Chapter 12- Eyes on you
In the Connors home basement, where must of his time have been spent the past couple of days, John been searching through Weaver's files from the success from their last mission. Some of the files he could decode without any assistant from his engineer partner. However, lately while diving deeper into Weaver's database, each turn he took in the cyberspace system he would trip on an access code command.
It acted like an alarm system that was falsely being trigger in a house. It was if the security system knew something was wrong but was unsure how to proceed to counter attack or if it was an actual intruder.
It was strange how it sounded, John repeated to himself, as if the system was an active artificial intelligence. Could it be their latest project John Henry? Either way, it was becoming difficult and frustrating at times to keep typing the code that Seen acquired from the Sweetish lab tech.
Footsteps coming down the creaky stairs caught his attention only to notice it was Seen. He went back to working on the files trying to get partial of it done which in this case five percentage of it. Judging by the thousands of files Weaver had stored on her database, timing to access all the files was unpredictable, possibly months in his situation. For once, he wished he had an AI to assist him twenty-four hours a day, and help lift the burden from finishing it in a short period.
The fast food snack on a plate, hot pockets, was place next to him as Seen looked at his work.
"Hey, I think I found something." John said as he kept his focus on the computer monitor.
"What you got?" Seen asked interested by the algorithm code from the command file displayed on the screen.
"In most of the encrypted files on Weaver's server, I somehow accidentally stumbled upon a back door yesterday," said John getting to the place where the file appeared.
"You can say a very well hidden back door that wasn't there until somebody accessed it near midnight. I was going to ignore it at first but it was access again three times before this morning. You want to know the funny thing. When I check the transaction logs to see how many times this file been opened, it's not even recorded. It's like it doesn't exist. I'm not sure if that's paranoia because why would you create a file hidden from your own personal database, that's not officially connected to Cyberdyne's database."
"Because it's illegal and she doesn't want it traced to her not by the slightest," Seen answered, as it was an odd behavior. "Here's another question we need to ask ourselves, is this Weaver actions or somebody else in her corporation. If this is Weaver doing then we're greatly underestimating her capabilities."
John shifted through the notebook papers scattered around the keyboard and found what he was searching for; hoping Seen would lend her assistance on the manner.
"I written down the code as fast as I could when the file came up but it was so much, I barely got any of it," John gave Seen a loose-leaf notebook paper. "I've been staring at it all morning and I got nothing. I was thinking of getting Cameron to memorize when it came up the last time but the file's action is irregular and it dissipates after a minute so I couldn't call upon her in time."
Seen looked over the command prompt as a few coding jumped at her. "I think I know what it is. Fraud companies, criminals and black market dealers started to use this method this year by finding an undetectable way of creating dummy accounts as it would dissolve into nothing until it was used again, instead of letting the account sit in a bank until it's noticed. The CIA and Interpol been trying to plug this hole up for a while but they can't catch it because it's nothing too catch until it's accessed. You would need a super computer to watch every transaction being done in every bank account across the world to trace something that massive. But since different countries have different laws on how they conduct their business in keeping the loyalty of their customers, the hole will never be plugged, unless an agreement comes to pass."
"Maybe we can come up with a program to notify us when the file appear and copy the code to grant us access to that file by using the reference to the unfinished codes we have now. If we use the unfinished code, like a blueprint, then the program will understand what file to search for when it appears." John suggested.
"Then I suggest we make a lot of hot pockets." Seen smiled agog from his idea.
Trying to construct a program dealing with Weaver's security system and remain undetected was going to be difficult. Challenges like these always excited her.
"I guess that means no school then." John smirked as this boosted Seen's energy at that thought of her dream finally coming true.
"I think you're mistaken."
An all too familiar voice behind them made Seen cringe that her dream was destroyed before it begun. John looked at his mother, unaware of her presence from entering the basement.
"Though I would love to attend school today but this is important." Seen stated.
Her loathing for not attending school, Sarah will never understand the girl.
"The weekend starts after you're done with school day, which will give you plenty of time to work on this over the weekend. Besides don't you have an exam today that counts twenty-five percent of your grade?" Sarah said.
"I do?" Seen asked, confused of having no recollection of the test.
John smirked by her facial expression. "Yeah, in history class, remember."
"As long as I get a D in the class, everybody wins." Seen said shamelessly eating a piece of the hot pocket she brought down earlier.
John chuckled from that comment as she had some point to justify her answer. Going to college probably was not on there to do list when they graduate high school. Being a fugitive most likely will not fly with any college. How long could they live under there false names, John wondered.
"Get to school. Please." Sarah said and went back up stairs amused by Seen's answer as well.
"Why didn't you tell me we had a test in history class?" Seen placed the unfinished hot pocket down on the plate.
"I figured you asked Cameron since you sleep through the class all the time."
"That is not true. I stayed up for one class period."
