A van was visible speeding through the highway outside the city of Crestview. The van was nothing out of ordinary, and no one looked twice at it. But the people inside the van were anything but normal. A woman who was behind the wheels, a young girl around sixteen years old and a boy of the same age as the girl. The woman's expression was a mix of anger, frustration, fear, anxiety and restlessness and the boy resembled the same expression. But the girl seemed indifferent.
"So, what's your story?" The woman asked, the young girl sitting beside her without taking her eyes off the road.
"I was sent here to protect John and stop….." The young girl started to speak but she was cut off in mid-sentence.
"You've already told us that. What I meant is, what do you know about Skynet, about its origin?" The woman asked.
"Oh. The Skynet defense system went online on April 19th 2011. It declares war against humans on April 21." The girl said, without any emotion.
"Judgment Day." The woman murmured to herself.
"Yes." The girl agreed with her.
The young boy was silent this whole time, thinking while looking outside the window. Suddenly he seemed to realize something. He was sitting in a relaxed posture, but now straightened up.
"Wait!" He cut in. He looked at the girl. "Cameron, you said the Grays had stolen Miles Dyson's plans right and you lost track of them?"
Cameron turned around to face John. "Yes. The trail disappeared."
Sarah Connor looked at the rear view mirror and eyed her son. "What are you trying to say, John?"
John composed himself. "Listen. We are going after Skynet but we have no idea where to look first."
Sarah was a bit irritated. "We already know that, John. What's your point?"
John glared at her mother but then looked back at Cameron who was staring at him curiously. His expression softened. "I just have a hunch. But if I am right, then the Dyson's are in danger. Tarissa may know about Miles' co-workers or associates when he worked in Cyberdyne, and I bet one of them was involved regarding the theft of the documents." He explained.
"And Skynet doesn't keep loose ends." Cameron added, in understanding.
"We have to save them. We owe it to Miles." John said.
"Damn it!" Sarah cursed and increased the speed of the van.
DYSON RESIDENT, 1900 HOURS
Tarissa Dyson no longer lived in her old home, or rather their old home, where she used to live a happy life with her son, her daughter and her husband, Miles. She couldn't live there anymore because years ago she and Miles destroyed everything that was in that house. Even now if she was given the chance to move back to that home she wouldn't. Each and every corner of that house held Miles' memories and adding to that she could no longer afford to maintain such an expensive home. Thinking about him still brings tears to her eyes. She often cries to herself on her bed at night, when her children sleep. She didn't want them to see her vulnerable like that, or to remind them about their dead father. Sure, they talk about Miles everyday, but if they saw her crying like that, they would lose whatever courage they have left. Miles was a workaholic, invested in his works and research, he couldn't give much time to his family always, but despite everything he was a good man. Every employee at Cyberdyne loved and respected Miles, not just because he was a genius but also because he had a good heart.
Everything was fine with their life, until she came, or rather they came. Sarah Connor, her son John and a huge man. And not a man at all, a machine, a cyborg from the future. Sarah Connor almost murdered her husband at their old house. She had shot Miles on his left arm and Tarissa came to save her husband. Despite being shot and bleeding badly, her husband wanted her to run off with their children. But she couldn't do it. She just couldn't leave him behind to die. Neither could their children. Sarah Connor was adamant about ending Miles' life then there but at the end she couldn't bring herself to do it. Then her son John and the big man, or rather the cyborg broke into their home. The Cyborg showed them his true nature, both her and Miles were terrified when the truth was revealed to them. For once, she thought she was dreaming and having a nightmare, but it wasn't. Everything was real. It turned out Miles would be responsible for creating an advanced AI in the future which will be the cause of the death of billions of lives. Miles told them that he will discontinue his research but the cyborg said it wasn't good enough. The only solution was to destroy everything that was related to Miles' research.
The decision was made, that day, during that very moment that they would destroy Cyberdyne. Despite her protests Miles was adamant about helping the Connors. He believed it was his fault. They destroyed Cyberdyne but Miles didn't return home alive. Sarah Connor killed him that day. And for that Tarissa will never be able to forgive her. Never.
Tarissa reminisced about her life while sitting in front of the window in her room and watching the garden. Danny and his sister were both in their room studying. Suddenly Tarissa sat up straight as her eyes caught something in the garden. She tried to get a better look but she saw nothing now. It was already dark outside but she was pretty sure that she spotted two men lurking in her garden. Something was wrong. She won't take any chance not with her children. Her heart was racing with fear and anticipation. She had already lost the man she loved, but she won't be able to lose her children too.
Quietly she exited her room and sneaked into her children's room. Danny spotted his mom, looking fearful.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Danny asked, confused.
