Two Weeks Later

FBI agent James Ellison had a lot of time to think about what had happened at Agent Kester's apartment. A dozen men had died; all were heavily armed. He had witnessed the truth; Sarah was not crazy nor was she lying. He saw the metal pieces through Kester's skin after he had killed all of his men. Kester had stared down James and then walked by him.

After two weeks, James found Kester outside his new house. He was wearing a casual white shirt and jeans; his injuries had almost healed up. James could see some scabs on his face and neck that were gradually healing.

Kester turned his attention to his former partner as he walked up. "I won't lead you to them," James promised.

"So, if that was the only reason you let me live then you better kill me now," James offered.

Kester simply stared at James with emotionless eyes. "We'll see," Kester replied and then walked off.


Microsoft Corporation

"I am pleased to announce the promotion of Angel Livingston," the corporate Vice President said to his fellow co-workers. They were on the top floor of a skyscraper looking over Los Angeles. The room was richly designed, an elite class of individuals were present for the promotions.

There was applause as the blond woman was given her pin and hand shake by the Vice President. The TX mimicked a smile as she was given her promotion.

"I hope I can bring humanity into a successful and prosperous 21st Century," the TX toasted to her co-workers.


Topeka, Kansas

Sarah looked around the new apartment to see if everything was in place. Cameron sat on a coach in Indian style and watched as Sarah went back and forth. "You seem distressed," Cameron observed.

"I get this feeling that I am forgetting something," Sarah said as she looked around.

"All items are accounted for," Cameron told her.

Sarah nodded; surely the machine was keeping an inventory list in her head. "That makes me feel better," Sarah said sarcastically.

"Glad I could help," Cameron replied missing her sarcasm.

John entered the room with a backpack. "We have to be on the bus soon," he said worriedly.

"The bus will arrive in five minutes, thirty one seconds…," Cameron began.

"I know," John said annoyed.

"Are you ready for school Cameron?" Sarah asked.

Cameron displayed her own backpack behind the coach so Sarah could see. "How did she prepare so quickly?" John wondered without thinking.

"I don't sleep," Cameron reminded him.

"Well you two better get going," Sarah advised.


Cameron and John got off the bus and ventured towards the high school. "Don't walk to closely too me. You are supposed to be my cousin, not my bodyguard. Don't act like a freak," he told her.

"I won't act like a freak," Cameron assured him.

Entering the school, Cameron scanned the students. She didn't consider them threats but items of interest. She recorded their faces, clothes, and their conversations. Cameron's superior hearing allowed her to hear a group of guys talking about a successful football game. She also heard a cluster of girls talking about some guy as they walked down the hall.

John found his locker and spun the lock. Cameron came up to him as he opened the locker. "I don't need help. I can open a locker," he protested.

"I see that," Cameron allowed.

"So what do you need?" John sighed.

"What group should I belong to?" Cameron asked.

John saw what she meant. Jocks, popular girls, nerds, and those of various minority groups hung out together at the high school. "I guess your going to have to find out for yourself," John told her.

Cameron considered John's advice and then walked off. John stared after Cameron hoping she wouldn't cause an incident.


John's first class was a chemistry class. Just as class began, Cameron walked into the room and handed the teacher a note. "I'm transferring into his class," she explained.

"I see. Take an open seat," the teacher told her.

Cameron took a seat not too far away from John. As the teacher lectured, Cameron was one of the few who didn't take notes; for her it was not necessary. She would glance at John every once in a while as the class continued.

When class was over, John confronted Cameron about this. "You're not acting like a real student," John complained.

"What do you mean?" Cameron asked.

"You don't write notes, you don't seem to be paying attention to the students, and you keep looking at me," John said.

"I have recorded the teacher's entire lecture," Cameron replied.

"I know, but to everyone else you're not, and it gives you unnecessary attention," John stressed.

"I fooled you remember. I will blend in," Cameron said defensively and walked off.


John and Cameron got off the bus to go home and entered the house. Derek was in the kitchen as the two arrived. John went off into his room so he could be alone with his music and computer. Cameron dropped off her backpack and looked through the window for any possible threats.

"Learn anything at school?" Derek mocked.

"Not what you would expect," Cameron answered cryptically.

"I bet. Analyzing all of those targets and potential victims," Derek smirked.

"I don't intend to kill any of them at the moment," Cameron said.

"This is such a joke. Do you really think you are going to fit in at a high school?" Derek asked rhetorically.

"More than you would," Cameron pointed out.

Derek walked closer to Cameron almost as if to intimidate her. "You know; underneath you're just a machine pretending to be human," Derek said.

"Underneath, you are just bones," Cameron said and left his presence.


"How was school?" Sarah asked her son.

"It was okay," John said without enthusiasm. "I wasn't shot at and she didn't kill anyone so I guess it went great," John sighed.

"Things will be better soon," Sarah promised him.

"I kind of doubt that," John said dismissively.

Sarah had no way to comfort her troubled son. After years of struggle and fighting she had lost her motherly touch. There was nothing she could say to help him.


The Next Day

Cameron and John walked down the halls of the school towards their chemistry class. Suddenly a student rushed past them. Cameron and John took note of the girl and turned towards a crowd of students. John wasn't able to get a good look at her, but she was noticeably upset about something.

John barged into the crowd to find out what was going on. It was a painted graffiti on the wall. It was a spray painting of a door, the shadow of a man, and a blond girl giving the man a kiss. The spray painting took some effort to do; it was highly detailed but it didn't show the face of the man or the girl.

