Chapter 12

Confessions of love. A warm feeling.

Sarah stared at the two in horror, the boy messiah and the Machine, her son and the Cyborg, John and Cameron. They were holding one another in close embrace their faces now staring at her had only a moment ago been pressed to the other's in a passionate kiss.

Cameron felt John's arms hold her tightly, she glanced back where his arms held her then looked at his face, John looked at her, a stern look on his face, but she saw the love in his eyes, the confidence, they'd had all the cards at the moment, or knew where they were stacked, Sarah, Danny, Derek, Riley and now Jesse.

John was no longer afraid to reveal his relationship no, he was afraid of the possible outcomes, but knew he'd stay with Cameron, that wouldn't change, never alter, she was his, and he was her's, and Gods themselves couldn't drive them apart.

Danny just watched on confused, John and her? Together in such a way? Was the feeling mutual, or was it just hormones that drove John and programming that drove Cameron? Either way, he wanted out of the room, out of the house, out of the city to escape what he knew was a calm before the storm.

Danny slowly closed the door behind himself and Sarah as he was getting cold, the door's 'click' as it shut set everything off in motion.

"What the fuck John!?" Sarah cried out in a mix of horror, anger, shame and shock. The emotions battled with one another inside her for dominance, so far anger and shame were winning over the other two.

Neither John nor Cameron had time to respond when Sarah spoke up again.

"It's a Machine, Cameron's a fucking cyborg John, you were kissing a tin can"

John for his part only flinched at the hurtful words directed at Cameron rather than what was being said to him.

"I know what Cameron is mom. I'm not some stupid kid." He told her.

"Wrong, that's exactly what you are, a kid John, you're 16!" Sarah argued back as she made her way towards them.

Cameron put herself between Sarah and John, but her boyfriend move around her, Cameron watched, worried for John's emotional and mental state as the two titans began to battle with words.

"I'm not a kid mom, kids spend time with friends and worry about homework, I think my life as a kid ended when I was fucking 4." John yelled back he stared at his advancing mother down, he hadn't prepared himself for this, but that didn't mean he wouldn't defend himself and Cameron. "I've had the threat of the Machines and Skynet all my fucking life mom, and I've had you to train me. So I think I'm mature enough to make my own damn decision."

Sarah felt her anger grow within her, he was her son, he wouldn't talk back to her like this, no matter who he was.

"You're not ready to make your own decision John, you are still a kid with hormones flowing through your body, what the fuck do you think you were doing?" he asked her in anger.

"I was kissing my girlfriend mom." He said defiantly standing up to her, standing straight to reach his full height, like animals do in the wild.

Sarah stared in at him, her fury unbound within her.

"it's a fucking Machine John!" she roared. "They can't feel love, they can't return love, it's manipulating you, turning you against us, trying to get itself imbedded into your life permanently so it has a better shot of existing, you're it's life line John." She stared at him.

John gritted his teeth angrily. "You don't know her Mom, you don't fucking know anything about her, to you and Derek, Cameron's just a fucking tool, a weapon to be used then discarded when it doesn't work anymore, but she's more than that, she's alive, and she loves me"

Sarah laughed at his words, ignoring the glare that was coming from John.

"Don't be so fucking stupid John. I trained you better than this. Machines can't love, they manipulate, they at most seduce, you're becoming it's puppet John, open your eyes to it." She told him, venom dripping from her words.

"My eyes are open." He roared back, "I can see who she is, what she is, and you know what mom, she makes me one thing I haven't been in a very, very long time, happy. I'm happy for once since I care to fucking remember." He told his mother, Cameron could hear the pitch in his voice quiver ever so slightly, he hadn't readied himself, he was breaking down already, this was making her upset though she refused to show it.

"Cameron can't love you John…" Sarah tried to say once more.

"You're wrong, you have no idea how wrong. She's not just a Machine mom, she's different, she's changed." John interrupted, his face staying hard and trying to keep himself in check.

"Can't you see she's turning you against us, against me?" Sarah asked staring deep into his eyes, the shame she felt for him showing in her eyes.

"No mom." John said quietly in silent anger. "She's not turning me against you, you're turning me against you. Now shut up." He told her, Sarah was about to yell at him once more when he spoke up again. "All I want is to have some fucking happiness in my life okay? Before the bombs fall, because right now, the way we're going, we aren't doing so great to stop Skynet, I'd like some fucking happiness in my life with a world intact before my life gets turned into a deeper level of shit, and the whole world is rested on my shoulders. Can't I even have that? Won't you even allow me, your fucking son some fucking happiness?" John felt himself waver as tears were building up in his eyes.

Sarah froze for a moment staring at her son, his words hurt, more than she realised they could.

"But John, you can't," she tried to argue back, her anger had faded rapidly, replaced with desperation. "Cameron's a machine."

"I can Mom, I have, she's more than that, you just refuse to see it, if I'm going to lead an army, to make tough calls, if people have to follow my leadership, then so are you, if I'm as important as everyone says I am, then things are going to be my way, understand." There was no question in his voice, it was a command, an order. Sarah looked at John, a fire burned in his eyes. "And if you can't accept it, then someone going to leave." He stared into her eyes.

"You can't mean that." She said her frustration rising again.

"Do you want me to prove it." He said darkly staring at her, her frustration quickly diminished again. "I love her mom, and Cameron loves me." He reinforced what he'd been saying once more, Sarah backed down for the time being.

He turned and walked off to his room. Cameron looked at Sarah while the older Connor watched where John had disappeared.

"Sarah." Cameron spoke up, the woman turned to look at Cameron and narrowed her eyes in anger. "You are wrong Sarah, I do love John, he is my mission, but he is more now, our feelings are mutual."

"You don't have feelings, you're emotionless, you're twisting him." Sarah said through gritted teeth, tears building up in her eyes. "You've turned him against me."

"No Sarah." Cameron interrupted calmly, "you have, I have shown John how I feel, and I can feel, I wouldn't be worth much if I couldn't. We both knew you'd react like this, which is why we didn't tell you." She informed the old woman.

Sarah blinked. "Wait." She said suddenly as something dawned on her. "This isn't sudden is it?" she asked but didn't wait for a reply. "How long has this been going on?" she asked her anger building once more.

