Thanks to those who reviewed and also to those who read!
TSCC FAN: Thanks for the support there! I just have to say, part 2 seemed to have more action and all the stuff are there!
mitchellsunf: Thanks! I hope the action here wouldn't disappoint. And yeah, I think you can say that. When John is having the transition, Sarah and Derek wouldn't be back but you will have small glimpse of Derek. Sarah's part would come in part 2 (First few chapters of part 2)
kaotic2: Thanks and that's alright! Don't hesitate to tell me what's really wrong with it (even if you don't like where the plot if going etc.) Don't worry; I'll make the chapters worthwhile. And I guess I just have lots of ideas for this…Erm, is that a good thing?
zahnfan23: Thanks so much! Your reviews are greatly appreciated!
As promised, the action in this chapter!
Chapter 24: Confrontation
"John?" Cameron called out. Her voice echoed back to her immediately. Cameron had no idea where she is. Wherever she was, it is pitch black and after cursing her 'malfunctioned' night vision, Cameron walked forward.
Her hand flew up and rubbed her belly subconsciously. She noticed it was larger than when she last remembered.
"John?" She called out a second time; feeling around the back of her waistband for her Glock but it wasn't there, neither was her holster. She kept walking and finally saw a door, it looked familiar but Cameron just couldn't match a memory to it. Giving up on finding the Glock, Cameron touched the cool handle of the door and pushed it open.
The room, unlike the outside, was lit up in a soft blue glow and projector shone everywhere on every wall. Cameron's lips parted as she stepped in. She couldn't remember this place better. It was her working room at Kaliba, except that all the projectors are switched on and there was no one there.
A single computer was left on to work the projector, beside it was a file filled with a hard copy of information. Cameron took a few steps and stood in front of a projector screen. On it was information about Terminator structures. It was like a broken record of the examination or experiment on how they go around building them. First, they showed the parts and material of the chip, then the body, then the joints, right down to the eyes.
Cameron gasped, taking in the information. She can't believe it. Turning away from the screen, she faced another. This one showed a human anatomy. Cameron could tell, it was a woman but not just any woman, it was a pregnant woman. Her organs were there but her bone structure was different from that of a normal human.
She frowned, taking a closer look. The infant looked to be about nearly due but there was something wrong. The infant's shiny endo skeleton was highlighted with a different color from its mother. It was in a fetus position, head pointing down and ready to be born. Subconsciously, Cameron touched her pregnant belly.
She shook her head, feeling tears well up in her eyes. Turning around, she marched briskly to the table, opening the file. It was statistics. About the baby…
Everything was all there. It's abilities, traits, 'functions', AI chip power, the state of its living tissue, power cell, it's IQ and EQ…
Cameron dropped the file, breathing erratic.
She could swear she just saw their baby, John's and hers in that file, on that screen. His life. His fate.
"Cameron."
She whipped around, looking at the familiar person in the doorway.
"John."
He took a step into the room, pointing at the projected anatomy of the woman pregnant with the machine, "That is the future. Humanity's future. Hybrid, Machines." He snapped harshly.
"John," Cameron felt her first tear flowed down her cheek, "I…I didn't want this."
"It was you. You started this, you're a damn machine!" John took two steps closer to Cameron, "You baited me into this."
"No," Cameron shook her head, matching John's step forward with her own backwards.
"Our future, mankind; freaks." John smirked, "Skynet wins."
"John," Cameron began to cry as she backed into a wall, "John, what're you doing?" She asked fearfully.
"Saving mankind." He smiled. Before she knew it, a sharp pain was felt in her belly.
She cried out in pain, crumbling to the floor. She wrapped her arms around her swollen belly protectively as it erupted in a constant pain.
"Now," John's eyes flashed with accomplishment, "Now we win," He smirked before pulling out his Glock. Cameron's eyes widened as she felt the muzzle of the gun on her forehead and the sound of it going off.
*
"JOHN!!!" Cameron screamed, jolting from her place at the table. She was breathing erratically and her chest heaved in and out in record time. She looked around the house, remembering it was empty, like it is supposed to be. John was not home yet. Her hand felt around her bulging belly, feeling the little life there, filling her with warmth. It was smaller than from her dreams, just like how it was supposed to be.
She looked at the pile of papers in front of her and realized she'd fallen asleep on her blueprints. Lying limply by the papers is her pencil. Cameron pursed her lips before calming herself.
She picked up the half drawn blueprint, realizing it was half of a triple eight coltan head. Cameron closed her eyes, feeling the nightmare flood back to her. In a sudden move, she stood up from the chair as she crushed the paper in her hand, throwing with all her might across the room. The paper hit the wall limply before falling to the floor.
