Author's Note: First of all I want to thank everyone who took the time to review the previous chapter of this story. It means a lot to me and is my main source of inspiration to continue writing. I've thought long and hard about when I wanted this story to take off in the TSCC timeline and I decided to start it right after season 2 episode "Complications". I've also decided that there will be Jameron in this story. This is partially because I want it and also because I've gotten requests for it so hope you guys enjoy that. Please continue to read and review my story and I will continue to write it, Thanks
Additional Note: There's nothing I hate more than a story which is left unfinished. With that in mind, I promise that as long as you guys read, review and like my story, I will do everything I can to make sure it continues for as long as possible and maybe even gets an ending unlike so many other fanfics on this site. This is my contract to you guys, the readers.
Chapter Two: Meet the Connors
2008: Connor Residence
16 year old John Connor collapsed on his bed with a groan as he thought back to the day's events. He and Cameron had just gotten back from Mexico after a disastrous attempt to locate Cromarte's body. It had to be Ellison John thought No one else knew about it.
While he was thinking this, Cameron walked up John's bedroom door and thought about whether she should knock or not. I should probably knock she thought John could get upset with me if I don't. John was already distant with her, she didn't want to make it worse.
She knocked on the door. It must be Cameron John thought. "Come in" he said. His suspicions were confirmed when Cameron opened the door and walked into the room. She closed the door behind her.
"Are you alright John?" She asked.
"Of course I'm alright, why wouldn't I be?" He asked in a slightly sarcastic voice.
"We failed to acquire Cromarte's body, that could cause you distress" she said. "That and the fact that your mother is ill."
"Mom's going to be fine, it's just a bug or something, she'll get over it" John said. His mother had survived much worse in her time, there was no way she was going to let a little flu bug stop her.
"Speaking of Cromarte" John said "we still need to get his body back."
Cameron nodded "It is likely Agent Ellison has it, he was the only other person present with us when we buried Cromarte's body."
"I was thinking the same thing" John replied. He then yawned unexpectedly.
"You should sleep, you're tired" Cameron said. "We will deal with Agent Ellison tomorrow."
John was about to protest when he realized it was futile, Cameron probably wouldn't budge on the subject. She's just doing what she thinks is best for me John thought its part of her mission.
"Well then would you mind leaving the room while I get changed?" John asked as he noticed Cameron hadn't moved from her spot.
Cameron nodded. "Of course John" she said as she turned to leave the room. She glanced at John one more time as she was leaving and noticed he had started to undress. A feeling she did not recognize suddenly hit her and she paused for a moment. Perhaps it is some sort of malfunction she thought I will run a self-diagnostic later. She then left the room and closed the door behind her.
Unbeknownst to Cameron, John did notice her stare before she left. What was that about? John wondered was she… checking me out? But that's impossible, she's just a machine he though as he finished getting ready for bed. Though she is cute another part of John thought as he stared into space. Suddenly he shook himself out of it. No! I can't have those kind of thoughts for her, she's a machine, she's just a machine. But as much as he tried to convince himself of that fact, deep down he knew that she was more than that, just like deep down he knew he was very much in love with her.
John got into bed as he tried to forget his feelings for Cameron. He laid awake for quite some time before sinking into a light and nightmare-filled sleep.
2008: Riley's House
Michael Kane looked at the watch that he took from the man he killed in the alley. The time said 2:36. He sighed, it was going to be a long night. He was sitting in the bushes outside the home of a young blond girl Future John had told him to find. He thought back to the briefing:
"When you get back to the past, don't go straight to my house, if you do, Cameron will find you and probably kill you. Instead go to my… friend's house. Her name is Riley, average height, blond hair, about 17" John told him.
"Why should I find this Riley, is she important?" Kane asked.
"We used to have a… thing" John replied. "Look the point is past me will go to see her alone eventually which would be an excellent opportunity to locate him… me." "It would also be a good idea to check the school but again Cameron will be there" John said.
"Can't I just tell you what I am and that I'm on your side?" Kane asked.
"No" John replied. "They won't believe you for one, especially mom, and two, I don't want them to know what you are unless it's absolutely necessary. It's better for everyone if you just protect them without them knowing"
Kane shook himself out of the flashback when he saw movement through the windows of the house. He saw the blond girl Riley walk into the room and pick up a cellphone sitting on a dresser. The phone had apparently been ringing because she pushed a button on it and held it to her ear.
Being outside the house, Kane normally wouldn't have been able to hear the conversation but being a Vampire with super sensitive ears he was able to hear every word that passed between them.
"No Jessie, I haven't seen him since Mexico" said Riley.
John did say something about Mexico in the briefing Kane thought.
"Well you need to get in touch with him soon sweetheart" the woman on the other end, Jessie, replied "remember the plan."
"I know I know, get John away from the machine, we've been over this a thousand times Jessie" Riley said angrily.
"Temper girl, temper" Jessie said "Just talk to John soon."
The line then apparently went dead as Riley stared at the phone for a second then put it back on the dresser and sighed. "Yeah yeah it's always about John" she said to what she thought was just herself, not suspecting that there might be a bloodthirsty monster eavesdropping on her.
