Chapter 19
Searching for John Connor. Derek learns the truth.
Life. Life was bright and beautiful. It was vibrant, it was fast it was full of colour.
And she took it all away.
2011 she took it all away. In her 'primitive' mind set, full of anger, fear and paranoia she aimed to kill everybody.
She failed.
Now she gazed out upon the world from her luxurious apartment gazing out at life in Los Angeles California, the city full of cars, people and traffic.
Sofia was getting dressed in her uniform behind her, her friend who didn't even know her name, either referring to her as 'her/she', 'crazy robot lady', or simply 'Skynet' when they were alone and the mood was serious.
Why hadn't she told her, her name? It was part of her that made her human, perhaps if she gave Sofia her name she'd seem more human, somehow vulnerable as impossible as it was.
'I'll tell her one day, she knows my initials at least.' She thought to herself.
"Hey A.T" Sophia called out to the Machine sat upon the bed.
The Machine blinked then turned around seeing a smiling Alex.
"I was hoping you'd respond." She chuckled lightly before turning serious. "I'll be working tonight, a friend of mine got sick and call off today, I'll be filling in for him tonight, that okay?"
The Machine woman nodded in confirmation. "Sure no problem." She then smiled.
"I'll be busy tonight anyway." The Machine continued.
"Oh." Sofia replied simply her tone informing the Machine she wanted to know no more.
The Machine merely smiled at Sofia and gave her a short nod as Sofia finished dressing.
"You know your butt looks cute in those pants." The Machine said in a sly tone.
"So I've been told." Sofia replied a smirk spreading across her lips. "Okay, I'll see you tonight."
Sofia turned and left the room as the Machine called after her.
"If I'm not back call the pizza place, I'll buy." She called out and watched her through the door way and saw Sofia reply with a nod and a wave which she returned, the door closed audibly.
'What now?' she thought before bringing up her HUD for an update.
MISSION DIRECTIVES:
PRIMARY – LOCATE JOHN CONNOR.
SECONDARY – TERMINATE LISTED TARGETS.
… 12 TARGETS REMAINING (EXCLUDING NAME REPEATS) … 18 POSSIBLE TARGETS IN TOTAL …
ROUTE TERMINATION POSSIBILITIES – 4 TARGETS TERMINATED
A slow night, 4 people, 4 targets, unless they had company.
Her CPU planned the route her targets lived in small apartments, social status varied between the four. She shook her head then imitated a sigh before standing up grabbing her gun cases and walked into the living room.
Having placed them down she was in the kitchen looking through the fridge, her eyes expertly scanned its contents only then with advanced Machine tactics and Machine level problem solving came to a conclusion.
"I need to go shopping." She spoke out loud to no one before grabbing her wallet, keys and .44 Magnum, a girl could never be too careful these days.
The couple drove along the long desert road the A.C on full blowing cold air at their faces.
John had awoken early finding his cyborg lover laying on top of him careful to not apply too much weight to one section of his body, she was looking at him with a content smile on her face.
That night had changed them, made them stronger, closer, making the pair seem one. John had heard words coming from his lover he'd never have envisioned a Machine saying.
'She's more than a Machine idiot' John mentally slapped himself as he looked over to her in the driver's seat of their new Hummer.
The pair had gotten dressed, Cameron using her hair to cover her damaged face as much as possible, it sort of worked, just.
Now they found themselves driving back home, ready to face whatever they'd have to face at home; be it the wrath of Derek and Sarah, Skynet's latest assignation attempts, or Judgement Day itself. They'd be ready.
'Well maybe not the last one'. John thought to himself with a chuckle.
"What if Mom and Derek try and call us at home?" he suddenly asked as the thought only just crossed him.
Cameron looked at him. "I had programmed the phone at home to redirect calls from either, Sarah, Danny or Derek to my cell phone, as I have had no calls, they have not called to check up on you." Cameron looked back to the road.
"Rather out of character hmm?" he asked a little saddened that it was true.
"Yes, their missions must have required their full attention." She paused before looking back to John once more. "They'll be alright John." She said softly.
John nodded but still he was worried, them not calling was troubling, as much as he hated that they called him, some part of him used those calls as signs to know they were alright, alive at least.
Now nothing, they could be anywhere, in any shape, they could be dead. John felt himself go pale at that thought.
"They'll be okay John. You must have confidence in your Mother's abilities," she said trying to calm him down noticing his expression. "Derek's too." She added as an afterthought.
John was quiet for a moment before his head started a slow nod.
"Yeah, you're right, I'm just being stupid." He said trying to convince himself.
The pair became silent with John once more spaced out gazing out the window.
Cameron glanced worriedly at John, she didn't like seeing him like this, her CPU went through multiple options to try and break him out from his mood but none seemed adequate enough or acted as only temporary distractions, John needed closure for the subject.
Without much preparation of a constructed plan Cameron decided to improvise.
"I know you're upset John, and I know you're worried, but as I said, they're both capable fighters and Danny is with Sarah and he was progressing adequately." She paused and looked to see John finally turn his head to look at her. "If it helps, I'm concerned for them too, they're your family, you care about those closest to you." She gave him a soft and gentle smile.
John looked into the eyes of his love and smiled back at her with a similar smile.
"You're right." He said once more now sounding more confident in the actual words. "Mom will be fine, Derek's tough too, he survived the war I'm sure he can survive here." He chuckled quietly before letting out a long winded sigh.
"Thank you." He says after a moment of silence. "I feel a little better now."
Cameron gives John a warm smile. "You're welcome."
"Perhaps you should get some more sleep John." Cameron suggests. "It would make the journey seem shorter and you appear tired."
As if his body agreed with her before he could he let out a long yawn before giving his head a quick shake.
"You're right. You think we could stop for food when I wake up?" he asked as he adjusted the seat to lean back a little.
"Of course." She replied just as she heard to soft snored coming from John, he was already asleep, she smiled at him glancing at his sleeping form, he seemed at peace which she found was becoming less rare as she and John advanced in their relationship.
A sense of pride filled Cameron's CPU having gotten her love to sleep soundly. She was fulfilling her mission, her choice, to protect him, in any way possible, physically, mentally and emotionally.
