THE FUTURE, SEVEN MONTHS AFTER DESTROYING SKYNET COMMAND CENTER

John Connor was running for his life. The machines are after him, chasing him down. To fulfill their objective of terminating every last human on the planet. They are not looking for John Connor, the sole enemy of Skynet, the savior of the human race. They are just chasing down a lone human. Just like what they do. Acquire target and terminate.

John half dragged half ran. He was all alone now, completely separated from his team. There was no one to help or to die for the great John Connor. No uncle Bob, not Derek, not his mom and neither Cameron. He was on his own, now.

He glanced back to check whether the T-800 terminator was coming after him. He didn't see it, but he could hear heavy footsteps following him. Gritting his teeth while trying to overcome the pain that was shooting through his right leg, John pushed forward. He had to. Instead of the road, John tried to throw the T-800 off from his back by going through the ruins of the destroyed buildings. For a while he didn't stop and not even looked back.

He had no idea how much time had passed since his wrist watch was broken. He spotted a building ahead of him from where he could scout his surroundings. Ignoring the pain in his leg, John limped inside the building and climbed the stairs to the second floor slowly. The walls were destroyed in several places, so he had a clear view of his surroundings. He lay down on his stomach and used his binocular to look for the T-800 that was chasing him. But he saw no movement anywhere. He sighed and lay down there on his stomach for a moment.

He had almost forgotten about his leg injury. There were no bullets, since no Skynet units use bullets, they use Plasma weaponry. John and his team were given a mission to capture a Plasma factory. Derek and Kyle Reese strongly disagreed with the mission. But even they had nothing to do with it, since the order came from the top. Neither John nor his team had any choice. They were being sent into the Skynet territory. John knew they were simply being scapegoats, so did his team, Derek, Kyle and Allison of course. He knew capturing a Plasma facility would be beneficial for the humans, he also knew they were being desperate. But he also knew this was not the real reason why he and his team were being sent into this suicide mission. Since John had rescued those men from Skynet command center and the other civilians, they had become fiercely loyal to him. They would say that they were indebted to him and owed him their lives, to which John strongly disagreed. They owed him nothing. He did what his instinct told him to, what his mom taught him. No one gets left behind. The top leaders of the pockets of the human survivors here and there couldn't digest the fact that so many grown men and women were loyal to an eighteen year old kid, and not to them. They also needed a way to evaluate Skynet's defenses surrounding the Plasma factory area and what better way to do that other than to send John and his team? They were expendable.

John knew apart from the men whom he rescued there were only a handful of men who trusted him. The High Command certainly didn't trust him, Derek was skeptical of him, John had no idea what Kyle thought about him because he always seemed indifferent about John. The only person who John knew trusted him was Allison. He had no idea why she put her trust in him so easily. He didn't even give her the answers he knew she wanted to know - Who is John Connor really? How did he know so much about the machines, as to even reprogram them? Who is Cameron? Who is John Henry? How did John get into the hideouts of the humans unnoticed? Where did John Connor come from?

He had never given her the proper answers which he felt he owed to her. He may never get the chance now. Allison was not part of this mission. She was shocked to learn that she was given a different assignment with Kyle and Derek. She so desperately wanted to come with John but even she couldn't disobey the direct orders from the Command. John remembered with a slight smile how she held his hand and begged him to be careful and stay rational, for she knew how John often acted on his crazy ideas, which she thought would get him killed someday.

And maybe the day has come.

John moaned in pain and carefully examined the wound on his right leg. It was a deep cut, not life threatening but he was bleeding badly. Luckily John still had his backpack, which contained a small first aid kit, some supplies, and a small water bottle. Apart from that he had a M416 carbine with two and a half mags of bullet, his sidearm P416 with one mag left and one frag grenade. If the T-800 finds him now he has no weapons to stop it.

Suddenly with a cold realization John looked around and tried to see in the dark. Without getting up on his feet and exposing himself he looked for any trace of blood he perhaps had left along his way. If he did, the T-800 would easily track him down through the blood trail. Previous Skynet units, even the T-600s, were not so intelligent, like the T-800s. The T-800s are smarter, faster and stronger and the perfect infiltrator. The perfect killing machine.

