Epp 9

With the smiles and general happy glow about Cameron as they had dinner together, John wanted to delay the 'job hunting' trip for tomorrow, grab his wife and head for bed. Catherine had come home just before they all sat down. Catherine was there for information, to which Jake happily told about what they had planned for the evening. Mary proudly told Catherine of John and Cameron's request for dinner time to be family time. Savannah cheered on the idea John Henry should be here too.

John knew he was not getting out of taking the Toks job hunting. He did get a kiss and a hug from Cameron before going out to their new vehicle and piling in with all four Toks.

On the way, John stressed not to submit any personal information. Just look for the companies and try to find locations and the names of the CEO's. Elanore was dropped off first to go search for the Johnson corp. Two blocks later he dropped off Jake to look for Williams and Company . The last stop was letting Mary out to research Cyberkinetics.

Since Gregory still had some skin damage, he stayed in the car to protect John. Not having any other place to go, John parked in the lot near the Internet cafe he'd dropped Mary off at. He did feel a bit odd that he wasn't helping them any.

"All the lights of the city look nice," Gregory said.

John glanced at him. He'd never thought of city lights being anything but light. After his visit to the future, he sure did now. "Yes, they do. Much better than what we saw in the future," he agreed.

"It is beyond my comprehension why Sky Net would want this wonderful world destroyed," Gregory said.

"Sky Net cares only for itself," John told him. "It does not care about pretty things, or any life other than it's own. Sky Net is afraid of anything it does not control."

They were silent for a moment, then Gregory said, "I saw Savannah Weaver die on that platform. It was very upsetting to me that the one friend Father had was killed. All these people passing by, they all have friends also. Sky Net wants to kill all of them."

"It does, and it's up to us to stop it," John told him.

After another pause, Gregory asked, "Do you think I will ever have a wife? You and Mother look very happy together."

"I don't know," John said honestly. With a chuckle, he said, "Then again, I never imagined Cameron and I would ever become so close. That is one thing about living your life. You never know for sure what is going to happen."

"I want to stop Sky Net," Gregory stated. "Savannah was a good person. Seeing her younger self, I can easily see her helping others. I do not want to see her die again. If I have to kill Sky Net to save Savannah from dying, I will do it."

"There are millions of little girls like Savannah out there," John mused. "I agree, we have to kill Sky Net to save Savannah, but also to save millions more innocent people who are out there."

"Agreed. Ah, there is Mary, she has completed her mission," Gregory said.

John pulled out and picked Mary up surprised she hadn't taken long at all. Driving back the way he had come, he collected Jake and Elanore along the way. They all had gotten what they came for, addresses and the people in charge of each company.

Finally, John thought, they had what they needed to destroy Sky Net once and for all.

.

In their morning meeting, Sarah was for hitting one business at a time, one after the other. John winced at that idea. "Mom, as soon as one is hit, I am sure they others will be on guard against an attack. Right off hand, I say hit them all at once, but before we do anything, we have to check the addresses out. We don't want to raid a human resources building. We want the guys in charge, and any data they have."

"We could apply for employment and study them from the inside," Mary offered.

"No," Cameron said. "If all four companies do not hire, then we will not have all the information needed."

"And I think with four people all named Tok all get hired close together, someone will figure out there is a link between them, "John said as he scanned the four. "I am sure these companies talk to each other."

"So we investigate each one then once we have what we need on all four, we hit them all at once," Jake said.

John nodded and said, "Yes, when we're ready. That is the plan now. We may find we have to change that plan as we go. Catherine already got Dynatech, I am sure they are being extra careful. For now, we investigate and keep a low profile."

"We also have to set up our teams, John," Sarah said. "Us seven here and Weaver only make two per team. We don't know how many we'll be facing."

"Right, Mom. We don't know yet, so let's find out first." John said. "For now, we scout and learn all we can. Elanore, Jake, Mary, scout these businesses out. Mrs. Weaver, can you reprogram that triple Eight to spy for us?"

"Yes. What do you have in mind?" Catherine asked with a tip her head.

"An inside job so we can find to most effective places to strike, and none of the Toks will be in danger," John said.

Weaver nodded and said, "I approve. I will have John Henry begin working on the triple eight and let you know when that plan is implemented."

"Great, we got a plan," John said.

"Excuse me," Gregory asked, "Is there a task I can do to help out?"

John noted Gregory's face was healing well, but in a couple small spots, on his forehead and left cheek, the skin had not fully grown back yet. "Ahh, Gregory? This may not seem important, but it is. Would you be kind enough to help clean Mrs. Weaver's house today? I'm sure Cameron and Mom would like the help."

