Chapter 31 TSCC Cameron

Cameron nudged the rock, causing it to tumble down the side of the ravine. John watched as she observed the rock bounce down the side, dislodging dirt, small rocks, and other debris. He was surprised by how loud the splash was when the rock reached the bottom. Cameron looked up and scanned the area, searching for any sign of movement. Satisfied there were no threats present, she made her way back to John, carefully picking her way through the debris field.

"It's too deep to cross here," Cameron informed her husband. "The maps are off in regard to the depth of the ravine."

"Let me guess, you calculated it based on…"

"The elapsed time for the rock to reach the bottom," Cameron finished. "I made adjustments in the calculation based on a variety of factors."

"I'll take your word for it that it's too deep," John replied, not wanting to listen to the otherwise long explanation that would be forthcoming from Cameron.

"Which way should we go to get across the ravine?"

Cameron pointed north, shouldered her pack, and began walking, once again taking the point for the group. She was less than happy with John for not turning back and returning to TechCom City. Not talking to him was as good a way as any to let him know how she felt about the matter.

Falling in step with John, Ruth shot a mischievous grin at her brother.

"Lucky you."

"Ruth, be nice. You just want to be on the point."

"I need a break from Naomi," Ruth protested. "This being a parent thing is exhausting and I don't need sleep like a human. Give me a couple of hours in a maintenance cycle every few days and I can go on forever."

"No, you can't," John answered. "Like anything and anyone else, you have to have time to self-repair and it needs to be regular and of appropriate duration." He smiled at his little metal sister. "Meaning, you need regular rest like us humans, Sis."

"Well, Mom is taking care of Naomi right now so I'm going to walk point with Cameron," Ruth promptly replied.

"Chicken," John chided.

"Cluck, cluck, cluck," Ruth answered, smiling at her brother as she broke into a jog to catch up with Cameron.

Falling back, John fell in stride with the Old Man and marched in silence with the T-600. His mind turned to things unspoken between him and Cameron. Things he'd hoped to be able to talk to her about while away from TechCom City, in the relative privacy of the Wastelands, with only his family nearby. His hand found its way to his chest where John felt for the round object he'd worn around his neck for years. Rubbing the old pocket watch, John thought back to the fight with Cameron immediately after her return from the long patrol with news of the impending victory of Skynet St. Louis over Skynet Denver.

"Why did you do it, John?"

"Because I trust you, Cameron."

"You should have told me. I had a right to know."

"To be honest, I thought you'd detect the change the minute you re-booted."

His wife had given him a look that for a moment, made John think Cameron might actually attack him.

"The whole point of placing the explosive in my skull was to keep you safe, John. Safe from me if I go bad again."

"Big if," John had answered, a bit too flippantly he realized the instant he heard his own words.

"I've gone bad more than once," Cameron protested. "It could happen again, and I would terminate you and then not be able to self-terminate."

John had maneuvered to get close to Cameron, to embrace her. She backed away, eyeing him warily. "It was a gift to you," Cameron protested. "To show you how much I value your life, that I was willing to give you the ability to terminate me at any time, for any reason. And you had the explosive removed from my skull without asking me. What am I supposed to think about that?"

"You're supposed to think your husband trusts you blindly. That it worried him that you were walking around with a bomb in your head. As if you don't take enough chances with your life already. Besides it was a long time ago when your CPU was replaced and you'd never mentioned it." John shrugged. "I forgot about it."

Cameron hadn't said another word. Instead, she walked more patrols at night, worked longer duty hours, and rebuffed John's advances. After six weeks, Cameron had worn down, needing the touch of her husband, the chance to physically monitor John and shield him while he slept had prevailed over her desire to make him suffer. Physical contact in private was the only concession Cameron had made in the ongoing dispute. During duty hours her John could just suffer.

It had gone on long enough. John made the decision when they made camp for the rest cycle, he would apologize and make peace with Cameron. She'd want to put the explosive back in knowing her and that was not an option as far as John was concerned. But he'd find a way to make peace with her. Cameron deserved that.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You've been awful to my brother."

