Chapter 7
Kyle had finally woken up and shortly after breakfast offered by the resistance fighters he and Larson went towards the place where the money and weapons were.
"So, how long have you been here?" Kyle decided to ask Larson since he was truly interested in how long they have been operating.
"Well around three months, the first day we ate more than in the two decades of war later we started setting up safe houses from where we operate, what about you Kyle?"
"This is my second day, at least I had time to sleep but of course, I had to fulfill my mission almost immediately"
"So, the general didn't want you to have fun before it?" Kyle just nodded, "And how are they both? Are they like in the future or not?"
Kyle thought for a moment before answering "They a different from their future selves before I left, but there are glimpses of the General in the young Connor meanwhile Cameron is in her early days"
"Ok, I think that I still will prefer Cameron over Connor since you see glimpses of his future self in him"
Kyle just grinned "You still mad at him for the talk he gave you after rescuing Allison and capturing the TOK?"
"He's been too harsh; how could I have known that the water was so deep? Also, the TOK ended up siding with us once she meet Connor and Cameron, have you explained to them from this time Cameron's uniqueness?"
"It was an air carrier they usually need deep water and yes, they both convinced her quickly. And no, I didn't have time to explain what we discovered on the aircraft carrier"
"Oh well everything worked out fine and Cameron understood that meanwhile, Connor wouldn't let go"
"I disagree, Cameron can be just as stubborn as Connor if not more, I saw her going into full terminator mode a few times when a mission failed"
"When the mission failed, we didn't fail Allison returned safe and they got Cameron junior who for me was still better than Connor"
"Well, they both needed each other in this regard Cameron maintained his humanity while he helped her grow into the person we knew" not to mention Allison's role who despite initial distrust towards Cameron has grown to treat her like a sister.
"I hope that Connor from this time will be more reasonable and doesn't give us another talk when something goes wrong" to this Kyle rolled his eyes.
The light of the sun entered through the windows of the room they were staying in; John was woken up by the smell of food after rubbing his eyes he looked around to see Cameron who appeared to open a bag and then she looked at him.
"Good morning, John"
"Good morning, Cameron, what do you have in that bag?"
"I brought you breakfast it's still warm" she handled him the breakfast
"Thanks" he was grateful for her, and it made him want to make something in return for her.
"You welcome" she felt warmth and pleasure again she felt happy that John wasn't angry and yelling at her.
"Any words from Kyle?" he asked her after seeing that he hadn't returned.
"No, he was out all night. I also brought you café" again she handled it to him.
"Thank you, Cameron, I appreciate that" he smiled at her.
She smiled back at him again feeling happy that he appreciates her.
Once finished eating his breakfast John headed towards the bathroom to take the shower meanwhile Cameron started preparing for their departure.
While she prepared everything she thought about the future, yesterday she was sure it was her last day, today she was looking forward to the future a future where John would be her best friend again and perhaps something more, someday. She has discovered that entering the maintenance mode helps her from begin overwhelmed with the new emotions she started understanding perhaps she should do this more frequently this would make her look more human and John seemed to enjoy when she did that.
She hadn't told him about how she comforted him at night and how she lied beside him, she still wasn't sure how would he react she also enjoyed the closeness they shared when she 'woke up' from her form of 'sleep' John warped her in his arms she remained in his embrace for the rest of the night.
John understood after everything that had happened recently that even if they stopped Judgement Day he wouldn't have a normal but today in the morning he actually felt normal there with Cameron he understood that she cared about him and even though she wasn't human she could make his life more normal, he loved her he was sure of that but he wasn't sure if she loved him back, her action spoke that yes but at the same time it could be just her programming at the same time he was sure that she was capable of love since she was already capable of other emotions.
An idea occurred to him 'Perhaps I should invite her for a date' that could work, once they were in Portland he would spend more time with her although he wasn't sure how his mother would react, Kyle seems to not have any problems, even more, he seems to motivate me to pursue Cameron but mom she never liked Cameron especially when she was close to me before the bomb, well mom doesn't need to know everything, at least for now.
Kyle and Larson arrived to meet with the other resistance to retrieve the money and weapons for Connors, they both were greeted by Simon the responsible for all transactions the resistance had to do those days.