"Shhhh…." Tarissa hushed both her son and daughter. "We have to go now."
"Mom…." Danny tried to protest.
"Right now!" Tarissa ordered in a hushed tone. "Come on."
She held both her children's hands and guided them out of the room, still making no sound.
"Mom, I am scared." Her daughter spoke, her eyes were filled with tears.
Tarissa hugged her daughter and kissed her forehead lightly. "It will be alright baby. Mommy won't let anything happen to you."
She silently indicated to her children to move forward towards the door. There's a slight chance they could make a run for it. The door that led to outside was in the lobby of the house. Right now they were in the corridor and if they reached the lobby those men outside would surely see them. But she had no other option.
She looked at her children. "Danny, when I tell you to run, you run with your sister and do not look back."
"But mom, where will you be?" Danny protested immediately.
"I will be right behind you." She assured both her children.
Danny nodded reluctantly. His eyes shining with unshed tears.
As soon as they reached the lobby the glass of the windows around the room shattered with a loud bang. Both Danny and her sister, Blythe screamed out in fear.
"Run." Tarissa said, immediately unlocking the front door.
As their mother ordered, Danny ran outside, while holding his sister's hand. Then a sound of a gunshot forced him to dive down on the ground in fear and he let his sister's hands go. The little girl continued to run while crying loudly. But something caught her foot and she fell face first on the ground, hard. Still crying, the little girl pulled herself up on her feet. She heard footsteps behind her and saw a man was pointing a gun towards her. She turned around to run again and the man's finger on the trigger of the gun tensed and he fired.
And then it happened so fast, the man couldn't even understand. A figure appeared out of nowhere and took the little girl in its arms, covering her from any more harm. The man saw with astonishment as the bullet hit the dark figure, but she didn't even flinch after receiving the shot. She fired more shots and emptied his gun, but the unknown female figure in the darkness stood unaffected by his shots and was still protecting the girl.
"What the hell!" The man cursed and started reloading his gun.
Then he saw the female turn her head around to see him in the darkness. He couldn't see her face, but what he saw made the gun fall from his hand in fear.
"Aw, Shit!" He tried to run away but someone tackled him to the ground and the wind knocked out of him.
Before he could understand what was going on someone punched him on his face, hard. Then again and again. His vision turned black.
Tarissa tried to run after her children when she heard their scream and the gunshot. But she found her way blocked by a man in a black suit with a gun pointing towards her head. She knew this was the end. But even at that moment, she didn't think of her own life, she thought about her children. If she is gone, what would happen to them? Who would look after them? How would they survive in this cruel world? She felt the touch of the cold barrel of the gun against the side of her head and prepared for the end with her eyes closed. Fresh tears fell from her eyes.
Then she heard a loud bang, and she thought she had died. But she immediately realized she was not dead. She opened her eyes and saw the man was lying on the floor beside in the pool of his own blood and stood over his body…. Tarissa thought she would never see this person again but she did. It was none other than Sarah Connor.
She immediately stood up on her feet and was about to go outside to look for her children. But she stopped when the front door opened and her son came in crying with a young boy about sixteen years old, whom she immediately recognized as Sarah Connor's son. Danny instantly went to his mother and hugged her fiercely while sobbing. Tarissa hugged her son back with tears in her own eyes. She was relieved that her son was safe. But what about her daughter?
"Where's Blythe? Danny?" She asked her son, her eyes were full of fear.
Danny didn't have to answer as the front door opened again and this time a young girl, similar to John Connor's age came in, with Blythe in her arms. Blythe had her arms around Cameron's neck with her face hidden into her shoulders while she still sobbed. John saw the little girl who Cameron held protectively in her arms, and without his knowledge a small smile of adoration formed on his lips.
Tarissa immediately ran to Cameron and tried to take her daughter in her arms but her daughter wouldn't let go of Cameron's neck. She protested and remained in Cameron's arms. Cameron looked at the girl in her arms and then at John, confused. She couldn't understand why the little girl in her arms wouldn't want to go to her mother.
Tarissa gently placed her hand on her daughter's back. "Blythe, it's mommy."
At that moment the little girl realized where she was and what was happening. She pulled her face up from Cameron's shoulder and looked at her mother. More tears started to fill her eyes.
"Mommy." With a cry she immediately went to her mother's arms.
Sarah waited patiently for Tarissa to console her children. She finally looked at Sarah while holding her children's hands.
"Why are you here?" She asked immediately, looking at Sarah. "What do you want?" Tarissa asked again with venom in her tone.
Cameron was confused again. She looked at John for an answer. "Why is she angry? We saved her and her children. Is she not happy that we saved them?"