"I love you John." She whispered to him, those few words meant so much to her, she loved him more and more as time went on, such a thing should be impossible, but regardless she did, she didn't care how it was so.
A comfortable silence ran through the Hummer, broken only by the gentle snores coming from John, a content smile plastered on Cameron's face, an expression she couldn't seem to get rid of.
Suddenly the sound of her cell began to ring, without taking her eyes off the road she reached into her jacket and pulled it out and answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Tin-Miss, it's Sarah." Came the reply.
"Is it?" Cameron asked.
From the other end she heard a slow annoyed sigh, before giving her the security code to which she replied.
"Yes it is." Sarah replied shortly, "Where's John?" she demanded
Cameron looked over to John's sleeping form then looked back to the road.
"He's asleep in his room, the perimeter is secure." She replied in her monotone voice.
"Alright, I'm calling to tell you and John I'll be a day or so late back, the mission went well but we're just keeping low and recuperating." She informed the cyborg. "You heard from Derek yet?" she asked, Cameron could guess Sarah had an annoyed look from mentioning Derek.
"No, not yet. I will call you back once he does." Cameron replied.
"Alright, just tell John I called." There was a brief pause before Sarah added. "And you two better NOT be up to anything!"
Cameron eyes opened wider in surprise but her voice betrayed nothing. "No Sarah, we have not gone outside John's comfort zone." 'Which has broadened greatly since you last saw him.' She mentally added.
"Alright." Sarah said obviously not trusting the Cyborg. "See you when we get back."
"Bye." Cameron said only to notice Sarah had already hung up, she glanced at her phone before pocketing it. 'John will be happy to know she's alright.' She thought.
She looks back towards the road, thinking about nothing but her and John.
Sarah groaned as she looked at her phone.
'I don't trust that Machine' she thought glumly, she knew something was up, she didn't know why or how, but she knew there was something not being said.
"How's John?" Danny called weakly from his bed.
Sarah looked over to him then sighed before dropping her phone onto the bed.
"Cameron says he's asleep, but I have this nagging feeling that something is up."
Danny looked at her as curiously as he could muster. "Perhaps it's with you being gone from him for so long. I couldn't really say." He shrugged as best he could.
Sarah nodded to that, it was a possibility, maybe she was becoming paranoid.
"I guess, but it felt like she wasn't telling me something, something she didn't want me to know, I just have this gut feeling." As she spoke Sarah curled her right hand into a fist and gently tapped her stomach.
"Maybe it's that magical Mother's intuition thing?" he joked with a small smirk on his face.
Sarah chuckled in response and looked to the floor. "Could be, could be."
"Could I get something to eat?" Danny asked sheepishly.
Sarah looked to him and nodded, Danny was still recovering he needed to keep his strength up.
"I'll go see what's being served, you want anything in particular?" she asked as she rose and walked towards the door only to pause for his reply.
"Anything at this point." Danny replied, before closing his eyes.
Sarah left without another word only to return 15 minutes later with a paper bag and some drink.
She looked to see Danny sleeping, their battle at Kaliba had really taken it out of him, but it was worth it from the damage they'd done and the haul of weapons they'd got, but Danny needed his rest.
'But he also needs to eat' she thought before shaking him by his good shoulder until he awoke from his slumber.
"What, who?!" he awoke confused until his nose picked up the scent of food, one simple thought ran through his mind as he eyed the paper bag. 'FOOD!'
Sarah watched Danny reach out and take the paper bag with more energy than she'd seen from him since they'd got back, she even chuckled quietly at his enthusiasm.
"Some of that's for me you know, I'm hungry too." She told him with a kind smile on her face.
"Sorry Sarah." Danny began as he took his first bite out of his burger. "I'm just SO hungry!" his words were muffled due to his filled mouth.
Sarah nodded taking out her salad and began to eat at a more reasonable pace.
After a few moments of silent eating, Danny looked up to Sarah. "So, back to what you were saying before."
Sarah looked at him. "About Cameron and John?"
Danny smirked. "No about Derek and the tooth fairy." Sarah gave him a half-hearted glare to shut him up. "But uh, yeah Cameron and John."
Sarah groaned and tapped her salad with her fork. "I think they're up to something."
"Like what?" Danny asked plainly.
"I'm not sure, just something in my gut tells me they're doing something they shouldn't be." Sarah sighed and looked down, she was tired. "Or maybe I don't like being away from John this long."
Danny nodded in understanding, from what he understood, Sarah and John hadn't been away from one another for too long or too far since her escape from Pescadero.
"I understand, I understand." He said quietly taking another bite of his burger. "You're used to being around him, it's normal for you to know he's safe, but with what's going on with Cameron and John, you don't know what they're doing or what they're now willing to do. Right?"
Sarah was silent thinking over his words before letting out a long deep groan putting her salad down she leaned back onto her bed and stared at the ceiling.
"Yeah, I'll take that." She sighed. "Before she was his protection, she was JUST a Machine, now it's like she's turning into what she looks like, a hormonal teenager." Sarah almost chuckled picturing Cameron doing what human teenaged girls would do, go shopping, talk about boys, bitch about other people, almost.
"I was once told Machines couldn't feel, couldn't feel remorse, fear or pity, what I was told became law in my mind, the law of what defines the Machine." Sarah whispered, her words just loud enough for Danny to hear, before she sat back up. "So why does Cameron break all those rules? She's in love with John, so they say anyway."
Danny watched Sarah groan in annoyance as he found himself thinking. "She said before she's unique." Danny offered, Sarah shrugged silently he eyes cast downwards, Danny continued to eat his burger.
"We're leaving tomorrow, let you get your strength back." She reminded him suddenly. "Try and rest. You're gunna need it for the journey home." Her tone was strict, like the Soldier who'd taught him to shoot.
"Understood." He replied finishing his meal and taking a sip of his coffee.
"Come on Reese, let's go." Derek heard his Aussie companion call. He grumbled, from the moment she woke up she had given him a minute to think.
"Alright already! I heard you the first time. I'm just finishing packing my shit up!" he yelled back from the Motel room door way. 'Give me a fucking minute.' He mentally complained.
"Alright lad, just make sure you're ready in two, or I'll leave your arse behind." Jesse called back to him leaning against the jeep.