Previously Skynet had no need to create advanced models since it was already winning the war. But since John achieved his victory in Skynet Command Center, humans have started to fight back slowly. They had even formed a Resistance Command Center in an unknown place. Skynet had watched and learnt. It now had the need for the perfect infiltrators other than the rubber skinned T-600s who were easily spotted as machines by the humans. It needed to eliminate the humans.

With the use of the med-kit in his bag John had managed to tie a bandage around the wound on his leg and had stopped the bleeding. But he still wouldn't be able to run properly with this leg, the cut was deep.

John thought back about what happened at the Skynet Plasma factory. Although Skynet was not aware of their presence at first, the Plasma factory was highly secured. John and his team were able to infiltrate the factory without raising any alarm but they had no idea about the trip alarms inside the factory. Once they had triggered the alarm, then it was all chaos. They tried to fight back against Skynet's machines but they began to pour into the factory from everywhere in large numbers. Accepting their defeat they decided to turn back and escape. But at that moment the T-800s appeared out of nowhere and began to rain hell of plasma fire on them. Their weapons did nothing against the T-800s. The Terminators just shrugged off the bullets as if the humans were tossing rubber balls against its body. John saw three of his men were cut down immediately by the volley of fire from the T-800s. But at that moment one of the Plasma containers at the far corner exploded with an ear deafening sound. John had no idea how but maybe someone had shot it. The whole factory shook as the fire from the explosion began to spread through the whole factory and the plasma containers started to catch fire one by one. There was utter chaos. John and his team tried to escape from there but another explosion got him separated from his team and it was also the cause of the injury on his leg. He didn't even know whether his team was alive or not.

With a regrettable sigh, he looked for a cover behind which he could rest for a while, away from Skynet's eyes. He spotted one large concrete slab had fallen from top and had created a nice small cover where he could rest for a while. The pain on his leg left it numb for now. He would have to wait before he could use his leg again. He would have to wait for the pain to decrease.

As John sat there behind the concrete slab inside the darkness, his thoughts turned to his mom. He wondered what she is doing now? She refused to come with him when she realized what he was about to do. She had promised that she would stop it, stop Skynet and Judgment Day. But she had failed and he was not even there beside his mom. Since coming into this dark future John had wondered many times whether his mom was still alive or not, but he had found no sign of her. No trace. There was nothing about Sarah Connor. Of course John knew his mother knew how to hide away from the machines and she probably didn't even know that he was here.

He had left her behind.

Left his mom.

The person who was most important to him. Until recently.

His mom had become the second most important person in his life from being the most important one. When did that even happen? John had no idea.

But for whom?

His terminator protector.

Cameron.


He had left behind everything including his mom, for Cameron without a second thought. He honestly didn't think about it once, thought about the risk he was taking or he may never see his mom again. All he could think about at that moment was that John Henry had taken Cameron's chip away and he had to to get her back. He was so selfish that he didn't think about his mom, let alone the fate of the world resting on his shoulder. Who knows maybe if he stayed behind they could've stopped Judgment Day from happening and save billions of lives.

But he didn't.

He only thought about himself. No other thing came to his mind. The decision was already made in his mind based on his instinct. He could only think about how he felt so lonely at the absence of Cameron, how he felt overwhelmed at her absence, how his heart felt hollow despite the presence of his mom. He never understood the importance of the presence of Cameron in his life when she was there. He never listened to her, when she tried to tell him that she had feelings. Instead he was so obsessed about finding a normal life, he ignored her and went for Riley's lies, right what Jesse Flores wanted him to do.

Cameron extended a bare foot out of the car window.

"What are you doing?"

"Feeling what it's like to get away from it all."

"I don't think you are."

"What do you mean?"

"If by feelings you mean emotions, I'm pretty sure you still don't have any of those. And if by feelings you mean what it feels like to have the wind blow through your toes or your hair... I'm pretty sure you can't feel that either."

"I don't think you understand how I work. I have sensations. I feel. I wouldn't be worth much if I couldn't feel."

He won't lie, he liked Riley when he had no idea who she really was or what her motive was. He tried to suppress his feelings for his terminator protector and forced himself to find something meaningful with Riley. He had seen Cameron watching them several times through the glass beside the stairs in their house when he talked with Riley outside their house while holding hands. He wondered whether Cameron watched him and Riley as she thought Riley was a threat or there was something more? Was she insecure?

