III

It concerns her that she is becoming so close to John in a period of weeks. She's not even suppose to be in San Francisco at this time, but here she is. She's a bit scared for her mental state, and she's wondering when whatever this is will fall apart.

There's this other part of her that feels this connection with him, and it just feels like they were meant to meet that day. She wonders what might have happened had she met him years ago. She's starting to believe she may not have ever married Scott, and she would have dodged years and years of an obvious unhappy marriage.

She was supposed to put in her two weeks notice weeks ago, but she had put it off each day. She tells herself that she just really needs to put back money, but she knows that she's not entirely being honest with herself. Her hotel is costly, and she knows she's only breaking even with her finances.

The truth is evident. She's not sure if it's love, but she's become attached to John. She tells herself today she's going to put in her two weeks notice. She tells herself that she'll be honest with John tonight, and she'll end it with him. It might hurt the both of them, but it will keep her from falling deeper into whatever it is between them.

But, when she leaves the vet clinic that day, she still has a job. She's not sure whether she's insane or that maybe it's just a matter of fate.

She checks her phone and there is a message from her father. He says that he's worried about her, and he's asking her why she hasn't left for Los Angeles yet. She does her best to answer his text, and she hopes that it calms him.

"Hey dad! I'm so sorry that I am worrying you. I haven't found any potential job offers in Los Angeles, and I'm not sure if it's a good idea to leave yet. I am doing fine. I love you, and I'll talk more as soon as I can."

She knows that he's not going to buy her excuse, but he won't outright question it right away. It will give her time to come to her senses, and eventually, she'll find it in herself to do what is wise. She knows that she won't. She has a feeling that she's not going to leave San Francisco for a long time.

…

Kate stands in front of John's door. She should just knock, but she remains in the hall uncertain. She's debated walking away so many times, because whatever this is scares her. She's gone from a broken marriage to something that's turning into a relationship, and she knows that her attachment to John isn't healthy.

She takes a deep breath and knocks on the door. She tells herself she's going to end this tonight, and she's going to make good on returning to Los Angeles. When he opens the door and she sees his face, she feels that pull again. She becomes so uncertain, and she's not sure if she can walk away.

"Hey," her voice is a little more breathy than she likes it to be.

"Hey," he responds.

She is tense as she enters his apartment. She swallows nervously. She attempts to say the words she's practice in her mind so many times, but she can't seem to manage them. She glances into his eyes, and she knows in that moment that she can't leave this.

She takes a few steps towards him, and she practically falls into his arms. She doesn't say anything. She just lays her head into his chest. It feels so comfortable and so natural. It feels like this one person is the one she's supposed to be with for the rest of her life.

She looks up at him, and she asks, "John - what is this?"

"I don't know," he responds.

"I don't want to fight it anymore," she says.

"I've been thinking the same thing."

She stares up into his eyes, and she knows that this one person is all that she wants. She's never wanted to be with someone this much before. She shivers as his hand touches her neck. She's not sure if he knows what he does to her, but when he kisses her, she is lost in him again.

...

Genisys will be online in a matter of days. He wonders if perhaps Skynet will allow him to keep Kate alive, but he is realistic with his expectations. He knows the reality of it. He has to make a choice now, and his loyalty to Skynet falters each time he is with her.

He sits down on the couch next to Kate. She's as beautiful as she has always been, and he's terrified that within days he will most likely lose her. And, he has no one to blame but himself. He was a part of this thing's creation, and that creation will take away the one thing that makes him feel human - the one thing that makes him feel alive.

There is another story about the president's latest scandal on the news. Kate's voice pulls him away from his thoughts, and he's grateful for it.

"Can you believe this guy is our president?" Kate says.

John can easily believe anything. He's learned that humans are self-destructive, and he's seen the terrible results of their poor choices. That was how Judgement Day came to be in the first place, and it's how Judgement Day will continue to happen time and again.

There's some report on the news right now proving his theory of human stupidity. The reporter is speaking of a man and a woman in their twenties trying to self-destruct themselves on the freeway. He eyes the television set as the footage plays. There's frantic blue energy surrounding them, and then, he panics.

It's his mother and father. He does his best to mask any element of emotion from Kate. He's not sure how he can answer any of her questions believably, and he's tired of lying to her. He remembers the relationship before he lost his humanity, and they'd always been so open and honest with each other. She was the one person he trusted above all, and the one person he always confided in. He hates concealing so much from her.

He waits for the news story to change. It's something about a football player being suspended for drug use. Now seemed an ample time to make an excuse.

"I forgot a few things at work," he tries to keep his voice even.

"They can't wait till tomorrow?"

"No," he says as calmly as he can. "But, stay here. I won't be too long."

She is searching his face, and he knows that she can see through his lie. "John - is there something wrong?"

"I'll be home as soon as I can." It's getting harder and harder to lie to her, and he knows the next thing he says will confirm her suspicions. "Kate, please, just promise you'll stay here till I get back."

She stares at him for a long time. He knows that she sees through him. She lowers her eyes and he can hear the tension in her voice as she says, "Alright - but when you get back..."

"I'll tell you everything," he means to make good on his promise when he returns.

He knows the reason for their emergence in this timeline. His mother and father are aware of Genisys in some capacity. He is left with only two choices. He can either continue to fight for Skynet, or he can fight for his mother and father. It's Skynet or his family. It's Skynet or the woman he loves. Skynet will not compromise.

The correct choice is clear as day. He chooses his mother and father. He chooses his wife. Damn Skynet to hell and the power it offered. He was going to put end Skynet in this lifetime just as he had in every life he'd ever lived.