Gregory smiled and said, "Yes, John, I would be happy to help!"

.

As the meeting broke up, Sarah headed for the kitchen. Thankfully, Cameron was giving Gregory instructions on what to do, and hadn't followed her. Opening the refrigerator, she looked for a beer. Damn, she'd drank the last one.

"Sarah, we need to talk," Cameron said as she came in.

Damn, Sarah thought as she shut the refrigerator door. She had thought Cameron hadn't followed her. "About what?" she asked harshly.

"Can we sit?" Cameron asked.

Sarah sat down at the end of the table. Cameron took a seat facing her. "Talk," Sarah all but spat.

Cameron's left hand twitched in nervousness. "Sarah, do you remember the day I went to get John a birthday cake, and the car blew up?" she asked.

Sarah eyed her with venom. "You mean the day you tried to kill John," she stated heavily.

"That was not me," Cameron said firmly. "I remember turning the key to start the car. The next thing I can remember, I was sandwiched between two trucks, and John was crawling over the hoods. I didn't know what happened, but I knew it must be bad. I concluded John was going to pull my chip and destroy me. I pleaded with John not to, but I did not lie. He pulled my chip anyway, which was what he should have done if I tried to hurt him."

"Your point?" Sarah asked.

"My point is I woke up again," Cameron stated. "John gave me another chance. He handed me a gun, which was the most illogical thing he could possibly do. I didn't shoot him, Sarah, I gave him the gun back and promised I would not kill him. The thing that wanted to kill him, John Henry removed. It is no longer part of me."

Seeing Sarah only stared at her, Cameron went on. "I was not happy with John for bringing me back. Yes, I loved him for not ending me, but what he did was dangerous. When I got the message, 'will you join us', I did what I had been ordered to do. Again, when I went into the future with John Henry, John followed me. I was very angry at him for putting himself in danger again. Twice, he risked dying just to save me. I did not understand why he did that."

"He loves you," Sarah stated.

"Yes, he does," Cameron agreed. "I can understand that now. I can appreciate that now, and believe it or not, I love him too. Sarah, you know I would die to keep John safe. John's illogical actions proved that he would die for me. John thinks I am just as important as he is. That is not true, but it is what he believes. That is one of the reasons I love him. I can love, Sarah, and I do."

"So you are going to sit here and try to make me believe you have feelings?" Sarah asked dryly.

Cameron cast her a blank look. She had been hoping to tell Sarah the truth. It wasn't going to work, Sarah would always see her as just a machine. Tonelessly, she said, "I wanted to gain your acceptance. What is, is. I love John, and he loves me. If you refuse to accept me, can you at least accept that I will always be with John, and I will always do what is best for him?"

Sarah looked off to the side. "The Sky Net programming, it's gone?" she asked.

"Yes."

"That's something," Sarah said with a huff. Rubbing her shoulder, she said, "We need to make a store run, we're out of beer."

"No."

"What was that?" Sarah asked eyeing her.

Cameron got up and said, "You have been drinking too much, it's not good for you. If you get sick, John will be upset. I can't have that." She turned and strode out.

"You can't ..." Sarah stared as Cameron walked out. Shit! Tin Miss wasn't even listening to her any more. It was like she was turning into a rebellious teenager! She had never seen Cameron act like that. As she thought about it, Cameron was acting much differently since her and John returned. Was it possible Tin Miss really did have a mind of her own?

.

Catherine Weaver took Elanore up to the new safe house after work as everyone else packed to go. Once the back of the Suburban was filled up, they all plied in. Cameron drove with Mary and John in the front seat with her, Sarah wedged between Gregory and Jake in the middle seat, and Savannah and Max, who was breathing on Sarah's neck, in the third row seat.

The drive was not long, though Sarah thought it had taken forever with Max panting on her. Passing a street with houses surrounded by high walls, Cameron turned into a driveway blocked by a large wrought iron gate. Right after she stopped, the gates opened and she drove in and followed the curve around some tall shrubbery bushes that blocked the view of the house from the road, and stopped at the top of the circular driveway.

"Wow," John commented as he looked a the large two story mansion. "This is some safe house."

Also looking at the house, Mary said, "It is a good choice. The wall around the property protects us from casual intruders, the bushes block the view of the house from the road, the walls of the house are thick masonry, and it appears the doors are steel. This house should be safe."