Cameron could have given Sarah exact time of how long she and John had been in a romantic relationship, but she had to prove to her that she had changed, the first was to use human mannerisms, less accurate timing. "Since Saturday" she told her. "When I came home from my mission to find Hamburg, I confessed my love to John and he did the same."

Sarah stared at the Cyborg infront of her, silently.

"You've voiced your opinion of me, and while I don't care about your opinion, but John does, and you've hurt him. John, right now, needs everyone's trust, he is to have a lot of stress if we fail to stop Skynet, he will need all the trust and help he can get now." Cameron stared at Sarah, allowing what she said to sink in.

"You are his mother, his only parent, he needs you approval, be happy for him and let him be happy. Think it over, think of everything that's been said but right now … " Cameron paused for a moment before continuing. "my boyfriend is upset I need to go comfort him." Without another word or another glance, Cameron turned around and left."

Danny stepped forward slowly, cautiously, like walking up behind a dangerous animal.

"Come on Sarah, let's get you sat down, and drink some juice, of maybe a coffee." He said keeping up his guard just in case the woman infront of him lashed out.

Sarah's mind was flooded with thoughts, she had only just heard what Danny had said, "yeah, coffee." She replied as if she were dazed, she walked forward slowly as if moving too quick and she'd collapse, Danny helped her across the floor, Sarah had a zombie like feel to her, slow lazy footsteps, her face showing a gormless expression, her mind was trying to sort out what she'd seen and what she'd been told.

Danny sat her down at the kitchen table and began to make her a coffee, he wouldn't give her alcohol, that could only make things worse.

Sarah was silent, staring at nothing, her mind raced, her emotions were in turmoil, anger, hatred, shock, horror, regret, sadness, depression, all collided against one another as her thoughts shifted, turned and twisted.

"Danny." She finally said making the young man jump in surprise. "What do you think?" she asked her voice was as monotone as Cameron's.

"It's not my place to say Sarah." Danny admitted. "This life, the Machines they're a part of my family in their own way, but nothing like this, nothing as deep as you connection to them, this is for you to think over, I'm sorry." He said sadly.

"At least your honest" she said before turning to look at him sadly and gave him a small empty smile. Danny placed the coffee infront of her.

"I'll be outside, you rest." He smiled and walked out into the backyard towards the shed, leaving Sarah to her thoughts.

Her son was with a Machine, with Cameron, they were in a relationship and had been for the past few days, John was convinced Cameron felt something for him, Sarah had readily denied it, especially after the event of his 16th birthday which in truth was coming up to a year ago, was still fresh in their minds, a full year, time had flown by.

She took a deep breath and released a long sigh, she put the coffee to her lips and took a quick sip, she was stressed, her shock, mixed with the bullshit Derek had been saying had left her paranoid and overly stressed, like she needed it.

Her thought began to clear slowly, her emotions backed down inside her, the quiet, the coffee, just her and her thoughts, it helped somewhat.

What John had said had struck her, his whole life had been like this, the training, then foster care, the 1000 series incident with the Uncle Bob Terminator.

'Uncle Bob…' she thought for a moment, Sarah knew that Machine was a run of the mill 800 series, standard and basic compared to what they were up against now, the Triple-Eights, Cameron even more so was much more advanced, and even then. Uncle Bob cared for John, she knew that, he cared for John more than a primary mission, in his own, Machine/Guardian like way, he cared for John, loved him possibly.

Sarah closed her eyes and allowed the tears to fall from her face. Up until that time, The Terminator was the best thing to happen to John, a father figure he could look up to, a friend he needed, and now another Machine was the girl he needed.

She shook her head from side to side as she thought. Machines, they were so cold, so emotionless, and then, they could be so human, so understanding, Uncle Bob, and now Cameron.

But Sarah didn't trust her, couldn't trust her, more because of the glitch she had and tried to kill them, that was the major point of mistrust, what if it happened again, but looking at how they were now, could it?

Her son and the Cyborg, together, making one another happy, she laughed imagining a happy Cameron, a Machine that felt to such a degree, she laughed further as her thought continued, imaging the possible creations that could be made, small tiny endoskeletons suckling on bottles, pacifiers, and clinging to cute teddies as they slept.

Baby Endoskeletons, both hilarious and terrifying at the same time.

She took in a deep breath once more and sighed again, another sip of coffee, more thought. This was John making a decision, he'd stood up to her for what he wanted, for what he believed in, a sign of the future. She closed her eyes and sipped more coffee, she'd leave them awhile, but she wanted more information. If. IF. John was to be with the … with Cameron, she wanted to know he'd be safe.

Upstairs John was in his room sat on the end of his bed his body stiff, tense, shaking from adrenaline, he was alone. He knew his mother would explode if she found out, he had expected as much, and he knew he'd have to defend himself and Cameron, and he knew it would be emotional, but sadly he wasn't as prepared as he thought he would be.

He felt terrible, his mother disapproved of his relationship, which wasn't a surprise, his mother had called Cameron an emotionless machine, and she'd called him a kid, but what hurt most is he could see the shame in her eyes, as if he had failed her, it was that, that hurt the most.

He heard the door open and lifted his head to look at Cameron sheepishly looking at him from the doorway.

"I had a talk with Sarah." Cameron said. "I told her what I wanted to say." She frowned and walked into the room closing the door behind her. "I'm sorry John." She said as she stopped infront of him.

John tiled his head like she did curiously, confused. "You're sorry? What for?" he asked

"For a few things." She admitted sadly. "For not noticing Sarah's return, for not sticking up for you while you were talking, I could have intervened, I should have, and now you and your mother are distant, and it's my fault."

Cameron looked upset, small tears leaked from the corner of her eyes, John stood up and embraced her lovingly, she held him in return.

"No Cam, it's not your fault, sshhh sshh, don't worry, don't worry." His words were loving and soft as she buried her face into his neck, John kissed her neck gently as the two rocked idly back and forth.

"I'm sorry John." she repeated.

"There's nothing for you to be sorry about Cam, I've told you, it's okay, we'll be okay." He gently patted her back, while his other hand soothingly stroked the back of her head, Cameron looked up into his eyes.

"Do you promise John?" she asked hesitantly.

"I promise." He replied, confident, a smile on his face. He wondered how his mother could say the girl before him was emotionless, she could appear so, he admitted, but her fledgling emotions while developing, were no less real.

