Alison closed her eyes. She was tired. Physically, she was tired. Ever since she had come to this time, Alison had found that she couldn't sleep. She had gone from living in a world of war and death to dreaming about a world of war and death. There wasn't a night that went by that she didn't wake up in a pool of sweat and screaming. Now that she was able to just sit for a little bit, Alison found it hard to keep her eyes open. Slowly, she was drifting off to a light sleep.
"Mm." Alison opened her eyes again and shook her head.
Standing up, Alison walked over to the door and looked out in the room. She watched as Catherine Weever stood next to John and examining his leg. Alison hoped that he was alright. He was in so much pain and there was little that Alison could do for John. He was accepting her help when it came to moving around, but he resisted letting her get much closer then that. He was keeping everyone out. It was obvious that he was in pain. It was obvious that he was suffering. It was obvious, but he wouldn't talk to anyone. Alison wished that she could help him. She had meant it when she said that she loved him. Despite the short amount of time that she had spent around him, Alison felt close to John. She felt safe around him. She wanted to help him.
Alison sighed and walked back to her chair. Once she had sat down, Alison could feel her eyes closing again. She was just so tired. She…Alison's hand twitched slightly and then moved quickly across her body and pulled her Glock out of the holster. She aimed it at the door as she opened her eyes. She was slightly startled to see herself looking back at her. No, not herself but Cameron.
"Alison Young." Cameron said as she rolled into the room on her chair.
A second passed before Alison slowly lowered her sidearm. She didn't return it to the holster and she retained her grip on the weapon, but she lowered in. Alison always felt uncomfortable around this cyborg.
"What is up?" Alison asked.
"John." Cameron said as she tilted her head. "I am his protector."
"Right." Alison said slowly. She wasn't sure where this was going.
"I was sent to protect John. To keep him safe. When I see something that is threatening him, I am suppose to remove that threat."
"What do you want with me?"
"I killed you. Took your place so I could kill John. I don't know why I remember this. Maybe it has something to do with the damage to my chip. Maybe a program Skynet gave me so I could act like you. Maybe it is something John gave me before he sent me back. Do you know why we chose you as the person that I was to impersonate?"
Alison's eyes twitched towards the door. She hoped that someone else would walk through that door. The weight of the Glock in her hand was very present in Alison's mind. She hoped that she wouldn't need it.
"No. Why are you telling me this?"
Cameron leaned forward, impersonating Alison's posture. "We chose you because John chose you."
"I don't understand."
"He saw a strength in you. I saw it too before I killed you. There was a determination in you to protect John Connor. You were willing to die before you betrayed him." Cameron paused for a moment. "I told John once that I loved him."
"You're a Machine!" Alison said, her back stiffening. "How is that even possible?"
"Yes, a Machine." Cameron looked down at her broken leg. "But I feel love towards John Connor. I would die for him."
"Because that is your programming?"
"No. I was programmed to protect John, but I am broken. My chip was damaged. The program was corrupt. Every time I see John, my CPU pulls up the order to terminate him. I override this every day. I have come to the point where I do things because I want John not only safe but happy. I have decided this is love. I now know where these feelings originated: you."
"What are you talking about?"
"You love John. I love John. We choose you because you loved John. I feel this love because I have developed the ability to feel this." Cameron moved slightly closer. "This is where we should fight over the man we love."
Alison didn't hesitate. The situation now felt hostile and Alison didn't want to die…she didn't want this cyborg to kill her again. She raised the Glock and took aim. She pushed away from the chair and moved to keep the chair between herself and the cyborg.
Cameron didn't move. She just said, "That, or you make me a promise."
Alison blinked. "What promise?"
"Keep John safe. I'm not walking out of here alive. John will not like that. He wants me to survive this, but I won't. I am broken…broken inside. If I am gone, there will be no one to keep John safe. Promise me."
"Promise you what?"
"Promise me that you will never hurt him. Promise me you will love him. Promise me you will keep him safe."
Alison slowly stood up straight and lowered her Glock. She wasn't sure how to take this conversation. There was a sense of relief in her. She had been jealous of this cyborg ever since she had discovered who Cameron really was. Alison no longer felt like she had to compete against Cameron for John. She was also feeling confusion. She felt…
"Alison?" Lauren's voice crackled across the radio. "Alison, come in."
"This is Alison."
"John Henry has just told me that he has been able to contain Skynet. Give Connor the green light to go. Skynet is trying to escape, so you need to hurry."
"Roger." Alison said as she dropped the mic. She rushed over towards the door, pushing passed Cameron. "Sir, we have a green light to destroy Skynet. General Fields says we need to hurry."
"Alison." Lauren's voice crackled over the radio again. "You have better hurry. John Henry says that there is movement all around the warehouse. The Grays are calling in their reinforcements."
"John!" Alison said quickly. "We have best hurry. We are about to have a helluva lot of company."
