Chapter 5: Gray

John left Zander's room, at his wits' end to change the boy's mindset but at least he somewhat mended that relationship. Zander was being less difficult than he normally would be. Zander is a soldier. But he still had a long way to go and lots to learn about life and John intend to help him embrace each and every one of them.

He opened the door and on the bed, Cameron was still asleep. She was lying on her side, her brows knitting together and her lips muttered something incoherent. He watched as her eyes wandered aimlessly under her eyelid. He knelt down beside her, watching. Whatever she was dreaming threw her into distress as the furrows between her brows deepened and her breathing came in short sharp gasps.

Then her hands flew down to her belly. John shot out his hand and caught hers midway, "The baby's fine. Cameron…wake up." He squeezed her hand, waiting in anticipation as she went still. Her eyelids fluttered open and she stared at John, confused. He looked at her, taking in her confused and hurt expression before realization smoothen everything out, "It's a dream…" He assured her.

"Huh…" Cameron mumbled in response, distracted.

"What is it about?" John asked gently, wanting to put her mind off of it.

"You…" Cameron answered.

"I'm always in your head?" John smiled.

"You're always in my dreams…" Cameron closed her eyes, smiling widely. John chuckled, cupping her face gently and pecking her on her forehead. .

"If something happens to you…I would want to know." John stated firmly. Cameron blinked.

"Then there's nothing to know..." Cameron replied, as she leaned forward to give John a brief kiss. She slid off the bed with ease and went straight for the bathroom. Plus, the first time in years, she shut the bathroom door on him. John took a deep breathe, pulling himself up and sat on the bed. He could still feel the warmth from her body on the bed. John leaned over, burying his face in his hands.

Later that day, Cameron accompanied John to the mass hall where soldiers glared at Cameron, some cautiously some with the look to kill. Her wound wasn't completely healed so on that day, John was extremely jumpy and protective around Cameron. They finished their breakfast and John decided to bring Cameron back to the quarters and stay there with her for the rest of their lives if it would keep her safe.

"Cameron…" John walked out from the bathroom, seeing Cameron sitting on the bed, looking down at her belly with her head cocked, "What's wrong?" He frowned, sitting down beside her. She didn't respond to him but continued to stare at her belly. John followed her stare. She was wearing the worn fatigue but underneath, John could imagine the bulge that would become more obvious in a few more months, "Cameron." John got impatient and touched her on her shoulder.

Cameron hesitated, looking up at John, "I felt something." She said, looking thoroughly fearful and puzzled.

"What?" John frowned.

"I feel…" Her voice trailed off.

John let out a hesitant and nervous chuckle, "Maybe it's the baby shifting? I know it's not time yet but-"

Cameron didn't let John's ramble finish. She stood up abruptly, one hand on her abdomen.

"Cameron-" John started, reaching out to coax her back to the bed when she took another step to the door.

"I'm fine, don't follow me." She said firmly before walking out of the door briskly. John furrowed his brows, watching worriedly as she disappeared from his sight. He could only hope she'll be back into his arms before his heart leap out of his mouth from anxiety.

Cameron rushed out and practically ran to the command centre. The soldiers she passed sneered or glared at her. No one greeted, smiled or salute her but that was least of her concerns. It just felt normal to her. This was always how it was back then in the future with John.

She arrived at the command centre, happy to find that no one had returned from their morning break. John Henry sat at the controls, fiddling with something Cameron could not see. She approached him.

"Hello. How can I help you today Cameron?" John Henry spoke without look up. Cameron walked up to him and stood beside him.

"I need to speak to Weaver." Cameron said.

"Ms Weaver is assigned to Serrano." John Henry looked up at her, puzzled.

"I know that but I need to speak to her. Now." Cameron glanced at the computer. John Henry hesitated but eventually turned to the computer and started to establish connection. She waited impatiently, watching John Henry. Then he turned to her.

"It is unsafe to do so at the moment." John Henry said.

Cameron pursed her lips, "You were doing the connection just now." She insisted.

"I decided it was unsafe." John Henry replied simply. Cameron grinded her teeth angrily. John Henry looked at for a moment before speaking, "You can talk to me. I know what is happening. Ms Weaver had already informed me of your condition-"

Cameron snapped her attention to him instantly, glaring. She had no idea of the crowd who knew. She thought it was only Weaver, "You are not to tell John." Cameron leaned over, ordering. John Henry gave her a stiff nod.

