Disclaimer: I don't own anything, please don't sue me!

A/N: I recently reformatted the first four chapters of my first fic, Battleroids & Terminators. Please read them and tell me that you think. Reviews keep me writing!

October 29, 2007 14:00 PST
Aboard Rozinante

Durandal considered the powered down Terminators in the medical bay as he formulated his plan. 'One of them has to be on Earth. Which one, though? Which machine can be manipulated into serving my purposes without being reprogrammed?' He thought on the probabilities for two minutes, going over every likely scenario and discarding most of them. When he arrived at his conclusion, he used a robotic arm to reinstall the CPU and port cover of one of the Terminators, then teleported said machine to Earth before it could reboot.

14:03 PST
Los Angeles, California, Earth

The machine reintegrated in a deserted alleyway lying on its back. After 30 seconds, it rebooted.

SKYNET SERIES 888 (UNIQUE REPLACEMENT SKIN) SYSTEM VERSION 3.10.

ALIAS: AGENT ROBERT KESTER (FBI). GENERATE NEW ALIAS IF EXPOSED.

PRIMARY MISSION: TERMINATE JOHN CONNOR.
MISSION PARAMETERS: USE ANY AND ALL MEANS NECESSARY.

Cromartie's difference engine calculated that the course of action with the highest probability of success would be to pay the Dixons another visit. To a human, it would be a gamble that James Ellison would bother to speak with Charley Dixon again, but Cromartie knew how to ensure that the two of them made contact.

14:03
Aboard Rozinante

Sarah Connor was in her temporary quarters. She had gathered money and the necessary (and of course fabricated) information to get new identification for John, Cameron, Derek and herself. She asked Durandal, "Hey, can you send me down to Earth in the LA barrio?"

Durandal projected his avatar and replied, "You wouldn't be asking me to send you to Carlos for new IDs, would you?"

She recovered quickly and asked, "So, you're an eavesdropper in addition to being strange?"

"It helps when I'm formulating plans. I think those cover stories you and John came up with are amusing. Still, I think Carlos will be suspicious that you'd be back for new papers so quickly."

"Maybe, but the idea of being paid for full service is more than likely to persuade him to not ask questions."

Durandal was curious. "Full service?"

"That means that we're in the system and can collect various benefits, including welfare if necessary. I hope it's not."

"At any rate, I can make those for you and you can keep your money."

She thought for a few seconds and replied, "Well, thank you then. I wasn't expecting your help on that one. Then I'll have to find a four bedroom house in a decent neighborhood, a new school for John and Tin Miss, and maybe jobs for Derek and I."

"Well, I can send you down there after I make your IDs. I'll let you make the judgment call on location." Durandal chuckled at a sudden thought.

Sarah asked, "What's so funny?"

"Well, for money you can always get into the stolen gemstones business. School, why bother? Last but not least, I don't think you'll need four bedrooms for very long."

She raised an eyebrow and suspiciously asked Durandal, "John hasn't been fucking Cameron, has he?"

"Not yet, but I can see it in the pipeline. It may take a while, but I think they'll end up in bed before too long."

Sarah was feeling a mixture of revulsion and understanding. "Well, given how he feels about her, I can understand, but... how could he screw the goddamn robot?! That's just WRONG!"

"She was built as an infiltrator. She has to have enough parts to pass, you know. Oh, and just because you don't see her as a person, actual and whole, doesn't mean he shares the attitude."

Sarah snorted, then decided to take the plunge and ask Durandal, "Can she get pregnant? I mean, she's already displayed the fact that she's not like other Terminators, but, well..."

"If Cameron were to have the appropriate parts grown and implanted into her, then she could get pregnant and give birth to a fully human child. As of right now, though, she is effectively sterile. She would have said that the radiation got her if she were infiltrating a Resistance base."

"As it got a lot of people, I can only imagine. I'm just glad I got myself fixed after having John."

"Why did you do that?"

"Because I couldn't worry about other kids, what with him and his destiny." Changing the subject she asked, "When will the new IDs be ready?"

"I'll have them for you by 15:30."

"Thanks Durandal."

"No problem."

John was still working on his hacking setup with Cameron when she asked him, "John, why do you keep long hair?"

He was surprised that she would ask him about his hair, but he answered, "I guess it's because my hair is the only thing that lets me feel like myself, even with whatever new alias I'm living under at the time. Why do you ask?"

She sounded concerned as she replied, "I don't mean to be negative, but that hair might get you killed one day."

"Did it already?"

Cameron looked him in the eye as she sadly answered, "Yes. Your hair was the same length then as it is now. The T-1000 grabbed your hair with its left arm and then sliced through your brain with the other arm." She embraced him and whispered, "It may have been another timeline, but I don't want any... what's the word for television shows that have already been broadcast and are being played again?"

John chuckled as he told her, "The word you're looking for is 'reruns,' Cam. But in all seriousness, I like the hair, although I gotta admit that my bangs covering my eyes is getting old."

She playfully quipped, "Sounds to me like a haircut would be in order. Is there a particular style you'd like?"

John thought about it, then replied, "How about you just trim my bangs and leave the rest the way it is?"

"Your eyes won't be covered anymore, but it could still result in you dying."

John saw the sad puppy look on her face as she said that and it persuaded him to find an alternative to either long hair or no hair. "No one in here wants that, least of all me. Hmm, quarter-inch buzz cut work for you?"

Cameron smiled and replied, "Yes. No hair-grabbing in that case." She kissed him and whispered in his ear, "Besides, I always liked it that way." She was about to walk out of his quarters to retrieve hair clippers when Durandal teleported a set onto John's bed. She asked, "Eavesdropping, Durandal?"

"I can't help it. Ships I've been on have been boarded in my past. Listening in on everything has been crucial to my survival. Besides, I find listening to the two of you when you're alone humorous."

John sarcastically replied, "I'm glad we're so entertaining. Maybe if we prevent Judgment Day we should be comedians."

Durandal ignored his comment and continued, "In seriousness, don't worry about clippings. My cleaning droids will take care of them. However, don't get too used to them. Sarah wants to get back to Earth soon after I make your new papers."

John muttered, "Figures."

Cameron and Durandal simultaneously said, "I heard that."

14:45

Sarah and Derek had been talking with Dave Mustaine in his quarters about setting him up on Earth when John and Cameron walked in. Sarah and Derek's jaws dropped, while Dave smirked and said, "About time."