"It's none of your business, Ruth."

"Yes, it is. He's my brother."

"Adoptive brother."

"I can't believe you said that, Cameron." Ruth hurriedly moved in front of Cameron and braced herself before placing her hand on Cameron's chest and pushing hard enough to cause Cameron to stop.

"Hailey's not your daughter then," Ruth countered. Cameron tilted her head to the right and her lips pursed as she processed Ruth's words. The petite T-1000 pointed her finger at Cameron's face, the tip of which morphed into a slender, pointed stabbing weapon.

"See, it hurts to process that statement," Ruth whispered. "Because if John is not my brother, and Hailey is not your daughter, then my Captain Dan is not my husband, and John is not yours either. Sarah is not my mother. Derek is not my father." Ruth paused, struggling to maintain control. "And Hailey is not my niece, or my best friend, or the first human I chose to protect with my existence. So, you take that back, Cameron."

After blinking several times, Cameron straightened her head. "I am sorry. That was a cruel thing to say and not factual. Adoption has been recognized for thousands of years as legitimate and binding. John is your brother."

"Please," Ruth replied sternly, retracting her weaponized finger, "never forget that."

Stepping around Ruth, Cameron continued her steady march into the darkness of the Wastelands, following the edge of the ravine at a safe distance.

"So," Ruth mumbled, catching up with Cameron. "What gives with you and my brother?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"What did Grandma tell you about that," Sarah hissed at Naomi. A toothless smile spread across the infant T-1000s face as it retracted its pointed index finger, morphing it back to its normal appearance. Sarah thought for a moment, and then grabbed the offending finger and squeezed it as she shook it gently. Happy gurgling sounds came from the infant. Sarah let go of Naomi's finger only to see the child promptly weaponize it again.

"No."

The immediacy of Sarah's sharp response, accompanied by one of her infamous scowls, startled Naomi. The infant's happy sounds stopped and the smile was replaced by a frown.

"And we don't act like that when we don't get our way either," Sarah snapped at the infant. "Don't think for an instant, Naomi, that I don't know for a fact you understand every word I'm saying. You aren't the first terminator I've raised or dealt with."

Frustrated, Naomi turned her head away from Sarah. Spotting Derek walking next to them, the infant squirmed and thrust both arms out to get Derek's attention. Taking the newest member of his family from Sarah, Derek held her against his chest, allowing Naomi to rest her chin on his shoulder.

"I'm even more cold hearted than your grandmother," Derek advised. "You weaponize your finger and point it at a family member again and you'll regret it."

Naomi stiffened, turning her face to stare at Derek from inches away.

"You heard me. Your purpose in life for now is to protect family. Everyone in our group is family."

Puzzled, Naomi pointed at Tamara.

"She's adopted. That makes Tamara family," Derek answered. He pointed at Hailey. "Hailey is your cousin. She's also your mother's niece, best friend, and for a long time was Ruth's purpose."

Derek pointed at the Old Man. "Are you his purpose?"

Responding by covering her face with her hand, Naomi looked away. "Naomi, answer me."

Naomi did so, pointing first at the T-600 and then herself. To Derek's surprise, his granddaughter then pointed at the T-600 and then towards Hailey before finally pointing at the T-600 a third time and verbalizing sounds that sounded like she was trying to say mama.

"That's right. The Old Man protects all three of you. He is family as well."

Derek fell silent, enjoying walking with his wife in the cold air, happy to carry his tiny metal granddaughter. The irony of the situation was not lost on him.

Reaching out with both hands to Sarah, Naomi indicated her desire to be held by her grandmother.

Taking the tiny bundle from Derek, Sarah cradled Naomi in her arms, smiling at the infant. Naomi held her right hand out, pointing her index finger at Sarah, this time without weaponizing it. Sarah smiled, and wrapped her own index finger around it and tugged. A happy squeal came from Naomi. Sarah released the child's finger and watched as Naomi pointed her finger again.

"That's right," Sarah coo'd. "You can control those nasty T-1000 impulses."