Chapter 38 – The Beginning of the End

Disclaimer: Don't own TSCC

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, John. Derek is in agreement, so get over it."

"I don't know."

"She's older than Cameron was when Tin Miss took three center mass saving your life the first time."

"Still, it's bad enough so many of our key people are going."

"Son, Ruth is a Terminator, an infiltrator. This was what she was made for. We have one only chance to get this done right."

"Mom, it's…"

"Enough. Think like the General, not a family member. Ruth's going."

Sarah stood on her toes and kissed her son on the cheek, turned and walked towards her husband. She gave a quick hug to Derek and kissed him. Her desire to say good-bye and slip away quickly was foiled when Derek grabbed Sarah and pulled her back. Taking her in his strong arms, he kissed Sarah properly and released her, giving her an affectionate swat on her rear as he walked over to Ruth and squatted down.

"Is my little soldier ready for her first real patrol?"

Apprehension evident in Ruth's eyes, the little T-1000 nodded yes before reaching out to hug her father.

"It will be okay. You're a Reese, and a Connor," Derek added. "Besides, I'm counting on you to keep you mom out of trouble and to bring her back to me in one piece. Can you do that?"

"Yes, Daddy. I'm a good protector. You can ask Hailey and the Old Man."

"Naw. I don't need to ask them."

Derek hugged his little girl close and squeezed her tight in his arms. When she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear she loved him, it was all the big soldier, a metal hater, could do not to cry.

Derek stood and tousled his daughter's hair for which he was rewarded a scowl as Ruth morphed her hair back into place. Taking her mother's hand, Ruth waved goodbye to her father as Sarah led the way to the staging area for the patrol.

Sarah stopped to pick up her pack and weapons. Cameron, who had been waiting by Sarah's gear helped without speaking, adjusting straps and checking everything.

"I can do it myself Cameron," Sarah hissed in frustration.

Not responding, Cameron knelt and checked Ruth's small supply of equipment. Reaching into the pocket of her jacket Cameron pulled out the small .22 caliber pistol Sarah had given her before Judgment Day.

"Sarah gave me this to go with a special purse. I put five loaded clips in your pack. There is one in the pistol. You have used it three times before at the firing range. It is yours now."

Ruth's mouth fell open in surprise as she carefully took the small pistol from Cameron. Reaching again into her pocket, Cameron produced a small holster for the pistol.

"The Old Man made this. Make sure you thank him when you return. He couldn't bear to watch you leave on your first patrol, but he is very proud of you."

Ruth nodded solemnly, inserting her first firearm into the holster and then attaching it to the real belt she wore around her tiny waist. Reaching up with both arms, Ruth hugged her metal aunt, whispering her thanks.

Cameron stood and hugged Sarah before the older Connor woman could protest.

"I am not ready to be matriarch. You must return."

"I plan on it. Let go, you're squeezing too hard."

Sarah moved off, relieved to have the goodbyes over.

Ruth stood still, looking at the one person she had yet to say her goodbyes to. Standing with her hands on her hips and frowning was Hailey.

"It's not fair. I'm older than you. I should be the youngest Connor on this patrol."

Tilting her head in frustration, Ruth stuck her hands on her hips as well, her right knee bent, allowing her left hip to jut outwards. Frowning at her human cousin, Ruth snapped back, "I think you can make it without your protector for awhile. You still have the Old Man and Little Al."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"You are worried your personal protector will not return. Admit it."

"I am not! What gives you that idea?"

"I know you, that is what gives me that idea."

Ruth lunged forward and wrapped Hailey in her strong grip with both arms, lifting Hailey from the ground briefly before setting her down.

"I will come back. I have to. I have been assigned as mom's protector."

The two youngest members of the Connor/Reese clan looked at each other for a moment before quickly hugging again. Not looking back, Ruth followed Sarah towards the staging area of the patrol.

Hailey stood, tears streaming down her cheeks as she watched her best friend and cousin leave with her grandmother. Feeling very small and vulnerable, Hailey turned and ran the few steps to her mother, her arms held up. Cameron swiftly lifted her child up and sat Hailey on her left hip, hugging her daughter tightly.