"That was because the teacher threw a party for us because it was Halloween." John declared.
"I'm just saying everyday should be party day since that's all you kids will do when you get to college. Go to parties and get drunk. Not even caring for the educational aspect for the reason of attending college."
"How would you know?" John asked as this conversation was becoming entertaining.
"Because I went to college." Seen smirked and started to head up the stairs.
Nonplussed and curious, what did she fully mean by that, John thought. "Wait. You went to college?"
Students flooded the college campus, lingering to their next class, enjoying the sunny day outside on the lawn and some playing sport games. It was a beautiful day to enjoy the weather as it was rare to notice when pressure of exams are always at every turn during the end of the semester.
Stern gaze read the lettering on the front of the building saying, ITT Technology School. Held in his hand, taken from Agent James Ellison's home, was a picture of his target, as Cromarite began to walk towards the entrance of the college campus.
Inside, he precisely observed his surrounding carefully. He had to be cautious of his actions. One false move and his target would know he was a machine given the particularize description Skynet collected on the girl's high skilled abilities.
A woman behind an office desk, the same woman Nicholas was charming, looked at Cromartie suspicious. She watched the tall man walk towards her desk and stopped in front of it like a mechanical soldier. He gave his usual curled up half smile as he showed the woman Seen's picture.
"Hello. I have been told this girl attends this school. I would like to have a word with her please." Cromartie politely asked.
"You know you're the fourth person that's been looking for Ms. Winters in over a month," said the secretary finding this ironic and being the first in her book. "Let me guess…Judging from your nice stylish suite…FBI?"
"Yes," said Cromartie flatly. "Can I speak with her please? This involves an investigation I am conducting."
"I'm going to tell the others that came before you, she hasn't been to school in over a month. If you're looking for her files on our school database, unfortunately they have somehow disappeared. Which is still a mystery to us since I've seen the girl numerous times on college grounds. It's like she was never here." The secretary explained as it sounded spooky to her.
"Thank you for your time." Cromartie smiled, as it was a dead end to ask the secretary any further questions. His best option was to ask other students on the campus on the whereabouts of his target.
He turned around and walked away from the desk but not before passing a young boy on the way.
"Excuse me miss," said the teenage boy as the secretary gave the boy an irritated look.
"Hi, my name is Jeffery. I'm looking for a girl that I heard attains here. It's really strange how this all sounds to me but hmmm….her name is Seen Winters. She use to work with me and I need her help in fixing my computer…like desperately in fixing my computer." Jeffery explained smiling nervously.
"Wow," The secretary had to laugh at this or maybe this was a prank. Why was this girl so special, she questioned. "Let me guess…Boyfriend?"
"Ehh…No," Jeffery felt awkward by her comment and why would she come to that conclusion. "I'm pretty sure I'm just a friend."
A sudden cold chill run up his spin as he heard the thumping of heavy shoes stopped behind him. The tinkling feeling surging through his body made his stomach turn as it resembled another time in his life when he use to be bullied in elementary school, as a sign of danger was near.
Jeffery turned around slowly and stared up from the tall structured man having a gleeful smile express on his face.
"Let's take a walk shall we." Cromartie said.
On school grounds sitting on a bench eating potato chips, John wondered where the female duo, Cameron and Seen was as he looked at his watch. It was their free period and yet they both was nowhere in site.
This behavior was strange coming from Cameron as he thought she would be watching him every five seconds. However, since Seen appeared she was spending more time with her then him. He thought he would feel relieved that his protector was not hovering over him; unfortunately, he was apprehensive knowing what type of danger that follows Seen. The scary part about that notion was her ability to lie with a straight face from her perilous acts, which put his mother on edge lately. If her precarious acts involved Cameron in the mix, his mother would have a heart attack, John thought.
Luckily, as of yet, his mother was safe from health problems. Although, the missing presence from his protector, suspicion arouse as John thought the two girls were either planning something behind closed doors or right in front of him and was unable to piece the puzzle from their plan. He hoped he stumbles upon it before his mother does. His goal was to keep the peace in the house for another week to ease his nerves.
Darkness fell upon his vision, as warmth from soft hands cover his eyesight. He smirked from the strange behavior not defensive to the action.
"Guess who?" A voice asked in a ludic fashion.
"I don't know," said John playing along. "Do I want to know?"
Riley released her hold upon his eyes and lightly tapped on his shoulder teasingly as he knew of her presence.
"Got you Mr. Baum." Riley said smiling and sat next to him on the bench.
"Chip?" John placed his bag out for her to take one.
"Well thank you Mr. Baum." Riley took a chip and ate one.
"You like calling me by my last name?"
"Indeed I do. But don't ask me why I call you it. I guess it just latched on a month ago when we met," said Riley as she saw John gaily behavior. She became curious from his sudden change in attitude. The crease across his face proves this from his genuine smile.