John and Cameron leaned in to one another pressing their lips together in a sweet, emotional, loving kiss. The kiss promised so much to the other, a promise of unity of their love, a promise to never leave the others side, and a promise that they would overcome everything before them, an unmovable object, an unstoppable force. They would be together till the end of their days.

"I love you John no matter what Sarah or Derek would say, I do love you." She told him once they broke their kiss.

John smiled in return and brushed the back of his left index finger across her left cheek.

"I never doubted you, not for a second." He leaned in as he removed his finger and kissed her on the cheek.

Cameron smiled up to him and rest her head on his chest for comfort. "Thank you" she whispered.

Sofia watched the Machine grab her cases from the bedroom and walk back into the living room.

"You're going out already?" Sofia asked timidly, she was not sure how to talk to the Machine, worried about its temperaments.

"Yes, I have too, I told you, it is my mission." The Cyborg explained to her, as she put the cases on the coffee table. "Make sure you're here when I get back, I don't want any nasty surprises." Her tone wasn't threatening, but was fairly friendly, as if someone giving a friend a friendly warning.

"I won't go, don't worry, you know where I live anyway, right, you'd find me eventually." Sofia admitted sadly.

"Yes, I'd find you." The Machine replied casually. "And I wouldn't hesitate to kill you."

"What if I just went out for groceries." Sofia asked sheepishly, trying her best to lighten the mood.

The Machine thought for a moment, she didn't trust Sofia to do that, but if she did and returned it would make her more trustworthy. "Send me a text or leave a note." The Machine told her.

"Oh right." Sofia twiddled her thumbs slowly.

The T-895 looked at Sofia and sighed rolling her eyes, humans could make the atmosphere so awkward at times.

"Okay, okay look." She stood up straight after having unlocked the cases. "Just stay here, put on the TV, eat some snacks, I got plenty in, what I do isn't pretty you know that I've told you." She made a very human sigh. "If it helps, they won't suffer. Okay?" she asked.

"But then why spare me and kill everyone else?" Sofia asked.

"And Rebecca don't forget" she replied, Sofia nodded. "It's comparison really, you get to live, and you're hot, so be happy about that." The machine told her, Sofia just nodded. "Alright now help me pick what to use." She smiled casually.

Sofia shivered and looked and watched the Machine open the cases revealing many weapons of varying age. Sofia's eyes scanned the cases back and forth, with all those weapons she could make a fortune.

The robot woman had everything, M1911s and varies types, 2 pairs of Luger pistols just for a start.

"I don't know." Sofia admitted, she didn't like thinking that she was picking a weapon people would be killed with.

"I know, I know." The Machine said before bringing up her list of target again, she was already behind on schedule.

PETER WELLDRAKE

ALISTAIR CROW

BILL WILLIAMSON

She brought up another set of targets, their locations and the best course to go about from one to another.

THOMAS MARLEY

JAMES CHRISTOPHER SHEPARD

SUSAN CHRISTINE JONES

ANTHONY JENKINS

ANTHONY "TONY" HENDRICKSON

That would do for tonight. She didn't want to be out too late, she had Sofia to put into the equation, why she didn't kill her and make it easier for herself, she didn't know, or rather she didn't want to admit. Most of them were further along the outskirts, not so much in the city, that was fine, she turned towards her case, she liked a balanced selection of speed, capacity and power.

She reached into the case and pulled out a simple blued Ruger GP-100. A 4 inch barrel .357 magnum revolver, she liked Ruger, especially it's strange grips, a black rubber grip with wooden in the middle.

Effective and stylish!

She placed down the revolver and grabbed herself two blued M1911 handguns. She hadn't used any variant of the 1911 in a long time, these two were what The Americans called the 'MEU (SOC)' used by a special forces of Military in America, these pistols were stainless steel with rubber grips, and a 9 round magazine instead of 7.

She liked these guns, made her feel American, especially the time she'd shot an American on the 4th July one year with one of these guns. Beautifully ironic.

"What else?" she asked herself or Sofia if she ever spoke up.

Sofia hesitated, no knowing if the machine was talking to her or not, she looked at the cases then pointed to a bits of a gun. "What about that one?" she asked and pointed to it.

The Cyborg was surprised to hear her speak, she got up genuinely curious and looked. She shrugged seeing. "Sure" she said before pulling out the parts.

This was a more modern shotgun than the last two she'd used, but had a vintage look to it that she liked.

She grabbed the 26 inch barrel and connected it to the stock a triggers before applying the large and thick fore-end. A Rossi Overland Double Barrel Shotgun with exposed hammer and a 26 inch barrel. Sure simple, primitive, something a Machine shouldn't use, but she liked it, she had an affinity for older shotguns like this and the Winchester, maybe that was part of her development.

"Alright, now I want something else, just in case." She looked through the cases, then shrugged, something light compact and fully automatic, she grabbed two Czech Sa.25s, small compact 9mm Czechoslovakia Submachine Guns from the last 1940s to the late 1960s, there was still a lot of them around for purchase.

She attached sling to her compact Sa.25s and her Rossi, she's prepare the ammunition later, it was still early, she packed her cases away and took them back into the bedroom.

Sofia looked over the guns and picked up one of the Sa.25s it looked like an Uzi, except simpler, she held it in her hand, a light gun, but had some weight in it, the weapons had folding stocks that folded to the side to make them compact.

She put it down and looked at the Rossi, the shotgun looked very intimidating with its long barrels, though she was a cop, she'd never used a Shotgun outside of training, too much recoil, she either went for her pistol, or her an MP5, she put down the gun.

Later in the day, Sofia sat watching the TV next to the Machine who was busying herself with loading the multiple magazines with 45 acp and 9mm rounds, loading speed loaders and a shotgun bandolier with shells.

Sofia turned her eyes from the TV to look at the Machine.

"You have a lot of guns." She pointed out.

"Yup" the machine replied as she slid a 9mm round into a 40 round magazine.

"How long it take you to get them all?" Sofia asked sheepishly.

"Quite a while. Some are spoils." She said before looking over the magazine carefully then placing it down, happy with it. "I've been around a while." She pointed out still smiling and leaned back on the sofa.