"You can talk to me." John Henry offered, glancing at the chair beside him. Cameron walked to it and sat down slowly.

"Did you know that Weaver gave me back my control over the pain I feel?" She started hesitantly.

"Yes. She told me that you asked for it personally to further protect Mr Connor." John Henry recited mechanically.

"Huh…" Cameron nodded, "It's not working." She paused, "I feel everything even if I tell myself I don't…even if I use that ability to suppress the pain…"

John Henry's eyes glazed over as he seem to process what he heard.

"Did you hear what I said?" Cameron probed him urgently.

"Yes I heard." John Henry looked up at her. He watched as she glanced to the door, "You don't trust yourself." He commented.

"What?" Cameron turned her attention back to him.

"Your senses…as a machine." John Henry explained, turning his head to one side but his eyes on her constantly.

"I…" Cameron started to protest but then realized she didn't know what to say.

"You're more than a machine now no matter how we change you on the outside, you could never revert to act like that machine again." John Henry said.

"I am a machine." Cameron growled, "I came here for help about this."

"I am helping you." John Henry cocked his head, "The life inside of you goes against the addition of a machinery to help you suppress the ability to feel pain."

Cameron bit her lips.

"We can make that go away." John Henry offered.

"How?" She looked up, demanding, her hand holding the handle turning white.

"To kill the baby you're carrying." John Henry stated, "Ms Weaver has gone an extra mile to make sure it isn't dead. We can kill it, and then, you can protect John Connor."

Cameron's brows furrowed together and she bit down on her lips hard, "You're asking me to kill him?" She looked down at her belly, spotting the slight bulge under her fatigues which she spent hours pressing her hands on and looking at herself in the mirror, if John was not with her. He'd worry if he saw her do it but somehow, she felt happy when she does it. It was almost like John was there but she knew, she loved the child in her now.

It was early, too early for it to kick her or even have a heartbeat yet. She didn't know if the baby was shocked or traumatized, but she felt it nudge her in the side just now when she was sitting on the bed. It was telling her something, like Zander always wanted to when he kicked from inside her. He'd kicked exceptionally hard on the day he was born, he was ready then.

This child felt different to Cameron. At the time she had Zander, she was fearful that John would hate her for it and even considered the possibility of getting rid of 'it'. But now, it was so different to look at Zander and imagine what would've happened to their lives if she did that; what her unborn child would look like.

"I…" Cameron hesitated, "can't do that…" She realized.

"And John Connor? You'll leave him unprotected? You'll let him die?" John Henry frowned, "I don't understand."

"I love him."

"I was told…"

"I want to protect him…"

"You told me."

"But I can't sacrifice my child…" Cameron mumbled.

"You did. You told Zander…" John Henry reminded. Cameron snapped up, glaring at John Henry, "If you kill the child, you can be a machine again to protect John Connor and you will not have to die."

"That sounds like a good ending…if I sacrifice my child." Cameron swallowed, unable to come up with how to explain this, "But John would need him, or her, and Zander too. If I weren't here."

John Henry frowned, "I don't understand. You want to protect him but-"

"I do and I can. It's if I will." Cameron interrupted, gazing thoughtfully at the controls.

John Henry considered her answer before he looked up in realization, "You'll die in both endings if you do not remove the child now."

"Yes." Cameron looked at him, smiling faintly.

Cameron walked back to the quarters, thinking the way back. She was beginning to enjoy talking to John Henry, maybe because his thoughts were innocent and childlike, it reminded her of herself. Maybe when she had the time later on, when she is heavily pregnant (which is also a time John would announce her a 'vegetable'), she'd sit with him and spark some conversation.

However, the question of whether she'll last till then still stands so right now, she had her face to compose before meeting John. She took a deep breath, realizing she's at the door before opening it. John was seated on the bed, deep frown on his face. He looked up, his face brightening instantly. She watched stoically as he ran to her, pulling her into a bear hug.

"Where've you been?" John asked, "You shouldn't go out there so often. It's dangerous." He brushed aside stray hair from her face.

"It's been like this, in the future I'm from. It was then." Cameron assured, brushing his arm. They stood there for a while longer, caressing each other gently, "I heard you sent a rescue squad out." Cameron commented casually.