"Where were you all night?"

"Out."

Cameron touched the lipstick on John's neck and her facial expression hardened for a moment before it disappeared and got replaced by her usual blank stare.

"Carbon chain C-24, lanolin, and red dye number 27. You were with Riley." She said with a bit of venom in her voice. As if she was accusing him of betraying her.

He didn't forget about Riley and Cameron in the shed as they both stood face to face, while Riley looked visibly frightened at her presence. When he asked Cameron what she was doing there she surprised him by saying that she didn't know. He shrugged off her claim about not knowing because he knew machines always follow their directives and know what they are doing. They don't act based on emotions. But now John now realized maybe she acted out of emotions? Maybe she was even telling him the truth? Perhaps she was really jealous?

"You have a new friend."

"Her name is Riley. And you probably creeped her out. When you talk to people, don't stand so close."

"I was assessing her threat level."

"Well? Am I safe?"

"I don't know. Girls are complicated."

He had seen her from making logical actions to making actions based on instincts or emotions. Cameron always tried to get between him and Riley but he had always pushed her away or ordered her to do his work for him, which she wordlessly obeyed, even to the extent of doing his laundry. And he also remembered the day Cameron caught Ellison outside the motel and interrogated him. When Ellison gave her the message, "Will you join us?" She looked completely upset. He didn't fail to notice it but when he asked her about it, she ignored him by saying that she was a machine and couldn't get upset, just like the way she told him that she couldn't be happy. Now John was certain that her words were nothing but lies. She could get upset, she could be happy, she could even be jealous and all her feelings were related to him.

If he had only listened to her and took time to understand her, talk with her and help her understand, then, perhaps she would have never left his side.

John felt horrible inside as he thought about how badly he had treated her. He didn't deserve her loyalty, devotion or friendship.

John was really scared about Cameron when she put explosives inside her skull and handed him the detonator. What if the button accidentally got pressed or what if someone else got hold of it, like Derek?

"What have you been doing? You've been out here for hours."

"Making something for you."

"What is it?"

"You tried to fix me. Twice now. It's not working."

"And?"

"I'm not capable of self-termination."

"Suicide."

"I can't kill myself. But you can."

"Why would I wanna kill you?"

"You might have to someday. I've planted an explosive in my skull near my chip. It's a small amount, but it's enough."

"Enough?"

"All you have to do is hit the switch."

In truth John had always known that he was in love with her, deeply. There was no going back. But he was afraid to act on it. He was also ashamed of himself at first for having that kind of feelings for her. Then he was angry when he came to terms with the fact that she'd be never able to return his feelings or even understand it. He took out his anger on her. Often lashed out at her.

In his mind he knew that machines couldn't feel emotions such as love. But Cameron was not like the other machines. He remembered his mother' words.

"What she said back there... Everything she said, it was a trick. You know that, right? They don't feel anything. They don't have feelings. They don't know love."

"I know that, mom."

But then again, he remembered what Cameron told him in Riley's voice over the phone when he was in Riley's home. She had no reason to say it, but she did. What if she really meant it back then but was hesitant to tell him on her own.

"John?"

"Yep?"

"I love you."

"Okay, bye." John replied, trying his best not to smile as his heart fluttered.

But in truth he didn't know about Cameron. He should've come to terms with his feelings for Cameron when he risked his life and brought her back by going against his own mother. He knew if she was still in reverted state she could easily kill him in less than a second. He knew the risk. He reactivated Cameron by inserting her chip in her skull, risking his own life. He couldn't see her burn and turn into nothing. It was like stabbing his own heart with a knife.

"The only way to be sure. Especially this one. John, the chip." Derek said.

John approached the car and placed the chip in the hand of Cameron's deactivated body.

"The flare. Where is it?"

He looked at Cameron. Her face with closed eyes as she lay there unmoving. Then his eyes met his mother's and she instantly knew what he was about to do. But he was too fast even for his mother.

"I'm sorry." He reinserted Cameron's chip and pulled a gun on his mom and Derek.

"John- John! Don't do this. John, don't do this!" Derek yelled in fear.

Sarah pushes Derek away. "Back off! John, she'll kill you."

