Chapter 12
"You're lying, Cameron," Andrew fought. He gripped his plasma rifle's strap over his right shoulder. In his left hand, he loosely held Max's leash. He kept his pace fast beside the tall terminator.
"I am not," Cameron argued.
The soldier had a doubtful look and checked, "You're really not with the famous Sarah Connor?"
If Cameron had lungs, she would have sighed at the soldier's persistence. She wasn't sure why humans thought terminators were so persistent because they obviously didn't outmatch humans in the long run. "No," she firmly stated this time.
Andrew huffed because he still wasn't going to believe that Cameron wasn't with Sarah. Like many humans, he'd heard the stories about Sarah Connor's resistance and struggle against the machines. He also knew what he witnessed a few hours ago when Sarah Connor embraced the terminator. He believed Sarah Connor would never make such a public statement without some meaning behind it.
Cameron suddenly went still because she picked out distant shouts up on the wall.
"What is it?" Andrew turned on his heels and worriedly studied the terminator. But he received his answer from a blast of sirens. "Damn," he cursed and broke into a run for the nearest wall entrance. "Come on, boy."
Max jumped into a run beside his human.
Cameron was faster than Andrew and Max. She entered the turret's open door and raced up the steps two at a time. She popped up on the wall and hurried across it but had to skid past a few opposing humans.
"Damn her," Andrew puffed on his run up the turret's steps. "Go, Max."
The German Sheppard bolted up the steps once Andrew released him.
"It has to be her, sir!" The soldier beside the spotlight called over the sirens.
"Goddamn her," Thomas hissed and slammed his fist on the wall's side. "She's crazy," he further seethed. "She wasn't due here until tomorrow afternoon."
"Please," a soldier argued, "Nico does whatever she pleases because of her last name."
Thomas shot a glare at the soldier for the smart remark. He then turned his head at seeing Cameron hastily joining them. "Try hailing her again," he ordered to the soldier next to him.
The soldier nodded, turned away some, and covered his right ear that had a earpiece in it.
"What has happened?" Cameron instantly asked.
"We have an unexpected arrival, who's going to get herself killed." Thomas was both annoyed and worried at once. He pointed beyond the walls of the city.
Cameron twisted her head around and easily picked out the HK plane off in the distance that fired at something or somebody on the ground. "Who is it firing upon?"
"It is Nico we believe," Thomas explained over the sirens. "We're picking up her beacon and that's her exact location over that damn HK."
Andrew suddenly appeared and gasped for air. He clipped Max to the leash and demanded, "What's happened?" He followed the spot light's bright beam. He grew astonished. "That's an HK plane out there."
"It's firing on Nico," Thomas reported to Andrew.
"We've got to help her," Andrew argued.
The patrol leader shook his head and yelled over the siren. "The long range canons won't reach that far. But I've got alarm messages sent out to patrol."
"Are any close enough to her?" Andrew hollered back.
"I'm hoping so. If Wayne can get there in time, he's got a launcher." The leader gazed back at the firing HK plane. "She's probably on that damn motorcycle of hers and can't answer our hails."
"I'm not getting any response," the soldier confirmed. He removed his fingertips from his earpiece. He then revealed his frantic features to the patrol leader. "And patrol is about fifteen minutes away from her."
Thomas cursed under his breath then tried thinking fast on how else to help Nico. He knew his hide would be John Connor's if Nico ended up dead. He couldn't wait to lecture Nico later for this stunt, if he had the chance.
"Give me your rifle," Cameron ordered to Andrew.
Andrew furrowed his eyebrows. "Cameron, no you can't-"
"I do not wish to harm you, Andrew," the terminator informed.
Andrew tensed because he knew what that meant from Cameron.
Thomas was yelling out orders to the soldiers along the wall. He commanded that the plasma canons get prepared then he turned around in time to see Andrew handing off his plasma rifle to the time traveler. He became further alarmed. "What the Hell are you two doing?"
"There is no time to explain," Cameron replied. She suddenly jumped onto the wall's ledge and gauged the distance to the ground.
"Cameron Phillips!" Thomas hollered and made a dash for her. But he was too late.