John was instantly tensed, "Yeah, I did." He replied, sounding cautious. Cameron concentrated on rubbing the sore muscles on his arm as he continued, "Did John Henry tell you?"

"Yes." Cameron nodded, leaning on his chest. She felt John let out a breath he held and relaxed.

"Are you mad that I didn't consult you first?" John asked experimentally.

"No." Cameron shook her head, "You're John Connor. It's your decision to make."

"Well…you're-" John was cut off as his radio burst into life.

"Connor, the rescue squad radioed in with news. They're arriving here now." John recognized Ellison's voice. Glaring at it grudgingly for a moment, he gave in and reluctantly let go of Cameron to get to his radio. John picked it up.

"Copy that." He muttered and switched it off. Looking towards Cameron, he shot her an apologetic look.

"I can help you with that." Cameron smiled, walking off.

"No need." John called after her, sweeping up his gun and radio before dashing after her and taking her hand in his. They exchanged a smile, heading straight for the entrance. The moment they left their quarters, Cameron roughly broke the contact between them despite John's persistence. She pushed him forward and trailed behind him, almost pitifully, in John's eyes.

He constantly looked back at her with the look of a kicked puppy on his face but the stoic look was what he was receiving. Soldiers greeted John but shot Cameron a disgusted look. She remained quiet to their insults or rudeness but then again, she had practice.

Every time John heard an insult, it took a world of determination to hold in the urge to resort to violence. The incident that happened hit everyone hard. John hardly see Zander anymore. That boy ran off to the other side of Crystal Peak, spending so much time with Ryan. John tried to talk to Zander in the Mass Hall but he glared at John and shrugged away his touch. The only time John got to be close to him was when Zander sat by Cameron in the privacy of the quarters, where Cameron could touch her son and kiss him away from soldier's eyes.

The incident had resulted in many things happening. With John's announcement to the people, the Connor's life had changed so much it was hard to keep up. Now Zander could only be close to Cameron in the Connor's quarters. Outside, Cameron was a piece of metal which everyone had to pretend to be cold to, just to keep up the act to live up to John's speech. Also because of that speech, Zander hated his father, although Cameron insisted that he just needed time to get use to it, just like how she was used to it.

Sarah was quiet about his matter so far. She was kept busy trying to organise things within the resistance. When John and Cameron were 'unavailable', it was up to her to make the decisions.

They soon arrived at the entrance, the plane which just arrived was already there. John watched as the ramp was lowered. The bay was filled with armed soldiers.

Gradually, civilians began to fill out from the plane. They wore torn and tattered clothes, some of them were injured which was what kept Abigail and her assistants busy the whole time. Cameron watched each of them, her HUD put into use. She observed each and everyone of their mannerism. Mostly, they were fidgety, or twitchy was how many of soldiers would put it. They glanced here and there, not daring to breathe too loudly in case it set off the soldiers.

John watched the exchange between the rescued civilians and the resistance's sentry guards and the dogs carefully. Then the injured were brought to Abigail and her team while the unharmed ones were brought to the civilian tunnels. Cameron shifted her position so that she was between John and the passing civilians.

It took a while but that made John restless. Watching people file into the tunnels were boring and it only brought more problems for John to think about, like how they are supposed to support so many civilians with their supplies. He turned and instead began looking through the soldiers he had in the bay. He recognized Samuels, the young techcom soldier which just passed the strict training put down by Sean. This one was stubborn but loyal to the resistance. Sean mentioned him to John. Despite the lack of talent, Sean believed this guy could make it to a high position.

John looked for Sarah and Derek but was a little crestfallen for them not to be there. He wanted to ask them about how the other soldiers are taking the revealing of Cameron's nature. He turned back to look at the backview of Cameron.

She wore a navy blue jumpsuit, holding her rifle stiffly. John marveled at how smooth and wavy her hair looked, how her slim legs look even underneath the jumpsuit and her-

His thoughts were rudely interrupted as a soldier barked roughly to a civilian who seemed to have strayed away from the bunch of civilians entering the tunnel. John turned and stared at it, scrutinizing the civilian. Cameron seemed to be staring at the same guy too. He had short-cropped hair, dark eyes and sinewy limbs. He seemed to be staring at John too but who wasn't. John looked different from the others.

As he passed them, before John can stop her, Cameron shot out quickly like a python and grabbed the civilian by the arm. Her small hand seemed so fragile on his thick arm but with one yank, he was out of the queue of people and on his knees.

