Terminator: No Fate But What We Make

Chapter 29

Los Angeles, California, August 12, 2027: Resistance Headquarters: Fort Griffith

Everything about this was amazing, John thought to himself.

This machine was weakened by plasma fire. Most of its nanites were probably destroyed by the heated blasts. It was a conclusion that made the most sense. But what didn't make sense was why it was attacked by its creator.

Skynet created the damn thing and yet it turned on it. Maybe this machine turned on its creator? There were many theories as to what happened. All of which intrigued him greatly.

But what didn't make sense was the chip it had encased in itself. Why did it have a Terminator chip? A machine's CPU?

The T-1000 was held in a glass chamber made specifically upon arrival. These things were prone to squeezing through small cracks if they weren't careful enough. Soon it would have rebuilt all of its nanites and would be whole again. But until then, he had to wait.

While John sat in his quarters, he carefully studied the chip. There was a crack where the processor was. It was possible that whatever was on this, why the T-1000 had it, was all in vain. Something was special about the chip, he just couldn't quite put his finger on it.

There was a knock on his door. In confusion, he stood up and allowed Cameron to open the door. There was a soldier standing at the foot of the door, his expression turning sour upon seeing Cameron.

"Yes?" She inquired.

"There are two visitors for the General," he hissed.

"Who are they?" She demanded.

The soldier rolled his eyes. "Sergeant Matthews and Medical Officer Amanda Williams."

"Bring them in," John acknowledged from across the room. The soldier obediently followed the General's order and escorted the two inside.

Upon entering, Alex glared at Cameron for a long moment before finally looking at John. "It's good to see you are in one piece," she quipped.

"I should be asking you two that," John stated. "I heard about Crystal Peak."

"Well maybe if your new little toy over there didn't lead Skynet on top of us, then maybe all of those deaths could have been prevented," Alex sarcastically hissed.

"Alex… calm…" Amanda requested. She reluctantly did so and took a deep breath. With that out of the way, Amanda focused back on the General. "Sir, we were informed, indirectly, that you brought another machine here?"

"I did," John acknowledged. "Right now it's in isolation."

"What is it?" Alex inquired.

"A T-1000 if I remember well enough. It appeared to have been injured by Skynet forces."

"You mean damaged?" Alex pointed out. "They don't feel, remember."

"Right," He agreed. "Damaged."

"Sir, why bring something potentially dangerous into this base?" Amanda inquired curiously.

"I don't know. I guess I had this feeling," John explained rather simply. "It had this inside it." He showed the two the CPU found encased inside the machine which brought more questions to them. "I found the triple eight that it belonged to as well, but it was already badly damaged."

"What's on it?" Amanda asked. "I mean besides the fact that it being a killing machine brain?"

"I don't know," John shrugged. "It's too damaged to even work with it."

"Then why keep it?" Alex asked, crossing her arms.

John walked over to his desk, shuffling through many papers. Before long, he had a drawing produced to show them. "This is why."

It was a sketch of a chip. But just not any chip. This one was unique in designed. Way different than a T-888 CPU.

"What are we looking at sir?" Amanda asked.

"It looks like Cameron's chip," John explained. "I already verified it. Everything is the exact same aside for the covering that laces hers."

"A covering is why you think it's different?" Alex scoffed.

"This one is chrome plated, hers isn't!" John pressed. "Whatever is on this chip, it must be like Cameron."

"The more you talk about that thing, the more I think you really do worship her!" Alex spat. "This is a waste of time just going on a stupid feeling!"

"Alex, enough!" Amanda demanded with sternness.

"No, she's right," John simply acknowledged. "Maybe it is a waste of time. But I will take whatever hope I have in saving humanity, until my very last lead. You may not appreciate it, the entire Resistance may not like it, but I'm trying my goddamn best!"

Alex was taken aback by John's sudden exclamation. His loud, cold voice carried throughout the room, even silencing Williams

"If you ever come here accusing me of trying to tear apart the Resistance again, Alex. Then I will be the General you grew up hearing stories about."

Alex didn't keep eye contact with John and suddenly turned to leave hair quarters. Before leaving through the door, she turned once more, not looking at anyone. "No wonder everyone talks so down upon you," she said before leaving.