This peaked Sofia's curiosity, she looked the woman's face then down to her bare feet, she noted her painted black toe nails. "How long?" she asked.

The Cyborg looked at her and smiled, she raised her index finger and wagged it from side to side. "Ah, ah, ah that would be telling, and a woman never likes to reveal her age." She chuckled, then looked at the TV.

Sofia said nothing more, she found the Machine very human for something so clearly not, she looked at the TV once more, thinking about this future war the Cyborg had told her about, the very thought of it was scary, nightmare stuff.

"You called Rebecca yet?" The cyborg asked not looking away from the TV, Sofia turned to look at her and nodded slowly.

"Yeah, I eh, I rang her when you were making dinner, I told her our apartment was having some bugs cleaned out." She smiled hesitantly. "She's afraid of bugs."

"Good call" The Machine said a small smile on her face.

Sofia relaxed a little, and looked watched the TV, she didn't notice the Machine had been shuffling closer, and closer to her, until her backside touched her's.

Sarah looked outside, new questions in her head. How long had she been sat there alone in the quiet, had Danny come in yet, where the fuck was Derek, and how long had her coffee gone cold?

Outside the sun was setting, another day gone, and John and Cameron would be in the house tomorrow with the school closed due to the murders. She'd have to confront them about this.
She wouldn't like it, but John's mind was made up, and he wouldn't budge. In a strange way, she was proud of him for being so, he was willing to stand up to anybody for what he wanted and what he believed.

'If that isn't a good sign of leadership, I don't know what is' she told herself. She admitted she'd said harsh words to him, hurtful words she didn't really mean, she blamed Derek for turning her into what she had become, a paranoid, Anti-Machine freak.

She closed her eyes and thought again, a comparatively simple time before the bomb incident, Sarah admitted to herself, she partially trusted Cameron then, she was loyal, sure she lied, but so did people.

"Fuck." She said to herself and made her way upstairs. The three of them needed to talk.

She waited outside, his door, not moving, not doing anything except thinking, thinking of how to break the ice, and try and fix her relationship with John. Finally she knocked.

"Come in." came Cameron's voice, Sarah didn't think much about it before opening the door.

What greeted her surprised her, Cameron was sat up on John's bed looking at him as she gently affectionately stroked his hair as he laid across his bed his head nestled on her lap.

"John is sleeping" Cameron said soft and quietly, "please refrain from raising your voice" Cameron asked before raising her eyes to look at Sarah. "You have come to talk." She assumed.

Sarah crossed her arms and nodded slowly averting her eyes form looking at Cameron.

"Yes, yes I have, but I'd like to speak to both of you" she said, her tone, Cameron noticed, wasn't the usual strong tone she heard from Sarah, it sounded weak, defeated, apologetic.

Cameron said nothing, she moved her right hand which had been stroking him and laid it on his shoulder she shook him gently. "John, wake up John." She said softly, she persisted in shaking him and soft words to rouse him from slumber, eventually he grumbled in reply, his eyes opened slowly.

"Sarah wishes to talk to us, both of us." Cameron informed the awakening John,

At the mention of his mother John's eyes opened wide and settled on Sarah, who was looking at him sheepishly, ashamed of herself, and feeling little in their presence.

"I'd like to have a talk with both of you, downstairs of in here is okay with me." Sarah told them, moving one hand to scratch the back of her head.

"What do you want to do John?" Cameron asked him, John remembered his position and slowly sat up, he looked at his mother, not sure what to think of her at the moment then looked at Cameron.

"Downstairs?" he offered to Cameron.

"Downstairs then." Cameron said and got up off the bed.

"Right, we need to settle this, I eh … I." Sarah trailed off course of her sentence before she turned and walked off down the stairs.

"What do you think?" John whispered to Cameron, Cameron looked at him and tilted her head, John smiled a little from the cute mannerism. "About mom after what was said."

"Oh, thank you for explaining." She smiled at him now knowing what he meant, "Your mother seems genuine that she just wishes to communicate with us, I think Sarah wants to hear everything, to hear what we have to say and fix her relationship with you before she goes to bed." She told him, John nodded trusting her words.

"Thanks Cam." He said and kissed her cheek, Cameron smiled before walking for the door, john followed her close behind.

Sarah was sat at the table, in the seat she had been sat in for however long she had been alone, she watched as Cameron came down followed closely by John, she held her breath and slowly let it out, this was going to be it.

Cameron and John said nothing as they seated themselves opposite Sarah, no one said a word for a moment or so.

"Right, well." Sarah spoke up at last. "You two." She said pointing at them.

"We are in a relationship." Cameron replied, "I am John's girlfriend, and he is my boyfriend, he loves me, and I love him." Cameron made it straight and simple.

Sarah nodded to that then looked at John.

"I love her mom, I don't care what's said, I love her, I know it's real." John told her.

Sarah nodded again, this is where she had to swallow her pride.

"I'm sorry," she began then looked between the two of them. "I'm sorry I reacted the way I did, I wasn't expecting it, and to come upon like that, I don't know, after everything that's happened, and with Derek filling my head with his Anti-Machine bullshit, I don't know, everything just got to me." She admitted.

John and Cameron glanced at one another then looked back to Sarah.

"I don't like Machines, I'll admit that. But not to Derek's degree, I trusted you before John with the T-800, I should have trusted you more with Cameron, even back then you were showing maturity, and now I only just see it." She admitted, somehow, she felt better to let it out like this. "I said things I regret before, and I'll never be able to apologise enough for it, I was wrong, you are mature, and you're not a kid."

John smiled at Sarah sadly, both Connors had tears building up in their eyes, Cameron looked between the two.

'They are re-establishing trust and their connection' she told herself then smiled.

"I let you down John, as a mother." Sarah told him forcefully keeping her tears back.

John got up from his chair and walked around to his mother, he embraced her and held her.

"No mom, you haven't, you've always tried you best for me, you've always tried." He said to her trying to reassure her, Sarah felt her shields break and cried onto her son.

Nothing was said as Sarah emptied herself of tears and sadness, Cameron watched her beloved tend to his mother with care, Cameron was happy to see such a very intimate and emotional side of humanity, it was one of their redeeming qualities, she wished she could be like that, perhaps she would one day.