He cried out as his knees hit the concrete floor. The other soldiers glared at Cameron as she pressed the muzzle of her rifle to his temple, "who are you?" She demanded coldly, or so how John heard it; to others, it would've just been the mechanical voice.

"I-I-I don't know what you're talking about!" He cried out hysterically, staring wide-eyed at the impressive big gun Cameron had held to him.

She nudged his head with it roughly, "Who are you?" Cameron demanded again.

"Terry Reds!" He cried out frantically.

"You're lying." Cameron narrowed her eyes at him and she looked up for support, something the machine in her would never do. For a moment, everything tipped over. All she saw was doubt, sneering and glaring from everyone else. But her attention was focused on that one person who mattered, the one whose eyes were practically glowing with pride and love, "He's lying." She told that one person who mattered, though the others snorted.

John nodded, walking over. He recognized that look on her face, no matter how subtle it was. It was that childlike innocence again when she told him that the man was lying, pleading for his trust for her on this. The truth was, even if she didn't look at him like that and told him that, he'd trust her.

Suddenly, Terry Reds, jumped up, pushing away Cameron's gun. John scrambled for his gun as Reds dug into the sleeve of his shirt and pulled out a pistol. John saw the shock and fear cross Cameron's eyes as she struggled to go forward. Reds lifted his pistol and pressed the trigger. Cameron pulled on his shoulder as he did so.

John buckled his knees and ducked to the floor as the pistol went off. Cameron cried out angrily, yanking on Reds's shoulder so roughly that he fell to the floor. His arm cracked as Cameron yanked. After he was floored, Cameron stood over him. Some of the soldiers at the bay ran over to restrain Reds while the medics dropped whatever they're doing and rushed to John.

Maintaining her stoic look and posture, she marched over to John just as he scrambled to his feet. He stumbled a little as he ran to her, stopping himself just in time as his arms were about to wrap around her. Her warning glare stopped him, he'd never seen her look at him like that in his life; it was an angry but protective look.

The moment he stopped, her face became neutral. John stared at her for a long time, ignoring the grunts as Reds was pulled to his feet roughly. He wanted to reach out for her hand but Cameron was having none of it, she turned away gracefully and went to stand behind him. John wanted to reach out and touch her, just one touch to check if she was alright, if she was hurt from anything. Then one of his men took a step forward.

"Sir," A soldier, whom John was too busy to identify, greeted him.

"Lock him up. Keep his cell heavily guarded." John practically mumbled the order, his eyes downcast.

"Yes Sir!" The soldier said sharply and walked off with a few others, escorting Reds to his cell. Without another word, John glanced at the few civilians still staring in awe, shock and fear all at the same time, before walking off into the tunnels. He headed straight for the control centre. Cameron was quiet but John knew she was behind him, she always would be.

"Mr Connor," John Henry greeted as the guards pushed open the door for John and Cameron, "I saw what happened are you alright?"

John was surprised John Henry would ask that but replied with a neutral expression nonetheless, "I'm fine but I'm sure you saw that too." He said, "I need you to ID the person attacking me in the bay."

"Yes. I was already doing that before you came in." John Henry nodded, staring at the screen. John waited as the screen burst into life and on it was an ID with a name, a face and everything John needed. Cameron stood quietly behind as John scrutinized the face.

"Who is he?" John murmured to John Henry.

"A Gray." John Henry replied, "A human working for Skynet."

Instantly, the whole control centre was quiet as all the humans turned around to listen, gasping. John hid his surprise.

"They were forced to work for Skynet. Most of them." Cameron spoke up, comforting John but only angering the rest further. But the latter, to her, was irrelevant, she got what she said that for.

"Do you know him?" John asked, turning around.

Cameron looked wary as she nodded. John took it as it is and considered his options delicately. This was a very dangerous subject to touch upon and John understood the consequences if this was dealt with badly. A gray was what reminded the humans how fragile their bond was; so ironically unlike the bond between a machine and a human, Cameron and John himself.

"I'll talk to him." John said to John Henry, meaning him to record down their conversation. After he nodded, John marched briskly out of the control centre with Cameron right behind him.

He needed more backing. The resistance was fragile and anything would make them crumble down like sand. This was the beginning of the war and everything is slipping away.

"He knows important information." Cameron said interrupting John's train of thoughts.