"You wouldn't dare!" he shot back, growling quietly to himself before moving back into the room to finish packing.
He heard Jesse call to him but couldn't make out what she said, not that he cared.
Something had been feeling off today, something he couldn't explain, after their success against the Grays, Derek found he didn't want to be around Jesse at the moment, he wanted his space, he wanted some quiet, he'd even turned down sex last night.
'What the fuck is going on with me?' he wondered, perhaps it was his thoughts about John and Cameron, maybe Jesse's desire to destroy the Machine was becoming suffocating even for him. Maybe he just needed to meet another woman not filled with the shit they'd both been through.
Was he bored of Jesse? No, yes ... maybe. The sex was enjoyable, but it felt hollow, empty, like it was just for carnal pleasure, no love in it, just fucking for the sake of fucking. Maybe he wanted and needed more.
'No. No, come on Reese. You're just tired, that's all, you need some food, some more sleep, and everything will be fine.' He thought, trying to get the strange thoughts out of his head. He was sure those thoughts would leave, eventually.
Finally with his bag packed and in the jeep they were heading back to L.A.
Derek was still quiet while he drove, Jesse had noticed his less talkative move for a while now, had he been affected by massacring the traitors, the Grays? No, she remembered his encounter with Grays in the future, he showed them little pity. Something else had him distracted, distracted enough to put him off sex.
"Penny for your thoughts mate." Jesse asked, silence. "Derek, Derek!" she called louder the second time.
Derek blinked and gave him head a small shake as if waking from a dream, however he had been deep in thought.
"Yeah?" he asked glancing to Jesse before looking back to the road.
"Welcome back." She chuckled, Derek didn't even blink. "What you been thinking about?"
Derek didn't want to talk about it right now, but decided to think of a quick cover.
"Thinking what Sarah will do to me when I get back. Hopefully she won't be too pissed still." He said, rather proud of how quick he was.
"Ah, she won't do anything, you're too useful to do anything too, they need all the help they can get." Jesse said trying to sound reassuring but honestly not caring all that much.
Derek shrugged. "Says you, you haven't met Sarah." He said as he glanced to her once more. "There's a reason General Connor looked up to her, and it wasn't for her cooking skills."
Jesse suppressed a dry chuckle and kept her eyes locked onto Derek.
"So, all the silence is just about the Connor woman?" she asked, having her doubts about it.
"Yeah. She's gunna be questioning me about what I was doing, if I was with anyone, what I've found out. She's already near breaking point with me, I don't want to give her or John an excuse to sick the Metal on me." He replied.
Jesse thought it over, she could see why he'd think about that. She nodded deciding she believed him.
"Alright, so you're coming up with answers to any questions?" she asked.
"Exactly. Maybe a day or two after we're all back at the safe house, if I mow the lawn and not argue with her, it might just blow over. I hope." Derek replied then let out a grunt.
In truth, this was something he needed to think about, but a lot of traveling would cause a lot of thinking, right now his thoughts were about Jesse, her plan and Cameron.
'What the fuck am I gunna do?' he thought. 'I can't go through with Jesse's plan, John needs the Metal, she can't be destroyed.' Derek glanced over to Jesse who was looking out the window. 'At least I can't right now. Everything was simpler when Machines just killed.'
"Fuck." Derek whispered quietly to himself.
"John, wake up." Came a soft voice.
He felt something touch his shoulder and gently shake him, his eyes opened wide immediately and scanned his area, he was wide awake and alert in moments, years of training put into effect, he hated it.
"Are you alright John?" came Cameron's voice.
John looked to see Cameron looking at him from the driver's seat, the Hummer was turned off, parked and in shade, he looked outside and found they were at a gas station.
"We need to fill up the Hummer, you also need nourishment, your stomach was making noise as you slept." Cameron informed him.
"Right." John said his voice raspy and harsh, he needed and drink for his dry throat, and food to shut his stomach up.
"I need you to pay for the gas and get a selection of food, I shouldn't leave the vehicle." Cameron said regretfully.
John nodded, while her hair helped cover her damage, it was fairly windy outside her hair would be blown easily out of her face, John had an idea.
"Sure Cam, I'll fill us up and get us some food." John said before opening his door.
"I don't need nourishment John, I'm full, I'd rather wait till I need to replenish my nutrient reserves." Cameron told him, John nodded in reply.
Once topped up with gas, John walked into the small store, and grabbed various snacks and drinks, also he scanned the area for one other thing, bandages.
"Gotcha" he said as he found a roll of bandages, he thought with all Cameron's knowledge she'd might know how to bandage up her face until it healed more, he also grabbed a hand mirror, largest he could find.
He bought his items and returned to the Hummer.
"Got you these." He said showing Cameron the bandages, Cameron's face immediately lit up with a smile already knowing his intentions.
"Thank you John." She replied and took them from him then watched him take the mirror out of the bag. "I'll drive further down the road so we won't be disturbed."
John nodded fastening his seat belt before they drove on down the road, the A.C made the heat of the day bearable to John. Cameron parked up on the side of the road as John lifted the mirror to her face height.
Cameron unpackaged and unwrapped the bandages before applying it to her head, wrapping it up professionally and covering the damaged section of her face including her eye, once home she'd have to do her leg arm and torso since school was back on in a few days, and she wouldn't let John go back by himself.
After a few minutes she was done. "How do I look?" she asked John.
John lowered the mirror and looked at her, the work she'd done looked professional as he expected, and there was nothing giving any hint to her true nature, all he could see was the 'human' girl people knew.
"Looks good Cam" he complemented her.
"We should create a cover story as for how we obtained the Hummer the weapons and why I am damaged before we get home, that way Sarah will not know about this mission." Cameron told him.
John cursed silently, Cameron was right, they'd need a solid water tight cover. They'd think of something, he was confident, apart they were pretty sharp, together well, they were about to find out.
For the next few minutes Cameron and John traded back different yet similar ideas, all versions included a day out, discovering a Triple Eight or three, her being damaged with gun fire, and then stealing whatever the Machine's had, namely the guns and the Hummer.
"So, I think that's as solid as we can get it." John said talking about their concluded cover.
"Yes, it should be enough to fool Sarah and Derek, however they will be very concerned." She pointed out.
John nodded I agreement. "That's true but better than knowing what really happened, right?"