"Ruth will be back. Sarah will not let anything happen to her and Ruth will not let anything happen to Sarah. It is one of the things we Connors do best. Take care of each other while we do our duty."

The goodbyes had been said. It was time to depart.

TechCom Medical Area…

Without warning, the tent flap opened, letting the artificial light of the bright security light mounted outside flood Mary and Grace's tent suddenly. The two covered their eyes and turned away from the sudden light. Just as suddenly as the light had filled the tent, it vanished.

Lit only by a small, battery powered light, the dim light of the tent seemed overly dark with the vanishing of the blinding light.

Standing just inside the entrance to the tent, both hands on hips and scowl firmly in place on her face, was Hailey.

"Do you two every do anything but sleep all day? What Mom sees in the two of you is beyond me. What do y'all do for fun?"

Grace groaned and rolled over, hoping the little apparition standing in her tent's entrance would vanish as quickly as it had appeared.

Mary frowned, squinting as her eyes adjusted to the light.

"Hailey, are you always this rude?"

"No. I'm bored though. What do you and Grace have planned today?"

"Hailey, Grace and I are still not really up to roaming around. Go play with Ruth."

Mary watched the change of expression on Hailey's face in surprise. Gone was the haughty, bossy, confident expression Hailey countenance usually wore. Taking its place was one of sadness. Hailey's hands fell to her side and her posture slumped as Hailey lowered her head.

"Did you and Ruth have another fight?"

"No."

"Is Ruth getting a check up."

"No."

"Has Ruth taken Little Al to hunt?"

"No."

"Has something happened to Ruth," Mary asked with concern.

"Don't know."

"Well, tell me what you do know."

"Ruth is gone on patrol. In the wastelands."

"Oh."

Mary moved over on her cot, making space for Hailey. Patting the open space, Mary lifted her blanket. Hailey did not need further encouragement, quickly slipping next to Mary.

"Do you have your doll with you," Mary asked gently.

Hailey nodded yes and pulled the homemade doll out from its special pocket in her jacket and clutched it to her chest.

"Tell me all about your doll."

Connor Family Area…

Sounds of steam created by water being poured on a fire infiltrated the tent. John stood over his sleeping daughter, alone in her sleeping bag. Clutching her doll, newly named Mary Ann, Hailey had been sleeping restlessly until John had sent the girls little dog to bed with her. Sprawled behind Hailey, the small Italian Greyhound had pressed his back against Hailey's and the contact of another living creature had calmed Hailey in her sleep.

Returning to his own sleeping bag, John watched as Cameron entered, clad in nothing more than one of his old flannel shirts. She quickly slipped into the sleeping bag and instead of draping herself on him, Cameron lay next to him, looking at the ceiling of their tent.

"Fire out?"

"Yes. There was no reason to expend the fuel when I would not be cooking for the duration of the patrol. Derek is staying in the men's quarters till Sarah returns."

"Old Man watching?"

"Always."

"Hailey misses Ruth."

"I miss them both John. They have to come back."

"They will. Mom's the ultimate survivor and Ruth's a T-1000. They'll be back."

The Wasteland….

Two days of long hard travel had made certain her hand picked unit would be silent. Sarah had stopped to scan the surrounding area with her infrared night vision. With no threats visible, she had turned her gaze to TechCom personnel. Cameron's trusted Lt. Wilhelm had already established a defensive perimeter and watch. Agent Ellison, ever the teacher these days, was reading something to Ruth.

Father Delgado, was talking to a pair of T-800s, no doubt explaining the story of creation or the route to salvation to the attentive Terminators. Sarah smiled to herself. The crafty priest might be a holy man, but he was one of the best guerilla fighters she had ever seen and had the added advantage of being able to comfort the wounded and dying.

Savannah was treating the blistered feet of a TechCom human soldier. To be so young Savannah was remarkably mature. Well versed as a human medic, Savannah was also capable of treating Terminators, making her invaluable for the mission. Having a Terminator for a mother and brother gave her insights into how the machines thought and Sarah knew all too well that knowledge might be helpful.