"I've been waiting for you captain I have prepared everything you will need once in Oregon," said Simon
"Well Private you've been always the best in both trade and acquiring the necessary resources for the resistance" Kyle simply responded
"Yeah" Larson added
"I'll do anything for Connors" everybody knew that Simon might lie and be annoying from time to time, but he was always loyal to Connors since both the General and Cameron recognized his skills.
"We never doubted you so you can show us what you've got for us," Kyle said slightly impatiently.
"Fine, there's no need to be so impatient," Simon said and then opened the case that was lying at his foot revealing weapons of all types, some handguns and automatic but also shotguns and grenade launchers seeing those Kyle had to smile. "Maybe not so effective as plasma but it should work especially if you use thermite rounds against metal" Simon added.
After getting everything, they would need weapons, ammunition, money, and diamonds they could use later to get more cash, Kyle took Larson back to the safe house.
"So did you find out anything about your brother after I left?" Larson asked, he knew Derek from before Connor appeared.
Kyle darkened slightly but answered "No, I looked everywhere and there were no clues as to what exactly happened, we do know that he was captured by a gray called Charles Fisher who appears that had some sort of vendetta against Derek. We found out that the place where he was held captive had been almost destroyed during the capture of Skynet's core. Everyone presumed that he died although Allison still believes that he could have survived" Kyle stops to compose himself and adds "Even if he somehow survived, I won't see him again"
"Sorry man, it's really awful to lose family" was the only response Larson could master.
For the rest of the way, they drove in silence Kyle thinking about his older brother Derek who always took care of him after J-day, the time they spent tougher before and after the bomb fell 'Why Derek, why?'.
Both John and Cameron were prepared to go now they only had to wait for Kyle.
"Cameron"
"Yes John"
"What do you think we will be doing in Oregon?"
"According to the information we have been given Kaliba has established facilities in Oregon that are currently investigating the same technology used in the terminator CPU and terminator's mechanical components. Destruction of those facilities is in our best interest"
"And where do you think John Henry and Weaver went?"
"I don't know but they were looking for a place where neither Kaliba nor Skynet could find them"
"Ok, Cameron"
"Yes, John?"
John was now feeling a bit nervous he was about to ask her about going to have fun sometime when they were in Oregon "Cameron… we well when we get to whatever the place in Oregon Kyle wants to take us to… we, you and I could go somewhere to have some fun together"
Cameron looked at him straight into his eyes and smiled slightly "Are you asking me on a date, John?" she asked him.
John was blushing now for a moment and couldn't answer immediately "Well, we could call it a date… so what you say?"
Cameron's smile grows wider "Of course John I would like to go on a date with you, but what Sarah would say about that?"
"She doesn't have to know, and even if she discovers about it then it doesn't matter to me, I'm almost eighteen"
"It will still upset and make her angry John"
"I know but I have to start taking decisions myself otherwise I will never become the leader everyone is talking about"
"I don't want you to become the leader that future John from my future was"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't want you to become a cold-hearted and lonely man that was more like a machine than a human. I want you to remain kind, caring, warm, understanding, and human John, and most importantly I want you to be happy" she smiled at him again and he smiled back.
He took her hand in his and squeezed gently "Thank you, Cameron, for everything".
"Everything that I do John is always for you"
"I know and I'm grateful for that and at the same time I feel undeserving of such loyalty "and love", especially after everything I've done to you in the past months"
"John, I always forgive you because I understand more than you think"
"I know, begin John Connor can be lonely"
"And the same goes for me, begin Cameron Philips can be lonely"
"You know? I missed moments like those when we spoke when you asked me things that you didn't understand"
"Me too, I always want you to explain to me things. I like spending time with you I would like it to be that way more"
"And it will, Cameron"
"Promise?" Cameron asked hopefully
"Promise" John replied smiling as she smiled back at him.
John was observing that Cameron started acting more human, she was growing, and he was sure that she loved him but for now, he would take it slowly so she had more time to understand and express herself, he felt happy for the first time in a long time and felt that he was doing the right thing, and nobody would stop him even his mother. He for the first time in years had hope and this hope came from Cameron.