With her gone, John took a seat back at his chair. Amanda walked up to him with intentions to calm him down. But that was all in vain when Cameron grabbed her by the arm.

"I think it's time you leave, Officer Williams."

Amanda glared at the machine but did what she was told. With her now leaving, she walked up to John and looked down at him.

"You're stressed."

"How would you know that?" John asked.

"I can tell," she simply stated. Cameron ran her finger across his forehead to ascertain his condition. "Your blood pressure has risen by over thirty-eight percent."

John took a deep breath and sighed heavily. "What has been said about me lately, Cameron?"

"Around the base?" She inquired to which he nodded. "They say that you lost faith in humanity. You would rather be with machines."

"Do you believe any of it?" John asked.

"You see the good in all of us. Human and machine."

"Then why does it feel like I am betraying them?" John then asked.

"I don't understand the question?" She inquired with a head tilt.

"Am I betraying everyone by bringing a potentially dangerous machine into this base?" John clarified.

Cameron's head returned to its upright position, to which she just shook her head in puzzlement. "I don't know. Your intentions are good, your soldiers just don't know what kind of General you are."

His curiosity piqued. "And what is that?"

"You believe that machines deserve a chance."

Los Angeles, California, December 17, 2007: Connor Safehouse

When he thought things couldn't get much more crazy around here lately, this certainly added to that pile of mess. Now he was going to face the consequences of what he and Cameron did.

"John, we need to talk," his mother told him with a stern expression.

Well if machines weren't going to kill me, my mother surely will.

John followed his mother outside to the front porch. He already could imagine what she was going to say.

"So you and Tin Miss lied to me."

"Mom, I'm-"

"John please stop talking," she requested in a calm manner. "I'm not an idiot." she noticed that her son's eyes averted from her and found a sudden interest at the skyline. "It explains why Cameron had your back that day."

"What is that supposed to mean?" John inquired.

"You snuck out to go with Emily. How stupid do you think I am?"

"I don't think you are stupid, mom!" John disagreed.

"Then you better tell me what has been going on with you. Better yet, why is that machine in our house, hugging Derek?"

John sighed heavily. The cat was out of the bag, or in this case, the machine. "I and Cameron managed to disable her and take out her chip."

"And why didn't you burn her?" Sarah inquired.

"You heard Weaver! Adam White is a big threat to us and the world. She and I agreed that we needed more help!"

"Then you should have told me, John! I mean how can you be so stupid?"

"How am I supposed to be the oh so great leader you told me I would be if you can't even trust my judgment!?"

Sarah was taken aback by her son's sudden outburst. She herself took a deep breath to collect her thoughts on the whole situation. He was right, he was going to be making his own decisions soon, so why not now? Maybe the answer was simpler than it was made out to be.

"Why does she think she is Chloe, then?"

"I messed up when scrubbing the chip. Instead of starting with a clean slate, I accidentally brought back those memories. It's like when Cameron thought she was different."

"Like Allison…" she pointed out to which her son nodded in agreement. "You owe Derek an apology. He doesn't see what she is yet, but when he does-"

"I get it!" John snapped.

"Do you really?" Sarah sneered. "Because every day I think otherwise."

With all those harsh words being said, Sarah marched right back into the house, leaving John outside, alone. Everything seemed to stick. What his mother thought about him. She was disappointed in him, and she no longer trusted him. What was he going to do now? Just sit around and wait until Derek would rain hell upon him? Surely he would be very angry at the fact that he brought back his deceased daughter but in the form of something he absolutely hated.

With his mood down the drain, John walked back inside. Everyone seemed to stare at him specifically. Everyone was in the living room, while he noticed that Derek and Chloe were outside conversing with each other.

His reckoning would probably come later. If he knew his uncle well enough, he would make sure he got a good scolding for being naive and selfish. He would lose faith in his future General.

•••

An hour went by, and everything seemed to calm down. Sarah calmed down. Derek and Chloe were in the living room, while John and Cameron were outside. Everyone else was with her, searching for Skynet. With both Jesse and Markus taking occupancy in the living room, all operations were conducted at the dining table.