"What are you so... cheerful about? Something good happen on your absence from school lately?"
The question was a mystery even from John since he came back from the mission. It was inconclusive to judge the truthfulness from his excitement. Was it from the successful mission or the praise from Seen after the mission?
He became obsessive since the mission over the simple praise. Did her military status made it stand out than a random person speaking the words 'nice job'? Still confused by this himself, it gave him motivation and determination to complete the decrypting program before the weekend ended for her.
"I don't know," said John playing it off. "Why? Do I look happier then normal?"
"Yes you do," Riley replied amused by his sarcastic comment. "Well anyway, it is a Friday night. You want to hang out or something?"
"And go where?"
"I don't know, just somewhere. We can drive around LA until we figure it out. I like driving to places."
Riley glanced at a couple in the distance holding hands and peak kissing among one another, showing the love from their relationship. She cleared her throat and looked at John feeling somewhat nervous they have not experienced their first kissed. She was even uncertain if they were boyfriend and girlfriend. All she knew was they liked each other's company.
The vibe she felt sometimes from John, she was uncertain if she meant more to him then just a friend. It plagued her at nights sometimes, which kept her mind occupied from the other memories that she desperately wanted to forget in her life.
The long pause between them felt awkward as John notice something was bothering her. Unfortunately, asking her now was out of the question as he saw Cameron and Seen at a vending machine that distracted his thoughts instantly.
"Hey you know what? How about we rent a couple movies instead of riding around LA and then we can hang out at your place. I'll bring the popcorn." Riley said jubilantly.
She thought this would be a good idea and it would allow her to become more familiar with John on where their relationship was.
John hemmed and hawed when she insisted his place for the event. With all that was happening in his life lately, he was hesitant if that was a good suggestion. He never brought anybody home from outside there circle before.
Would his mother yell at him for Riley's unexplainable presence in the house? Would his uncle share his mother's opinion about outsiders? Would Cameron distaste Riley even further because she was a security risk? The only person he thought would probably have his back in all of this would be Seen. She liked to stay neutral in situations such as these and plus she knew Riley from art class.
Then John started to replay everything in his mind again and wondered why he was denying himself to have the day off and spend it with a friend. He most likely earned it and he could start creating the program tomorrow for Seen. It was a Friday and he thought he should enjoy it.
"Okay," said John smiling as her face lit up joyfully. "How about Zombie movies then?"
"Dawn of the Dead the classic or the remake." Riley suggested as they were surprisingly both good.
"You choose."
"Okay then. I'll also bring Shawn of the Dead, very funny movie."
"Sure why not." John chuckled, as he never heard of the movie before. Whatever she wanted, he will watch it. He wanted to make this her day since he was unsure what was bothering her when his mind became preoccupied.
"Then it is a date. After school." Riley said thrilled as she took another chip from his bag and walked off.
John repeated the word date again in his mind. Was it a date? He began to question their friendship. The sudden date could conclude where their relationship stood. He just hoped it goes well.
The thriving restaurant of Joe's Place was always busy at the beginning of the weekend as families were pouring in left and right. It was hard to keep up as the waiters were running everywhere trying to attain to people's order. Mr. Sullen, the storeowner, was slaving over the stove as he was doing four jobs at once being short staffed. One of his employee's, Jeffery, was absent and was pronounced a no call no show. Even though he knew teenagers were unreliable sometimes but this was unusual for Jeffery absence, the manager thought.
Although it was hectic in the restaurant, immediately, the store manager noticed Cromartie walking through the front door. From his nice tailored suit and his straight-faced expression, the strange man looked suspicious as the storeowner made sure Cromartie was oblivious from his questionable stare.
The machine walked over to a woman working the register as she was ringing a customer up for their food. A photo was place in front of her as this quickly grabbed the attention from the cashier. She recognized the girl in the photo as she was curious why the man had it in his hand.
"I'm with the FBI," Cromartie showed the confused woman his badge on his hip and covered it back with his suit jacket. "I'm conducting an investigation from a fugitive case and I think this girl may have knowledge of the two fugitives' whereabouts. Her name is Seen Winters and I heard she work's here."
"To tell the truth, Seen hasn't been working here in over a month," said the woman in a southern accent. "She hasn't called, none of us have heard from here or seen her. It's like she disappeared. However, I've been working at dinning places such as these for ten years…these kids come and go. It doesn't surprise me all that much. Although the girl was an odd child I can tell you that."
"Odd?" Cromartie titled his head like a curious dog as this could give him more information on what his target was doing in Los Angles. "How?"
"Well, not much. Let me think," The woman looked at a kid at a table doodling in a coloring book. "Oh yes I remember. I know I saw her sometimes, well most of the time, hanging out at the newsstand across the street from here reading comic books."
"Comic books?" That word was foreign to Cromartie as he wanted to know what that was.