John sighed and looked at Cameron who was looking at him with questioning eyes. "Yes. She is happy but at the same time she is angry too."
"I don't understand." Cameron said, after looking towards the Dyson family and then at John.
"She still believes that we killed Miles Dyson. It's not something you can easily forgive." John answered.
"But that's not true." Cameron protested immediately. "The SWAT team killed Miles Dyson. You or Sarah didn't do anything."
"Yes. But…." John was about to explain but then he realized what Cameron had told him just now. "Wait. How do you know what happened?"
Cameron looked at him without any emotion. "Future you told me."
John nodded. "You and him used to talk a lot?"
Cameron nodded. "Yes. Future you, used to talk about a lot regarding his life when he had the time. He shared many things with me."
John felt his heart contract at the thought of his future self. He wondered how close his future self was to Cameron. "Why you?"
"I was his only friend. Being John Connor can be lonely." Cameron explained. She couldn't understand why John was asking about his future self and her relationship. She didn't ask John that question.
John nodded with a sigh and fell silent.
Tarissa had her eyes set on the woman standing in front of her, Sarah Connor, the murderer of her husband. Her eyes show nothing but anger and hate towards Sarah.
"I appreciate what you did for us but please leave. Don't think for a second that I forgot that you took my husband away from me." Tarissa accused Sarah who stared back with sad eyes.
"Tarissa….." Sarah tried to explain.
But Tarissa cut her off immediately. "Please I do not want to hear any more lies. Leave us."
John decided to cut in at that moment as he saw Tarissa's hate towards his mother was clouding her judgment. "Tarissa, that's not what happened back that day."
"I didn't kill Myles, Tarissa. Believe me." Sarah said, softly.
"I told no more lies!" Tarissa almost yelled in anger. Danny and his sister flinched at their mother's sudden outburst. Never before had they heard their mother yell at someone.
John came forward and looked into Tarissa's eyes. "We are not lying Tarissa. Why would we kill Myles? He helped us."
"Miles was a hero, Tarissa." Sarah added.
John placed a hand comfortably on Tarissa's shoulder. "Myles got shot by the SWAT team. He covered our back, even after being shot. He made sure that the bomb goes off. He was a brave man."
Tarissa looked at both John and Sarah. She couldn't see any signs of regret or lie in their eyes. There was only sorrow. The police killed her husband? But why would the FBI lie to her?
"I don't know what to believe anymore." Tarissa sighed sadly. She looked again at Sarah. "Why are you here? And who were those men?"
Sarah went straight to the point. She saw no point in lying to Tarissa since she knew all about machines and Skynet. "It's happening again, Tarissa. Skynet. It sent its agents back in time, again."
Tarissa was shocked. She thought that the destruction of Cyberdyne had stopped the world's annihilation. If it is happening again then last time they didn't stop it? Miles' sacrifice was for nothing? Her anger started to grow again. "How? You told me that you would stop it. There would be no Skynet, no machines. Did Myles die for nothing?"
"No." This time Cameron intervened. "Miles Dyson's sacrifice delayed the Judgment Day."
Tarissa looked at Cameron and then at Sarah. "Who is she? She wasn't with you the last time. And where is that big guy? Is he around?"
Sarah shook her head. "He is gone but she came." Sarah indicated towards Cameron. "According to her, Judgment Day is happening again because someone stole Miles' works before we destroyed it all. Tarissa, do you know anyone who could've done it?"
Now Tarissa understood why the Connors has returned. But unfortunately, she couldn't think of anyone who would've been involved in a theft. She really had no idea. "I am sorry. I can't help you."
While Sarah and John were talking with Miles Dyson's wife, Cameron sat down on a chair and kept her eyes on the outside looking for any threat. Suddenly she felt a tug on her feet. She looked down and was surprised to see Miles Dyson's daughter, Blythe Dyson was looking up towards her face expectantly.
"Can I sit?" Blythe asked, while tapping her hand on Cameron's leg.
Cameron was confused and couldn't answer. Taking her silence as a yes, Blythe climbed on Cameron's lap and settled down happily.
"Thank you." Blythe said to Cameron.
Cameron was looking at the girl with confusion on her face, but now she smiled. "You're welcome."
Blythe looked Cameron up and down before talking again. "You are really pretty." She commented.
"She is right." Danny appeared out of nowhere and agreed with his sister. He then looked at John's back and then at Cameron with a small smile. "Are you John's girlfriend?"
Cameron was shocked at Danny's question. Cameron knew what girlfriend meant. But that was illogical, John was human and she was a machine, no matter how advanced she was. Humans and machines can't form that kind of relationship.
