Hell Hath No Fury…

John laid in his bed watching Cameron pace back and forth, her mouth moving silently as she attempted to work out the problem. That's a new one he thought. She is getting more human by the day.

His mind drifted back to the startling revelation Derek had made in the car.

"Sarah," he began, not sure how to address the issue, "Did you happen to ask Stephen anything about his job?"

"No…why?" she asked uneasily

"I saw an invitation to a company picnic-"

"DEREK REESE, you were SPYING on my relatives?!?"

"No of course not! I just knocked a pile of papers off of a table on the way to the head and when I put them back I happened to glance at the one on top!" The words came out in a jumble as Derek tried to defend himself, he really wasn't looking for a fight.

John snorted, "What's up, Rummy?"

Derek resisted the urge to smack him upside the head.

"What did you see Derek?" interjected the ever practical Cameron.

Derek paused, "Stephen works for Sym-Tech."

The temperature in the car seemed to drop several degrees.

Sym-Tech.

The highest priority on John Henry's list. The entire reason for their trip.

They all spoke at once:

"Fuck me," breathed John.

From Sarah, "You gotta be kidding me."

And an almost inaudible, "Oh no," from Cameron.

Derek glanced at Cameron what do you care? Just another target, right? He wisely kept his mouth shut.

After making Cameron promise not to do anything without clearing it with her first, it was closer to begging really, Sarah retreated to her room to think. Derek was in the bar next door which left John and Cameron alone.

John wanted to discuss Sym-Tech but Cameron was more interested in deciphering what she had intercepted, hence the pacing.

John's eyelids were almost closed when Cameron let out a furious yell. He practically hit the ceiling and had his thermite-rounded loaded Glock out in seconds.

Cameron looked at him confusedly.

Realizing what happened, John snapped, "Don't DO that!" And placed his gun back under the pillow.

Cameron ignored him, "I have tried everything I can think of, used every filter, run every code breaking algorithm I know. It doesn't make SENSE!" She stamped her foot like a child on the word sense.

John repressed the urge to laugh. He didn't need her anger directed towards him.

"Well Cam, maybe it was some sort of psychic conversation thing… then no amount of filtering or code breaking will help. You might as well ask for intercession from Mary…"

"John Connor, are you making-" her eyes widened and her mouth formed a little 'o', "fun of me?" she finished softly a few seconds later.

She turned on him in a flash and stared at him intently

Oh shit.

He grabbed for a pillow to put between him and his furious girlfriend, but she was on him in a second

Here it comes.

He braced for impact. Instead of the slap or punch he assumed was coming, he found himself gasping for breath as she attacked him with he lips

"John," mmmph, "Connor," mumph, "You wonderful," uhhhaph, "beautiful," mmmmmppphh, "brilliant," mwah, "Man!"

Wait what? He looked up in shock at Cameron, who was now straddling him.

"Uh, what?"

"That was it!"

"What was it?"

"It was a conversation."

"What?" He said flatly I wonder if she has overheated her CPU or something.

"Yup!"

Is there a Pescadero for robots? He mused.

"I converted the data into a sound file."

"And you heard the universe speak to you?"

"Don't be flip John. Here, listen."

She opened her mouth and:

"Yes?" came Jessi's voice

"I think I figured out why she seems different! He heartbeat is as fast as a newborn's and it doesn't seem to be coming from the right place. Something is definitely off with her." That was unmistakably Kyle.

"We'll talk later," Jessi again.

"I added their vocal patterns myself, so you would get the idea."

John was dazed, confused and shocked. What is this… who are… how is… what the fuck?

"You don't have a heartbeat." Was all he managed to get out.

***

Jessi surveyed the motel before her. That's their truck she thought as she saw the black Ram. Now where are they?

She moved closer. Kyle is going to be so mad at me said a little voice in her head. She frowned. He wouldn't have let me go, and even if he did he would have insisted on coming along and gotten in the way. She let out an exasperated sigh. Part of the reason she loved Kyle more than anybody on earth was his innate goodness. She tried to emulate it, frequently asked herself 'What Would Kyle Do?" when she was unsure of herself, but deep down, she knew there was a fundamental difference between them. She had a killer instinct.