Cameron sat back down, bursting into tears.
*
John walked to the SUV from Kaliba, stretching his sore neck. Mr Walsh had asked him to stay back and fix a machine before leaving so that the machine, like all others could work overnight to get the new batch of coltan done.
Must be picking on me for sneaking into his damned room. John grumbled and getting into the SUV, shutting the door.
He'd call Cameron just this evening to tell her he'll have to stay back a little later today. John could hear her, sad and worried, through the phone as she told him to be careful and informed him she'll take the cab home and they hung up.
John started the engine and sped to the guardhouse. He got waved through by a half asleep guard, whom John recognized to be the one who got his bribe.
John gave him a smile before speeding off into the night. He was anxious to get home. For one, he missed Cameron and he was worried if she got into trouble. No one is ever safe.
Besides, John was almost sure she had made dinner like she promised and waited for him till now. She'll be starving herself. John thought, going faster than the speed limit.
*
Cameron sniffed, jolting up from her seat and turned to face the main door. She heard a car engine; could be John. Could be Triple eight.
Cameron marched to the counter and pulled out the shotgun from behind it, cocking it. The door was flung open and John Connor stood there, hands raised with an amused expression.
She didn't say much as she placed the shotgun back to the initial position.
"Cam?" John frowned, noticing something is wrong with her instantly, with the lack of rolling of eyes or laughter. He glanced at the covered up plates on the table, knowing that's definitely their dinner.
"Are you hungry?" Cameron asked thickly.
"Cam, have you been crying?" John demanded, pulling her to face him by her upper arm, careful to be soft but firm on his grip.
"I'm fine John," She avoided his gaze.
"No, you're not." John said earnestly, looking straight into her red and puffy eyes. He read fear in her eyes from his experience with her all these years, "Cam," John pulled to him and embraced her gently.
Her warmth immediately seeped into John's body. He had been worried if something would happen and unfortunately, it did. He held her while she silently sobbed on his shoulder. He could feel her small hands clutching at his leather jacket.
"What's wrong?" John asked gently as he let go of her.
"Nothing," Cameron choked out, "I made spaghetti you want some?"
John narrowed his eyes in worry and suspicion before nodding, "Yeah, I'd love some."
She gave him a small smile, "I'll heat it up. You should go have a shower."
John watched as she walked to the table and cleared her blueprints, "Alright. Be careful."
Cameron gave him a small nod before proceeding to bring the food into the microwave oven. John went upstairs for a bathe, wondering what happened in his absence. She seemed out of it somehow but he couldn't put a lid on it.
Suddenly, John felt something at his foot, he stepped back cautiously. He bent over and picked up the ball of crumpled paper, opening it as he walked up the steps.
It was a realistic drawing structure of an endo head. Damn, she just can't get her head out of this. John sighed, tearing the paper into pieces and dumping it into the bin.
He picked up his towel and a fresh boxer before walking into the shower. Cameron might not have known but he'd heard her mumbling in her sleep something about machine and their baby. He should've known about this. He should've known about a lot of things.
*
"John!" Cameron placed the food on the table, "Food's done."
"Got it!" He replied, throwing down the half dismantled pistol and the cloth before dashing downstairs, topless and barefooted.
He sat down in the chair, picking up a fork and spoon. Cameron joined him, giving him a nervous smile. John looked at her earnestly, contemplating whether to question her. After a while, he decided not to, instead, John wanted to get her mind off it. He dug into his pocket and pulling out the notebook.
"New department proved useful." John passed it to her.
"What's this?" Cameron frowned, reading off the list of suppliers.
"The record of everything they have." John said, his mouth stuffed with spaghetti.
"Records? John, you sneaked into the record room?"
"I had to; they told me to get comfortable."
"I thought we agreed for you to stay safe."
"We didn't and besides, we got new lead now." John grinned. Cameron flashed him a doubtful look.
"Didn't we already have these information?"
"Yes, but we don't know where the stock come in from, specifically."
"50 tubs of water from the Waterworks Corporation?"
John shrugged, "Machines and humans alike, they need water."
Cameron thought about it for a moment, "We should take a look."
"Honestly, Cameron, checking out the shipyard is alright but water?" John asked incredously.
"Waterworks Corporation." Cameron corrected.
"Cam you've been out of it." John took the notebook from her, "chasing down skynet and killer robots can make you think-"
"John," Cameron interrupted, "It wouldn't hurt to have a look."
They stared over their food for a moment before John sighed, "Fine. Tomorrow, after work."