"I know weird. I never seen a girl read comic books before like her. It was like an extreme hobby with her. She would carry like three or four with her to work and read them during her breaks. However, I think I saw her going to the comic book store from time to time located at the corner on 1600 Norway Street. Thinking about it now, I'm actually positive about it." The woman explained.
Cromartie smiled as that was all he needed. "Thank you for your time."
"Is it something bad?" She asked with concern in her voice.
Cromartie turned around and looked at the woman again.
"I mean…I hope she's not in any trouble. Los Angles can bring out the worse in people and I've seen it happen on many occasions. I just want to know if she's okay."
"You don't have to worry ma'am. I'll make sure she's safe." Cromartie curled up his lip in a smile.
He turned around like a robotic doll as his expression changed back to impassive and began to walk out of the restaurant. The storeowner took out his cell phone inside one of the apron pockets he was wearing and began to dial a number quickly. A male voice was heard on the receiving end.
"Brandon, we have a little situation. I will advice you to get in contact with Seen. We have a hole that needs to be buried." Mr. Sullen glanced out the restaurant window watching Cromarite get into a car.
Walking home from school, every house they passed, Seen noticed the satellite dish ranging from variety of sizes positioned on different areas on the homes. Imprinted on each satellite dish, was the company logo from the provider that rented the equipment to their consumers.
An idea came to her as this might solve the weak signal coming into the house she was unable to fix without arousing too much suspicion.
"Was it wise to leave John alone?" Cameron asked her friend trying to understand her logic in accepting his request.
"He'll be fine," said Seen in her calm manner, still inspecting each house they walked passed. "Besides, he'll be home before us…or so he says."
"John can be reckless sometimes." Cameron said giving an admonition response from his past actions in protecting his younger self.
"John's always reckless. Especially now that he's a teenager. Teenagers tend to see how far they can get away with their actions from their parents. Its being rebellious is what they call it. I call it pure stupidity." Seen replied as she stopped at a particular home that caught her interest greatly.
"I know. You still do it." Cameron slightly smiled. She remembered her actions, as Seen was still a teenager as well.
"Ha ha," Seen mock her sarcastic statement. "I'll let you have that one."
Watering his lawn with the water hoes, as it looked rich and neutered then any other lawn on the block, the homeowner stared at the two girls curious that were admiring his home.
"Say…That's a nice satellite." Seen brightly smiled.
Riley was impressed standing in the middle of a living merge dinning room of John's home. It sure had that home smell to it, like old hardwood floor, age furniture smell and the design as well. It was nothing what she pictured it to be. Judging by the weird persona John gave at school, she thought more of a typical broken home or something along the line. However, it was clean and neat in which brought more mystery why John avoided interaction with other students at school besides his sister, Morris and her. Maybe she could find out today, she thought.
"Nice place." Riley said still holding her book bag slung over her shoulder as John was standing a few feet away from her.
"Yeah I guess." John coyly smiled in second-guessing his judgment to bring her home.
Even though Seen agreed with his decision, knowing she would, but that still left three other people not on the same page as him. When he left school, he swore he saw Cameron scowling look towards Riley, still disapproving of her presence. It could be him being paranoid knowing machines are unable to feel emotions, but luckily Seen was there to calm the tension in the atmosphere. She was very good at that with her sarcastic wit in which John enjoyed that trait about her even though others thought she was unusual.
Noticing it was quiet in the house Riley asked, "Where's your sister and mom?"
"My sister is hanging out with a friend and my mom's probably working to make sure the world stay in one piece." John said, as his answer was actually true.
"Your mother is a social worker?" Riley asked interested in learning personal information about John she never asked before.
"You can say that. Her people skills come in handy when getting what she wants." John said bashfully as his mother was very direct in her job when it came to taking down Skynet.
"Hey, if it saves the little people then hats off to her. I heard being a social worker is hard work." Riley smirked. She wondered what his mother was like and wanted to meet her in person.
"You have no idea." John mumbled. If she found out that his mother was called 'The Legend' that trained the famous 'John Connor' then she would pass out, or run for the hills concluding that his entire family was psychotic.
The kitchen caught her attention as she lingered over to it wanting to make the popcorn she brought.
"Okay so, I got zombie movies, vampire movies and Transformers the original cartoon movie for our entertaining selection today." Riley said.
Confused by that last choice even though he knew what it was, John asked, "Transformers?"
"Oh come on. You're trying to tell me you've never liked watching Transformers when you were a kid. If Optimus Prime was running for president, I would vote for him because the guy is so badass." Riley said enthusiastically.
He oddly looked at her. "But he's a robot…From space. And I also think you actually have to be born in United States to be the president."
Riley humorously smirked. "Smartass."
She chuckled and went over to the microwave, unwrapped the plastic covering to the popcorn and placed it inside.