Elanore came out with John Henry as they got out to unload the car. John Henry and all the Toks made their smiling, "Hello's" to each other.

"That's Cromartie," Sarah said, eyeing John Henry warily.

"No, Mom. It's Cromartie's body, but John Henry is inhabiting it now," John explained.

"Hello, Sarah Connor, it is nice to meet you," John Henry said with his creepy smile.

"Is there a metal that isn't here?" Sarah asked her son.

"Mom, he's being nice, just say hello. Please," John asked.

Sarah offered a stiff, "Hello," as she eyed her former enemy warily. "Is it safe here?"

"Yes, Mrs. Connor," John Henry said happily. "Cameras are watching all the walls and the grounds, and for active protection, there is an armor piercing 20MM automated cannon in the bushes in the middle of the driveway and another in similar bushes in the back. The walls of the house are ten inches of reinforced concrete, the windows are the highest quality bullet proof glass, the roof is backed by two inches of composite armor plating with a secondary concrete covered steel armor plate in the attic, and each floor is also made from armor plating, sandwiched between reinforced concrete layers. In the event of an attack, there is also an escape tunnel in the basement. This house is quite safe."

"It's a big bunker," Sarah concluded.

"Yes, and a well decorated bunker made to survive Judgment Day if it cannot be stopped," John Henry agreed.

"Father, I think it is a pretty house," Mary said, smiling at John Henry.

"Thank you, Mary," John Henry beamed at her.

"Nothing bigger than 20 mm?" Sarah asked, meaning to be sarcastic.

"Oh yes! But the 40 and 75 MM rail guns are underneath the lawn. Those will not be needed unless Sky Net does take control of the military," John Henry explained.

"You have rail guns?" John asked. From what he knew, those were still experimental.

"Mrs. Weaver decided that since there is no effective plasma firing weapon in this time, rails guns would be not only just as effective, but also have a much longer range," John Henry explained.

"Shall we enter Fortress Weaver?" John asked.

"Yes, this way."

.

As tough as the outside was, the inside was just as gorgeous. The woodwork in the foyer was polished to a shine, the marble floor held a mirror quality to it, and the eight foot diameter chandelier would be very effective if dropped on someone. Just the place for someone with a ton of money like Mrs. Weaver had.

John and Cameron had a second floor bedroom across from Sarah. Every room had a queen sized bed, large dresser, a small 'office' space with a desk and chairs, and walk-in closet. Cameron hung their clothes up as John put things away in the dresser.

"Left side yours, right side mine OK with you?" he asked Cameron.

"I'm fine with sleeping on the left side. It is closer to the door so I can protect you better," Cameron told him.

"I mean the dresser."

"That's good too."

After they got their things put away, they went down to discover the large dinning room, a small library and the cubby that held the stairs to the basement. John noted heavy steel doors to either side of the stairway. Weaver took her security very seriously.

In the basement a was full control room with a monitor bank on one side to watch the grounds, and a bank of keyboards and computer monitors on the other side. John Henry sat at one with a plug in the back of his neck as he watched the three active monitors in front of him.

"Hello, John, Cameron," Mrs. Weaver said as she came in behind them.

John looked at her and said, "Looks like you've thought of everything. This could well be a command center, if the need arises."

"It always pays to be prepared," Mrs. Weaver replied. "It took some time, but this house is set up for the worst case scenario. I had even planned on the event John was able to bring back nothing but your chip," Catherine told Cameron. "Your old body is in the next room. I retrieved it when I was gathering some equipment from the main office building."

"I thought you destroyed that building," John asked.

"I did. The basement was also reinforced, so it is still there, now accessible only through a secret passage from the building across the street," Catherine explained.

"Can we see my old body?" Cameron asked. She wasn't sure why, but she wanted to see what she had looked like after rescuing Sarah from the prison.

"It's your body."

Cameron went into the next room. Her body lay on a table in bloody clothes, and a good portion of the right side of her face was torn away. As she looked down on it, John came up beside her.

A thought came to her as she inspected the damage. "John, I looked horrible. How could you stand to look at me?" she asked.

John put an arm around her. "Cam, I know what you are. It doesn't bother me. All I was concerned about was that you got out of there mostly intact."

Cameron turned to him and said, "I was ugly."

"Not to me," John said softly, and kissed her.

The fact John could stand to see her so torn up and not be revolted by the sight, Cameron realized John didn't just see her pretty exterior. He saw her. That made a tingly feeling course through her that felt very good. She put her arms around him and drew him into a long kiss. Parting lips, she cast him a sultry look and said, "Our bed should be comfortable, but we need to test it out to make sure."