"Okay, okay, I'm alright." Sarah said as she gathered herself patting John on the arm, John nodded and sat back down. Sarah recomposed herself. "So, you two are together, you're in love." She recapped.

"Yeah, we are mom." John told her, Cameron nodded in agreement.

"How can you feel love?" Sarah asked looking at Cameron. "How do I know it isn't a simulation or something?" she asked.

"You don't." Cameron said, John looked at her curiously. "But I shall explain best I can. Even before the incident with Sarkissian, I felt a connection with John, I thought it was a glitch in my programming, but no scans detected it, so I ignored it, as time went by, I felt the connection more, then after the bomb, I felt the connection to a greater extent." Cameron tilted her head and stared at nothing as she thought back. "You could argue the bomb released an emotional side in me, allowed me to feel more." She stated then focused on Sarah.

"I don't know how, but I love John, I know I do, I feel it in my CPU and my power cell, I love him Sarah." She told the elder Connor

Sarah had been listening intently nodded at her words, then looked at John.

"You realise she's a machine, regardless of whether she feels or not?" she asked, there was no malice in her words as she spoke about Cameron.

"I know mom." Said John. "I know that under that skin, there's a hyperalloy skeleton but under that, past the circuits and pistons, somewhere in there, there's something more." John tried to explain.

Sarah nodded, satisfied at best, at least he hadn't forgotten what Cameron was under that face and that skin, she could do nothing about the relationship, she wasn't okay with it, not yet anyway.

"Alright." She said unsure of her next words, she looked at the table distracted as she thought before looking at Cameron. "I'm putting my trust into you." She told the Cyborg.

"I understand." Cameron replied in monotone.

"If you break John's heart, I'll burn you in thermite, without removing your chip" she narrowed her eyes a little, for her part Cameron didn't flinch.

"If I somehow break John's heart, I'll do it myself and let you watch." She said, the two females stared at one another unspoken understanding passing between them.

"Alright." Sarah said once again dropping her gaze and looked at John then Cameron then back to John. "I'm guessing you haven't told Derek, I'm not telling him." She told them. "I'll say nothing about it, but what about Riley?" she asked.

John and Cameron looked at one another asking each other the same question, Cameron shook her head, John did too, they both looked at Sarah in unison, she almost believed it was rehearsed.

"I'll try and break up with Riley as soon as I can. I don't want her to get too far with her." John told her, Sarah nodded.

"Good, I'll leave that to you." Sarah put her hands on the table and pushed herself up. "I can't say I'm happy about this, but, I'll tolerate it for now, I can't say much more than that. I just hope it works out for both your sakes." With that Sarah walked around the table and left.

Cameron and John looked at one another after Sarah left, they both smiled leaned in and kissed one another on the lips, that was one major hurdle over.

"Is she gone?" came a quiet voice, the couple broke apart and looked towards the darkened living room.

Danny Dyson cautiously looked up from the sofa and looked around for Sarah.

John chuckled as he watched the older man, which was born after him. 'Time travel.' John mentally noted and shook his head. "Yeah man she's gone, you can come out." John told him.

Danny walked out cautiously in case it was a trap.

"How do you feel about me and John?" Cameron asked him suddenly, Danny looked towards her pausing in his movement and thought before relaxing a little.

"To tell you the truth, I don't really think it's my business who John loves or not" Danny shrugged. "Well I'm going to bed, night you two." He said before walking up stairs.

John looked at his watch. It was only about quarter past six in the evening.

"What you want to do?" John asked as he looked at Cameron, Cameron furrowed her brow in thought.

QUESTION ASKED, LISTING REPLIES.

I WOULD LIKE TO CUDDLE MORE JOHN.

YOU.

YOU, ALL NIGHT LONG.

WATCH TV AND SNUGGLE.

LISTEN TO MUSIC AND SNUGGLE.

Cameron picked the most suitable choice.

"Could we listen to music and snuggle John?" she asked innocently.

John smiled in reply and got out extending his hand out to her for her to take. Out of courtesy she took his hand and raised herself from her chair and allowed John to lead her upstairs back to this room.

No longer any need for sunglasses to conceal her eye, she left them on the coffee table, she was taking her shot up car since her shotgun and SMGs were hard to conceal.

She'd left Sofia in the apartment with TV and snacks, and just in case had altered the phone line that it would ring her cell phone, only for tonight however, for trust issues.

First and foremost, Peter Welldrake.

PETER WELLDRAKE

20

BURGER KING EMPLOYEE.

'humph, loser.' She thought as she drove to the addressed Burger King it wasn't too late in the evening, it'd be open. She removed one of the M1911s from its holster and laid it on her lap so it would be ready.

"Hello may I take you order?" came the voice from the drive through.

"Peter Welldrake?" she asked.

"No this is Jose Barrera, are you looking for Pete?" the voice/Jose asked.

"Yes." She paused. "Do I know you?" she asked.

"Um, you don't sound familiar." Jose admitted.

"Right." She said absentmindedly, she'd need a new plan. "I'd like a Chocolate Shake, a large bacon double cheese burger, and some large fries." She ordered. "I'll throw in an extra 10 dollars if you have Peter deliver it to me in the parking lot" she smirked.

"Um sure." Jose replied, "go to the checkout window."

The Terminatrix drove to the checkout window and looked at the boy, tanned skin and Asian.

TARGET LISTED.

LIEUTENANT JOSE BARRERA

NEGATIVE ON TERMINATION.

She smiled at Jose before giving him the money. She drove off into the parking lot and waited.

Well right now shooting him would be a problem, too many witnesses, she'd have to get rid of him discreetly. She rubbed the temple of her forehead slowly trying to massage her fake muscles.

She looked up and saw someone coming out to her, her vision zoomed in and scanned the boy's face.

PETER WELLDRAKE – TARGET ACQUIRED

TERMINATE.

She smirked and opened her window. Peter walked up to the window.

"Um, here you go." He said cautiously, and smiled at her, she took the food and smiled back at him.

"Thank you." She replied, he turned to leave. "Wait." She said, he stopped and looked, watched her get into the back of her car. "I've been watching you Pete, wouldn't you like to join me?" she purred seductively.

Peter blinked and looked around. "But I've got a girlfriend." He defended himself.

"She won't know, I won't kiss and tell, will you?" she smiled at him, he was sweating, she calculated over 80% possibility that he'd join her.