Cameron launched off the wall, soared for a few yards, and made a rapid descent to the ground. She held the plasma rifle between her hands and managed a nice midair spin. She then collided solidly with the dark ground and broke into an impressive run. She slung the rifle across her chest after she shrunk her size enough.
"Fuck!" Thomas snapped, and he turned his furious rage onto Andrew Marshal. "What the Hell were you thinking?" He grabbed Andrew by his camouflage jacket. "You just let an alpha time traveler take your rifle and run head on into a fight." He jerked Andrew even closer. "And one of the most important figure heads in our goddamn future no less," he snarled. "If she ends up dead, you get to deal with Connor."
Andrew paled as he realized his mistake. He then gazed past his leader and prayed that Cameron Phillips survived the fight or else it would be his life too.
Far beyond the city's walls, Cameron Phillips ran at top speeds through the ghost streets that were once the outskirts of Los Angeles's suburbs. She jumped over random hurdles such as unearthed pipes, fallen lights, and toppled building debris. She'd switched to night vision long ago and quickly pinpointed the HK plane in the night sky. As she came closer, she not only heard the distant HK's firing, but she also heard a throaty growl that was quickly coming her way. She suspected whatever it was, that the HK wanted it badly.
Cameron came upon a half demolished building so she half run and jumped up the rubble pile. She then hopped from the pile onto the building and went to the building's weakened ledge. She ignored the risk and swung off the plasma rifle.
Off in the distance, the HK plane frantically dipped and chased after its target. It continued firing but kept missing each time. Finally the creature that made the throaty growl came into view, and it was an old motorcycle. The motorcycle and the rider expertly zipped through and around the streets to avoid all the attacks.
The terminator now lifted her rifle, charged it, and carefully lined her sights on the HK plane. She knew she couldn't stop the plane with a mere plasma rifle, but she planned on slowing it down enough for the motorcyclist to get more distance. Cameron put her finger on the trigger and carefully waited for the right moment.
The biker throttled the motorcycle louder and gave a sharp cry just after the plasma shot missed her to the left. She dodged around the flying debris and made it. She glanced over her shoulder again and spotted the HK plane that just wouldn't let up. She focused on her ride and tucked her head behind the bike's windshield. She suspected another shot from the HK plane, but she was surprised when a plasma blast came from in front of her and struck the plane. She visually scanned for the shooter.
The HK plane was thrown off course and lurched to the ground in a dangerous manner. But it righted itself and continued its pursuit for its target. It did start a fast scan for the source from the plasma shot. Within a few beats, it locked on the unknown terminator standing on a half collapsed building about two hundred yards away.
Cameron aimed again at the quickly approaching HK plane. She knew that the plane would make an attempt at her any moment so she had to be seconds faster. She fired again just as she saw the HK plane charged its front cannon. She lowered the rifle after she calculated she had only a beat left.
This time, the biker saw the shooter up on the building. But she held her breath when the HK plane fired on her would-be savior. She couldn't tell who was both brave and dumb enough to help her, but she couldn't leave them behind. She turned her bike to a hard right and throttled the bike over a fallen wall.
Cameron moved her hands under her body after she slammed into the ground from the HK's fire. She noted the plasma rifle was crushed under her weight, but it no longer mattered. She climbed to her feet and saw that the HK plane was headed directly for her. However, she heard the motorcycle coming towards her then a light shined right on her. She turned her head to the side from the bright light.
The biker hit the brake and skidded to a stop beside the person who was foolish enough to help her. She stared at her savior and slightly grinned. "Cameron Phillips," she acknowledge aloud. "I'm Nico Ford and welcome back to the future." She was standing on her feet and scooted forward a bit.
Cameron took in the biker, who was a young woman well clad in black leather and a half helmet.
"Hurry, get on the bike." Nico glanced at the fast approaching HK plane. She sat down once she sensed the terminator on the bike. "Hold on!" She floored the black motorcycle and kicked out dust behind it.
The terminator locked onto the petite human, but she knew the HK plane was on their trail. She could tell her two accurate plasma shots had slowed the HK plane's flight, but it most likely wasn't enough.