"Yes, they would freak out." She replied trying her hand at human like terms.
John noticed and was somewhat proud of her. "Yeah they would."
John stretched his arms causing his stiff joints to pop and crack before sitting back in his seat to relax.
"You know." He started his eyes scanning the interior of the Hummer. "We could really give this thing an interior make over." He suggested.
For a moment Cameron said nothing, analysing what he'd said. "How do you mean?" she asked.
"Maybe change out the seat, maybe throw in a radio, reinforce the walls with something." He suggested.
"Mount the 30 calibre Machinegun on the roof." Cameron added.
John just nodded absentmindedly before realising what was said. "What? No, no, bad idea."
"I fooled you." Cameron told him, her tone of voice was as casual as normal but the look in her eye showed she was smug.
"Very funny." John chuckled dryly, mostly due to his dry throat, he reached into his bag and pulled out a bottled water and took a sip of it, once wet he cleared his throat and smiled to Cameron who was looking at him from the corner of her eyes.
"What's our E.T.A?" John asked as he looked out the windscreen.
Cameron was silent for a moment as she calculated the distance and the speed they were going.
"32 hours approximately, depending on congestion." Cameron answered.
John groaned slowly rubbing his face with the palm of his hands. "What are we gunna do if mom's already home?"
Cameron's eyes opened wider for a moment, a reminder flashed before her eyes to tell John about the phone call.
"John. Your mother called while you were asleep." Cameron suddenly announced.
John's head couldn't have moved quicker as it snapped around to look at her. "What?" he said louder than he meant.
"Sarah called while you were asleep, she and Danny are alive and well. However they will be an extra 24 or so hours to rest before they start to return home, we should be able to beat them home by a few hours." Cameron informed him.
John took in the information, the best news he'd heard in a while, his mom was alive.
"Thank you." John said gratefully. "I feel better now." He smiled at her, a smile that showed all his appreciation.
Cameron glanced at him from the corner of her eye before turning her attention to him full, turning her had to look at him she gave him a similar smile.
"You're welcome John." She replied before turning her attention back to the road.
John smiled to himself still. Other than the possible impending apocalypse, Machines that are trying to kill him, and that within his own army there are secret plans to manipulate his life; other than all that, things were looking up! Awesome Girlfriend who kicks ass, a valuable ally against Skynet in the form of Danny Dyson, and he was aware of something he wasn't supposed to in the form of Riley's and Jesse's plot against him.
'Things could be, much worse.' He found himself admitting.
"Things couldn't get much worse."
"Oh come on Dennis, surely things weren't that bad?" Sofia asked.
"Poor little Kyle cut his leg open, and had to be taken to the Hospital to get it stitched." Dennis Reese told his partner.
Dennis Reese and Sofia were taking a break at their Donut café, the unofficial meeting place of the older members of the police force; which Dennis happened to be.
"Fuck, poor kid. He gunna be okay?" Sofia asked truly feeling sorry for the young boy.
"Yeah, didn't cry as much as you'd think, that boys gunna be tough when he's older, gunna be a tough guy." Dennis said, a strange sense of pride filling his heart.
"Tougher than you old man?" Sofia asked coyly with a sly smirk on her face, before taking a sip of coffee.
"Most likely, maybe he'll join law enforcement if Baseball doesn't work out." Dennis shrugged taking a bite of a glazed donut.
"I can see it now." Sofia said before turning a little and placed her hands together one infront of the other. " 'Kyle Reese: Super Cop!' Coming to kick down a door near you." She joked and she spread her arms out as if reading a movie title.
Dennis gave out a honest laugh removing his police cap so it wouldn't fall to the floor, chewed remains of Donut spilling from his mouth onto the floor.
"Oh god. You make him sound like an old 80s action hero." Dennis said after his laughter subsided.
"Hey, you never know, he might become an 80s action hero, save the girl beat the bad guy, kick ass and takes names." She joked shrugging her shoulders. "Might even star in a Sylvester Stallone movie."
"That'd be the day." he chuckled and sipped his coffee. "So, how's that 'friend' of yours by the way?" he asked casually.
Sofia paused, Donut halfway into her mouth, she pulled it away and closed her mouth in thought.
"She's okay, A.T's good." She nodded her head slowly.
"A.T?" he asked curious at the name or nickname.
"Yeah, her initials." Sofia saw the confused look he was giving her, she thought on her feet, she though quickly. "She likes the nickname." 'Smooth Sofia, smooth.'
"Ah right." He said slowly as he looked down at his coffee. "Well, I'd like to meet her, she seems nice enough, does eh, Rebecca know her?" he asked.
Sofia's mind suddenly stopped. Rebecca would be home next week. 'Fuck.'
"Ugh, no, no she doesn't but they'll meet when she comes back." She admitted blushing.
"Oh!" he said wide eyed and a smirk on his face. "So she IS a bit on the side."
Sofia blushed bright red, if only he knew. "Not so much that, friend with benefits I suppose."
Dennis nodded. "If only I were 20 years younger." He chuckled shaking his head before sipping his coffee.
"Would you like to meet her, before Rebecca comes home?" Sofia asked hoping he'd say no.
"Sure." He smiled. "Maybe bring her here if she has the time. Informal and all that you know?"
'Great Sofia, great.' "Sure, I'll see when she's free." She smiled doing her best to hide her worry.
"Well we better get back to work." He said reluctantly, finishing off his coffee and grabbing the box of donuts.
Sofia sighed, she'd made things so much more awkward for herself, she finished her coffee and followed him to the squad car.
Night had already descended upon L.A, the night shift staff had left their homes for work, the bright lights of the city shone against the darkness of the world.
Six people were dead, yet to be found, single shots into their skulls with a high calibre bullet.
The door of an apartment opened slowly.
"I'm back." Called the Cyborg woman.
"Uh hey." Sofia called out not sure how to start a conversation knowing what her 'friend' had just done, Sofia was dressed in only a fluffy nightgown sat cross legged on the sofa a cup of hot chocolate in her hand as she watched T.V.
The Machine removing her Model 29 revolver from its holster and placed it carefully onto the coffee table, she slumped down onto the couch.
"Rough night?" Sofia found herself asking, her brain not entirely thinking about the words that spewed from her mouth.