All files now laid scattered about, while she, Catherine Weaver, Markus, Jesse, and Alex looked through all of them.

"We're getting nowhere!" Jesse groaned tiredly. "There is nothing to pin Adam White to the Zeira Corp bombing."

"Well keep looking," Sarah pressed. "There has to be something here."

"Sarah, these documents are over ten years old. Miles Dyson was the CEO then, not Adam White," Alex explained. "For all we know, Cyberdyne is just a secret organization now. We need something new."

"Alex is right," Weaver agreed.

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Sarah asked. "Go talk to him ourselves and politely ask him?"

"No," Weaver shook her head. "But you do understand that he does have my AI now. If we don't find him soon, then everything we are trying to stop will simply be for nothing."

"Why do you talk so sophisticatedly?" Alex whispered to herself. "Even for a machine."

"I heard that," Weaver glared.

"Will everyone focus?" Sarah demanded.

"Sorry," everyone apologized.

Still, nothing solid was found. All documents only led to Cyberdyne up until the '90s. Nothing much after that was found. Aside from the Government requisitioning the company in 2003. Most research on any AI project was abandoned years ago.

"Guys!" Derek shouted from the living room. "You may want to check this out!"

Everyone stopped what they were doing and went into the living room. Chloe and Derek were at the foot of the television, both of their eyes widened with fascination. They all stopped to watch was on the TV. More specifically what channel was currently airing.

"I'm Madison Walsh, and where I'm currently standing, is the old but new site for a company thought to be long dead.

Over 10 years ago, Cyberdyne, run by the late Miles Dyson, unfortunately, saw bankruptcy after known fugitive: Sarah Connor, her son: John Connor, and a mysterious man had set explosives inside the old Cyberdyne Headquarters, with Sarah Connor killing Mr. Dyson in cold blood in the process.

Now the company, thought to be lost after his death, has suddenly popped back up on the map, as Miles' son, Daniel Dyson, has come together with the CEO of Cybersystems Incorporated, as a merger for the betterment of our future."

"Wait, Daniel Dyson is working with Adam White?" Sarah inquired confusingly.

"I don't know…" Derek shrugged. "It appears so."

"So, Mr. Dyson. What can you tell us about the new and approved Cyberdyne?"

The camera cut to Danny. For being so young still, he looked very good. A fancy suit and tie. He almost reminded her of Miles a bit.

"Well… I aim to continue my father's work before he passed. My new partner: Adam White has agreed to help me fund the 're-startup' of my father's company."

"What else can you tell us?"

"Cybersystems are currently in discussions with the Air Force for the funding of Artificial Intelligence, as well as the first generations of completely antonymous, Military ready, combat units. I call them M.R.C.U.s."

"So you plan on creating robots to replace active Military soldiers?"

"In time, yes. The possibilities are endless. The future is coming, and Cyberdyne, along with Cybersystems, plan to make a better future for not just America, but the whole worl-"

Not being able to bear any more of this, Sarah turned off the television, to which everyone just looked back at her with puzzlement. Derek knew when the hardened woman was stressed. She began to pace back and forth, contemplating on what actions they should take.

"Sarah."

"What, Derek?" Sarah inquired.

"We need to keep calm."

Derek's attempt was in vain as Sarah had immediately countered his suggestion. "How do you expect me to be calm? Miles wanted to destroy all of his research, all of it! Now his own son is practically pissing on his grave by doing this shit!"

"He's still a kid," Derek attempted one more time. "He still doesn't know about the truth. We can talk to him."

"You mean kill him?" Sarah stated. "Because that's your go-to action for every single one of our problems."

"No I mean by really talking to him," Derek corrected calmly. "You said it yourself, Danny is just pissing on his father's grave. Maybe we can make him see that."

"There is no point," Sarah continued. "His mother still dislikes me, and I'm pretty sure she hasn't told her son an ounce of truth about what happened."

"I'd be more concerned about those M.R.C.U.s," Alex spoke up from behind. "It sounds like our dear friend Mr. White is trying to make early versions of terminators."

"The perky one has a point," Jesse intervened. "Making machines before the war could and most likely will alter our chances in the future."

In response to Jesse's opinion, Derek glared at the woman who took immediate notice.

