Chapter 34

Guests

Kyle was still a little disorientated from the temporal transfer. He looked away from Sarah to Cameron.

"Allison?" Kyle asked.

Kyle was not sure. He knew it could be Cameron. Allison usually did not look that good. He was able to rapidly regain focus.

Cameron smiled at him.

"I'm Cameron."

Kyle could never get over the fact how identical they looked. He was not sure how but Cameron always seemed to look prettier. Her beauty captivated everyone in the future. She often portrayed herself as 'Allison Young' to give the Resistance a 'face' along with John Connor. Nobody but a select few knew she was a cyborg. They thought it was best to keep that fact hidden. They did not want to antagonize the 'Metal haters'.

Sarah looked on in awe but she did not want to show it. She tried to toughen up. Her dream was answered. Her wish granted. Her prayer was heard. Her beloved was here and alive. This was almost too much to believe. She needed to tell John. This was turning into one of the best days of her life.

She also needed to keep it all in perspective. Sarah previously knew there was a 'Kyle Reese' in the alternate future. She wanted to go there to see him. She knew he would not know her. Now he was here. This was the same Kyle Reese without the same exact experiences that Her Kyle - Future Kyle possessed. She would make sure Kyle noticed her.

Sarah decided to play the 'tough girl' card. She still held her weapon at the ready as she spoke.

"What's the story on the Metal?" Sarah asked. "They don't look so hot."

Cameron glanced at Sarah but said nothing. It was not the reaction she would have expected from Sarah given who just 'returned'. Cameron knew Sarah was afraid of being rejected if she came on too strong too fast. It was something she could relate to. She faced much the same reaction from John when she came to the past from the future. John's actions, rejection and replacement of her still hurt. She tried to move past that. Life moved forward not backwards.

Cameron handed Kyle a bathrobe.

He took it from her. He'd forgotten he was naked after the temporal transfer. He looked at Sarah to answer her question as he tied the robe.

"It was determined it would be best to send the Metal deactivated so there would be no 'problems'." Kyle said. "I know the apprehension Metal can cause."

Sarah continued with the 'tough girl' act.

"That was a good call." Sarah said. "We might have 'lit them up' otherwise."

Kyle thought that was extreme and maybe a little overacting, especially since he was in the middle of it all. He wondered who this attractive 'hard corps' woman was. She looked combat ready and battle hardened. Maybe the past was in a bigger conflict than he was led to believe.

Cameron did not want Sarah to put up an invisible wall. She really understood Sarah's apprehension and worry. She could see it was time to do a little subtle 'match making'. She'd already laid the groundwork in that future every chance she was able to with Kyle.

"Kyle, this is Sarah, Sarah Connor." Cameron said.

Kyle looked at Sarah again. He felt very much in awe. This was the woman he'd heard so much about. She was the legend from the past. She was the true 'founder' of the Resistance. This was someone to behold. He felt humbled in her presence.

"Sarah Connor? Do you mean the Sarah Connor? I thought John said you were his mother, not his sister!" Kyle said.

Sarah blushed. She hadn't really been expecting that. It caught her off guard. She felt embarrassed that she was 'older' now than when they first met in the past. She did appreciate the directed complement that she looked more like John's sister than his mother. She regained her composure and carried on.

She looked at Kyle and he looked back at her. They both seemed transfixed with each other. There was some instant chemistry. They could both feel it.

"I am pleased to meet you. I've heard so much about you from John, Cameron and Bob. You are a legend." Kyle said. "You are the first member of the Resistance. The fact we are all still alive goes back to you."

Sarah looked at Cameron when Kyle mentioned her name.

Cameron smiled at her and nodded.

Sarah knew she owed Cameron another one for speaking good things about her to Kyle. She knew Cameron was trying to help her.

Cameron did everything she could in that future to promote Sarah to Kyle. She hadn't forgotten that Sarah backed her play and was the only reason she was still in existence now. Sarah chose to 'save' her rather than terminate her. She told Sarah she would not forget everything she did for her and she didn't.

Kyle stepped forward and reached out his hand for Sarah to shake. Sarah took it. Sarah stood silently. She was unable to say anything else. Emotion gripped her to the very core. This was truly more than she could have ever really wished for. She stepped forward and embraced Kyle. She never believed she would hold Kyle in her arms again. She needed to check herself and not tear up. She did not want to 'melt' at Kyle's feet. Not yet anyway. She needed to live up to her 'reputation'.

"I have heard so much about you too, Kyle." Sarah said. "I am pleased to meet you."

Sarah glanced at Cameron again. She was really fighting to hold it together. This was all so unexpected.

It seemed everyone was caught up in the moment and at a loss for words.

Vanna burst into the room.

John Henry notified Vanna of the recent developments as soon as he saw what they were on the security monitors.

"Kyle, I am so glad to see you. How's Derek?" Vanna asked.

Kyle's face lit up when he saw Vanna. That was a face he doubted he would ever see again. Now here she was looking better than ever.

"Savannah, how have you been? We all missed you so much. Are Allison and John here too?" Kyle asked. "Derek was fine when I left. That was only a few minutes ago."