"Oh, um." He blushed and walked back to the car, she opened the back door next to her, he climbed in and closed the door behind him, he turned expecting something naughty, but felt a hand tightly wrap around his neck and a quick twist, his neck broken, she smirked to herself, getting back into the driver's seat and drove off.

DISPOSE OF BODY

TRACK DOWN OVER TARGETS.

The Terminatrix took a detour around the area coming a small ditch, she grabbed Peter, emptied his pockets and wallet before throwing him in, she pulled out a small lighter setting alight a part of his clothing, she got back into her car and drove off allowing Pete to burn.

ALISTAIR CROW

31

PSYCHIATRIST

She brought up his address in her CPU and drove towards it. From what she'd analysed Crow was well known in his field, someone who could truly get into the mind of his patients. He was a crying shame he wouldn't live much longer.

It didn't take very long to reach the gate of his house, she turned and stared at the house.

'Holy shit.' She thought looking at it. It was a large, very expensive house, the gate alone looked fancy, and there was a path between the gate and the house, so she was going to kill a multi-Millionaire. At least her job allowed her to meet new and interesting people, then kill them.

From the sight of the house and it's lights and the sounds coming from within, Crow was throwing a party, she analysed that she may be becoming something of a party crasher.

'Oh well, money, cake, free snacks, killing. Who says I don't get job satisfaction?' she thought then grinned cruelly, again, she loved her job.

Suddenly she heard dogs barking, she looked as a guard dog and a guard came up to the gate, the guard was carrying an Uzi slung around his body.

"Excuse me, if you don't have an invitation can you please leave." The guard called out, The Terminatrix smirked and turned her car around and drove off, the guard watched then turned around to go back to his rounds, his dog beside him quietened down for a moment.

The dog's ears pricked up suddenly as it stopped, the guard walked on until the lead in his hand pulled him back, he loved at his dog facing the other way, he looked and heard the roaring of an engine and wheels against the ground, suddenly two powerful beams of light lit up the darkness blinding him before something crashed through the gate and slammed into him breaking every bone in his body, the dog getting trampled by the wheels.

"I think I hit something" The Cyborg smirked as she drove down the path and smashed through the front door of Crow's house, she slung her weapons over her body and stepped out of the car.

People screamed in panic seeing the armed woman, she also heard guards yelling at one another from outside. It was going to be an interesting night.

The next day John awoke to find Cameron lying next to him her eyes open looking at him, slowly a smile formed over her face and he smiled in return.

"Good morning John." Cameron greeted him and squeezed him a little.

"Morning Cam." He replied a little sleepily, still under the sweet drug of slumber. He brushed his eyes off his sleep with one hand before hugging her back.

"What time is it?" he asked before planting a kiss on her cheek.

"7:15. You had a peaceful sleep, that's good" Cameron replied then kissed him on the chin.

John nodded then stifled a yawn, he shook his head to wake himself up.

"Derek Reese finally returned." Cameron announce, John looked at her with a raised brow.

"Oh, What time did he get in, and what state was he in?" John asked

"He returned here at 9:23 at night and he was tipsy, not too drunk, but he had definitely consumed alcohol." Cameron explained, John said nothing and looked forward across his room, he moved to sit up, Cameron released him so he could and sat up herself.

"Alright, I say we wait until mom is more used to used being together, then we tell Derek, what do you think?" John asked looking at her.

"Good idea." She smiled at him, "I'm happy we can be more open now, less hiding away in our rooms now that Sarah knows."

John chuckled and leaned forward pressing his lips to her's in a sensual kiss, Cameron purrs into the kiss and slips her tongue into John's mouth, John puts his arms around Cameron for support before sliding his tongue into her's. With closed eyes the couple enjoy the passionate heated kiss, before breaking away and smiling to one another.

Once up and dressed they head downstairs and find Danny making breakfast, both John and Cameron look at him curiously.

"Where is Sarah?" Cameron asked before John could.

Danny jumped a little not realising anyone was behind him, he turned around to see the new couple and smiled once his nerves were in check.

"She hit the bottle after you two went upstairs, she's sleeping off a hangover in bed." He explained to them and watched John wince a little, Danny was just happy things were on the mend between the two Connors. "I'm making a fry up, that okay with you two?" he asked

"Yeah thanks Danny." John said with a small smile.

"Beats pancakes." Cameron said in monotone, John stifled a laugh and Danny chuckled at her words, Cameron looked between the two men and smiled, oblivious to the humour.

"Yeah well, you two go sit down, put on the TV real quiet, I'll get breakfast plated up." Danny told them before getting back to work.

Cameron and John walked into the living room and turned on the TV, the news was on, Cameron and John focused on the main headline.

"Killing Spree continues."

'Oh fuck.' John thought as he watched the television, police and the cameraman walking through a destroyed door the walls barely touched and two white chalk outlines on the floor.

"Another seven six people have been murdered in their homes, along with a missing man last seen last night by his co-workers, this brutal body count continues to grow, police are baffled by the attacks, however police have an eye witness who has given a description of a suspect."

The screen changed to show Jose Barrera infront of the camera and began to describe the woman he saw, Cameron's head tilted a little as she scanned the face.

"Jose Barrera." She said in monotone.

"Yeah." John said not thinking for a moment then looked at her. "You know him?" he asked.

"Yes, he is was of your lieutenants in the future, he is loyal to you." She said and turned to look at him.

Now John was confused, could it be a Machine killing everyone if one of his own men was left alive? He decided to voice his question to Cameron, she looked at him as he asked then looked back to the TV.

"You have a good question, however we cannot be certain if this attack was the same killer as the others." Cameron told him, though she was just as curious and the police had yet to reveal any names.

"True, but he did say it was a woman." John pointed out.

"John, there are a lot of women who kill men, but I understand what you mean." Cameron replied, in truth she herself thought it might be this new Machine she'd encountered before. "I do not know how this Machine works, if it is responsible, then it is going by the same patterns of Termination as a Machine, however some show less Machine like qualities." She told him.

"Yeah, so what's the plan?" he asked, his voice quiet and down, Cameron could tell he wasn't too happy about this new Machine around, killing people who for all he knew were members of the resistance, or integral people who aid him or would have aided him later."