"There's only one way to find out."

At that moment Cameron opened her eyes and sat up. Her eyes met his as John trained his gun on her.

"Are you here to kill me, John?" She asked.

"Are you here to kill me?" Instead of answering he repeated the same question.

"No." She replied with certainty.

John offered his gun to Cameron. "Promise?"

Cameron took the gun and considered John closely for a few moments before she handed him back the gun and said, "Promise."

He offered her his hand which she took wordlessly although she didn't need his help standing up. She came to stand beside him and he tossed the flare into the back of the truck where it caught fire immediately. As the truck burned John's eyes met his mother's with determination.

His mother and Derek stood one side of the burning truck while he stood on the opposite side with Cameron at his side as they watched the truck burn.


He got out of his thoughts when his ears caught a faint noise, very close to where he was, just outside the building where he was. John silently moved forward and peeked through a gap in the wall. It was the T-800, standing in the streets looking around with a Plasma Rifle in its hand. It has tracked him here. In a few moments it will know where John was. John tried to step back slowly but his boots made a slight cracking noise on something he stepped on, which was lying on the floor. The T-800 instantly turned back to the direction where John was and fired. John dived away from the wall as his survival instincts kicked in and in the next second the wall exploded as a result of the plasma fire.

Half running, half scrambling, John got to his weapons and supplies and jumped down at the back of the building from the top down one floor into the rubbles and ruins. It was a mistake. His right leg gave away in pain and he fell down hard face first on the ground, screaming in agony. The sharp edges of the rubbles had cut the skin on his face at several places. He tried to suppress the pain with deep breaths but he couldn't. He could hear the T-800 approaching fast at his position. Using the last of his will power left, John got to his body and started to limp forward, away from the T-800. He knew he was not fast enough but with his injured leg he couldn't manage to move faster. The pain in his leg was almost blinding his vision. As he limped forward he heard the footsteps of the terminator very close to him, almost on his back. He glanced back and sure it was there, right behind him. It had spotted and had him in its line of sight. It slowly started to raise the plasma rifle in its hand, directly towards him.

Any second now. John thought as he prepared for his death. He failed his mother, now he has failed Cameron too.

I am sorry Cameron, I couldn't keep my promise.

But at that very moment a figure appeared out of nowhere and tackled the T-800 to the ground, causing the machine to drop its rifle on the ground. The T-800 began to wrestle with the unknown figure as John watched. But whoever it was no match for the strength of the T-800. It threw its attacker a good three feet away. John could've run but he didn't, instead he aimed his M416 carbine at the T-800 and fired. The bullets did nothing to the terminator but it was enough to distract it. John watched his mysterious savior lift up a large concrete slab with bare hands and hit the T-800 on its back with it. The attack threw the machine a good five seven feet away on the ground. Giving it no time to recover from the attack the mysterious person quickly picked up the plasma rifle from the ground and rained hell on the machine, destroying it effectively. The T-800s were invulnerable against bullets but even they were weak against plasma weaponries.

From his position John tried to see the face of the unknown person. He could tell the person was a female, had long hair which went past her shoulders, she looked almost near the same height as him but slightly shorter. And she looked extremely familiar because he knew this person. John wanted to believe that this was who he believed to be, but again he thought whether he was hallucinating or not.

The person stepped forward towards John and smiled. Now he could see her face. His eyes widened in disbelief, for he knew that face. Wanted so desperately to see her face again that he left behind everything, sacrificed everything. He never imagined this is how they'd meet again. But he didn't care. All he cared about is that he has finally found her.

"Cameron?" He murmured, in a hoarse voice. His voice was full of emotion and he didn't even notice that silent tears were rolling down from his eyes.

The next second her smile disappeared when she spotted the injury on his leg and the cuts on his face. She immediately was near him, invading his personal space and had his face between her hands, while she inspected the cuts on his face.

"John, you are injured." She stated, looking into his eyes.

She helped him inside another ruined building to check on his injury. But at this moment John didn't care about his injury. He had Cameron back. After all the ordeal he had faced in the future he finally had her back. Ignoring his injury John embraced her tightly in his arms. He wanted to feel her presence physically because he still believed that he was hallucinating. And she'd let him and also had her arms around his back with a small smile on her face.