"I've got a loaded Barrett lashed to the side of my bike," Nico hollered over the plasma fire. She ducked her head as she steered her bike through a dust cloud. "It's got a Mk 211 round loaded in there... it'll bring down that HK if you hit it right." She glanced in her right mirror and saw the HK plane hadn't given up its chase. "Get it ready, I'll stop, and you can take it out."
Cameron could discern the human's words because of her excellent hearing. She simply replied by fishing around for the rifle. She indeed found it on the right side of the bike, and she broke the straps that held it. She hefted the rifle with her right hand and kept it vertical.
"Ready?" Nico checked. She mentally located a perfect spot just down this more open street.
"Yes," Cameron hollered over the roars and blasts.
Nico throttled her bike harder and weaved through a bad spot before she hit the open street. She went a few hundred feet, glance in her mirror at the HK, and suddenly braked while she spun the bike to one side.
Cameron was impressed by Nico's foresight in plans. But she focused on her task and raised the Barrett rifle with her right arm, her trigger finger in place. She aligned her sights accurately while her visual systems perfectly targeted the HK plane's weak spot under the right wing. She fired the armor-piercing, explosive projectile that whistled through the air to its target.
Nico didn't wait for the results because she knew better. She sharply pulled down on the throttle and roared through the street just as the explosion erupted behind her. She glimpsed at her right mirror and sucked in her breath at seeing the HK plane on fire and making a fast descent.
Cameron glanced sidelong at the falling HK plane that could potentially hit them. "Faster would be advisable," she yelled to the human.
"I'm trying," Nico growled. She shook her head and murmured, "Come on, baby don't fail me now." She prayed her motorcycle would push harder for her and get them to safety before the falling plane struck them. Behind her there was the familiar roar that spoke death.
The HK plane struck the ground and wiped out already tangled buildings. It kicked up dust and debris everywhere around it then another explosion fired off. But the plane continued to cut down the street and began slowing down.
Nico stole a last glance in her mirror and released a shaky breath because the fallen plane was growing distant, finally. She happily grinned and declared, "Another one bites the dust!"
The terminator indeed witnessed the HK plane come to a complete stop and flopped over a ruined house. She turned her head forward, lowered the Barrett rifle, and still held onto the human with her left arm. She realized she now officially met Liz's wife, Nico Ford, that Sarah had mentioned earlier. She never expected to be under these circumstances however.
Nico raced her motorcycle down the mostly open road that'd take her directly to the city's gates. She only slowed when she was a minute away, and she had to squint when bright lights flooded over her. She softly cursed because she hated those damn spot lights despite it was necessary.
Cameron still held onto the human while her legs were clamped to the bike. She hadn't rid of the rifle in her right hand. She saw that the gates were being drawn open for them.
Nico braked her bike a few yards in front of the gates until they were just wide enough. She picked up her feet off the ground and revved through the gates without any problems. However, once inside the city she came to an instant stop because all the soldiers that lined up. She sighed since she knew she was in trouble.
The patrol leader, Thomas, stepped up to the riders, who were getting off the motorcycle.
Nico shut off her bike and climbed off it after Cameron. She read Thomas furious expression, and she cringed.
"Cameron Fucking Phillips!" Thomas snapped loudly. He stalked up to the terminator next to Nico. "What the Hell were you thinking?"
The terminator was not at all deterred by the patrol leader's anger. She'd dealt with Sarah Connor's temper for nearly a year and nothing else compared to it. "I calculated that patrol would not successfully protect Nico Ford from the HK plane. I was her only chance."
Nico had unbuckled her half helmet and now removed it. She revealed her honey blond, short hair and the light caught her bright green eyes. She warmly smiled up at the terminator. "Thanks too."
Cameron gazed down at the small, petite human. "You are welcome."
"I should throw you into a goddamn cell for the night," Thomas hissed at the terminator. "Let's see how bored you get then."
Nico stepped forward and slightly placed herself between the two. "Thomas, she was helping... just doing her mission."
"She broke protocol," Thomas shot back.
Nico took a deep breath and reminded, "She ain't a Resistance soldier."