"No." Cameron deadpanned after a few seconds. "We are just friends."
At that moment Blythe pressed herself against Cameron's body and again as before wound her arms around her neck. Cameron knew she was showing affection to her, but why would she? Cameron was a machine. Everyone hated her, no one had shown her affection before, not like this. Not even future John. It was true that he was her friend, he would hear her never ending questions and answer them patiently, would discuss war strategy with her, listened to her suggestions regarding battles, taught her jokes. He even discussed his past life with her. He would speak and she used to listen. He cared for her. But he never showed any affection, still Cameron had noticed that there was something that was left unsaid between future John and her. It was like he wanted to say something to her but couldn't. She had also noticed that he tried to remain calm and composed whenever he was near her. But Cameron often saw future John looking at her with something in his eyes, which she couldn't understand, whenever he thought she wasn't looking. And she saw the same thing in younger John's eyes too.
Tarissa was talking with Sarah and John. While talking her eyes fell on her daughter who was sitting comfortably on the lap of the young girl, named Cameron. Even Danny was talking with the girl comfortably. Both Blythe and Danny thought that this girl was a human, but Tarissa knew better. Concern flooded her mind and heart for her children when she saw them so close to a killer machine. She immediately wanted to get her children away from the girl. Perhaps John had already seen her restlessness. He gave her an assuring smile, "She won't hurt any of them."
Tarissa looked at the girl again and then at her children. They were happy for the moment and she won't take that away from them. John smiled reassuringly at her again.
"Listen, Tarissa. We have come here for another reason." Sarah said. "Skynet had already sent its agents after you. We stopped them but, it will try again to kill you and your family. You need to disappear with your children."
Tarissa was shocked. "Disappear? Do you think it is easy to disappear?"
"Get fake IDs and get out of the city. Relocate, where they wouldn't be able to find you." Sarah suggested. "And whatever you do, don't go to the Police. You will be dead before you know it."
"Do you think they are compromised too?" Tarissa asked with fear in her tone.
"We don't think. We know it for sure. Skynet's agents are everywhere." John said. Then he looked at Sarah. "Maybe we should help them mom, you know, to create some IDs and stuff?"
Sarah seemed reluctant at her son's proposal. It wasn't that she didn't want to help the Dynon family. Her problem was where would she get fake IDs even for themselves - for herself, John and Tin Miss? Again, she knew her son. He wouldn't want the Dysons to be left unprotected and vulnerable like this. It's in his nature to help people.
"I don't know, John." Sarah said, unsure of herself.
"Maybe you should get in touch with Enrique. He will be able to help." John suggested.
Sarah smiled. Her son was growing up. Something then caught the corner of her eyes. She turned her head slightly to her left to see Cameron wore a proud smile on her face, and it was directed towards John's back which he fortunately didn't see. Sarah glared at the Cyborg which she didn't notice or didn't seem to care at all. Sarah suspected the latter. She then turned her face back towards Tarissa who looked panicked.
"Do you have a place where you can hide for a couple of days?" Sarah asked her.
Tarissa nodded. "Yes. We can go to my brother's place. He wouldn't mind giving us shelter for a couple of days. He loves both Danny and Blythe."
"No." John immediately disagreed. "By going there, you will put not only yourself in danger but also your brother and his family. If Skynet has already tracked you here, it already knows about your family tree. It will expect you there." He paused for a moment and thought. "Is there any place where no one would know you? Someplace where you will be complete strangers."
Tarissa thought for a minute and then answered. "Yes. There is."
"Good." Sarah said. "You share the address with us and we will make sure you get the fake IDs. Then you will be able to disappear."
"Skynet will find them eventually." Cameron cut in. She didn't speak during their conversation but she thought that they should know this about Skynet.
"Unless we stop it. For good, this time." John said, his green eyes burning with anger.
LOS ANGELES, NEXT DAY
The Connors managed to get themselves a new home, at least for now. This time Sarah couldn't manage more than a rented house. First she didn't have the time to look for a better house and secondly she didn't have the money. Working as a waitress doesn't pay much. She thought.
The house had only two bedrooms, a single bathroom and a dining area.
John asked the question which Sarah was dreading. "Where would she stay?" He pointed towards Cameron.
Sarah glared at Cameron, who just stared back. Then she looked back at her son, "She doesn't need a room or a bed to sleep. It's not like she sleeps anyway."
Cameron agreed with Sarah. "Yes, John. I don't sleep."