After thinking about her comment, he wanted her full opinion about robots. Although he knew it was just fictional from her prospective, but it would give him insight on her personally if she ever found out about Cameron true nature and his life destiny.
"So…what do you think…you know…about robots?" John asked nervously.
Riley was oblivious from John's discomfort as her attention was on the microwave and turned the machine on.
"If I had my own personal robot, then I would ask him to do my homework," said Riley jokily as she chuckled at the idea. "I'm just playing but, I guess we would hang out, go to movies. I don't know, I guess teenager stuff. He'll probably be a cool friend to have around. If anybody messes with me he'll protect me."
The refrigerator was her next stop as she opened it and grabbed a can soda.
"That's kind of interesting," said John as Cameron was mostly like that with him.
Although it wasn't the same feeling since the damage to her chip and she tried to kill him. However, he was trying to re-hatch the broken bond between them. Recently it has been going well even though they do have their arguments.
"What's interesting?" Riley asked as she opened the soda can.
"I'm surprised you didn't say it, like most people but you called it him."
Riley slightly smiled in a sedative way. "Are you jealous?"
John felt intimidated by her body language as this told his mind she wanted to be more then just friends and it came out from talking about alien robots. How ironic, he thought.
"No, not really," said John and then looked out the living room for a second. For some reason the question about robots was still on his mind. "But if you really met a real robot, would you keep that mind set?"
Riley was dubious why John keep this conversation going but she would go along.
"First, I would flip out, hands down. Then I would lose my mind trying to keep it safe from the outside world. It seems like adults always want to change something cool into something destructive. No wonder why this world is screwed up." Riley said sadden.
John noticed the disconsolate tone in her voice when she answered him. Was it compassion or was it something else that happened in her life she was trying to indicate in confessing to him.
"Anyway Mister, are you going to show me your room?" Riley asked switching out of her depressed mood quickly to her usual spunky self. "You probably got a cool guy room or something, like rock and roll posters plastered everywhere on the wall."
"Well," John cursed to himself and forgotten about his still childish room. It was now that he started to regret bringing her over his house. What would she think of him when she saw his room? Shamefaced, the thought made it unbearable to imagine her reaction. It was time for a good lie.
"My family just moved into this house not to long ago and I haven't changed my room from what it was before. I've been busy. Extremely busy." It was the truth since his hectic life has been a problem for him over the months.
"How busy can you be?" Riley asked curious.
The blue cloud wallpaper surrounding the room added by kiddy airplanes with red and grey designs covering the rest of it, the red, yellow and blue bed boards to the small miniature furniture, Riley smiled at John's bedroom design standing in the doorway.
John just wanted to jump out of the window at this point of embarrassment. Second on his to do list, change his bedroom.
"The deals are falling into place after the convincing performance from John Henry at the I.Q. party. Things are going according to plan for us." Weaver said and then took a sip of her whine.
"The Turk is called John Henry now. I have a feeling it was Brian's idea." Dealer said amused by the name and understanding what the names signifies.
Both women were in Weaver's office eating lunch, discussing the future development of Cyberdyne. Though excited from the turn of events from the party, Weaver had an odd feeling that Dealer felt vivaciously today. She had a feeling it happened during the party and John Henry was not the center from her blithely persona.
It was difficult to read Dealer and unsure if that was a good or bad given the position she was in. Weaver liked to be able to predict her associates in understanding their capabilities to succeed at a job when presented. However, for Dealer she would only draw a blink. If an emotion merged from her boss, the erratic act would lead to an uncharacteristic action the next minute. It was unknown to Weaver what Dealer was capable of doing that sometimes put her on edge when acting upon unauthorized action without her knowledge.
"I'm surprised." Weaver said always-studying Dealer when she paid a visit.
"About what?" Dealer asked eating her lunch.
"You like Chinese food and not just any Chinese food." Weaver said becoming fascinated from this discovery as it was unusual to understand it herself.
"Chinese food is Chinese food no matter where it comes from. Paying it for cheap is where people get the best Chinese food instead out of a restaurant that can't even tell me what's in an egg roll." Dealer explained enjoying the lunch she was eating.
"Another interesting fact about you Dealer, you're not kin on the best of the best as I assumed you might be. Then again, maybe it deals with your change in behavior lately."
Dealer shot her a glance wondering what she was concluding in her mind. "And that is?"
"I don't know…after the party you seem…"
"Human." Dealer said and gave a slight smile.
"I was just going to say more enthusiastic," said Weaver as her comment was a bizarre reply. "However, I also know you're not excited about the success from the party. Are you going to tell me what actually happened at the party behind closed doors? I know everything that goes around my own home."
Dealer smirked that she did notice the actions at the party besides the presentation. All of a sudden, the image of the teenage boy flash in her mind, as she knew it was he. John Connor.
"Nothing happened," Dealer finally said. "I'll worry about security. You do your part."