"From your time?" John frowned, turning around.

"Yes."

"And what information is that?" John furrowed his brows.

"I don't know. But I am only aware of his presence and importance. His appearance was before I was created." Cameron stated, tilting her head as John thought about it.

"Well," He looked up, giving her a small smile, "We'll just have to ask him now won't we?" A smirk formed on his lips.

John sucked in a deep breath and nodded to the guard at the door. The guard turned to the door and opened it for him. John marched in with Cameron right beside him. Inside the room was dark with only one light source hanging above the rectangular metal table. The table was rusty at the sides and had dents in the middle of it, after years of slamming. At the table, sat Reds. He had his hand cuffed together to the chair and so was his waist. Cameron had her rifle trained directly at him, daring him to move.

Reds glanced at Cameron's rifle once before deciding to sit still like a statue. John approached with caution this time, well aware of Sarah twisting apart her fatigues in the next room, watching her son get closer to a gray. John is also aware of the camera in the top corner of the room, spying and recording their every move and conversation just like how John wanted.

Carefully, John took stood opposite the Gray, "Christian Griggs." John announced. He observed as the Gray looked up quickly, "You join Skynet. Why?" He implored casually.

Suddenly, Griggs took on a hostile expression, "Because you're a false prophet." He hissed through his clenched teeth, his tough body leaning forward just slightly, "I'm a believer but I know when to believe in who."

"what." John corrected, "Skynet, is not something you should be working for. You should be with us, standing with the human race." John growled, leaning over the table. He could see Cameron tensing at the corner of his eye.

"No. Humans betray each other, they're weak and useless. Machines, help us accomplish things never thought possible." Griggs seethed, "they're efficient and durable."

"Humans made the machines if you've forgotten." John added.

"I have not forgotten but the weakness in humans made the machines turn on us. Our paranoia, our untrusting nature." Griggs countered smoothly.

"The machines out there, under skynet, are the ones who are going to kill you. They're going to kill us all!" John bellowed out so suddenly that Griggs jerked in his seat.

"They help us." Griggs insisted, gritting his teeth tightly together.

"They're lying to you." John narrowed his eyes, leaning forward, "What happened to you?" his anger all vanishing replaced by realization.

"You." Griggs hissed, "You abandoned the bunch of us when we needed you the most. Just because we were civilians. Unable to fight, to be of a use to you."

"What are you talking about?" John demanded.

"A bunch of us, begged to be taken in. Two of us, were shot down by your men. And they told me, Connor didn't want any civilian in this base for now." Griggs gave a bitter smirk.

"The civilians were supposed to be brought to another base. Crystal peak couldn't accommodate so many civilians. At least not as much as the others can." John said neutrally, "It was the start of the war and it still is."

"Excuses Connor, that's all you give for your pathetic leadership. You're the traitor." Griggs growled.

John evened out his expression and backed off, "I maybe a bad leader but at least I'm not helping the enemy to destroy mankind." He said, staring at Griggs.

"You have no rights to lecture me…" Griggs glared at John, but there was evident faltering in the stand. Cameron stood quietly by the side, holding all her thoughts in.

"What would your family say if they see you like this…" John wondered casually, narrowing his eyes at Griggs's reaction, waiting for the softening.

However, John was again surprised as the gray's eyes hardened into a glare, shooting daggers at John, "they're dead. Killed by your men and starved to death days after we still couldn't find shelter and food…"

John was quiet but Cameron decided this was enough. This gray was picking the one point John was most weak and vulnerable at; his compassion.

"Tell me where the base is." Cameron stepped forward, intervening the gray's chance to poke and prod at John's weakness. She demanded in her cold tone, the interrogation mode.

"Go to hell." Griggs growled, "Here is your owner lecturing me about betraying my own kind when his pet does that." He snickered. John's hands curled into fists but Cameron remained stoic and calm.

"Where is the base?" Cameron asked again calmly, cocking her head habitually.

"Like I would tell you." Griggs seethed, "Bitch."

Cameron cocked her head, shifting a little to her left to stand right in John's path of jumping on the gray.

They engaged in a short and brief staring competition before Cameron turned to the one way glass, nodding. There was a loud beep and the door unlocked. Cameron turned around, walking out of the room and guiding John with her. They shut the door behind them.

Zander greeted them, to their surprise at the one way mirror, "I can get him to talk." Zander replied their unsaid question as to why he is here.