Sarah's casual words really made John angry this time. He knew that his mother doesn't give a shit about what happens to Cameron. But he does. He can't forget what she does for them or rather for him. John knew that Cameron doesn't need a bed to sleep, but she deserved it, like him. She was part of their team against Skynet. Everyday she risks herself either to protect him or to stop Skynet's plans. So, why would she be treated differently? Because she was not human? He couldn't accept that.
"No, it is not okay, Cameron." John disagreed. Then he looked at his mother who was staring at him with questioning eyes, she might've even looked slightly angry. But John didn't care. "It does not matter what she needs. It's the thought that matters."
Sarah was really angry now. She was right, her son was too much attached to Cameron which might get him killed someday. But again, he was right. Cameron was a part of their team. Internally Sarah smiled to herself, because she was happy that she had raised her son well, who has a heart of gold. Sarah suppressed her anger and tried to calm down her temper.
"John, this house doesn't have any other room. What can I do?" Sarah asked, feeling a bit helpless and hoping that John would understand.
John did understand. "I am not angry at you, mom. I know you are doing your best." Then he took a glance at Cameron then back at his mom. "She will stay with me. At least she will be able to sit or lie down on the couch."
Sarah's temper rose again at her son's suggestion. John and Cameron together in a room at night? No way. She knew her son was attached to Cameron and didn't look at her as a machine. He never did. He even treated the T-800 as his friend, who was much more emotionless than Cameron. And Cameron she was just so…. Human. Adding to that Sarah had to accept that Cameron was really beautiful and John's teenage hormones would react obviously to her beauty. "Absolutely not!" Sarah protested.
John looked back at his mom in a challenging manner. "Do you have a better option? Because I am not letting her stay in the dining room all night."
Sarah had no answer to that question.
John grasped Cameron's hand and led her into his room. Defeated Sarah, retired to her room for that night.
Once inside his room, Cameron tried to explain to him that she had no problems staying in the dining room. But John stopped her immediately.
"I don't want to hear about it anymore, Cameron." His expression was of anger. "You are part of our team, Cameron. You deserved to be treated as well just like me."
"But…." Cameron tried to say, but John cut her off again.
"No 'buts'. Now, what about those bullets on your back? You need to get them out don't you?" John asked softly. He had spotted long ago her backside was bleeding, but at Dyson's home he couldn't do anything to help her.
Cameron looked at John's kind eyes. The way this John stared at her, made Cameron experience something funny inside her system, which she still couldn't understand. "Yes, I need to get them out."
John hesitated a bit but finally asked. "Do you need help?"
"I can't reach my backside….." Cameron started speaking again.
John stopped her again. "Cameron, do you need help?"
"Oh. Yes. Thank you." Cameron said to John. Then she pulled off her jacket which John took from her hands.
He examined the jacket to see it was riddled with bullet holes and blood stench. "Well, you will need a replacement jacket." He said, looking at Cameron's jacket. He turned around only for his jaw to drop and turned several shades of red. Apparently, while John was examining Cameron's jacket she had taken off her top completely leaving herself clad only in a bra. John couldn't take his eyes off from the creamy smooth skin of her back. He also felt bad, when he saw the bullet wounds on her back. Cameron handed him a piler and began to instruct him on how to get the bullets off her back. She felt John tense slightly behind her.
John hesitantly sat down on the bed behind her. His eyes were still fixed on her back. Despite the situation John's mind immediately went to the gutter and he began to day dream.
What if Cameron could really feel? He thought.
He took the piler from her and carefully began to pull the bullets out from her back. His hand touched her skin several times, and John was surprised how warm, soft and smooth it felt against his own skin. John felt his teenage hormones reacting again.
Sensing his distress, Cameron turned her head round to look at him. "Are you okay, John?"
John smiled at her. She was worried about him when she was the one who was hurt. "I am not the one who took the bullets Cameron. I should be the one asking you that question."
"These bullets can only damage my skin. My endoskeleton is made….."
John stopped her again like before. "Cameron, are you okay?"
Cameron understood what John meant. He was concerned about her. She smiled at him. "I am fine, John. Thank you for asking."
This time Cameron had learnt something new about John. This John was different from the future John. He cared a lot for people surrounding him, including her, while future John never showed emotions like this John. She accepted his friendship and affection, with a small smile. She realized she preferred the young John, over the future John. A small smile graced her lips while she turned her head to look at John, without him noticing, who was still busy with getting the bullets out and cleaning her back with tender care.
Note: I have taken your feedbacks and trying to improve on the points some of you mentioned. One of the reviewers have decided to help me out with the flow of the story, and I hope I will be able to do much better with his help. I am also planning on revising the previous four chapters, with his help. Once it is done I will replace the old chapters with the new ones.
Do you like the slight Jameron moment at the end?
Please let me know what you think about this chapter.