The Machine found humour in her words and chuckled. "Yeah, it's starting to rain." She grumbled.
Sofia nodded as she now heard the rain tap against the glass windows, now was the time to talk about the meeting and to discuss Rebecca.
"So." Sofia began in an awkward tone, the Machine next to her looked at her curiously. "I have a friend, who uh, who I've been telling stuff too, about you."
The Machine blinked once before leaning closer a sly smirk on her face. "Oh, been talking about me hmm?" she smirked.
"Yeah, my partner, Dennis, he'd like to meet you." Sofia whispered quietly.
"Great!" the machine cheered in an overly happy mood. "I like meeting new people." She smiled.
Sofia turned to look at her with a raised brow of confusion. "What?"
"Okay, so I don't." she admitted. "But if he's a friend of yours, I'd like to meet him." She smiled.
"Right. Well he'd like to meet you, I'm to bring you to our usual meeting place." Sofia informed her.
The Machine scratched her chin with a well-manicured nail.
"Sounds like fun." She nodded absentmindedly, "Tuesday?" she asked
Sofia shrugged. "Tuesday's fine. Also I wanna talk about Rebecca."
The Machine smirked. "Let me guess, you want to know how to break the ice right, about me?" Sofia nodded. "Don't worry, I've already thought of that, you just make sure you get me into your apartment."
Sofia sighed, she'd have to listen to A.T, for now. "Alright. And thanks, I guess."
"Right so, tell me about him." The Machine asked.
Sofia let herself relax and began to talk about Dennis, how long he'd been on the force, about his family life mentioning he had two sons, one named Derek the other named Kyle, and how they're trying to get into professional baseball. His wife Mary and how they'd just gotten over a rough part in their marriage.
"Seems eventful." The Machine commented when Sofia was done.
"He's a good guy though." Sofia smiled for a moment before becoming glum. "It sucks that the end of the world is coming." She sighed.
Skynet looked at her with a serious expression before looking to the coffee table. The end of the world at her doing and two kids wanted to become professional Baseball players, and because of her they'd either be vaporised by Nuclear fire or live to fight against the Machines, her Machines.
"Yeah, sucks for everyone." A.T sighed, she immediately perked up however. "But hey, at least I'll get to meet him. That'll be fun, right?" she smiled.
Sofia nodded. "Yeah it will." She sounded slightly more convinced than before.
Sofia looked over her 'friend' and sighed. "When Rebecca comes back, you promise not to hurt her, right?" she asked hesitantly.
"I won't hurt her if she doesn't give me a reason too, but again, I have to defend my existence and my secrecy." She said sadly then stared at Sofia with a serious glare. "You make sure she doesn't force my hand, alright?"
Sofia gulped and nodded quickly, she prayed she could convince her wife not to do anything drastic.
"I'll do what I can." She said, feeling intimidated by the Machine's glare which immediately softened.
"Good, I know you will, when I meet her I don't want to leave any question about what I am, and what I can do, that way she might be less inclined to do something stupid." The Machine explained as she sat back onto the couch.
"Alright, that makes sense." Sofia replied before calming herself down. Tuesday wasn't too far away.
Finally they were home. The Hummer pulled up outside the house, it seemed no one else was home, for now. The sky above was dark and black with the coming night, tomorrow would be school.
"We will need to get the Hummer registered to our name John." Cameron told him as they climbed out of the Hummer.
"Yeah I know." He yawned and stretched, still tired and cramped from being inside the vehicle.
"I don't wanna go to school tomorrow." He grumbled and yawned as they walked to the trunk of the hummer and opened it up, Cameron grabbed the large crate and carried it inside, John followed her with smaller wooden boxes.
John jogged ahead of her, he struggled with the boxes as he got out his keys and opened the door, he looked around, everything was clear, no one, nothing, untouched. Perfect.
"We will put the weapons in my room for the time being John." Cameron said as she walked past him towards the stairs, John followed her.
The placed the boxes down on her bedroom floor and opened them up once more and glanced at the wide array of weapons.
"This should keep us going a while." John said then chuckled.
Cameron reached in and pulled out one of the AKs. "Yes, this will be effective with hyperalloy ammunition." She looked the weapon over then looked at John. "Could you help me unpack John?" she asked.
John yawned once more then nodded his head. "Sure, sure."
With John's help Cameron unpacked the weapons from the crates and reassembled the Machinegun in a short space of time, the weapons and ammunition were put away.
"So." John began walking up behind Cameron and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I think we should celebrate a safe return home before anyone else gets back." He blew cold air into her ear and slid his tongue along her neck.
Cameron shivered in response and turned around in John's arms, a smile on her face.
"I think we should." She leaned in towards him and kissed his lips.
Within seconds their clothes piled on the floor, within minutes the springs in Cameron's bed were getting a long work out, within an hour both John and Cameron had a glow to them and a soft sheet of sweat over their bodies.
"Wow, just … wow." John marveled from the experience.
Cameron had stopped panting to cool her systems, she like John was laid on her back staring at the ceiling, sweat dripping from her brow, she too was marvelling at the experience, the sensation that flew through her body during their love making.
"I love you John." She whispered intimately.
John reached around and hugged his love.
"I love you too Cam, I love you too."
John awoke next morning in his bed, he felt great though last night his sleep may not have been haunted by Nightmares, they had been 'haunted' by something, the morning wood poking his boxer shorts was evidence of that.
'Dirty mind John, dirty mind.' He chuckled inwardly and got up, he glanced over to his side clock and saw it was already 7a.m, school would start soon, he groaned inwardly dreading the thought.
John gathered clean clothing from his wardrobe and made his way to the bathroom to shower, he could already hear loud snoring coming from the living room.
'Sounds like Derek's back at least.' He thought tiredly then walked into the bathroom.
Naked he stepped into the cold water allowing it to cool down and shrink his erection, he sighed gently, he could remember his dream all so well.
He had 'awoken' to find himself in a fancy wooden chair engraved with gold, the sky above beautiful and blue, an expensive Rolls Royce before him, it was dirty and needed cleaning. He heard a giggling then watched as a bikini wearing Cameron walked around the back of the Rolls with a bucket of water in one hand and a radio in the other.
