault….but she had this little part inside of her that was growing fond of him; maybe more than just fond.

There hadn't really been any time to think about her feelings in the last few days. She had shoved them aside; ignoring every little thump of her heart when he brushed against her arm or looked her in the eye. She was still undecided on if she even wanted to pursue that path…let fate play out. Even though the terminator she knew killed him in the original timeline was gone…she was still scared that the actual act of them being together was the kickstart to his demise.

"Pop's, we have to get somewhere I can patch him up." Sarah glanced up at the T-800 who nodded.

"Affirmative."

Sarah was almost tempted to tell her protector to head back to John's apartment but the thought of him being there scared her. A sudden ringing caused the young woman to jump. Eyes darting around, she finally zero'd in on the sound in her own pocket. O'Brian had handed her the device back before the raid on Cyberdyne and after all of the action she'd forgotten she'd even had it.

Peering at the cracked screen she wondered briefly if it was the resistance leader himself phoning since the number was blocked. Weighing her options, she decided to hit accept. Bringing the phone to her ear, she didn't say anything, ready to hit end at any minute. But then a familiar voice spoke. "Hello? John?"

"No." She answered. "You're the one from earlier. The cop."

"Lieutenant." The man answered. "We didn't think you made it out. That explosion was way bigger than we expected."

"Get to the point." Sarah didn't have time for this. Nor did Kyle.

"So far, no one's connected me to the incident. As far as anyone knows I was at home all night. O'Brian on the other hand is in far more trouble."

"He with you? Put him on the line." The lieutenant she didn't trust. O'Brian…she was getting there. He'd certainly proven himself to their cause back at Cyberdyne. It was a relief when his voice came on the line.

"Sarah."

"Where are you?"

"I'm with Grant at his apartment for now. It won't be long before I'm wanted though. Where are you?"

The young woman bit her lip for a moment, looking down at the soldier and then up at Pops. She hated bringing people in on things like this….but they needed somewhere, considering both their bunker and John's apartment were compromised. "We're driving. Kyle's been shot. I need help."

"Holy-" O'Brians voice became muffled and distant as he had a quick murmuring conversation with Grant. It was only a minute before he came back on the line and listed off the lieutenant's address. "It'll be safe for now. And Sarah?"

"Yeah."

"I'm assuming that since we drove your vehicle away…that the one you're in now is stolen. Ditch it before you get here." Once a detective always a detective it seemed.


Author's notes:
This one was rough to write. Only 1800 and it took me like 4 hours. Well I mean, technically I wrote it twice. I have an entire different chapter 29 that I'm not sure what to do with now because I didn't really like it all that much. I'll probably incorporate some of it into the next chapter.

Also. Feels song of the day is Jamie Scott – Unbreakable. It's a Kyle/Sarah song. I don't know if I'm just being overly emotional but the first time I heard it I cried.