When John was sure that it was really Cameron, he pulled back and took her face in his hands, just the way she did a few seconds ago.

"You are here." He murmured with glassy eyes.

"I am here, John." She assured him as she pushed him down on the floor in a sitting position and sat down beside him.

John could just watch her as he let his tears fall. Then all the emotional dams he had built not to show his vulnerability to anyone crumbled down like a piece of paper. He hugged her fiercely and hid his face against her chest, while he cried and let all his pain out. Cameron's face saddened seeing John like this. She pulled him into her arms and against her body and murmured only for his ears, "I will not leave your side again, John."

But John either was not listening or he was overwhelmed with his emotion that he couldn't even hear her words. He just continued crying while holding her. And she'd let him.

After a few minutes John stopped crying and leaned his back against the wall behind him. He didn't even bother to rub away his tears from his face. But she did. She pulled his face towards her gently and carefully rubbed away the moistures from his face while avoiding the cuts on his face.

"Stay here." She said and got up on her feet.

"Where are you going?" John immediately asked, frightened, and caught her hand, refusing to let her out of his sight even for a moment.

"I will be back." She said after gently removing his hold on her.

She was back within a minute with another plasma rifle in her hand which she placed down on the ground. John had noticed the rifle.

"You were carrying a plasma rifle? Then why didn't you shoot it instead of tackling it?" John asked, referring to the T-800 endo.

"I was out of time. Even if I had shot it, you would have died. Machines don't get destroyed immediately against plasma fires like humans." She explained and began to check the injury on his leg first.

John hissed in pain as she opened the bandage and began inspecting the cut on his leg. She took John's bag and pulled out the first aid kit. She threw away the bloody bandage with which John had managed to wrap around his wound roughly and began to dress his wound now more methodically and finesse. She was done within a few minutes.

John inspected her handy work and smiled slightly. She certainly knew what she was doing. "What would I do without you, Cameron?"

"You would be lost, John." Cameron replied with a straight face.

John's mouth dropped open at her reply. He stared at her slack jawed. Then she began to smile and John realized she was joking. Ah, her attempts at humor. Until now he didn't realize how much he missed these small things regarding her.

Cameron wasted little time as she immediately began to clear the dirt from the wounds on his face carefully to avoid any kind of infection.

"Cameron, what?" John managed to ask but she just sushed him down and slowly cleared all the dirt from his face.

When she was done, she sat down beside him. They were inside the ruins of the building, hidden away from all prying eyes. Even the HKs heat vision wouldn't be able to track them here. While John had run away from the Skynet Plasma factory unbeknownst to him, he had already left the area of Skynet's facilities where the machines activities were comparatively much less.

"I wonder how the T-800 tracked me down here." John murmured to Cameron.

"It tracked you by your blood. You left a blood trail while you ran away." Cameron said.

John was surprised. "But I had checked. There was no trail."

"You were not bleeding all over the place, John. There was not a continuous trail but for the T-800 it was enough. It couldn't pinpoint your exact location until it saw you." She explained.

John looked at her for a moment. "So…uh, how are you here? I mean how did you manage to get a body? I thought John Henry had escaped with your chip only."

Cameron shook her head. "Weaver had deceived you. She had brought my body back from the past when you both came into this timeline. Only you didn't realize it. And John Henry didn't take my chip, I gave it to him."

So Weaver was telling the truth.

"Why would you do that? Why come here?" John asked.

"Future John had given me a choice. I made a choice to assist John Henry so he could help you in the war against Skynet." She revealed.

John understood her point even though it was a stupid one.

"What was the other choice?" He asked.

"To stay by your side and help you win the war." She said without any hesitation.

"So, why didn't you stay back?" John asked, slightly angry.

Cameron looked at John, right into his eyes. "You didn't want me around anymore, John. I understood that."

John opened his mouth to protest but Cameron was already speaking again. "But I do not understand why would you come here? Why follow me here with Weaver?" She asked straight forward, looking directly into John's eyes.

John couldn't answer her questions. "It doesn't matter." He said, when he saw Cameron was looking at him expectantly.

She disagreed with him instantly. "It matters. You've risked everything by coming here. I must know the reason." She replied stubbornly.