"I'll get the stuff ready," Cameron nodded, digging into her food.
"And you," John looked up from his food, pointing his fork at her to make his point known, "Bringing work home is the last thing I want from you."
*
"Mr Frye,"
"Yes. How's the boy today?"
"Good performance, said by Mr Walsh but boy's been to our record room." Aiden shifted from one leg to the other, pressing the ear phone closer to his ear.
There was silence.
"I want guards at Waterworks immediately," An alien voice said through the headphone, "And tell them, if they show up again, I want them dead."
"Yes,"
"Both of them," The deep voice stated stoically as the CCTV tapes played out. Two dark figures in the room in Aiden's study. The tape paused just as the camera locked in on John's face.
Three red ocular sensors brightened up in the dark room.
*
"I'll meet you in the parking lot at 6 after work alright?" John smiled, taking her hand gently as he drove to Kaliba. He felt her hand fondly as he struggled to concentrate on driving instead of on her.
"We've gone through this four times already." Cameron sighed, "This is the fifth."
"Bring pregnant makes you forgetful."
"Being pregnant make most women forgetful. I'm not most women."
"If you were, I doubted I'd love you." John grinned. Cameron chuckled, squeezing his hand. It really amazed him how all these small bickering always turned out refreshing
He made a turn to Kaliba, hitting the breaks abruptly. Cameron cried out in surprise and shock as she clutched onto the arm rest.
"John what-"
"Look." John pointed to the entrance of Kaliba. The front entrance of Kaliba was filled with men in black suits. They stood there, armed with guns and firearms. One of the guards turned and spotted their SUV. He shouted out and pointed to them. Instantly, the guards jumped into their Mercedes and BMWs.
"What the hell?" John growled, changing the gear and hitting the accelerator. The SUV was immediately shot back to reverse. John made a quick U-turn and drove off, the other cars hot on their tail.
"John, don't drive home," Cameron said anxiously, turning around to see the other cars, closing in on them.
"I know." John replied, hitting the accelerators to the limits. Then a shot rang out, hitting the rump of their SUV, "Cameron get down!" John shouted out anxiously. Two more shots were hit at them, shattering the rear glass window. He held Cameron's upper arm and tried to pull her down to take cover but she refused.
"John where's the shotgun?" Cameron shook off his grip and began looking around in the back for the gun.
"Cam don't be stupid. We're not facing them in an open firefight. Not with you in the crossfire." John growled, trying to pull her back.
"Found it," Cameron smirked, ignoring John entirely. He heard her filling the shotgun up. Before he can stop her, she winded down the window and stood in the car with the shotgun in one hand.
"Cameron don't!" John shouted, holding onto one of her hand desperately trying to pull her in while he struggled to drive.
He heard a shotgun rang out and made an attempt by turning the steering wheel a little. The bullet hit the car beside them and John heave a sigh of relief. He didn't need to be out there to figure out it almost hit Cameron.
John then heard Cameron began to fire back. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he spotted the bullets bounce off their windshield.
"Cam-" John growled but was cut off when he felt a hard impact on his rear as the BMW hit them.
Cameron cried out as she struggled to keep hold of the shotgun in hand. She shook off John's hold on her hand and used it to keep her balance and aimed at the tire of the BMW. She pressed the trigger and saw the car spin out of control as the bullet puncture their rubber tire entirely.
She cocked her shotgun with her right and held the door frame with her left as she shot at the other cars.
John glanced nervously at her, trying to keep his attention on driving. However, he figured it was kind of difficult when his pregnant wife is half hanging out of the window getting shot at. He made a turn to the free way, hoping to lose them. He heard two more shots rang out from Cameron's shotgun and two shouts from the men behind as her slugs killed them.
He managed a small smile of pride as he sped along. Cameron then sat back in, looking in the back for ammunition.
"Under your chair." John said distractedly. He heard her fill the shotgun up and continued shooting at the others. He began to feel anxious. At this rate, they are bound to run out of ammo before the others would and when they did, it'll be difficult to make their getaway. Why the hell are they chasing us anyway?!
He felt more bullet hit their SUV, some of them hitting the chairs and some shattering his front glass. John growled in annoyance, using the butt of his pistol to remove the broken windshield.
Then one of the BMW began to gain on them, driving by their SUV. John swore, winding down his window. Keeping one hand on the steering, John shot at the wheels of the BMW before they could shoot at him.
Then he heard a loud cry from Cameron and she fell limp at the window.
Instantly his world came crashing down.