At first she blamed it on her intense entry into the world, then she blamed MadaCorp and all the fucking with her head they had done. But ultimately she accepted what she had known all along. Her killer instinct was part of what made her, well, her. It was in her psyche. That's why she needed Kyle. He was her anchor, her compass… her captain. He made her good. Still… if she if she was completely honest with herself it was exhilarating to give into her darker side now and then. Nothing serious, just a malfunctioning ATM spewing 20s here, a break in to a government mainframe there… No victims, just a little fun. Kyle's moral highroad, check that, moral highway, and trusting nature could get on her nerves every once in awhile, these bouts of mischief were her releases, her safety valves. Besides it was her ability to "be bad" that kept the Tragers, and more importantly Kyle, safe. If he was her captain, she was his chief of security, his bodyguard. She made sure that no one took advantage of him… or at least that no one took advantage of him twice.

Jessi was unable to get closer whilst remaining in the shadows. Wanting to ensure complete anonymity, she employed a trick Kyle had taught her years ago when breaking into a facility to save Amanda. God I hate that little brat…

Jessi shook herself and focused on the task at hand. Closing her eyes and concentrating, she manipulated the electrical current in the neon sign advertising free HBO and wireless internet. There was a soft 'pop' and the sign went dark. So far, so good. She reached out again and snuffed every exterior light of the hotel. She waited for a few minutes to make sure the coast was clear. Adjusting her eyesight as Kyle had taught her, she strode confidently towards the room in front of the truck.

"Hello Jessi," came a voice from behind her.

***

"That's true, I don't." Cameron wondered what Kyle had sensed, if he had sensed anything at all, and initiated a systems check as she continued to look at John. "It's more like a water pump." She said as she pointed to her left breast.

She reviewed the results of the scan. There was a report for a system she didn't recognize. What now? She thought as she opened the file.

John felt her stiffen and looked up in concern.

"That's impossible!" She whispered in horror.

"What-"

The lights outside suddenly went out. Cameron whipped her head around to face the window, eyes narrowed. She had picked up the anomaly again. "We have a visitor." She analyzed the energy burst and compared it to the ones she had recorded earlier. "I believe it is Jessi…"

***

Jessi jumped five feet in the air, literally. How did she do that? No one sneaks up on me, not even Kyle! Her eyes, tuned to the infrared spectrum, locked on to Cameron in the darkness. How can she see me?! It's pitch black! She noticed the object in Cameron's hand, the outline crystal clear against the girl's heat signature.

Jessi smiled. This just got interesting.

"Just so we are clear Jessi, I am pointing a gun at you. I want you to know that I take the security of this family extremely seriously." She took a step forward, "John seems to like you, that is the only reason we are having this conversation."

"Oh really? And what if John didn't like me?" Jessi asked a slight smile on her face. "You would have shot me in cold blood? I doubt it. When will you people learn that you don't frighten me?"

You people? Does she mean the resistance?! "I am only going to ask this once. I will know if you are lying. Are you from Skynet?"

"Mind games? Nice try. You have no idea who you are dealing with do you? I thought Latnok would have briefed you better. Now. Who sent you!?!" Cameron observed that Jessi didn't seem to react at the mention of Skynet, but she maintained her weariness.

Cameron sighed, "You are trying my patience Jessi. I am the one with the gun here."

Jessi smirked "Are you?"

The gun jerked out of Cameron's grip but fell far short of Jessi's outstretched hand.

She must be stronger than I thought. "Oops. Did you drop your big scary gun?" mocked Jessi.

If Jessi had been viewing the normal spectrum of light she would have noticed the bright blue glow in Cameron's eyes.

She didn't know how Jessi had done what she just did but it didn't matter.

SUBJECT: Jessi Trager

THREAT LEVEL: High

ACTION: TERMINATE

"That was a mistake."

A/N: I would love to hear reader thoughts on the outcome of the upcoming battle. Any insights are much appreciated!! I hope you are enjoying the story so far, if not I'm sorry!