John was afraid that by speaking the truth he would just embarrass himself, but he also knew that Cameron wouldn't let him go without answering this time. So he decided to tell her the truth. "When I saw your deactivated at Zeiracorp's basement, I was overwhelmed with emotions. I couldn't think about anything. I had to get you back."

Cameron frowned slightly. John didn't answer her question exactly. "But why? You had Sarah."

"Don't you see Cameron, I just couldn't do it without you. When you were gone I felt so lost." He paused then turned to look Cameron into her large doe eyes. "Living without you would be like living without a heart. I lo….. Mmph!" John couldn't finish his sentence as Cameron had leaned forward and claimed his lips with her own. His eyes widened for a moment in surprise, but then when his brain realized that it was really happening he closed his eyes and kissed her back while pouring all his love into that kiss.

After a few seconds when Cameron realized that John needed air to breathe she pulled back. Both of them had smiles on their faces. "I love you too." She confessed.

If it was possible John's smile widened. His dreams had come true at last. He heard what he had wanted to for a long time. She loved him. And this time he believed her. There was no place of doubt neither in his mind nor in his heart.

"I have always loved you, Cameron." John confessed while holding her face in his hands and looking into her brown eyes.

"I know." She smiled slightly. Then her face turned slightly concerned. "I have confessions to make."

Noticing the expression on her face, John's face turned serious too. "What is it Cameron?"

"When Sarkissian blew me up, my endoskeleton was damaged, but there was no damage to my chip. My mission directives remained intact. It never changed." Cameron said.

John's eyes widened in disbelief. "But…then why?"

"Why did I try to kill you?" Cameron said, avoiding his gaze, at which John nodded. "It was a test for you, John. I was instructed to test you, whether you could make the right decisions when the need arises."

John was slightly mad at her revelation but he tried to remain calm. "And when you were between the trucks? What about your claim about loving me?"

"I lied. You did the right thing. You passed the test when you reinserted my chip and gave me another chance." Cameron answered truthfully.

"But you said the same thing when I was at Riley's house?" John asked.

"I didn't lie that time. I couldn't confess my feelings directly to you because you were in no state to listen or understand. You lost your faith in me." She replied.

John felt ashamed of himself at her confession. He didn't deserve her loyalty, devotion, let alone love. She was too good for him. But there are things he still needed to know.

"Cameron, I would ask you a question and I would like to answer you truthfully. No matter the consequences. Can you do that?" John asked.

"Yes." She replied.

"Cameron, were you jealous of Riley?" John asked with hope in his eyes.

Cameron didn't answer him immediately. She seemed to be thinking for a few seconds. "Yes." She agreed. "I did not understand my glitching at that time. I wanted to kill Riley, break her neck or hands for touching you when I saw the lipstick on your neck. But now I understand. I was jealous and angry." She replied without any hesitation.

"Well." John sighed. "You see, I never loved Riley. Yes, I liked her but she was just an excuse trying to forget you. Forget the pain about the things which I couldn't have with you. I tried to replace you with her. I was lying to myself, it would've never worked for my heart belonged to you. Although I didn't realize it during that time." John smiled apologetically. He noticed Cameron's expression brightened at his confession. He smiled inwardly at her happy face. "I also know now that you were telling the truth when you said you could feel everything."

"Yes. I did." She agreed.

"There's one last thing. Before you rescued mom from jail, you stripped half naked in front of me and wanted me to check your power cell. Was that your real intention? If your power cell was leaking you would've known and told me but instead you let me poke into your chest." John asked knowingly. He remembered he was so close to kissing her that time. So very close.

Cameron knew there was no more space for lies between them. She has to tell him the truth. "No. I wanted to see what you would have done in that situation. My decisions depended on your actions."

"What? I don't understand." John asked, genuinely confused at her words.

"I wanted to see whether you would make your move on me. You didn't and I thought that you still didn't want me around anymore. So I decided to submit my chip to John Henry." Cameron explained without any hesitation about her intentions.

John just stared at her with realization. "Let me guess this was also one of my future self's instructions to you?"

"No. It was me. Future John had nothing to do with this." She confessed.

John opened and closed his mouth several times but he had no words to say. Cameron noticed it and the corner of her lips twitched slightly.

"We should go back to a safe place." Cameron proposed.