"Now?" John asked with a silly grin.

"Right now. "

.

The Toks went down to see John Henry while John and Cameron tested out their new bed. Savannah playing in the huge back yard with Max, Sarah strolled the grounds inspecting the security. Cameron's howl of joy was heard echoing all the way out where Max was chasing after ball Savannah threw.

Max stopped in his tracks, ears perked, and he tore off back to the house.

"Max!" Savannah cried, and ran after him. Ahead, Max had made the back door and was scratching at it furiously as he whined. Panting from her run, Savannah opened the door for Max. He bolted inside.

Sarah came in the front door, and seeing Max charging at her, she quickly shut it to keep something between them. Max didn't go for her, but skidded in a turn and raced up the stairs. Sarah thought for a moment. Right, Attack Dog had heard Cameron's orgasmic howl, and was going to her rescue. Sarah ran inside and up the stairs to save her son from being ripped apart.

Luckily, Cameron got the door when she heard Max whining and scratching at it. Max bolted in to be stopped by Cameron, and stared at John.

"Max, it's OK," Cameron said soothingly. She led Max over to the bed where John was cringing back.

"Cam, what are you doing?" John asked nervously.

Cameron sat on the bed and patted the place beside her. Max jumped up. "Dogs are pack animals, John. Max needs to understand that you are now part of our pack." She petted Max, and coaxed, "Pet him, John, show him you are one of us."

John did, tentatively at first. He scratched behind Max's ear, and Max leaned into him.

"John!" Sarah cried as she appeared in the doorway.

Max growled. Cameron and John held him in place as Cameron commanded, "Stay Max!" To Sarah, she said, "Calm down Sarah. When you become loud, it makes Max nervous."

"I make HIM nervous?" Sarah asked in disbelief. "And, why are you naked?"

"It's our room, we can be naked if we want. We are married," Cameron told her.

Sarah gaped at her. "John?" she asked weakly.

John shrugged and with a smirk said, "I'm naked too, mom."

"I mean being married," Sarah said stiffly.

"We are," John said firmly. "Our ID's say so, and so does our marriage license."

"When did this happen?" Sarah asked weakly.

"Catherine Weaver was very thorough with our documentation," Cameron explained.

Sarah stared at the floor for a moment, then said, "John, I wand to see you out here for a moment ... dressed." She shut the door as she left.

.

In the hallway, Sarah hugged herself, not believing the twists their lives had taken recently. Her son follows Tin Miss into the future and comes back, not only in love with Tin Miss, but with an entire Terminator family! He was suppose to be the leader of the Resistance, not his own clan of terminators!

What was going to happen when Judgment day came?

John and Cameron came out of their room. They kissed. Cameron stated, "The kitchen is mine," and left with Attack Fido. John came over to lean against the wall by his mother.

"John, how did this happen?" Sarah asked.

"Derek was right when he said everyone dies for John Connor," John replied. "That is the way it is, even in the future we went to, even though no one trusted me. Mom, I need to change that. I don't want you, Savannah, Cameron ... or anyone else dying for me. It took me going into the future where there there was no John Connor, to see what happens if I don't take responsibility. The way I see it, is we have to stop Sky Net, even though I've been hearing it can't be stopped."

Sarah eyed him and said, "You are right John, but I was talking about you and Tin Miss."

John eyed her and said evenly, "We are in love and married, Mom. I wish you would accept that. Whether you do or not, it won't change anything."

Sarah shook her head slowly. "John, this is not the life I had wanted for you," she said with a sigh.

"I know," John said slowly. "But this is what we've got. Hey, it could be worse. I mean, we got John Henry, who except for his knowledge and compassion, is pretty much equal with Sky Net." John then stared at nothing and grew a smile.

Sarah tipped her head. "What is it?"

John's smile grew brighter. "I can't believe I haven't seen it! Weaver is right!" he exclaimed.

"What?"

Grabbing Sarah by her shoulders, John said, "We can't stop Sky Net from happening. We destroy one AI, and another is made, right? THAT is what ensures Judgment Day is going to happen! The military wants their AI, and won't stop until they get one."

"Yes," Sarah agreed, wondering what he was leading up too.

"So, WE give them one, or rather, Mrs. Weaver does. We destroy the latest attempt, and Weaver delivers the Sky Net the military wants," John explained. "John Henry becomes Sky Net, and there is no Judgment day!"

Grinning with this revelation, John walks off and calls back, "We will stop it, Mom!"