Judging by her defensive comment, Weaver decided to drop the conversation. One thing she learned about Dealer since she employed her; never make her think one was a liability. If that happens, the person vanished as if they were a ghost to begin with. Weaver liked to stay visible to the public. She had to be cautious not to lead Dealer into replacing her position.
Dealer glanced at Weaver deep in thought as she smirked. "You'll never figure me out Catherine. Only one person have and that person in not in this time."
Another peculiar comment, Weaver thought. "Dead?"
"I'm working on it." Dealer said as she bit into her egg roll.
Laughter was heard in John's room, as Riley and John were enjoying their company with one another and being entertained with the movie choice Riley have suggested, Transformers The Movie. Although John wanted to watch Shawn of the Dead from reading the description on the back of the DVD case, however Riley explained the mood was off to watch it just yet. Since he wanted to make it her day, John complied too her demands.
Watching robots duke it out with one another, good vs. evil, this was actually his life or what it will be in the future when he reprogram the machines to fight for their cause such as Cameron and Uncle Bob. Even though it was odd watching a cartoon movie, he did feel nostalgic re-hatching the memory when he was eight years old. Watching cartoons in the morning and reading comic books was the only time he felt like a normal child since he rarely had any friends.
"Wow, I really miss watching this show. The 80's and 90's were the good years when cartoons was at it's peak. Now it's all educational now." Riley said sitting next to him on his child like bed.
"I guess you can say that." John said scratching his head then smiling at her.
His smile made Riley stare at him for a minute as her stomach was feeling nervous or others would say butterflies. Being around John, she felt different then the other boys she hung around with. She felt safe and able to express herself more freely then telling a lie to elude the fact she was different then normal girls. This unknown feeling, she wanted to express this with him and understand where their relationship was heading. She wanted to know. No, she needed to know.
"You know John. You're a really cool guy." Riley said.
"A cool guy?" John repeated amused by her logical response in describing him. Judging by his room, he thought she might have a wrong impression about him.
"Well yeah," said Riley. "Most guys I met are so in love with themselves, all they want to do is score the next hot girl they meet and nothing else."
Riley stared into his gentle eyes as she moved in closer towards him on his bed but still kept a few inches between them.
"But…you're different. You care about people."
John could almost feel her breath touching his skin as his heart began to race at a rapid pace. With the sexual tension in the air, John got a definite answer of what there relationship was to one another. He straightened himself as his hands became sweaty from his nerves. He wanted to touch her but was afraid of the reaction she might give him. If only she made the move first, it would not be so difficult. He wanted to kiss her but felt constricted by his thoughts to stop his movements to carry out the request. The problems in his life were stopping him and he knew it. He invited her too much into his life and any further could result in deadly consequences.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. His mix messages already began Riley in her pursuit to advance forward. Cautious in her movements, John knew what Riley intended to do, as his body was not resisting, indicating to her to proceed with her full intentions. His body was following his hormones than his mind as he closed his eyes waiting for her kiss.
Almost about to touch his lips, Riley paused.
A few seconds passed as John felt nothing. Why did she stop? He opened his eyes and saw her gaze divert towards his window in a curious fashion. Then voices caught his attention outside. He cursed to himself as it had to happen now.
"I think somebody is here." Riley said and slide off his bed.
Wanting to know whom it was as the voice sound familiar, she walked to his window. She opened the curtains but was puzzled as this stopped her actions. Although the room she could take as being unusual but what was on his windows made her become suspicious about John.
"You duct tape your windows?" Riley looked at John baffled.
Florid in complexion from his embarrassment, John forgot about the window. He thanked Seen in his mind because it was her idea. Now it was time for a quick lie again.
"It came with the room." He said.
Ignoring it for now, Riley opened his window as sunlight poured into the once darken room. Two figures walking towards the house caught her attention. Surprised, she had to double check what she was witnessing as she saw Cameron and Seen carrying a satellite around the back of the house.
"What's she doing here?" Riley suddenly walked out of John's room.
John cursed to himself again as it could be his mother. Why did she have to come now in her bad timing?
"Wait Riley!" He called, chasing her out of his room.
Riley was now stuck on autopilot wanting to know why she was here. Coming to the base of the steps, she looked around the combined living and dinning room. She knew they came into the house but where did they venture too. Riley heard rattling at the front door entrance as she saw the wooden door swing open.
She paused as if caught in an action of stealing something in the house.
Sarah walked through the front door and started to look at the mail as she sighed that it was only bills for the month.
However, an unfamiliar presence was in the room as Sarah vision glanced forward. Her eyes made contact with a blonde hair, young teenage girl, as Riley looked surprised by seeing her presence.
Not seeing anybody in the room, the first thought came to Sarah's mind was this girl was robbing them or gathering information to give to her employer. Whatever her motives were, Sarah thought the girl was going to answer to her gun.