"For now, we can do nothing, there is no co-ordination to the Machine's killings that would suggest a pattern than I or other Terminators could list without knowing what it knows. Perhaps, it is killing it's targets based on distance." Cameron offered, John nodded in defeat, they could do nothing right now, except wait.

They both watched as the names of those already deceased over the past days were shown once again.

"Keep those names in your memory if you can." John said with a spark of an idea. "We're going to need them later."

Cameron didn't ask about what he had in mind and did as she was asked.

John stood up and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll be right back." He told her and walked off, Cameron examined the names listed and put them through her database, she hadn't heard of any of them before.

John returned with a phone book. "Okay you got them?" he asked.

"Yes John" she replied, she looked at them then at the phonebook on his lap. "You wish to connect the names to the phonebook?" she asked.

"See if there is a pattern." He said. "Okay we'll go through the names, starting alphabetically, that okay?" he asked Cameron nodded.

The pair of them began to go through the names, finding nothing of importance, that was until they came to Susan Ann Jones.

"There are multiple Susan Joneses." John pointed out, Susan Ann Jones was the top listed, his mind played back to what his mother had told him about the 1st Terminator back in 1983. "You think the Machine is using the phonebook?" he asked.

Cameron thought for a moment, suddenly, some things were made a little clearer. "It is possible, if the Machine has higher levels of thought and planning than a Triple-Eight it might know that if it terminates one Susan Jones after another, the police would interfere." Cameron explained.

"So the order it's going in, even if those people are connected to the war, it'll most likely kill all the Susan Joneses just in case, like the first Machine did with mom." He thought for a moment, finally a lead.

"We're going to need to plan this out, we've got 4 more Susan Joneses alive, unless last night got anymore." He said darkly. "We need to formulate a plan."

"What I find confusing, is that I do not know any of these people John." Cameron exclaims her concern. John thinks for a moment.

"you came from 2027, right?" he asks.

"Yes John." She replied and tilts her head.

"Maybe what they did comes after you." He shrugged, that was the best explanation he had.

Cameron mentally agreed with him, it was the most likely explanation.

THE PREVIOUS NIGHT.

The Terminatrix drove in her car, happy with tonight's outcome, she'd done much better than the previous nights, she'd Terminated all her target thus far, and gathered more ammunition from the Security team at Alistair Crow's house, with excess killing. Bonus!

Now her current target was Anthony Jenkins.

ANTHONY JENKINS

19

UMEMPLOYED

She brought up his location and drove towards it.

She instantly felt unwelcome in the neighbourhood, the houses had broken glass in the windows, boarded up windows, and doors, some housing estates looked like they needed rebuilding, she passed by an old church, the Cross above the door hung upside down and Blasphemous graffiti covered it's once beautiful brickwork.

The cyborg drove past it slowly and doing the sign of the cross over herself, she wasn't religious, but she had respect for old important buildings.

"I could kill everyone in this neighbourhood and do the world a favour." She commented to herself quietly.

MISSION UPDATED.

RETURN TO AREA AT LATER DATE.

MISSION – MASS TERMINATION.

She'd do it on a Sunday, just to be ironic.

She noticed how her shot up car seemed to blend in, in this god awful neighbourhood, not one car she could see didn't have scratches or different coloured doors or some form of damage.

She parked up outside the address and looked up to it, another run down house that needed condemned, she got out of the car and walked up to the house, she knocked on the door and waited.

The door opened to a small bent over old lady, the woman stared at the Cyborg for a few moments as if waiting.

"Matthew?" the old woman asked unsure.

The cyborg stared at her confused before replying, she altered her voice to a man's voice.

"Sorry ma'am, ugh, is Anthony Jenkins at home?" she asked.

"Anthony?" the woman asked, before continuing. "Oh no, he's up with his friends at the abandoned asylum, up on the road aways, you just go down the road and look around a large building, you can't miss it in this neighbourhood." She said with a smile, happy to be helping such a polite young 'man'

"Ugh thank you ma'am, you have a good night." The machine said and walked off.

"You too young man." She called out. "And tell Anthony when you see him that his dinner is going cold, so hurry on back." The old obviously near blind woman asked.

The Machine paused in step and turned back around, she frowned at the smiling woman who retreated into the house, she felt something grow within her; Rage.

She stormed back to her car, got in and slammed the door shut and drove down the road towards the asylum.

As the woman said, it wasn't hard to find,, she parked outside of its large steel gates, and slung her bandolier around herself and grabbed her Rossi leaving behind her two SMGs. She got out of the car, forced the gates open with her great strength and walked towards the entrance, she noted a van parked outside the door, she neared it when a man's voice spoke up from the van.

"Hey, who the fuck are you? What you doin' here?"

The Cyborg dropped her shotgun and walked over to the van, a beam of light came from the van and shone on her illuminating her in the darkness.

"Hey, hey there baby." The voice came again, obviously attracted by her appearance. "Did Billy call from some hookers?" he asked as the woman came up to the door and peered into the open window.

The man who had been speaking wore a dirty hoodie with holes in the sleeve, he stunk of nicotine and various other chemicals.

"Anthony Jenkins?" she asked.

"Tony? Nah babe, I'm Mike." Mike told her, he saw the woman smile at him slyly.

"Is Tony inside?" she asked again still smiling at him.

"Yeah babe, Tony dog is inside, but hey forget him, how about you put that pretty mouth to good use." He suggested with a dirty smirk showing his dirty teeth.

"How about I put your mouth to work?" she asked then grabbed him with one arm and pulled him out the door and threw him to the ground, she picked him up by his throat and lifted him so he was on his knees.

"I'll really, put your mouth to work" she said anger flowing through her as she put her fingers in his mouth and wrapped them around his teeth, Mike for his part panicked and hit her trying to get her off.

Now she could do this quickly, make it as painless as possible, but she wasn't feeling so charitable. She pulled slowly, opening his mouth out to its widest and continued to pull, Mike cried out in pain, still she pulled she watched the sides of his mouth begin to split open, blood pouring from the wound, Mike furiously hit her, trying everything he could, but nothing worked. She continued to pull the split growing larger as his jaw separate from the rest of his skull, she could see his tongue waggling around wildly in his mouth.

