My name is Sarah Conners. No, not 'Connor' like in the movie. Don't laugh. I was born in 1984 - about the same time the Terminator movie came out – so my parents thought it would be amusing to name me Sarah, even though our last name wasn't exactly the same. I didn't find it at all amusing. In fact, I had more than my share of teasing and jokes as I grew up. The first time was in second grade. Some kid kept calling out my name, and when I responded with "yes?" he pretended to shoot me, then double over laughing like a lunatic.

I didn't know what was so funny at the time until I finally watched the damn movie. It gave me nightmares for a month – I was only seven years old then. I hated the movie after that. Which was understandable.

That's why when the guy barged in on the pizza store where I was having lunch with my date (and no, my date's name is not John, or Kyle, or Arnie, but was actually Todd), I was understandably pissed.

"Come with me if you want to live." The Kyle Reese look-alike held out his hand to me.

Todd, sitting opposite me, looked on in confusion. I was even more confused.

"COME ON!!!" Reese look-alike roared. He hauled me up to my feet.

I yanked my arm out of his grip. "Hey, just a minute here! Who do you think you are?" I demanded angrily.

"I'm Reese. Sergeant/TechCom DN38416. I'm here to protect you. You've been targeted for Termination. Now move!" And with that, he grabbed my arm in a vice-like hold and dragged me out of the door with him.

"Hey! Let go of me!" I struggled against him. But he kept on going, pulling me after him through the mall. I tried kicking him, but he easily side-stepped. "What's the big idea? Is this some kind of joke? Who put you up to this?"

"Shut up!" He spun around to face me, hand gripping my arm painfully. "Listen and understand! That Terminator is out there. It can't be reasoned with. It can't be bargained with. It doesn't feel remorse or pity or fear." He leaned in very close to my face. "And it absolutely will not stop. Ever. Until you are dead!"

"Haha, very funny. Now will you please let me get back to my date?" We were starting to attract quite a large crowd. "Don't you know how long I had to wait for Todd to ask me out? It's our first date for chrissakes."

But then something happened that shut me up. At least for awhile anyway.