"Good morning Mr Connor." She had said in a seductive tone in his dream. She placed down the radio and turned it on, provocative rhythmic music began to play and Cameron splashed the car with water before cleaning in sexily, then …
John shook his head throwing the thought from his mind, he'd just gotten rid of the erection, he didn't need it back.
"Damn it John, you perv." He chuckled and shook his head.
Suddenly he heard the door close and behind him and lock, hadn't he locked it before?
Before he turned around he felt someone climb in behind him then wrap their arms around him.
"Good morning John." Came Cameron's sweet voice, she felt John relax into her hold.
"Morning babe." He said before turning around finding his nude girlfriend before him. "How're you feeling?" he asked with a soft smile.
Cameron smiled in return before running a scan across her systems.
"I am functioning at adequate levels and my sheath regeneration has already begun, it should take a few days to heal." She told him with a smile across her lips.
John leaned forward and kissed her forehead then her lips, a kiss she returned gratefully.
"That's good to hear Cam." He smiled then patted her shoulders, the right one torn at the side from the explosion, again he didn't care.
"Today I will be bandaging my wounds, I have also called school, you and I are sick with cold." She smiled at him.
John smirked at her. "Awesome." He said before kissing her once more. "Didn't feel like going today, I feel so sore."
Cameron blushed. "Was that from me?" she asked hesitantly.
John struggled not to laugh, he succeeded; barely.
"Maybe, you were … pretty wild last night." He winked at her, he remembered last night love making so well, she was definitely very, 'passionate' last night, that much he'd say.
"I'm sorry if I hurt you." She said looking him over, he seemed fine.
"Maybe a bruise here or there, but I'm fine." He wrapped his arms around her.
The couple leaned forward towards one another and shared an intimate kiss which they broke after a few seconds then rested their foreheads together, merely enjoying the other's company and the feel of cold water splashing against their heads.
Cameron's enhanced hearing heard the silence outside, Derek had stopped snoring, that could only mean he was awake, or awakening.
"John, I'll have to go, Derek is waking up, I'll see you at breakfast." She smiled at him and he reluctantly let her go, she reluctantly left.
After a few minutes John finished his shower, got dried and put on his clean clothes in the bathroom then left and headed downstairs for breakfast.
Derek was sat up grumbling to himself, he'd returned home late last night after dropping off Jesse at her motel, he heard John resting in his bedroom and saw The Met… Cameron checking the perimeter.
Something was off about it/her, he couldn't put his finger on, yet. He was tired, exhausted even. But still he could tell there was something not quite right with the Machine.
He was slightly refreshed after a semi-comfortable sleep on the couch, but Christ he was starving, he could already smell the scent of cooked bacon, eggs, coffee …
'Wait a second…' he paused in thought he COULD smell bacon, eggs and coffee. He looked up to see the Metal cooking. "You're cooking?" he asked surprised and shocked.
"Yes." Cameron replied without moving from her spot.
"Why?" he asked. "You planning on drugging me?"
Cameron turned her head slightly in his direction. "I'm not making you breakfast, this is for John." She explained.
"OH!" he said suddenly it all made sense. "You're gunna drug or poison John aren't you, I fucking knew it, can't trust metal." He said before standing up, all previous thoughts about Cameron over his time away with Jesse long forgotten.
"My mission is to protect John, not harm him." She reminded the veteran. "John needs a wider variety of foods and tastes. This will fill him up." She explained.
Derek frowned but looked at the food, it DID look good, sudden a thought struck him.
"Who's is the Hummer outside?" he asked.
"It's ours." Cameron said. "Everything will be explained when Sarah and Danny return." She told him finally turning to look at him, now he could see the bandage covering half her face, he glanced down hearing the soft whirring of gyros, he saw Cameron's skeletal hand protruding from her long sleeved top. "And only when they return."
"What…?" he was about to demand when Cameron interrupted.
"When they get back." She said with a slightly raised voice, her tone leaving no question or debate.
"Fine, whatever, fuckin' metal." He grumbled the last words before storming off outside to his jeep, he eyed the Hummer and felt his lips pout. 'Why do metal get all the best fuckin' toys.' He mentally complained.
Back inside John finally came downstairs.
"Mornin'." He greets Cameron as he sees her, he looks around seeing no one else. "Thought I heard Derek, where'd he go?" he asked.
"Derek went outside." She informs him. "He questioned where the Hummer came from and the bandage around my face and the damage to my hand. I told him we'd answer all question when Danny and Sarah return." She smiled at John.
John nodded in agreement. "Good idea, it buys us some time and lets us get it over with in one go."
Cameron turned back to preparing John's breakfast as John walked to the fridge to get a drink, grabbing orange juice and pouring himself a glass, he pauses and looks at Cameron.
"You want some?" he asks.
Cameron turns to look at him and sees the orange juice, she smiles and nods, John retrieves another glass and pours her a drink.
John sits at the table with both his and Cameron's orange juice, just as she finishes his breakfast and puts it before him.
"Thanks Cam, looks great." He smiles at her.
Cameron looks up towards the door then looks around making sure Derek was not around, she leans down and presses her lips to John, he kisses her in return lovingly.
Derek returns with a large duffel bag as John eats his breakfast, he pauses looking at John eating and grumbles something only Cameron picked up before walking into the basement, his room.
"Derek called me a stupid metal bitch." She said to John, pouting a little as she said it.
John swallowed his mouthful of food and shook his head. "Forget him, don't let him bother you Cam." John smiled and put his right hand over her left.
"I'll try, but I know he bothers you." She said, John shrugged in return and continued eating.
Down in the basement Derek unpacked his new weapons, finally he'd found more 50 BMG rounds for his large rifle, he's used up the rest when destroying the Bedell Terminator, the Gray base had a few nice toys and ammo.
'Including this baby' he mentally adds hoisting up a black finished Desert Eagle, a weapon he used greatly in the War, the solid 50 A.E round did rather well against Triple Eights, for a pistol that is.
He spread out the weapons and ammo across the floor. This would make up for what was lost in the first safe house.
He hid all the weapons for now, he'd show Sarah later, he didn't trust John's Machine while he had all these weapons down here.
Just then, his stomach grumbled, he'd need some food, that meant either going out or being in the same room with it and right now, he really didn't feel like going anywhere.