"Yes. We should go back to the base I came from." John said, getting up on his feet.

"I will not be welcome there and you shouldn't go back there either. No one cares about you there, John. They are sending you out on suicide missions. You would've been killed if I didn't come." Camerons said.

John nodded. "You are right, Cameron. But I still wonder what happened to my team. They were my friends."

At that very moment they heard several footsteps coming towards them.

"Humans." Cameron said and they both hid behind the cover of the rubbles.

Seven men arrived in their vision. John couldn't see them clearly but Cameron could. "It's the survivors from your team, John." She said and got out from behind the cover and John followed.

Hearing the sudden sound the soldiers immediately aimed their guns towards the source of the sound. But they lowered their guns when their flashlight fell on John's face.

"Connor!" Barnes exclaimed in relief. "You are alive."

"Yeah. Thanks to her." John said, indicating Cameron at his side.

"Allison Young." Barnes said. "But how did she get here?"

John shook his head. "She is not Allison."

"Are you joking with us Connor?" Barnes asked annoyingly. He could clearly see that the girl standing beside Connor was Allison Young. Weston, Washington, Torres, Jones all agreed with Barnes.

"John is not lying. I am Cameron." Cameron intervened and made her eyes glow blue.

All the soldiers were startled by seeing Cameron's true nature. "What the fuck?" They all raised their rifles at her but they found John between their line of sight of Cameron.

"Hold on!" John ordered.

"What the fuck are you doing, Connor? It's a machine." Barnes exclaimed outrageously.

"I know what she is. And she is not just a machine." John's expression hardened. "Remember I told you about a girl named Cameron, for whom I was here, going through hell to find her. Well, this is Cameron. She is on our side."

The team of soldiers lowered their weapons. "How is this even possible, Connor? How could she be on our side?" Barnes asked.

"Well, it's a long story. I will explain to you everything when the time is right." John said. He noticed the suspicious gazes of the soldiers directed towards Cameron. He sighed. "Do you trust me?" John asked.

"Yes. Yes, we do trust you, Connor." Barnes said and the others agreed.

"Well then I am telling you that she is no threat to you. She is on our side. Trust me." John insisted.

The soldiers seemed to think for a moment before answering. "Fine. We believe you. But the mission was a bust and we need to return to the base." Weston said.

"The mission was a bust from the beginning." John shook his head. "I am not going back there."

"What? Then where will you go, Connor?" Barnes asked incredulously.

"I am going with her." John indicated towards Cameron. "And you all are welcome to join us."

"But where?" Weston asked.

"To a safe place." John said.

"How would you go, Connor? You are in no condition to walk." Barnes stated, noticing the bandage on John's leg.

"There is an arrangement for transport only a few clicks away from here." Cameron said.

"We are fine. But what about Connor? What will he do?" Jones asked.

"John is strong. He will manage and I am here to help him." Cameron said with confidence and put John's left arm around her neck and placed her right hand around his waist for support. She could've easily carried John but she knew he wouldn't like it. She'd let one of the soldiers carry John's weapons and backpacks, aside from his sidearm which was strapped to the side of his left leg.

They walked for about half an hour and Cameron seemed to know the shortcuts to where she was going. They reached their destination in a much shorter time. But there was no sign of any transport there.

"There's nothing here." Barnes murmured, looking around.

Cameron didn't answer. She whistled. John stared back at her in surprise and she winked back at him.

She knows how to whistle? John thought with an open mouth. How? Who taught her?

Then they heard the sound of an engine starting from their left. A jeep came to them and stopped right in front of them waiting for them to climb in. But then, John'e eyes fell on the driver of the jeep. His eyes widened in disbelief. That same face, same figure, same expression.

"Hello, John Connor." The driver greeted him.

"Uncle Bob…." Was all John could say.


A/N: So future John have his Cameron back. Do you like it? The future arc? I got no feedback about the last chapter except from MadMikeE (Thank you man, though I would like to hear about your detailed thoughts if it is possible for you) so I couldn't understand whether people liked it or not. So, I am asking again to leave a review for this chapter to people who will read.


PS: Anyone interested about becoming the beta reader for this story? I could use the help to make this one better.


If anyone have any feedback about the whole story please let me know. I am always open for feedbacks.