Finally with one strong tug separated his jaw from his skull his tongue lashing around wildly, Mike was alive, barely, and in agony, the shock would kill him soon enough if the blood loss didn't she left the man to spasm and twitch on the ground while she walked back and picked up her Rossi and walked in through the doors.

Tony was scared, it had been a normal night of booze, drugs and shooting guns in his boys hang out sight, then all of a sudden there cries of pain, agony, more so than normal, then more gun fire less screams and loud footsteps, he hid behind a table with his boss Billy who was loading up a 'pimping' gold plated Desert Eagle chamber in 50 Action Express, a big gun, for a big boss man.

"Right Tony, you grab that Uzi and when whoever the fuck is fucking with us, comes through that door, you let them have it, I'll be here with you with my Deagle, and we got the boys at our back." Billy told him, Tony ever so reluctantly grabbed the Uzi and loaded it, and held it towards the doors.

It was quiet, the sound of footsteps against shattered glass were heard outside, they heard the dropping of shells, brief silence then a gun snapping shut.

The men inside the room, Tony, Billy, and two others both armed with Glock 18s a fully automatic pistol, both were loaded with large 33 round magazines and set to full auto.

A knock on the door.

Three men opened fire immediately, Billy held his fire for now, gun fire ripped open the wooden door tearing through it like paper, chunks of wood fell from their place and slammed onto the floor. They paused, no a sound, their weapons clicked empty.

Billy looked got the attention of the two Glock wielders and motioned them to go check the door, they both nodded and reloaded as they made their way to the door, the door collapsed to the floor, making the men jump only to realise afterwards they'd destroyed the hinges, they two men chuckled and walked to the door with more ease.

That was until they saw a woman step around the doorframe and rise a long barrelled shotgun up and empty both barrels at once into the men knocking them off their feet and hitting the ground hard.

Tony panicked and went to reload his Uzi, the woman calmly broke open the shotgun and removed the shells as Billy fired his pistol at the woman's chest, the woman didn't flinch she just stared at the man as she reloaded, slamming the gun shut she cocked the hammers and fired again, Billy dived to the side a stray piece of shot getting his leg making him cry out, the woman walked closer.

He looked up just as the woman emptied a shell of shot into his face point blank.

"Oh shit, holy shit!" Tony freaked out and aimed the Uzi at her and pulled the trigger, nothing happened, Tony looked over his gun and in his panicked state forgot to rack the bolt to ready the gun, the woman calmly reloaded her Rossi double barrel.

"Tony Atkinson?" she asked.

Tony dropped the Uzi and looked at her. "Ugh yeah?" he gulped.

"Who was the woman at your house?" she asked and closed up her shotgun.

"My grandma." He said.

"You got any brothers or sisters?" she asked

"I got one who lives in the city." He replied scared out of his life.

"What's his name, address?" she ordered.

"Ugh, Matthew, he lives in a fancy Apartment block, 'Sleek Apartments.'" Tony said.

"Thank you." The woman said coldly before cocking the hammer and raising the shotgun faster than Tony could react and emptied both barrels into his face literally blowing it off from his neck.

She slung her shotgun over her shoulder. 'Degenerate parasites' she thought with distain. She looked around this supposed office area looking for anything important, her sensors detected something behind a painting, a safe.

She walked up to it and thrust her arm through the painting and through the door of the safe and pulled both off the wall, she looked at the bundles of money infront of her. That would do, she grabbed the money and left.

A Knock on the door.

"Anthony?" the old woman asked.

The cyborg smiled sadly at her, and used Tony's voice. "Hey Grandma, sorry I'm late, I was getting you a present." She said, if she had a heart it would have stopped when she saw the old wrinkled woman's face light up with joy.

"Oh Anthony." She smiled

"Come on, no time to explain, can I use the phone?" the cyborg asked, the woman nodded and stepped aside, the cyborg followed.

The machine looked at the phone and looked at a list of contacts one said Mathew, she rung it.

"Hello?" came a soft but very male voice.

"Mathew?" The Machine asked using Tony's voice still

"Oh ugh, hey Tony, what's up?" Mathew sounded hesitant to ask.

"Can Grandma live with you, I think it's time she had a nicer life." The machine said as the woman made her and 'Tony' a drink. "I got plenty of cash to help you with her."

"Oh Jesus Tony, what about Billy?" Mathew asked scared suddenly.

"I'll deal with Billy and the boys, I got some money from the safe, look after her man."

"Sure Tony, sure, want me to come get her?" Mathew asked, the machine thought he was a good man.

"No man, I'll order a cab, Sleek Apartments right?" she asked.

"yeah, yeah room 114." Mathew replied.

"Right she'll see you soon."

The Terminatrix watched from her car as the cab drove the woman out of the god awful neighbourhood, she felt warmed inside and smiled, she looked at her own cell phone for a moment.

TARGET: ANTHONY HENDRICKSON

She rang the number, a gruff British voice greeted her.

"Hey girl. You okay?" Tony asked.

"yeah Tony, just wanted to check on you, everything okay?" she asked

"Yeah, yeah everything's cool, you okay" he asked.

The Machine closed her eyes and sighed. "Just a little emotional, sorry. Just wanted to check in on you." She explained.

"Oh right, right, I'm fine, if you need me, you know where I am." Tony said comfortingly.

"Thanks Tony, I'll see you later." She hung up

ANTHONY HENDRICKSON

ALIVE AND WELL.

She smiled to herself and drove home, she'd gotten no call from her Apartment, so Sofia must have not tried to call for help, that was a plus, she walked got out of her car once at the apartment garages, let the garage close and walked inside.

She looked ahead at her room, everything was quiet, normal peaceful. She felt good, after doing something nice, it was a feeling she hadn't felt in a while.

She reached out and touched the door handle, then everything went black.

Jason's Notes

Apologies again for the late post, I will try and get another chapter up tomorrow. You can blame the drug "Skyrim" for the lateness, so I'm sorry again, don't hate me.

It had come to my thought that a lot of you don't know a lot of guns, SO. With that in mind I suggest going to "IMFDB" a gun website for anime, video games, movies, TV series and other things, if there is a gun I write about you don't know or would like to see to visualise it, just look it up there.

Apologies again. And many thanks, also, for an added bonus. If you could leave hugs in your review. I'd appreciate it.