"I won't let you near him." John replied simply, walking forward.

"You can't stop me." Zander stared up at him defiantly, glancing to Cameron who was again, emotionless to his dismay.

"I can and I will." John pursed his lips in frustration.

"Connor." Sarah stepped forward, "Let the boy go."

John furrowed his brows, aware of all the other eyes on him. Reluctantly, he nodded then turned to Cameron, "Go with him. I'll be watching." John resisted the cringe at the tone he mastered to use against Cameron on her instructions.

Cameron ignored that cold tone and nodded to him, leaving the room with Zander.

"I can't get close to him." John avoided Sarah's look of concern as he walked closer to the glass and observed the gray fidgeting in his chair, looking around the room for exits.

"He'll get over it." Sarah replied, "Just like you always do." John closed his eyes.

"I'll never stop trying through. He is still my son." John mumbled.

"I know." Sarah replied thickly in an equally low murmur and they kept quiet as Zander entered the room with Cameron following close behind him.

Zander couldn't feel his heart beating. It stopped. Somehow. His sensitive touch is not telling him that his heart is beating. Everything numbed as he walked into that room. A place he would've been if John had not defended his actions of murder. In the end, they had to sacrifice Cameron for that, for John's excuses to take an effect. Sometimes, Zander wondered where did this queer sacrifice and love for your love ones come from.

He stared into the Gray's eyes coldly, taking on the stoic look he had learnt on his own from Cameron since he was a kid.

"Huh…" Griggs snickered, "A kid…." He murmured softly but Zander heard. He barely twitched.

"How are you?" Zander stood there, just like a machine, just like one of them…

A chill ran down John's spine.

"I'm very fine." Griggs held in his laugh.

"You look sick." Zander walked closer to the table, standing by his side.

Griggs laugh vanished as Zander started to spook him.

"What's your name?" Zander continued, unfazed by Griggs's change in expression.

"Terry Reds." Griggs gulped.

"No. Your real name."

"Christian Griggs." Griggs replied, blinking and putting on the brave front.

Zander nodded once stiffly, looking straight at Griggs as he bent at the waist to be at eye level with the Gray, "Look at me." Zander added coldly.

By this time, Cameron already had her head tilted, curious as she watched her son weird way of interrogation. Cameron had always thought only pain, hunger and suffering could break someone. She wondered how this would work.

Griggs gulped again, looking into Zander's emerald eyes, his lips parting.

"Is that you?" Zander asked gently, barely blinking.

"What-"

"Is that you," Zander demanded, cutting his statement off sharply, "Is this something you would do? If you were yourself?"

Griggs clamped his mouth shut, unable to think of something to say. He averted Zander's stare and looked down at the table.

"What are you doing?" Zander straightened his back and looked down at the Gray. His legs and hands are trembling.

"N-nothing." Griggs replied simply, stuttering over the words.

"Really?" Zander said monotonously.

"Yes!" Griggs strengthened himself, growling.

"No. You're here to terminate John Connor." Zander stated.

"Says who?"

"You." Zander shot back, "You told me. Just now."

"I didn't." Griggs replied, frowning in confusion.

"Your base…where is it?" Zander walked behind his chair, "Tell me."

"I won't!" Griggs mumbled, "Why would I do that?"

"You don't have a choice." Zander said smoothly. Before anyone can stop him or open their mouth for an exclamation, Zander pulled out a syringe and jabbed the needle down into Griggs's neck. He didn't have a chance to struggle as Zander was already pushing the contents into his neck. He relaxed before his hands could yank Zander's hands away.

Cameron remained rooted as she watched while John resisted to pound on the glass with whatever stunt Zander decided to pull off now. Even Sarah was biting down her lips hard. John gritted his teeth, seething, "Zander…."

Zander yanked out the needle swiftly, throwing the syringe to the floor. He retreated from Griggs, observing as the Gray became still, his head leaning limply to the side.

John clenched his fists tightly, glancing to Cameron who he didn't understand why, did not do anything to stop Zander.

"Christian?" Zander spoke in that soft, smooth and polished voice. They all waited for a few agonizing seconds before the Gray stirred, sitting up straight in the chair slowly, "What are you doing? What are you sent to do?" Zander asked experimentally.

"To infiltrate the base: Crystal Peak." Christian's reply was even.