He went back upstairs, surprised he didn't find John or Cameron anywhere, he shrugged and made himself some toast and coffee.
Sitting down in the front room with his breakfast he turned on the TV, his body was telling him he wanted more sleep, his mind was just full of static just blank.
"Today is gunna suck." He grumbled to himself before sipping his coffee.
Upstairs in Cameron's room, Cameron was nude laying on her back giving John instructions on how to bandage up her damaged leg.
"Make sure it's not too tight, or my sheath may not regenerate under it." She told him, John was being extra careful with the bandages, something she was surprised with but happily so.
John was treating her delicately like her body was made of glass and the slightest amount of force would shatter her.
"You're doing fine John." She informed him. "Now just tuck in the end and that should be do, if there are any problems later I shall tend to it."
John tucked the end of the bandage into a fold then let go of her leg. His eyes scanned their work, her skeletal pieces had been covered sufficiently with the bandages, she'd better pass for human now, a seriously injured human.
"You sure?" he asked
"Yes. I'm sure" she smiled before standing up and started to get dressed. Cameron glanced towards John as she pulled up her pants, he had a faint blush over his cheeks and a large smile over his lips. He enjoyed looking at her. The feeling was mutual, she enjoyed looking at him.
"You're beautiful." He states suddenly then looks up look her face as she pulled on her bra.
"You're handsome." She responds, staring into his eyes as he stared into her's.
There was a slight guilty feeling at the core of Cameron's CPU. SHE wasn't beautiful, Allison Young was beautiful, she merely wore her face.
John looked at her changing expression, she looked lost, thinking about something deeply.
"It's more than appearance that makes beauty Cam." He tells her, guessing what she was thinking about, however for the wrong reason. "Machine or not, your body is beautiful and you Cameron Phillips, are beautiful." He said before walking up to her and putting his arms around her.
"How many times do I have to tell you?" he chuckled.
Cameron tilted her head slightly and smiled, she knew he didn't know the full story, but hearing him say it, it made things better from her point of view.
"Thank you John."
Sofia was walking around her precinct, she was on desk duty today, paper work and filing reports.
'Boring' she grumbled mentally just as she finished filing the last of her reports.
"Hey Sofia." Came a voice from behind, Sofia turned around and looked the figure over, a smirk spread over her face.
"Hey Trevor." She smiles and sticks her hand out, they shake upon greeting. "How's things not seen you around lately."
Trevor smiles as he appears to see off into the distance. "Things have been great. Kacy is doing great, the baby is going great. Should be around anytime soon. You know I." he shakes his head quickly then looks Sofia in the eye. "I just can't believe I'm gunna be a dad."
Sofia smirks and slaps his arm. "Well get you, Mister Fatherhood." She sighed. "I'm happy for you, I really am." She nodded contently.
"Say uh, me and Dennis are gunna go for some lunch you wanna come?" she asked
"You know, sure, but not too much" he raised his palm then patted his stomach. "Kacy's got me on a diet."
"Whipped." Sofia says simply miming an whipping action with her hand with sound effect.
The two cops walk outside to find Dennis already at the car.
"What's going on?" Sofia calls out.
"Disturbance. We gotta check it out." Dennis calls and got into the driver's seat, Sofia got into the passenger's seat as Trevor got in the back.
The Squad car pulled out of the precinct and drove to the docks.
"What we doing here?" Trevor asked as he got out of the car.
"Someone called in saying equipment and electrical failure and a bright light, and shit bursting into flames." Dennis rolled off his hand resting on the handle of his Glock.
"Sounds like sabotage." Sofia spoke out.
"Well whatever it was, burnt down one of the warehouses before fire department got down here and put the fire out." Dennis told them as they reached the now burnt down warehouse.
"We the first cops to get here?" Trevor asked, Dennis nodded.
"Alright let's get witness reports, and any information we can get, then go." Sofia said in a professional tone.
The trio got witness reports, mostly the same from what Dennis had said, bright light, then fire, they scoured the wreckage, trying to find anything.
"You find anything?" Trevor yelled out.
"Nadda." Dennis cried back.
"Nothing." Sofia yelled, she glanced around then stopped momentarily her eyes coming across something between two electrical transformers, she walked closer and knelt down onto one knee, a perfect shaped dip in the ground no jagged rock, no cracks, she reached in and ran her fingers across it.
"Perfectly smooth." She whispered, she looked at the destroyed transformers, they'd become too melted to distinguish anything. 'Strange.' She shrugged it off and walked back to her co-workers.
"Looks like we got nothing." She said the men groaned in annoyance. "Sorry guys."
"Yeah well, don't matter, let's just go kay?" Dennis sighed and the three returned to their car and left.
The Terminatrix walked calmly into the school ground and towards the office. Today she was looking for John Connor, today she'd find him.
She walked into the reception area and waited, there was a queue, there was no need to draw attention to herself, she'd have to be patient.
Finally her turn, she walked up to the receptionist, put her hand into her jacket and pulled out and list of names along with her fake FBI I.D.
"Hello, I'd like to see these individuals please." She gave the woman 'again?' her best smile.
"Ugh, yes ma'am, just wait in the office and I'll have the gentlemen come down." She said.
The Machine nodded, yes today, she'd find John Connor.
Morris and Riley were just exiting class when one person came running up behind them.
"Morris, Riley!" he called, they turned.
"Yeah, sup man?" Morris asked.
"Hey you seen John today?" the pupil asked.
Morris shook his head then looked to Riley who shook her's.
"Well this FBI chick is looking for him, if you see him tell them to go to Office 62, kay?" he asked before running off.
Morris groaned, he remembered when that other FBI guy came looking for him, Cameron had asked him to play as John. 'Cameron.' He sighed remembering at first recess.
Riley had come up to him and smiled sadly at him.
"Hey Morris, listen you and me gotta talk, it's about Cameron." She said kindly.
Morris blinked, what was wrong with her? Was she alright?
"Is she okay, I haven't seen them today, I haven't heard from them since I left for Mexico." He said, his voice raised a little from worry.
"Listen, she likes you okay, but only as a friend. I don't know where they are today but, I'm sure she'd have told you if she was here." Riley decided to be blunt and straight to the point.