"CAMERON! No no, no, Cam!" John struggled to get her in while he drove them into a tunnel. He glanced at her and noticed the bullet had hit her shoulder but she was still conscious, "Cam, stay awake alright? Cameron!"
"Yeah, I'm fine, John. Where's my Glock?" She managed a small smile before reaching over with her left hand to take the Glock from John's hand.
"Cameron! We can't win. We're running." He stated, pressing down the Glock in her hand before she can stand up and shoot at them again.
John began to panic when Cameron became bleary.
He cursed into the air before making a sharp U-turn just outside the tunnel. Many cars braked and honk at them. John heard some of the cars crashed with the ones going into the tunnel. He glanced in the rearview mirror to see some men coming out of the cars and attempting to chase them on foot, firing their pistols at them. Some of the bullets hit the car's rear but soon, they were out of sight.
John heaved a sigh of relief, glancing worriedly at Cameron, whose eyes are closed.
"Cameron can you hear me?!" John squeezed her hand, desperately trying to get a reply. He drove them out the tunnel and into the alley, trying to avoid police and unwanted attention to their bullet filled and windshield-less SUV.
He stopped the SUV abruptly, killing the engine. He intended to abandon it here and find another one.
John then turned to Cameron, pulling out the medical kit he'd place there a few days ago from under his chair and pulled away her jacket, unbuckling his seat belt to lean over.
He ripped the material at her shoulder, wincing as he caught sight of the bloodied hole.
"Cameron?" John spoke as he filled the syringe with anaesthesia.
"The men…" Cameron breathed out weakly.
"They're gone now," John replied, pushing the needle into her arm and emptying the content.
"Are you hurt?" She began panting, trying to talk while he inserted the anaesthesia into her.
"No, I'm good." John forced a smile, planting a small kiss on her forehead as he waited for the anaesthesia to take effect. She smiled and nodded before sinking to sleep. He removed the bullet expertly and wrapped up her shoulder.
After that, John rounded the SUV and opened the door at Cameron's side. He gently turned her to face him with her legs hanging out of the car. Delicately, he peeled up her shirt to reveal her belly. It was still his job to make sure both of them are safe after all. He bent down and pressed his ear on her stomach.
He could barely hear the little heartbeat. John realized it seemed to have a stronger heartbeat than other fetus. He began to worry if it is good. John needed a doctor to assure him but couldn't bring himself to send her to the hospital as Kaliba would be looking for them and the last thing Cameron can take is a fight.
He sighed, pulling down Cameron's shirt gently before leaning on the door frame. John placed his right hand on her belly softly and took her left hand in his.
It was a good old 20 minutes before Cameron stirred. John let go of her hand as she brought it up to rub her eyes. That is new…John mused.
"Cameron?" John whispered, leaning in closer to her. She groaned before opening her eyes.
"What happened?" Cameron asked blearily.
"We lost those guys but you got hurt." John replied, feeling the guilt choke him at the throat. Cameron chuckled before removing his hand from her belly and held it in both of hers.
"I got hurt and it's my fault. I wasn't careful." Cameron assured.
"But I was supposed to take care of you."
"Either ways, I'm fine now and you patched me up."
"Whatever you say," John forced a smile, leaning in and giving her a brief kiss on her forehead.
"Good, now I say we go to the Waterworks." Cameron smiled warmly.
John froze, "No way Cam, you do realize you're hurt quite badly right?"
"Can we wait? The quicker we get to the bottom of this the better." Cameron countered. It was a while of convincing and a little demanding on her part before John gave in. After all, Cameron did have a pretty persuasive effect on him.
"So we go back to steal a car?" John asked as Cameron told him the plan she made up.
"Not back, we're stealing one here." Cameron corrected.
"The Connors strike back." John whistled and collected their stuffs, their shotgun, ammunition, medical kit and the toolbox.
"John?" Cameron asked just as John took out the toolbox from the boot, "Does this mean we won't be going back to Kaliba? I mean, there may still be some information we might need and besides, they have information on us."
John chuckled, "Going back there is as good as getting butchered. They sent men to kill us. About the stuff we might need from Kaliba; we might have to go back there but not without a couple of plastiques and guns. And we put in fake address so it doesn't exactly matter. Just don't pick up your phone. To conclude this, we're fired."
"So it's just us again?" Cameron asked hopefully.
"It's always been just us." John smiled. Cameron nodded with a grin, walking ahead, "Ever since I bought you out of that house it's all about us. Our story is just the two of us…" He mumbled.
To be continued…
Next Chapter: After escaping barely from the attack from Kaliba, John and Cameron went to have a look at the Waterworks Corporation. There, they make a more shocking discovery that throw them headlong into another mission.