Cameron scanned the graffiti and then stopped to consider John. "I don't get it," he said confused.

The other students around them went off to their classes not giving John or Cameron an explanation. John gave Cameron a confused look, but she had no answer for him.


After a few classes, Cameron explored the girl's bathroom. As she went inside she overheard multiple conversations from several girls. Some were applying make up and talking about the latest gossip. Two girls were talking about fashion as they applied make up to their faces.

"Does this dress make me look fat?" one of the girl's asked.

"Yes," Cameron answered.

"What's your problem bitch?" the offended girl said outraged.

"You asked," Cameron explained.

The girl gave Cameron a look of disgust and left with her friend. Cameron analyzed what she had just experienced. The human females were more confusing than the males, she determined. With John, he was always straight forward. On the other hand, John kept a lot of his thoughts to himself.

Jordan entered the bathroom; she was teary eyed. She looked around to see if anyone other than Cameron was present; there was none. Jordan clutched her head in frustration.

"What am I going to do? My life is over!" she exclaimed.

Cameron simply stared as she continued her rant. "My parents are going to kill me," she cried.

Cameron was uncertain what she meant; it was not common for parents to kill their children. Perhaps her parents were people of interest, a potential threat. "Who are your parents?" Cameron asked softly.

"What does it matter? When they find out…," she moaned.

"Find out about what?" Cameron continued her interrogation.

Jordan gave Cameron a teary eyed look. "How can you not know?" she cried. "I should end it all," she said resolutely.

"End what?" Cameron wondered.

"My life! What do you think?" she shouted at her.

Cameron considered this answer. She had heard of suicide in the future when Terminators were on the verge of taking over a center. Other soldier's lost their will to fight and self terminated. Cameron understood this concept, but she didn't quite understand why. For her, there was only one life. Any life was better than non-existence.

"Do you need help?" Cameron asked.

Jordan gave Cameron a horrified look and ran out. Cameron watched Jordan leave not fully understanding why she reacted the way she did.


Flashback: 2039

"It's over Connor. We lost. There is no use fighting it," a soldier shouted; he had a gun in his hand. The man wore tarnished clothes. He was sweaty and fatigued from battle. Sounds of explosion above ground could be heard. Vibrations rattled the underground tunnel.

"Just put the gun down and we can talk about this," John Connor offered.

"No! I am sick of this war, of fighting, all of my friends are dead," the man said.

"You will make new friends," John said cautiously

"Maybe you can. Not me, I allowed them to die," the man pointed out.

"It wasn't your fault," John told him.

"It's no use Connor. I'm going to kill myself…and I'm taking you with me," the man said pointing the gun at John.

"You don't want to do that. We can work something out," John attempted to negotiate.

The man simply smiled and cocked his pistol. Suddenly a shot rang out; the man fell to the ground with a bullet in his head. John looked up and saw Cameron with a pistol in her hand. "It's what he wanted," she said.


Cameron joined John in his quarters shortly after the suicide. "Why do humans kill themselves?" Cameron asked.

"I don't know really. Some lose hope, some think life is so bad that it isn't worth living anymore," John replied.

"Isn't any life better than non-existence?" Cameron asked.

"Not for some people. Some would rather venture into the unknown than continue their lives," John said.

"Those that commit suicide go to hell. Is hell better than this life?" Cameron asked bluntly.

John hesitated as he thought about that. "Some people don't believe in hell. Some people think death is a deep sleep without pain and suffering," John said.

"Sometimes Terminator units are ordered to destroy themselves when they are damaged in order to kill as many humans within range," Cameron noted.

John nodded; he had heard of such occurrences. A T-850 would detonate itself using its fuel cells. The explosion would kill scores of his men or burn them severely with radiation. "You do not approve of suicide?" Cameron guessed.

"Well…no. We need all the men we can use. I need men to be hopeful and desiring a life and future," John said.

"But you would allow them the choice?" Cameron questioned.

"No. Suicide is selfish. I put a lot of effort and resources into training each of my men. I won't permit my men to kill themselves," John told her.

"It is because these men are yours'. They belong to you and you do not allow your belongings to be destroyed," Cameron said.

"Something like that. Now if a man gives up his life for his fellow soldiers…like falls on a grenade to save a dozen, he's a hero," John distinguished.

"What's the difference?" Cameron asked.

"One kills himself to save others, and the other kills himself to escape his problems. You said it yourself, that you would destroy yourself to save my life," John said.

Cameron remembered the previous conversation; her computer memory could pin point the exact date and time it was said. "Would you sacrifice your life to save mine?" Cameron asked.

"Yes," John said without hesitation.

"That would be unwise. You are a necessary component of this operation," Cameron objected.

"It doesn't matter. My men need to know that I am with them to the end. I would gladly give up my life to save theirs, and in return they will die to save mine," John said.

"And that includes you," John added referring to Cameron.

"Thank you for explaining," Cameron said after a pause.

John continued to work on his computer as Cameron kept watch. John sighed. "If you find anyone suicidal in the men, bring him to me and I will lock him up. Suicide hurts moral," John ordered.

"Understood," Cameron answered.


Author's Note: In no way shape or form do I condone suicide even if a character ends up committing suicide in the story. I hope I wasn't too preachy but the TSCC episode gave me an excuse to write about this subject. I thought that the suicide in episode three could have been more developed. The suspicion with the guidance conselor was sort of dropped after episode three. As a reminder, this story has a different perspective on time than the origianl Terminator movies. John died in 2039 in this story instead of 2032 as stated in T3. Cameron and the TX didn't leave to go back to 1999 until 2044.