"Okay, so what if we're looking at this the wrong way," Markus spoke up.

"What do you mean?" Alex inquired.

"Cyberdyne is a company. Companies have lawyers. If we can get our hands on one of them, then maybe they can give us valuable information on these early prototypes."

"That could work," Alex agreed. Luckily, she snagged John's laptop from earlier and began to open up a browser window. She then rapidly began typing the keyword: Cyberdyne, into the search bar.

"What are you up to, Tin Head?" Sarah inquired as to what the Hybrid was up to.

"All companies nowadays have websites. I bet Adam White's lawyers or business partners are listed somewhere in here."

"That's just crazy, Alex," Sarah sadly told the woman. "You can't just search names up and expect to find results-"

"Found something!"

Sarah was certainly surprised to have turned up with an answer so quickly. She rounded the coffee table and scooted between Alex and Chloe to see what she was looking at.

"What do we have?"

"Names," Alex addressed. "One Gray Johnson, and one Linda Fambrough."

As Sarah closely studied both names, photos appeared by them. Well, Terminators have definitely come a long way from looking into phone books.

Gray Johnson was labeled as Cybersystems lawyer, while Cyberdyne was under Linda Fambrough. Now that they had their names, it was a matter of tracking them down and finding out what they knew.

With confidence in Weaver being a Terminator, she trusted that she would be perfect for tracking down one of the two names on the website. "Catherine, I need you to track them down. Can you do that?"

"I may," Weaver agreed.

"Good," Sarah mused with a smirk. This was the first lead they had since being told about Adam White's involvement in Skynet and Judgement Day. The pieces of the puzzle are coming together.

•••

For John, everything was nothing but chaotic as of late. He couldn't stomach going back in the house right now. Not when he had to look his mother in the eye after what she told him. Everyone, including Derek, probably didn't want to see his face after everything.

The cat was out of the bag about Chloe returning, and his mother now mistrusted him. He was certain that Derek did too. Right now he may be in some sort of denial, but there was no denying when the time came to be confronted by the future soldier. It has only been a little over a month since his real cousin was murdered.

John's attention was taken away as the shed door opened, and Cameron entering inside. She could see the look of despair written on the future leader's face. She knew that look. Maybe a bit too well if she was being honest.

"What's wrong, John?"

"Just swell," John scoffed. "Chloe is back in our lives, Derek seems happy for the meantime. But oh, hear this. My mother doesn't trust her own son's judgment!"

"You're upset," she assessed.

Yeah, no shit I'm upset!" John snapped loudly. Seeing the look of concern she gazed down upon him, he realized what mistake he made. "I'm sorry, Cam. I'm just… angry."

"I know. I'm sorry." She went over to John and took a seat on the barstool next to him. Taking his hands into hers she gave him a look of reassurance before unexpectedly resting her head on his shoulder.

That awkward feeling began to emerge inside him as he felt the slight heaviness on his right shoulder. "What are you doing?"

"I like seeing you react to things I don't normally do," she simply answered softly, a smirk starting to form around the corners of her mouth.

"They aren't normal…. are they?"

"No."

"You still don't understand them either," he then pointed out.

"I don't."

He was relieved that she could wash away some of his anger. He wondered what he would do without her by his side. Go insane perhaps? She was his anchor, keeping him from going over the edge. He regretted letting those four weeks almost push her away from him. Now he needed her more than ever. Just her mere presence was enough for him to bear anything lately.

Never will he let her go.

Just when he was enjoying the silence with his favorite person next to him, the shed door opened yet again. Cameron removed her head away from John's shoulder and turned her head to see who had entered.

"John, I need to talk to you," Derek requested.

Cameron gave John another look of concern. While her face was more stoic than it was worrying, he could see it in her eyes. John had given her a simple nod, to which she got up from the stool and left the shed. For reasons, she left the door propped open just in case Derek Reese needed to be terminated for hurting John.

Once the metal was gone, Derek walked over to where John was sitting and took Cameron's previous seat.

He knew what he was going to say, so he just came out with it to break the ice. "You're here to talk about Chloe."

"I am…" Derek acknowledged with a hint of bitterness.

"I understand if you hate me, or you've just given up on me as mom did."

