Reboot
This is not a sequel to Trying Too Hard, but rather a stand-alone story.
Cameron couldn't keep herself focused. Her HUD was consumed with static and blaring nonsensical commands. She felt shutdown was imminent.
"You can do it, Cam!" John said. "I'm here!"
"John," Cameron whispered. "I can't see."
"You're almost there!" Sarah said. "Derek, get in the kitchen and help me goddammit!"
"I'm not putting my hands anywhere near that thing!" Derek shouted from the other room.
Cameron's HUD continued to malfunction. She let out deep breaths, even though she knew it would solve nothing. Her chip was truly at its breaking point if she was resorting to human techniques.
"Okay Cam, almost there!" John said.
Cameron felt her eyes fill with liquid. She was crying. Was it fear or a reaction from the chip?
"We're done!" Sarah said. "It's a boy!"
Cameron looked down to see a crying baby boy in Sarah's arms. Instantly, her HUD focused itself and readings ran across. She focused on her baby, highlighting it in her infrared vision.
"Hold him," Sarah said, holding him out to Cameron.
Cameron took the baby in her arms and looked down at his cooing face. She expected something to run across her HUD, a command or new priority. But thee was nothing. They just stared into each other's eyes.
"Lemme see him." John scooped up the baby and bounced him in his arms. "Hey there, little Thomas. I'm your daddy."
…
"Now, remember the rules," Sarah said. "Help Cameron with the baby while John and I run down a lead."
"Why am I watching the hybrid?" Derek grumbled.
"His name is Thomas," John said. "Please be nice. It's been five months."
Mother and son exited the house, leaving the two behind. Derek sat behind his newspaper, mumbling under his breath. "Can't believe he went and knocked up a Terminator. Sarah should've crushed your chip that day."
"You would not kill a child," Cameron said.
Derek grumbled. He knew she was right and it pissed him off to no end. John had graduated high school and was set for college. He should have been smarter than this. Not just failing to use protection, but for knocking up a damn Terminator.
The baby began to cry. Cameron picked him and rocked him back and forth. Thomas stopped crying, feeling safe in his mother's arms. It seemed so odd to Cameron that this was all it took to soothe the infant's mind. She felt no attachment to this creature in the same way she did John or Sarah. Or even Derek.
It started to giggle as it watched Derek crinkle the paper. Cameron approached him and held out the baby. He stared at he, confused. "You're serious?"
"He wants you," Cameron said.
Derek rolled his eyes and picked up the baby. Almost instantly, his expression changed. A smile crept up his face. The baby continued to giggle as his uncle rocked him. Cameron felt it was safe to patrol the house now.
"You know, I guess you aren't so bad," Derek said.
Cameron's hand was barely around the door knob when she heard someone retching. She turned around and saw Derek's shirt covered in vomit. Derek slowly turned to glare at the infant's mother. "You planned this, didn't you?"
…
John returned home with his mother shortly later. He was eager to see his son, running towards his wife. "Hey! How're my two favorite people?"
Cameron immediately gave up the baby. John's words struck her hard. The baby needed to be with someone who could love him.
"What's wrong?" John asked. "You look distressed."
Cameron looked her boyfriend in the eye. "I cannot possibly be a good mother."
"What makes you say that?" John said.
"I do not love this baby."
John was absolutely floored. How could Cameron not love their baby? "What do you mean? I've seen you take great care of Thomas!"
"I do not feel anything for him," Cameron said. "When you are with me, you are all that my HUD sees. You are my first priority. I cannot see my child as overriding my programming to protect you. Is that not what all mothers should do?"
John balanced his baby in one hand and hugged his Terminator with the other. "Cam, it's not a contest. You can love both of us."
"But I cannot," Cameron said. "You are my primary mission. It is my main programming feature."
"Don't you override your order to kill me?" John asked.
"Yes," Cameron said. "And in both cases, you are my primary focus."
John broke away from the hug to give her a reassuring smile. "Cam, relax. You're just a nervous mommy. You love this baby deep down. You'll know that soon."
He rebalanced Thomas and walked away to help his mom make dinner. Cameron stayed put, analyzing John's words.
…
A full year had gone by now, and Cameron had yet to understand the potency of motherhood. Thomas was far more intelligent than other kids his age. He was attentive, happy, and engaging in watching his guardians' daily lives. Cameron knew she should have been proud of him. Why wasn't she?
John, Sarah, and Derek were elsewhere in the house, taking care of something. Cameron stayed behind to watch Thomas play with his blocks. He kept looking up at her, as if expecting approval for his work.
Cameron had no idea what to say. She had high expectations of his learning but had to remember his age. She did not know how she could convey her feelings for her own son to him. What would happen when he grew up? Would he know his mother couldn't love him? Would he understand?
Leaning down into the crib, Cameron tried her best to reassure Thomas. "I am a Terminator. Love is still a strange concept for me. I don't know how to love something other my John. But regardless of this, I will protect you. I am your mother. I will act like it and give you the best life you can have. One day, Skynet will be defeated, and you will not suffer the same fate as I did growing up. I promise."
Thomas looked up at his mother. His lips began to move. "Ma…Ma…"
Cameron's eyes widened. His first word.
"Mommy."
Her HUD flashed uncontrollably, as if her chip was forcing a reboot. In a way, it was. The primary objectives menu opened, rearranging the letters until a single, primary objective read:
Protect John and Thomas Connor
Tears fell from Cameron's eyes. Not from pain, but from something else. She was no longer in control of her actions. She grabbed the boy and held him tight against her shoulder, careful not to crush him. She barely noticed John come in with Derek and Sarah.
"Hey Cam," John asked. "You coming downstairs?"
He was stunned at what lay before him. Cameron, her face a waterfall of tears, hugging her baby closer than he had ever seen.
"I love you," she whispered to Thomas.
John couldn't help himself. He came forward and joined in a group hug. Derek stood at the door, smiling. Even he had to admit this a happy family moment.
"May I hold my grandson too?" Sarah asked.
Cameron briefly opened her eyes, glowing with blue angry lights.
"Or maybe not." Sarah said.