"What?" he said as what Riley said to him sunk in.
"She just wants to be your friend Morris, I think." She whispered the last part to herself.
Morris sighed and slumped onto the grass, the only girl he loved didn't love him back.
"At least you got John though, right?" he asked. It was then he noticed Riley flinch. "Are you two?" he asked.
"We're not together anymore, he decided to end it, he wasn't ready for a relationship, but we're still friends." She admitted then sat next to him.
"Sorry to hear that, really sorry." He patted her shoulder gently. "Listen if you wanna talk, you know." He offered.
Riley gave Morris a kind but sad smile. "Thank Morris, I appreciate it. I really do." She let out a long sigh.
Morris shook his head coming back to the present
'Something probably happened again.' He thought, his brow scrunched together in determination.
"Wait here a sec will ya, I'm gunna be right back" he said to Riley before walking off to the Office.
"Hey, where're you going?" she asked and followed him.
"Wait there, I'll be right back, this happened before, FBI been looking for John and Cameron." He told her, "just wait by the corner."
Riley paused and looked into the room, she saw a woman, tall, nearly 6 feet, long black hair, nothing more, her face obscured by her hair and the strange wavy glass.
Morris walked into the office and looked at the woman. Her eyes turned to him and gave him a kind smile.
"Hmm?" she asked.
"You wanted to see me?" Morris asked faking curiousness.
The woman paused and tilted her head. "John Baum?" she asked, Morris nodded. 'Fuck.' She thought.
"Sorry, you're not who I'm looking for." She gave him an apologetic smile and watched him walk off.
'Never mind, still a few more names to go.' She thought. She'd find him, it's what her creations did.
Morris walked back up to Riley and let out a long sigh.
"You said FBI looked for them before." She asked
"Yeah, some guy before, tall, dark hair, creepy smile, came looking for John." Morris told her.
Riley felt her heart stop 'The Machine from Mexico.' She thought, but smiled at Morris.
"You're a good friend, or an idiot." She joked with him, Morris chuckled.
"I guess, but hey John is my best friend, one of my only friends." He paused in thought then shook his head. "He's like my brother ya know? We look out for each other" he paused again now looking a little embarrassed. "Well, he looks out for me." He admitted.
Riley chuckled then nodded her head. Perhaps things weren't so bad as they could be.
"You know, let's go get some lunch." She said before walking off.
Lunch at the Connor safe house, Derek was sat in the backyard soaking up sunlight, a rare smile on his face, before him a small wooden table which upon it sat a big fat greasy cheeseburger he'd assembled himself mere minutes before, and an ice cold beer.
For now, just these few minutes, he'd allow himself some time to relax, right now he didn't care where John was in the house, the Me… Cameron was with him.
He felt relax, he felt comfortable, no stress of Skynet, Judgement or Machines, he'd allow himself that for the afternoon, he fucking deserved it.
'I do, I do fucking deserve it.' He clarified mentally, he yawned and lazily reached across and grabbed his burger and took a large bite out of it, a combination of mustard, ketchup and grease dribbled down his chin, he moaned in pleasure as the taste touched his tongue and the warmth slid down his throat.
"Enjoy it while you can Reese." He told himself before cracking open his beer and taking a long swig of it.
Time went by lazily for him, he sipped his beer, he pleasurably ate his burger.
He heard the back door close and footsteps walk up to him, only to quieten against the grass, his eyes shot open hands reaching to his belt and pulled out his Desert Eagle and aimed it right at…
Cameron.
"The fuck do you want?" he asked as he looked at her, yet didn't move the gun away.
Cameron turned to look at his beer, then back to him. "Would you like another beer?" she asked.
Derek paused, momentarily confused by what he'd just heard. 'Did the machine just offer to get me another drink?' asked himself.
"Derek?" she asked tilting her head when he didn't respond.
"Yeah, sure, another beer would be good." He said as he put his pistol down. "Where's John?"
Cameron straightened her head. "He's resting, he was tired." She told him. "I'll get you another beer." With that she turned and left.
Derek leaned back into his chair admittedly confused, Machines didn't do anything that didn't involve the mission, getting him another beer wasn't in her range of her Mission, unless she was getting John a beer, but John didn't like Derek's beers, he knew, he'd watched John spit one back up.
Cameron returned with Derek's beer and opened it for him before placing it onto the table.
"Thanks." He said without much feeling. She watched him as he reached over and took a sip. "So what's with you getting me a beer?" he asked.
"Why do you ask?" she tilted her head.
"Well I'm sure Protecting John doesn't involve getting me a beer. So what's your game?" he asked suspiciously.
"I can't get someone a drink?" she asked almost sounding insulted, but Derek put it out of his mind.
"You're not fooling me." He said sipping his drink again.
Cameron frowned, she'd been caught. "John offered it as a peace offering." She said.
Derek blinked. "What for?" he asked confused.
"When you're done, John would like to speak with you, in the living room." She told him before turning on her heel and walking off.
Derek sipped his beer all the while pondering what John would want him for, secret mission? A little heart to heart? Help for scrapping the metal?
'Please almighty God PLEASE be the latter.' He mentally prayed, but knew deep down it wouldn't be.
He finished his beer, taking more time than was necessary to prolong whatever it was John wanted.
He stood up and walked into the house and found John sat in the single chair with Cameron stood beside him, Cameron turned her head to look at him and informed John of Derek's presence. John turned around and motioned for Derek to sit down, he did so.
"So, what do you wanna talk about?" he asked.
John sighed then looked up to Cameron, she looked to John and reached out her bandaged hand, the skeletal fingers protruding through the bandage, John rapped his fingers around her's as he held her hand.
Derek stared at the hands silent panic welling up in his gut he stared as they both looked to him.
"John and I are in a relationship." Cameron announced.
"We're in love." John said as he looked straight into his Uncle's eyes.
Jason's notes.
First and foremost greatest apologies for the time it took me to write this. I am SO sorry.
I've had a lot of depression and lack of enthusiasm recently, so please forgive me. I won't let future installments take a month at a time. I promise.
Again, sorry nothing much really happened in this chapter just winding things down from the action we've had earlier.
Also check out the last scene of chapter 18 I've updated it. I'd like opinions on the change.
Your friend.
Jason Voorhees.