Kyle gave Vanna a long hug. Sarah felt a little jealous but knew their past was not sexual. It was based on survival. Sarah was grateful Allison and Vanna found comfort in each other and not in Kyle. They were both beautiful and much younger than her as well. Vanna once told her she did not think she could ever let a male touch her after what she'd experienced. She was not so sure about Allison. It would be hard to get Kyle to notice her if they were all 'active' with each other. She would sure try. She thought she could show the 'girls' what the 'women' knew.

"Call me 'Vanna' in this time, please. I will explain later. What is the deal with Pete and Re-Pete taking a nap?"

Vanna glanced at the two deactivated Terminators. She wondered if they were damaged.

"I am supposed to explain everything to John Henry." Kyle said.

Vanna looked at Cameron for some further information.

"Their chips are in their abdomens." Cameron stated.

Vanna was in the middle of something in the lab. She needed to go back and finish it. She thought Sarah could assist Kyle for now.

"Kyle, you can follow Sarah. She will show you around the base and where everything is at. I have some things I am working on. I need to get back to them. I will get the lab ready, Cameron." Vanna said. "As soon as I know where Allison is I will send her to look for you, Kyle, John too if a see him as well."

Sarah handed the Thumper to Cameron. She looked at Kyle and smiled.

"Follow me, Kyle. We will stop by John's room and you can borrow his clothes this time. I heard about when he arrived in your time and about your coat." Sarah said. "After you are done with John Henry we can get you some food and then you can rest or I will show you around some more. I know how 'time lag' feels."

Cameron could see Sarah was elated but tried to hide it. It was slowly slipping out. She could see how overjoyed Sarah was and how she tried to hold it in. She liked when everyone was happy.

Kyle looked Sarah up and down. He was still in awe.

"Sarah Connor, I can't believe it. Show me where to go. You lead and I will follow." Kyle said.

Sarah thought that statement left a lot of leeway.

Kyle left with Sarah.

He held the door for her when she went to open it.

Kyle could not take his eyes off Sarah nor Sarah's off of him.

Sarah's heart pounded wildly. She thought this was how Allison must have felt during the 'double play'. She owed John, Cameron and especially Mrs. Weaver one for this 'gift'. She would cut Mrs. Weaver a little more slack. This was something she didn't need to do but she did because John asked her to do it. It did appear that Mrs. Weaver kept her end of the bargain. That showed some level of trust and respect.

Cameron examined the two Terminators. She looked at Jim. He still covered both of them with the 'pig'.

"We will stay here with these two until John Henry gets here or we hear from him. I don't want any surprises." Cameron said. "I don't like surprises."

Jim nodded and took up station in the corner. His M60 was ready.

The door opened a few minutes later.

John Henry entered to TDE room and looked at the two prone figures.

"These are the two Terminators. My scans show me there are chips inside each one's abdomen along with other small electronic storage devices." Cameron said.

John Henry quickly examined them.

"Yes, I show that as well. I do not detect anything suspicious or out of place. Jim, will you please carry one and I will take the other one." John Henry said. "We will take them to the lab for further evaluation before reactivation."

Cameron called Vanna in the lab and said they were on their way. She asked to have the door open.

Cameron set the M79 down. She slung her M4 over her back. Jim handed Cameron the M60. She checked the belt on the 'pig'. She opened the door and let them pass. She followed fifteen feet behind them. She wanted to have room to shoot or fight if something unforeseen happened. She didn't expect an elaborate ruse but it was better to play it safe.

Once they entered the lab one of them was placed on the work bench. The other one was laid on the floor.

John Henry explained what the situation was. The incision marks were still visible where the electronics were inserted into their abdomens for transport. They must have been placed inside a day ago as the wounds were closed and nearly fully healed.

Vanna made the incision and removed the items. They were sealed in an anti-static bag. Vanna placed the bag on the Terminator's chest and put a few stitches in the wound. She did the same procedure for the one on the floor.

"I need to review what information or instructions are on these thumb drives and chips. I want to see what the mission and directives are." John Henry said. "I will get back to you."

Cameron did not want to take any chances. She wanted to see everything for herself. She did not want some hidden agenda put into play.

Cameron handed the M60 back to Jim.

"You stay here with Vanna." Cameron said. "I will accompany John Henry to review the files in person."

John Henry didn't think that was required. It made him feel like Cameron didn't fully trust him. He did not mention that.

"That is not necessary." John Henry said.

Cameron felt otherwise.

"Yes, it is." Cameron said.

John Henry nodded.

"As you desire." John Henry said.

Cameron looked at the two deactivated Terminators.

"I do." Cameron said. "I don't like surprises."

Perspective

Perspective is everything
Tomorrow's yesterday is today
Are we only a short heartbeat away
From creating our own doomsday

Daily life gets rough
We cling to the past
We try to make
What is gone, last

A new dawn is here
Its demons we must slay
Is not life a smorgasbord
Offering us choices like a buffet

We think we are in control
We like to pick and choose
The story always ends the same
It seems we always lose

We try to be selective
But end up being reflective
We dwell on being defective
It's all a matter of perspective

Nobody