Chapter 52 – Time
Disclaimer: Don't own TSCC
John Henry watched the medics working on TechCom's Terminators. The human wounded had been cared as well as possible in the field. Sitting next to Cameron while she had her wounds cleaned was Derek. His face and arms were covered in bruises and scratches and it was obvious he was in considerable pain.
His first experience with full-scale combat had not been long. The Battle of the Valley had lasted just under thirty horrifying minutes. The terror inflicted on everyone involved had given John Henry the data he had lacked to understand the extreme hatred so many members of TechCom felt for Skynet and his species.
It wasn't so much the fact his species was cyborgs. It was the purpose for which they had been built. Skynet was truly evil. To build an entire species for the sole purpose of genocide was evil. It was cruel for the victims and it was cruel to the cyborg. To create a machine that could serve so many benevolent and morally good purposes and program it to do nothing but hunt and kill another species of sentient beings was beyond John Henry's capacity to fathom. As his tutor and mentor had taught him, evil exists to do evil. For now, that was enough for him to understand.
Troubled over his killing of the T-1000 Romulus, John Henry desperately wanted to return to TechCom to discuss his actions with his mentor and Father Hidalgo. He needed to talk with his mother as well, to let Catherine know she need never fear Romulus again.
Moving the wounded safely would significantly slow their return to TechCom. As soon as the medic was done examining Cameron, John Henry wanted to meet with Derek and Cameron to get started on planning their return.
Cameron and Derek…
He knew she felt pain. John had hammered the fact home more than once. Derek also knew Cameron had the ability to control much of the stimulus her sensors feed to her CPU, allowing her to reduce the sheer volume of sensation humans would describe as pain. Still, it was obvious the wife of his nephew was in distress.
"Are you able to control your pain levels? Has your CPU been damaged so you can't control your sensory input," Derek asked, showing genuine concern for Cameron.
"My CPU is fine," was her clipped response.
"That's not your normal monotone. You're upset or in pain."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Well, we have a long trip back ahead of us and I'm not putting up with a moody family member who happens to be second in command. I don't care if you are female AND a Terminator. What has got you so on edge? Is it the battle?"
Cameron sat silently, not responding to Derek's questions.
"Cameron, I'm your best, friendly enemy. How many times have you confided to me in the past?"
Turning to look away from Derek, Cameron softly asked with a trembling voice, "am I ugly now?"
Stunned at her response, Derek reached for Cameron's chin and slowly, gently turned her face to look at him.
"You look like a mess Tin Miss. But I promise you, even if that amazing regenerative ability of yours doesn't quite patch you up as good as new, John will not love you any less."
Cameron looked away for a second time.
"That's not all that's bothering you is it?"
"I could have been terminated. For the first time ever in battle the thought crossed my mind. I hesitated and that was when my ear was slashed off."
"Got you hair too," Derek teased.
In response, Cameron punched him in his chest. Spasms of coughing caused Derek to fall of the rock he was sitting on.
"I did not hit you that hard," Cameron hissed.
"No, but the three bullets to my sternum did. I have cracked and bruised ribs."
Helping Derek up, Cameron smiled, "I see you had on your vest Sarah and I made you."
Sitting together again, Derek watched as his friend sat in silence.
"Cameron, it's okay to be frightened. I am terrified every time I hear a weapon fire. I will never get used to it."
"I am a Terminator."
"So. You're a wife, a mother, family member, friend, leader. You're more than just a Terminator. People need you and depend on you."
"You are only saying this so you do not have to deal with me on the march back."
"Cameron, think about how you would feel if you had to explain to Sarah and Ruth I had been killed. Who would be there to organize the card game for Wilhelm and the Old Man? Who would be there to push John to make the hard but correct decisions and don't say you."
Cameron sat in silence, processing Derek's words.
"You have become very important to a lot of people. That includes humans and machines. Your days of going into battle might be limited Cameron."
Her had snapped up and she gave Derek the Terminator Death Glare.
"I will NOT be told I cannot lead my troops into battle! I am a Terminator! It was what I was built for!"
"Yeah. Tell that to Hailey. My wife. Your John. Who is going to mediate disputes between the humans and machines in TechCom? John may be the General. Sarah may be the mythic leader. Wilhelm is the spokesman of the machines. But you Cameron, you have become the glue that holds it all together."
"Is this why I feel fear now?"
"I don't know. But somewhere in the recesses of that CPU you use for a brain, I am sure some subroutine has processed enough data the thought has crossed whatever it is you have for a subconscious mind."
TechCom Patrol…
"Lt. Wilhelm will be in the cockpit area with you. If you do anything, and I mean anything he thinks is suspicious, you will be terminated instantly. The T-800 will take control of the HK. Are we clear?"
The two frightened human Skynet pilots both nodded vigorously.
"Now, as an added incentive. Get us to the coordinates I provided without bouncing us around or wrecking the HK, and you have my word you will be allowed to live. I have considerable influence with General Connor. He is my son, after all."
Walking back towards the entrance to the troop compartment, Sarah motioned for Lt. Wilhelm to follow her, leaving the T-800 to guard the two pilots.
"Scare them as badly as you need to, but don't harm them physically. Once we get back, we'll need them to train other pilots and to help us understand how to optimally maintain and operate one of these things flying deathtraps."
Wilhelm nodded and placed a new cigar in his mouth with a grin, "no problemo, Sarah Connor."
TechCom…
"John Henry is fine, Catherine. I just received word from them."
Weaver looked up, the relief obvious in her face.
"They'll all be home eventually."
"Thank you John. For everything. How do you humans stand it?"