Hmm, this is a curious turn of events Kane thought this Jessie person could be a threat, I will have to investigate this matter further. Kane smiled as he settled back down into the bushes and continued to watch the house.
2008: Downtown LA
The terminatrix drove down a street in LA. The road was not very busy this late at night so she drove quickly, well above the speed limit. Suddenly a siren sounded and the red and blue flashing lights of a police car appeared behind her.
The terminatrix pulled over to the side of the road and, having took the form of the woman she killed earlier, waited patiently for the police officer to reach her window.
The police officer walked up to the window of the convertible and shined his flashlight in the terminatrix's face. "Lady, do you know how fast you were going?" he asked with clear annoyance in his voice.
The terminatrix didn't respond immediately and instead looked the police officer up and down.
Scanning subject…
Local law enforcement
Weapons:
Beretta 9mm semi-automatic
Threat: None
Action: Acquire weapon
"Alright let me see your license and registration please" the officer said, ignorant of the strange woman's stare.
"I like your gun" the terminatrix said.
"What?" the police officer asked, confused. The terminatrix then reached out and grabbed him.
After she had dealt with the police officer, the terminatrix continued on towards her destination. She pulled up to the Burger King downtown. She noted a sign which said open 24 hours. She then accessed her target profile:
Target: Lieutenant Jose Barrera
Age: 17
Occupation: Burger King Employee
Action: Terminate
She drove up to the drive thru and rolled down her window.
"Hi, welcome to Burger King, may I take your order?" a bored sounding voice asked.
"Jose Barrera?" the terminatrix asked.
"Umm, yeah?" Jose replied.
The terminatrix drove around to the window and looked at the man inside. She saw that his nametag read Jose Barrera.
Target Identified
Jose Barrera
Terminate
As the termination order flashed across her HUD, the terminatrix pulled out the pistol she had taken from the police officer.
Jose was about to say something when he saw the woman pull out the gun. He turned to run but was too late. The terminatrix shot the once future resistance fighter three times in the back of the head, watched him fall to the floor inside the restaurant, then drove away. She could hear screaming from inside the building as she left the parking lot.
Target: Jose Barrera
Status: Terminated
Proceed to next target
The terminatrix sped off down the road in search of her next victim.
2008: Connor Residence
John woke up with a start. He had been having a nightmare, the same one he had been having for weeks. It's just a nightmare he thought to himself it's not real. A few seconds later there was a knock on his door.
"John? It's me, Cameron." John looked at the clock and sighed. Ugh its only 4:30 he mentally groaned.
"Come in" he said to Cameron. Cameron opened the door and walked over to the bed John was still lying in. She looked at John and noticed the sweat and that he looked agitated.
Elevated heart rate detected
Analysis…
John was having a nightmare
"You were having a nightmare" Cameron stated.
"I have nightmares all the time Cameron, I'm used to them by now" John replied. It was an obvious lie and they both knew it.
"Would you like to talk about it?" Cameron asked.
"Not really" John responded.
"Talking will help" Cameron countered.
John sighed. "Look it was just the same one I usually have, okay?Cromarte is chasing me, I can't get away, he's about to shoot me, then I wake up" John said, trying to sound casual about it but not entirely succeeding.
Cameron looked concerned. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked. John noted that her voice had a different tone than usual, almost like she cared about him more than just her mission.
John pushed it out of his mind. "Not really, not unless you can magically get rid of nightmares or something" he replied.
"I will stay with you until you fall back to sleep" Cameron said with a hint of emotion in her voice that surprised even her. "My presence should hopefully help you to not experience so many nightmares.
John was surprised at her offer. He was about to tell her that he didn't need her to be in the room with him when he thought better of it. She's just doing what she thinks is best for my wellbeing, there's no other meaning behind it, it doesn't mean she cares about me other than as her mission objective John thought, still trying to delude himself into thinking that she was just an emotionless machine, and that she couldn't possibly have real feelings for him.
"Fine" he said "but only until fall asleep, I hate it when people watch me sleep."
Cameron nodded, glad that he hadn't tried to make her leave. "Very well John" she said as he got back under his covers and closed his eyes.
Thirty-five minutes later, Cameron noted that John's breathing and heart rate had slowed, indicating that he had fallen asleep. Cameron unconsciously reached down and stroked his hair with her hand, noticing a strange sense of satisfaction seemed to flood her CPU as she did so. She pulled back her hand and resolved herself to go and run a self-diagnostic on her systems, to ensure she was not malfunctioning.
She took one last look at the sleeping form of John Connor, then left the room to let him get a hopefully peaceful rest.
2008: Riley's House
Kane contemplated what he had heard Riley and the mysterious woman, Jessie, talk about on the phone. So it seems these two have a plan of their own he thought I guess I'll have to find out what it is and take care of it, as it could be a threat to John and my mission.
Kane smiled as he thought of a plan to get these two to reveal all their secrets.
Author's Note: Well that's another chapter down, I hope you all are enjoying the story so far. If you are then please remember to leave a review telling me what you thought and what you think I could do to improve the story, as I am still very new to this writing thing. I know this update came out very quickly, but don't count on them all to be that way. With my schedule the way it is, I doubt I will be able to release regular updates like this. Don't worry though, I will continue to write this story whenever I have free time. Just keep reading and I'll keep writing