"John…" Derek sighed. Coming up with the right words to say was more difficult than he imagined while coming here. "What you did. I don't know what to think. On one hand, I'm pissed that you brought it here. On the other hand, I'm… glad to see her again."

"You know she is a machine, right?" John asked.

"I know…" Derek acknowledged. "A part of me was ready to gun her down right there and then. But when it… she looked into my eyes. I saw her. I saw Chloe in that Tin Can."

"So you believe that she is her?" John inquired.

"My Chloe is still dead, John," Derek admitted. "Nothing will ever change that. I don't even know what to think anymore. I grew up believing all metal was bad, that they all they do is kill. Seeing that thing in there just twists my mind in so many ways!"

"I'm sorry for bringing you all this pain," John uttered.

John and Derek sat there for a solid few minutes, not even speaking. Each had a lot to think about. There was a lot going on already, and this added to that pile. They needed to slow down and collect themselves before continuing.

After those painstaking minutes had passed, Derek was the first to speak again. "Jesse is her mother, you know." John's interest piqued. Now he felt even more like a dumbass for resurrecting Chloe. His uncle had a platter to deal prior to this. Before he could ask any further questions, Derek finished with "not this Jesse, though."

A chuckle escaped both Derek and John. "Our lives are really messed up aren't they?"

"They are," Derek agreed. "But I have to admit. Just a few days ago I swore you were John Baum and not John Connor. But in some way, today proved me wrong."

"So you're not mad?" John asked.

"Oh, I'm still pissed. The only thing keeping me from punching you right now is your guard dog outside and your mother. But I'm not disappointed in you, John."

"Cameron would probably try to kill you if you laid a hand on me," he did point out with a chuckle.

"It would be a shame to have to get rid of good metal like her," Derek snickered.

John looked at Derek in disbelief. He wasn't sure if what he heard his uncle say was just in his head. "Did you just compliment Cameron?"

Derek shrugged. "She has her uses. Just don't tell her, I don't want a machine kissing my ass." He reached under the table, pulling out a paper bag. John wasn't much of a drinker, he only ever had a few sips from a beer one time. But he knew what it was. A bottle of Scotch.

"Is that mom's?"

"Found it the other day," he explained. "Might as well have something to cope with all of this bullshit in our lives."

That's what they did. Both passed around the bottle for a bit, John only taking a few sips here and there. The burning sensation made it hard to down one full drink. As for Derek, he was able to bear the alcohol more than his mother's pancakes.

When half the bottle was gone, John had enough. As for Derek, knowing that Sarah Connor would have a reckoning on him not only sharing the bottle with her son but drinking half of her favorite liquor. He went ahead and wrapped the bottle back in the paper bag and put it away in its previous hiding spot.

When John looked at his phone, it had already been a good few hours. The sun was beginning to lower in the sky which meant that he and his uncle had been out in the shed for quite a long time. He was surprised that Cameron didn't check up on them, fearing that Derek might have done something drastic.

But like always, when he thought of her checking up on him, she did just that.

The cyborg peeked her head inside, seeing John and Derek a little tipsy from the alcohol. The smell further concluded her assumption.

"John. We have a problem."

"What is it?" John asked.

Cameron pushed the shed door open, allowing her to enter. Behind her, was another face. He expected Chloe due to the locks of blonde hair that were caught in the wind.

However, that wasn't who it was as Cameron moved to the side, allowing him to see who it was.

"Emily!?"

His eyes widened in disbelief. On her cheek was a bruise, followed by a large scratch. Her eyes were red and puffy, meaning that she had been crying recently.

Without even noticing what he was doing he rushed over to her and looked at the wound, worry beginning to take hold. "What happened!?"

"M-m-my father. H-he…"

Only being able to look at Derek and Cameron for guidance, he didn't receive any. There was nothing else to say.

He knew what happened.

•••

All was unexpected. Everything had a purpose for being where it was. So why didn't this make any sense whatsoever? John had already explained to her what Emily had told him. Everything from her father laying a hand on his own daughter, to her running away to here. She may have no longer understood teenagers but she knew this a bit too well. She needed to get out of that environment.