"Stand what," a bemused John asked. Dealing with Cameron had taught him the need to at least try to be sympathetic when Terminators struggled with emotions.
"Waiting for your loved ones to be safe and to come home."
"The same way you do Catherine. With lots of worrying and anxiety. It helps to keep as busy as possible and be productive. Keeps your mind, well your CPU from doing nothing but processing data about what's worrying you."
Weaver's communications device buzzed, indicating an incoming message. She read the message and sat it down, pausing before speaking to John.
"John Henry says there were a large number of casualties. We lost nearly 200 infantry and 30 Silvers. John Henry lost seven of his engineers. 400+ human wounded and every Silver has sustained some type of damage. Cameron is okay though, John Henry made that clear."
"But? You're not telling me everything," John said fearfully.
"Cameron has damage to her face in addition to the normal types of lacerations she would receive."
John sighed in relief. "She's functioning fine otherwise? Did John Henry indicate if Cameron is functioning properly."
"I can ask," Weaver offered.
John turned and walked away.
"John, it is acceptable if the General asks if the commander of the Silver Brigade is functioning properly, even if the commander is the General's wife."
When John did not respond, Weaver shrugged and sent several questions, one of which concerned Cameron.
Minutes later John Henry responded.
"Cameron is fine. Derek says she is upset about her appearance but otherwise she is her normal moody self. I am not going to comment on why that is insulting," Catherine added sarcastically.
"Actually Catherine, that is the best information Derek could have provided. Send a message for me."
"Yes?"
"Use these exact words. Tell John Henry to let Cameron know I want my Sexbot back as soon as possible. I need her."
Catherine's mouth fell open in disgust and just as quickly she snapped it shut.
Without responding to John's comment, Catherine typed in the message.
"Prisoners?"
"John Henry says not many."
"Catherine, have John Henry send me a photo of Cameron. I need to make sure Hailey is prepared."
Catherine watched as John slumped into his chair, staring at the maps and drawings littered about the top of his desk.
"She'll heal John. Cameron's still a relatively new machine."
"I know. It just hurts that she still thinks her looks are all that matter to me. Maybe my Sexbot comment was not the best idea."
"I think, being crude, in this one instance, is just what Cameron needs to hear. She has to know her condition has been reported. Calling her, well you know, let's her know you still regard her as your desired spouse."
"I don't handle things well do I, Catherine?"
"You're a man. Of course you don't. But I think Cameron knows you well enough to understand what you are trying to tell her."
TechCom Patrol…
If John Henry could blush easily, he would have. The message for Cameron was private so he simply handed his communication device to Cameron for her to read the message from her husband.
Derek, ever the pest, looked over Cameron's shoulder as she read and re-read the message.
Leaning down to whisper in her ear, Derek spoke softly, "See, I told you. John just wants you back and in one functional piece."
Cameron looked up at Derek. Any other person, human or machine, would have been severely injured for reading the personal message from her husband.
Instead, Cameron looked hopefully at her husband's uncle. "He still wants me that way?"
"John is in love with you here and here," Derek said, tapping first Cameron's skull and then the steel breastplate protecting her power source. "Why, I will never completely understand, but he does."
"Besides," Derek grinned lasciviously, "I kind of like it when Sarah shows me a new scar! I like the whole warrior woman thing. It's a turn on, you know."
Standing to go and check on her damaged Silvers, Cameron hugged Derek. "You're good family, Derek. I want you to know that." As she walked towards the triage area, Cameron looked back over her shoulder and winked knowingly at Derek.
John Henry played his recording of a throat clearing to obtain Derek's attention.
"Yeah, John Henry?"
"Will things be as they should between the General and Commander Connor?"
"John Henry, she's coming home more or less intact and fully functional. Things will be fine."
Derek turned to ask John Henry a question and noticed the troubled look on the big Terminator's face.
"Need to talk about it? That was your first big combat wasn't it?"
TechCom Patrol…
Sarah watched Ruth climb up on a box yet again and peer out the portal. It amused her that a T-1000 could be frightened of flying. Ruth stayed at the window a little longer each time before returning to sit close to her mother. This time Ruth stayed until the HK hit some mild turbulence before she came scurrying back to Sarah.
"It's all right. These pilots are more skilled and Lt. Wilhelm is there to make sure they fly the HK properly. You know he won't let anything happen to us."
Ruth nodded, clearly not convinced it was within the good Lt.'s power to make sure the HK flew safely.
"We're going to land a day's march from TechCom. Then you can walk the rest of the way home. Your brother will be so glad to see you," Sarah promised. "You'll get to play with Hailey and Little Al. I am certain Hailey is ready to have somebody to play with. I'll even go so far as to say the Old Man will be glad to have you back so he can keep an eye on you. Things have got to be a little boring for him with you not there to get in trouble with Hailey."
"I don't get in trouble anymore," Ruth pouted. "I've been a good girl for a long time."
"Yes, you have," Sarah agreed. "Yes, you have."
Skynet Command Central…
Observing the T-600 before him, Skynet's CPU deduced the Terminator was the bearer of bad news.
"Why are you reporting and not a T-1000 or a T-888?"
"Master, I was provided the details of the patrol and ordered to report to you directly."
"Very well. What patrol are you reporting for?"
"Commander Romulus's strike force."
"Continue."
"One T-888 escaped. It is badly damaged. The report states its GPS is not functioning so it cannot provide its location."
"One T-888 escaped? Why is Romulus not reporting himself? Or Cassius, his second in command."
"The entire strike force has been terminated or captured."
Skynet's command bunker filled with a blinding light for a second. The T-600 who had stood before Skynet's screen was now nothing more than a pool of melted Coltan steel.
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