"Who are you?" Sarah finally asked with a stern look. Her hand slowly placed the mail on the nightstand next to her as well as the car keys. She did not want to make any big movements just incase the girl had a weapon on her.
Footsteps come down the staircase as eyes meet her son. His quandary look directed towards his mother gave her the indication that this girl was with him.
"Hi I'm Riley…from John's school." Riley spoke as she pointed to John now standing next to her in an out of breath manner.
Everything was starting to unravel quickly then his original plan in introducing Riley to his mother, John thought. He was going to break it to her gently knowing how she felt about company entering their home no matter whom they were. To her they were all a security risk.
Furious that her son would bring a classmate to their home, Sarah calmed herself and brought her tone to a respectable level not to frighten the girl.
"John you care to explain?" Sarah asked forcing a smile shadowed by her furious anger inside that wanted to lash out at her son's ill-advised actions.
John knew that smile. It read anger and in along the line in killing him. He was lucky for once in his life he was the savior of all mankind or she might have killed him or shot him, which ever came first.
About to justify his actions, noise in the background caught the people in the room attention. What Riley was searching for in the beginning walked out from the kitchen.
"I'm telling you he won't miss it. It's called company insurance." Seen chuckled as Cameron smiled about that notion.
However, the scene they stumbled upon made both girls stopped in their tracks. A glower look snapped towards Seen as she saw the furious look inside Sarah daggering eyes. The facial expression John's mother was showing she knew this was going to turn ugly in a few second. Before it came to that, Seen thought she should speak her case now before Sarah began shooting up a storm.
"I have nothing to do with this." Seen said.
This time she was unable to help John from the wrath of his mother. He was on his own and besides she already had her fair share from Sarah's yelling the entire month. She needed a break.
"John. Kitchen. Now." Sarah said pronouncing every word how outrange she was with everybody in the house at this point from their callow behavior.
She would have started with Seen giving her military status, hoping she would be in charge if Derek and her were absent, but decided to give her son the ear full first.
Sarah walked into the kitchen ahead of her son.
"I'll be right back." John said telling Riley in a low voice.
"Did I do something wrong?" Riley asks concerned, as he knew his mother was enraged about her presence.
John sighed about his mother's reaction. "No. Just stay here okay. This will just take a minute."
Watching John trail off into the kitchen to confront his mother, Cameron eyes directed at Riley, watching the girl in her deadpan expression. She told John to stay away from Riley and know he caused a problem by his actions. It always confused her why John does these things to jeopardize his security. Either way, it gave her a chance to analyze her threat level.
The stare Riley received from Cameron creep her out as always when she was around John's sister. Her impassive gaze gave her goose bumps. Then Riley looked at Seen, the person she's been trying to find since she noticed her presence outside the house. As always, Seen weird behavior was always an eye catcher as she gave Riley an enliven smile. She would not be surprised she attracted Cameron to her. They were kind of the same. Strange unusual girls one would say.
"What are you doing here Seen?" Riley asked amused by their unusual reencounters with one another.
"I'm…Cameron's friend." Seen said avidly while patting Cameron on the back.
The emotionless machine slowly looked at Seen elated behavior as her weird human friend gave her a smile.
Pacing back and fourth, Sarah had a jokily smile on her face as she had to think this was funny. She watched her son come into the kitchen.
"Who's Riley?" Sarah asked biting her tongue to contain her voice in wanting to scream at the top of her lungs for the whole neighborhood to hear.
"She's from school. She wanted to hang out so we decided on movies." John said leisurely as his mother was misinterpreting the entire situation.
"John she can't be here right now."
John started to become irritated with the rules and regulation in this house that annoyed him to no end.
"Why is that?" John answered. "She's not a security threat. She's normal, not a machine and not trying to kill me."
"Look John, I know you want a normal life to live, but we can't have people knowing where we live, especially this house." Sarah said feeling his loneliness to be around others his age. However, in his predicament it could never be, as long as Skynet was still alive.
John wanted to scream about this, about everything his mother always telling him. However, today she was not going to get her way. Today he promised himself he was going to make this day happy for Riley and enjoy himself on a Friday for once. Was it so much to enjoy an afternoon? Well today, he decided it would be that day.
"She's not a security risk and that is it." John's answer audacity shocked his mother from making another comment.
He gave her a hard stern look and walked out of the kitchen. This attitude surprised Sarah about her son in defining her wishes.
"If it's going to be a problem I can leave." Riley said as John approached her.
"No it's fine. Come on." John kindly smiled and took her hand.
He guided her up the steps as Sarah watched below with her arms folded disapproved by her son actions. She wanted to stop him because she knew how stories like these end, when they find one to soothed their loneliness. She wanted her son to avoid it as much possible. Judging from her past actions of failures to keep her son safe, she realized she couldn't prevent everything.