Sitting alone was the T-800 who had provided the detailed map coordinates and other information the patrol counted on to be accurate. The success of their mission depended on the accuracy of the information. If the T-800 had lied to them, Sarah had vowed to herself to make him suffer before she destroyed his chip.

Surveying the group, Sarah knew she had chosen well. It did not stop her from wishing her husband and Cameron were there. So many successful missions in the past had succeeded because of the skills and commitment the constantly feuding pair brought to the table.

John needed them at TechCom. Derek was the second in command of TechCom and an important leader, not just in the military, but in the building of the new TechCom fortress. Cameron was the commander of the Silver Brigade and on an equal footing with Derek. John needed Cameron most of all.

Sarah had come to realize all the resistance to their relationship years ago before Judgment Day had been foolish. Cameron completed John and gave him the strength he needed to shoulder the terrible burden of command. John completed Cameron. Her devotion for him had forced Cameron to develop her humanity as a person, to learn to love and be loved.

In fact, Sarah had realized long ago, Cameron's presence allowed her, Sarah Connor, to truly fight Skynet without fear and hesitation. Should something happen to Sarah, there would be a matriarch for the Connor/Reese clan as well as TechCom. John would have someone as committed to his safety and care, someone who loved as much as Sarah did.

A final survey of the wasteland and a quick check of the map and Sarah was certain the patrol was within a kilometer of the first supply site Weaver had requested to be checked as the patrol made its way to the Southwest.

Covering the forty meters to her personnel, Sarah motioned to Lt. Wilhelm in silence for the patrol to resume. Within fifteen seconds the unit had formed up and was ready to march. Sarah nodded and Wilhelm motioned for the pointman to take the lead.

Skynet…

Smoke from the remains of the freshly melted T-888 wafted through the air. A pair of aged T-600s rushed forward to quickly clean the remains. Hoping their speed would allow them to finish the task before their master melted them in anger as well.

The news had not been what the AI had wanted to hear. Five more HKs down due to a lack of parts. The assembly factory was still not online and it had been seven months since the raid by Connor's TechCom forces had nearly destroyed the critical facility.

The lack of news about TechCom was troubling as well. Skynet could not send his minions to destroy his nemesis Connor and his traitorous wife if the location of TechCom was not known. While the lack of constant hit and run raids had been a welcome relief, the fact Connor's troops had left behind so many explosive devices in the ruins of the damaged facilities had been problematic.

More T-888s had rebelled in the northern sector, refusing to launch a mop up operation against a non-aligned rebel force. The claim TechCom was waiting in ambush had sent the AI into a rage. The entire battalion had been recalled to Skynet Central and deactivated on his command. Their chips destroyed and CPUs wiped. Still distrustful, Skynet had ordered the T-888s skinned and disassembled, the parts to be used to maintain loyal Terminators.

Unknown to Skynet, his act had sent tremors through his forces. Greys began to rumble the master could no longer be trusted. Perhaps their fate lay with TechCom and not the machines. The few T-1000s embedded with the Greys reported back to the master and the humans behind the grumbling were shot for treason.

Most troubling of all was the problems Skynet's technicians were having finding and repairing the links to his other cells. The master, the original AI matrix, felt alone and isolated. His creations were proving to be troublesome and a source of concern. Not like the human parasites and his metal creations John Connor had corrupted, but troublesome nonetheless.

The Wasteland…

Sarah watched the unknown unit march by, heading towards the northwest. Made up of ragged humans and a few T-600s, the group was heavily laden with weapons and booty ranging from food supplies to consumer goods. Weaver had been right about the location.

Not daring the risk of contact, Sarah had decided for the patrol to cover in place until the roving band had passed by. The existence of this unknown group was noted, the Terminators recording as much data as possible as the group filed by. Sarah checked the block of dirty concrete lying in the rubble next to her and smiled.

Ruth's camouflage skills have improved so much. Derek would be proud.

Reviews are always appreciated. If you liked this story, you might want to consider my other TSCC stories:

Cameron Grows Up

Cameron and John's Wedding

Who's the Boss?

The Storm Before the Calm