With Emily just blankly sitting on their sofa, Sarah just watched her son attempt at comforting the petite blonde. Cameron just stared at them from across the room like always.

"So what do we do about her?" Derek inquired from behind.

Sarah turned to face the soldier. "I don't know. We can't just take her back home."

"She's not our problem," Derek opinionatedly stated. "She's just a liability at this point. Besides we can't just start taking all these people in. Especially when one doesn't even know what is going on."

Derek did have a strong point. It was getting far too cramped in this house. Four terminators, and two people from the future. There was just no space left for them.

"So what do you suggest?" Sarah inquired angrily. "Tell her to get lost? John and she are practically dating still."

"Whatever," Derek huffed. "You make all the decisions anyway. I wonder why you ask for anyone's input if you already have your mind made up."

As Derek walked away, she was forced to look at the blonde again. She had nowhere to go. Her parents were abusive. Like it or not, she wasn't going to take her back to them until there were words spoken.

Sarah sighed, knowing that Emily would probably stay the night in the Connor house. Markus and Jesse took the couches and Derek had the basement. The only other option was Cameron and Alex's room. Unlike their last safe house, there was only one bed up there.

Hell, now Alex is going to have to sleep in my room.

Sarah walked up to her son and Emily where she stopped and sat next to her. "Honey, I don't think it's a good idea to go back to your house tonight. You can stay in Alex's room."

"Thank you, Ms. Baum," she sniffled.

As John watched his mother show, Emily, upstairs, Cameron stalked over to him, still glaring at the teenage girl.

"I swear when things can't get too crazy there is always another, right?" John muttered.

"She's lying."

John looked at Cameron in disbelief just realizing what she had said. "What makes you think that?"

"I felt her pulse outside," Cameron clarified. "She's lying."

"Why would she lie about being hit by her parents?" John asked with perplexion.

"I don't know," Cameron admitted. "She's up to something."

"And what if you're wrong?" John inquired.

"I'm never wrong."

"Sometimes you are," John stated.

"Perhaps," Cameron said with a hint of hurtfulness. "But not about this."

Cameron stood up, and followed Sarah and Emily upstairs, leaving John sitting on the couch. Cameron was up to something, but why didn't he care much for it? Maybe Emily was hiding something? Unexpectedly showing up, like she did, was suspicious. There was something Emily wasn't telling him. She was hiding something, but what exactly?

"Have you seen my dad?" Chloe unexpectedly inquired from behind John. He jumped slightly at the blonde and looked at her.

"He might be in the shed. Why?"

"I just want to talk to him," Chloe answered. "I'm sorry about everything."

"It's okay," John shrugged. "It would have happened sooner or later, right?"

"Maybe," Chloe mused. "But still."

With that being said, Chloe made her way through the kitchen and out the backdoor. The sun was getting lower in the sky. She realized that today was a short day with everything going on.

Inside the shed, Chloe heard loud voices emerge, one of them being from Derek. Curiously, and silently, she walked up to the shed door and peeked inside.

4 Minutes Earlier:

Maybe he was wrong? Treating John like he wasn't a careless, immature teenager, and only the leader he was meant to be? He should know the cost of having someone close to him, die, it's happened many times before. Foster parents, friends, and even family. Why must he keep on with this path? That girl from school did not know what she was getting into. Half of the occupants inside this house were not even human. Yet he brought home this girl.

There is a mission they have to do and Emily was just going to be a liability.

Now in the shed, the only thing he could do to keep his mind off of all the chaos in his life, was to focus on the mission. Cleaning every firearm they had would be a good place to start. So one by one, Derek stripped each gun down until they were nothing but pieces before assembling them back together. It was a great way to kill time, as well as being a great stress reliever.

When he was all but finished with the third weapon, he put it back in the duffle bag and went on to the next. However, before he could slide off the top of the handgun, he immediately felt the presence of someone entering behind him.

He whirled around, seeing exactly who it was. His body tensed up, and his expression became sour. "What do you want?"

"I think we need to talk, love," Jesse began calmly.

"No, we don't," Derek hissed. Not wanting to hear a single goddamn thing that came out of this woman's mouth, he started to put the guns away back in the bag and began to leave the shed.