Hearing rustling behind her, Sarah turned her attention towards the closet. Seen took out an electrical drill from a toolbox and inspected the device as it was capable for the task she needed it for.
With the heated tension in the room, Seen decided to reply to the question of what Sarah was thinking before she could say it.
"Is this my fault now?" Seen asked and looked at the worried mother. "Humans are social animals Sarah. None of us would be here if they weren't."
Seen walked towards the front door and outside as Cameron placed a ladder on the side of the house to begin their side project.
On edge trying to enjoy the movie Shawn of the Dead, John was still furious about his mother's reaction. Why was she so arrogant to understand where he was coming from? She lived her teenage years' normal and it was not fair for him to be deprived from that experience. Becoming the future leader of mankind, a title he never wanted, was never an honor, but a burden. Was his life always going to be like this, allowing Skynet dictate his life? Will he always fall a victim to his destiny? John clenched his fist in frustration at his side replaying the horrible events in his life from the never sleeping monster.
Perturbed by his doleful expression, Riley noticed John's discomfort.
"Hey, you okay?" She asked solicitously.
Snapping out of his thoughts, John smiled at his concerned friend or girlfriend as of now. "Sure. It is nothing. This movie is pretty funny."
He was lying, too focused about his depressing life to understand what was happening in the movie to crack a genuine smile.
Coming to the top of the stairs, Sarah was going to head to the bathroom until she stopped at a particular door. It was John's bedroom door, as the door was closed. She heard voices' talking, as it was her son and Riley.
Still fuming about the situation, she thought her son would have more common sense to never invite anybody to the house. Her soul purpose in her life was for his protection and he was jeopardizing it with this recent stunt. Disliking the idea of being pressed upon to be the enforcer in the house but she had no choice for everybody's safety.
"You know you can talk to me." Riley says worried, as she wanted John to enjoy himself acknowledging his melancholy expression across his face.
John looked at her, desperately wanting to tell her everything about his life but he refuse. He did not know where to begin if he could.
"It's okay…seriously." He said.
Riley knew he was holding back and decided to take a different approach in finding out the reason. "So…That's your mom?"
"Yes…that's…my mom." John said disappointed.
"I'm surprised."
John curiously glanced at her. "Surprised about what?"
"She didn't overreact with Seen."
"Well," John had to think about this twice in explaining Seen's situation. "Seen's a special case and also the fact that she lives with us."
"She's related to you too?!" Riley asked surprised.
"No!" John quickly said. "She's…adopted. My mother adopted her. She kind of fell into our lap or actually we fell into her lap."
Riley thought about it as it made sense considering her approval status with Seen and not her. "I guess I'll grow on your mother. She's not all that bad if she's taking kids into her home."
"Yeah I guess so." John replied, as she had no idea the real Sarah Connor.
"I guess it's the process of being a teenager," Riley smiled brightly as she light tapped John's shoulder to cheer him up from his gloomy expression.
John finally gave a genuine smile acknowledging her corky action as it was working. He needed this feeling of being normal around others. Even if it was for a brief minute, John decided to take their relationship slow, encase something was to happen to keep her safe. In the Connor family, something always happens.
Hearing the entire conversation, Sarah walked away from his door and headed to the bathroom. The conversation between John and Riley made her think more clearly about her son's life. The insufferable loneliness that occupied her existence everyday of her life since Kyle Reese left this world. It still pain struck her every time she thought about him.
About to turn on the faucet sink, Sarah heard banging on top of the roof as she looked up. The movement on the roof disturbed her entire thought process as she wanted to know what was the engineer and the machine doing this time.
Eyes focused above, baffled, Sarah stared at the rooftop of the house as Cameron and Seen was securing a satellite dish into position. Feeling trapped into one of Seen's head games, Sarah wondered where she acquired the satellite just like the other questionable items the girl had hidden away that she found around the house.
Finally done, Seen shook Cameron's hand playfully in a job well done as they both smiled at each other from the childish exchange. Making her way to the ladder, Seen saw Sarah bemused expression, wondering about their actions.
"Where you get that?" Sarah asked because it finally dawned on her that she stole it.
Seen made her way down the ladder and smiled at John's mother. "From a generous neighbor."
Sarah looked down the driveway and then at the girl curious from which neighbor.
"You stole it didn't you?"
"I'm borrowing it," Seen replied, finding it hard to accept Sarah concern about her thieving actions. The whole property including almost everything in the house was stolen. "They'll get it back when were done saving the world. It maybe a couple months or a year but they'll get it back."
Sarah was aphonic from that answer.
"Trust me." Seen smirked and walked passed Sarah.
Last coming down the ladder, Cameron gave Sarah her usual blank expression. "We'll give it back. Besides, they have insurance."
Disconcerted, Sarah watch the two girls head back into the house still befuddled by there bizarre answers. With everything that was happening in her life, she finally convinced herself that she was truly trap in the twilight zone.