Cameron was starting to like this new John, he was kinder than before and wanted to explain new things to her, he was acting more mature and seemed happier than before and that was good because when John is happy, she's happy too. She was still a bit scared that John may return to ignore and push her away but not as much as before since he promised. She was also taken aback by the date proposition he gave her; she wasn't expecting him to do that, but he did exactly that.
On his way back to the motel, Kyle stopped to buy some water and clothes he lacked then he went to his own and his brother's past.
He sat on a bench in the park overlooking two boys one of them was a teenager the other younger both were playing baseball on the back of the older were the words Reese and number 6.
Kyle had tears in his eyes while looking at both himself and his older brother playing just like normal boys did before the war, without the constant threat of machines or grays. They had a normal life, parents, relatives, school, friends, fast food, and peace.
"I promise to you both, I will make sure that you have a normal and happy life" Kyle silently said to himself with a tear running from his eye.
Kyle finally returned to the motel he was still thinking about his younger self and his brother who were still kids living a normal life, he was brought from his thoughts back to reality when he approached their motel room and heard laughing and giggling instantly, he runs to the door and opens it very wide and stares at the sight before him and speaks loudly: "What you two think you doing?!"
Ten minutes earlier
"Cameron?" John spoke
"Yes, John" Cameron looked at him
"You told me you have sensation, I always wondered what kind of sensation you can feel?"
"My living tissues have a nervous system similar to yours, I'm able to have sensations like you I can feel warm, cold, touch, wind, and water on my skin and even pain"
John frowned when she mentioned pain thinking about all the times, she took bullets for him "Do you really feel pain when you are wounded?"
"Yes, John, but don't worry I'm also able to disconnect the sensations where my tissues have been damaged so I don't feel the pain as you do" she smiled slightly at him she was happy that he cared about her.
"But I still feel bad thinking that you take bullets from me"
"Thank you for caring John, but you shouldn't blame yourself I do it because I want to do that. I can't let anything happen to you" she smiled at him again and hesitantly he smiled back.
"Anyway, are there any more pleasurable sensations you have?"
She looked at him with a suggestive expression "I have many sensations that are pleasurable like the ones I already said about water and wind, there's also taste I don't eat a lot but when I do I find the taste of some foods, and beverages tasty as long as it's not something made by Sarah" she says grinning a bit.
"Are you saying that my mom is a bad cook?" John says with a questioning look but then also grins.
"There are also other sensations that I never experienced because someone has to provide me those sensations" she winks at him with a suggestive smile.
John instantly starts blushing and his heart starts beating more rapidly as he tries to calm his own body an idea occurs to him "Cameron take your boots off"
She looks at him with a questioning look
"It's a little experiment" she still looks confused, so he adds "You see some people are ticklish"
"Oh, thank you for explaining" he loves when she says that.
Cameron takes her boots and socks off her feet and John in an instant start tickling them.
Cameron's eyes go wide open and she involuntary starts giggling.
When John hears her giggling, he looks up at her with his eyes open in disbelief 'She's giggling like a real teenager girl that is ticklish' then he starts to tickle her even more.
She giggles even more as he starts to go up when he arrives at her torso, she begs him to stop to which he responds "I thought you can disconnect your sensations"
"But I can't" she struggles to say
"Then perhaps you can't because you like this" he starts laughing
He continues this until the door is opened widely by Kyle who for a moment, stares at them and speaks loudly: "What you two think you doing?!"
They both stop and look at Kyle with their eyes wide open and looking like they have been caught by a parent.
Kyle struggles for a moment but in the end, can't retain the laugh.
"I fooled you, both of you," he says as they both look at him with disbelief.
John finally composes himself and looks annoyed at Kyle and says, "Thanks dad".
Kyle in an instant takes a serious look as John had just realized what he called Kyle who responds to his words seriously "I would be glad to be your father, John", then says "We should be going take all of your things to the car meanwhile I get a shower"
He leaves for the bathroom, 'If you only knew' John thinks as Cameron put her socks and boots back.
"John, we should take our things and put them in the car"
"Yes, Cameron"
After 10 minutes they were all in the car ready to head toward Oregon, Kyle instructed them where to go as both Cameron and John seat in front meanwhile Kyle sits in the back.
For a moment John and Cameron stare at each other and smile and then Cameron ignites the engine and takes the SUV towards Oregon.