However, Jesse stepped right in front of Derek, stopping him dead in his tracks. "Please just hear me out!"

Gritting his teeth, Derek began looking around the room for another possible exit. There was some plastique in the other bag underneath the boxes. If he wanted to, he could just blow a hole in the wall behind him and leave. Then again, he didn't want to get his arm or leg blown off in the process.

When there was not an exit in sight, he decided to let the Aussie continue. "You have thirty seconds."

"Really, Derek?" Jesse exclaimed in disbelief. "Thirty seconds!?"

"Twenty-five."

"Why do you hate me so much?" Jesse asked.

"Don't play stupid with me!" Derek hissed. "You killed an entire base by joining Skynet. You betrayed everyone from Connor, to me, to my own daughter!"

Jesse didn't immediately respond, only taking a moment to let what Derek proclaimed, sink in. "I did not do that."

"And how the hell am I supposed to know that?" Derek inquired. "Tell me, Jesse. How am I!?"

"Because I have seen you die, I have seen everyone I love die at the hands of Skynet!" Jesse exclaimed. "Joining the very thing that's made my life hell is the last thing I'd ever do."

"Somehow I doubt that," Derek muttered.

"Catherine Weaver mentioned we are from different timelines," Jesse then brought up. "If that is true then there should be no reason why we are fighting over this!"

Derek only scoffed. "It's actually funny that you believe everything a machine says."

"Try me, love. You're not even giving me a chance to explain myself."

"There are reasons why I won't give you any more chances!" Derek spat.

"What happened to me in your future?" Jesse inquired. "What did I do so bad that gives you the right to be an asshole to me!?"

Derek took a long moment to take a deep breath. He noticed the shed doors open for the hundredth time today. But it wasn't whom he expected it to be. Not John, nor Sarah. Not even the Tin Miss or Alex. Hell he even expected John's girlfriend or that other guy: Markus, that Jesse was probably sleeping with.

"What's going on here?" came Chloe's question as she peeked her head into the doorway.

If everything wasn't bad enough, Chloe being here was a lot harder. He was tempted to just tell the machine off and get lost. But complications made sure he didn't say anything harsh.

"Chloe now is a bad time," Derek said with sternness. Luckily the cyborg caught the hint and decided to leave.

With the way Derek seemed to talk to the blonde machine, Jesse noticed. After watching scrap metal leave, she turned her attention back to Derek, a smirk on her face. "Only two days being here and I have never seen you act like that towards a machine. Why?"

"We are not having this discussion!" Derek sneered.

"I've seen you act hostile towards Cameron, even Weaver. But not her."

"You're really treading on thin ice here, Jesse. Don't even think about challenging me."

"That thing has only been around for a day. Yet you treat it like you've raised her. Are you in love with a machine, Derek?"

In absolute anger, Derek grabbed Jesse by both shoulders and slammed her into the closed door, taking his handgun and aiming it at her temple. "Shut up!"

"If you're going to kill me, at least let me know what that machine is to you?" Jesse requested.

Only then did Derek realize what she was doing. Jesse was always one to get into his head, despite her being a different version of the one he knew.

Derek withdrew his gun away from Jesse and back away. Before leaving the shed, he took one last glance at the woman. "You stay away from her. Do I make myself clear?"

"Whatever you say," Jesse gritted her teeth.

With that being said, Derek stomped out of the shed, leaving Jesse standing in the same spot, with her watching as he went back inside the house.

That machine was special to Derek. But why? The stubborn soldier was one of the only ones she knew that despised metal as much as her. Maybe even more so if she remembered correctly. This machine was new in the house, yet Derek treated it like he knew her his entire life.

There was one thing that Jesse couldn't let escape her mind as that piece of scrap came to mind. It had no resemblance to Derek. Only it's eyes.

As Jesse was about to leave, she caught her reflection in the window. She stopped, only gazing at herself with curiosity. The only image that came to mind when she saw herself was…

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

•••

Author's Note: I apologize for the lack of updates. Haven't really found the time to write lately. I'll be sure to get the next chapter out as soon as possible!

Had to get some small issues out of the way for the Connors. In the next chapter, things will get rolling again, as now they have a lead to find what Adam White has in store!

Reviews are appreciated!