"To terminate John Connor?" Zander frowned.

"No. That is not what I was asked to do…" Christian paused.

"Then why did you do it?" Zander probed gently.

Christian furrowed his brows, blinking once, "I recognized him. He killed my sister."

John let out a shuddering breath as he observed the Gray start to speak under Zander's interrogation.

"It's okay." Zander told the Gray, "Where did you come from, Christian?"

"Ohio. I was born there." Christian replied as Zander walked to stand behind the chair.

"Huh…." Zander acknowledged it briefly, "So are you a Gray?"

Christian's furrow between his brows got deeper but he replied anyway, "Yes."

"And where is your base?" Zander probed, a little more harshly this time. He paced in front of the Gray, stopping there.

"At The Mojave desert, north of Victorville." Christian mumbled.

"Thanks." Zander smirked, punching Christian in the face out cold vicious and quick. John cringed inwardly as the Gray's head snapped back with the force and remained limpless there.

"He's got strength." Sarah commented, apparently impressed.

"He learnt." John replied quietly before walking tentatively to the door out of the observation room to meet with Zander and Cameron who are leaving the interrogation room.

John met Cameron's eye as they opened the door but he couldn't tell what she was feeling, as usual and Zander, who seem to bore the same expressionless look as Cameron, walked pass John quietly and left.

"I'll go after him." Sarah informed John briefly before taking off after Zander, leaving John and Cameron there with two soldiers. John couldn't feel himself think. He still couldn't get pass the fact that his ten year old son had just interrogated a Gray and succeeded, his kid.

"We have to go." Cameron broke his reverie in a soft tone, unaccompanied with the usual smile John was so accustomed to.

"Of course." John mumbled distractedly, "Bring the Gray down to our holding cells. And stay there, do not let anyone in or out without my permission." He turned to the soldier nearby.

"Yes sir!" The soldier straightened up and marched into the room with his partner and came out, dragging the unconscious Gray. John walked with them until he had to take a different route to get to the quarters, which seemed to be the place he stayed at most often now for that was the only place he could truly be John with his Cameron. It was his place.

Cameron followed him solemnly, till they were at the door. She noticed John didn't like talking to his soldiers. He didn't interact with them as much now that they hated and despise her existence in the base. He no longer go to the control centre to discuss what to do next with John Henry as well as the officers he had gave the ranks to. The decision made these days where John Connor's alone, with no input from other fellow experienced soldiers. However, in John's opinion, the very person he loved had all the experience he was missing.

When the soldiers hated and decide to abandon Cameron behind, they came to realize, somehow, John Connor stayed.

Despite Cameron's disapproval of John's stubborn and obstinate way of handling this issue, he ignored her discomfort, for the very first time.

The moment Cameron shut the door to their room, John sat down at the chair behind the desk and buried his face in his hands.

"Mojave Desert…" It was all he could manage to choke out.

"The last attack was a success. This time, it will be too." Cameron spoke.

"Tell me the tactical chances." John looked up, "and not your hopes or your pointless faith in me."

Cameron detected the helplessness. They were just into the war and the human race could barely work together and it was because their leader went astray. He was with a machine, their enemy. Everything was so detached that even John Henry was helpless to do anything in this situation. He was too busy fitting in and trying to fool all the techs working with him or his true nature.

Seeping in a deep breath, Cameron sat down at the tip of the bed, "The chances are not high but you always have managed to do the impossible. That's what makes you John Connor."

John forced a wary smile, walking towards the bed and the comfort of being close to her. Gently, he pulled her closer to him after settling down on the bed, "I have to lead this attack, Cameron. I want to fight."

With a sigh, Cameron nuzzled up to John, "And I can't come with you?" Her voice hopeful.

He bit his lips, "I guess I'll see what's the plan." John smiled,

"Please?" Cameron looked up at him.

"I'll see." He stated flatly.

"Alright…" Cameron conceded warily, "You win."

"You let me win," John laughed.

To be continued…

A huge thanks to all my readers who are still following this and also to the reviewers of last chapter, namely olischulu, guest, James2007Bond, yetikiller, thelexy, xxvoxx, morded, scaryrobots, XxDeathStarxX, cameronfan, TheWizardofOzbourne and EvilTheLast!

I wanted to stall it longer so that I can do more changes and checks to it but I'm guessing it has been a pretty long wait… so, I hope you enjoyed it!

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