The patrol leader was breathing hard and looked from Nico to the time traveler. He was less annoyed by Cameron's disobedience and more angered at the thought of the time traveler being harmed. He moved closer to Nico and whispered, "I'm responsible for her when she's on gamma shift."
Nico matched his cold stare and promised, "Ya know my opinion on it."
Thomas lifted his chin slightly. "I know." He licked his lips then concluded, "I'll let Connor decide on it."
Nico was half satisfied and backed off. She, like many, believed in Connor's good judgment.
"And you're not totally innocent, Nico," Thomas warned. "You were due here at fourteen hundred hours tomorrow."
"I like to be early," Nico quipped.
Thomas grunted and folded his arms. He looked back at the soldiers and ordered, "Get back on patrol." He then looked at Cameron. "You're with me, Phillips." He then searched the crowd of soldiers. "You too, Marshal."
Cameron heard Andrew's low sigh off in the distance. She knew she was at fault for any discipline given to him. She turned to Nico and held out the Barrett to her.
"Thanks." Nico retrieved it then put the strap across her chest. She then mentioned, "I'm sure we'll see each other again."
"Perhaps," Cameron granted. She then broke away from the small human and joined Thomas.
Nico went to her bike, popped the kick stand, and held onto the handlebars. She looked back over her shoulders and watched the terminator, who reflected in the moonlight. She had a thin grin and started pushing her bike down the cobblestone street. Shortly, she had her motorcycle stowed away for the night and freed her leather saddlebags. She tossed them onto her left shoulder and headed for the mouth to the underground city.
Nico passed a few soldiers on her way. She received polite nods or greetings from them. She returned them but was glad to make it to the elevator lobby then finally to the residential level. She thought about stopping at Kate and John's home, but she brushed off the notion. She'd see them tomorrow and right now she wanted to get home.
Nico approached the door to her home that she shared with her wife. Her lips pulled with a smile and with her left hand, she grasped the handle. She expected it to be locked, but she found the door still open so she quietly entered her home. Much to her surprise, she entered directly into the living room to find her wife seated on the sofa with the television on.
"Well hello there," Blue huskily greeted her spouse. She turned off the television, set the remote on the glass coffee table, and thoughtfully studied her wife.
Nico shut the door behind herself with her boot. She carefully regarded her wife and noted the amusement in those bright blue eyes. She parted her lips some but couldn't quite compose her words.
Blue propped her right arm up on the back of the sofa and teased, "You're speechless for once."
Nico pointed at her wife and hesitantly asked, "Ya knew I was coming tonight?" She laughed and dropped her hand to her side. "You sneak."
Blue chuckled and argued, "Me the sneak?" She now stood up to her imposing six feet and grinned. "I'm not the one biking at night with an HK plane on my ass all the way to the city."
"That ain't sneaky," Nico fought. "That's rather loud actually."
Blue let out a low laugh and neared her beautiful, young wife. "Yes it is... very loud." She took Nico's saddlebags and set them down on the sofa arm behind her. "I'd say you had everybody's attention tonight." Next, she pulled the rifle from over her lover and propped it up against the wall near the door.
"Mmmm," Nico murmured. She revealed a coy smile. "Word moves fast around here huh?"
"I'm afraid so," Blue replied.
Nico grasped her wife's hips and warmly studied Blue's well chiseled features. "Are ya still surprised, darlin?"
Blue always enjoyed when her wife's southern twang appeared, and it made her soften. "Perhaps not surprised, but I'm very happy." She encircled her wife's petite hips.
"Still the end result I wanted," Nico decided. She reached up, threaded her fingers through black locks, and pulled her wife down for a long, sensual kiss. She let out a low hum after the kiss and smiled up at her lover. "How's everything been going?"
Blue brushed her cheek against her wife's temple then withdrew some. "John has been taking care of them."
"Have they gotten into much trouble?" Nico heard the low sigh.
"We lost a triple eight," Blue replied.
Nico tilted back some to get a better look at her lover's face. "A reprogrammed one, right?"
"Yes, don't worry." Blue saw the relief fill her lover, who was also her best friend. She then clarified, "It went bad and attacked Sarah."
Nico nodded then murmured, "Ya said that would happen." She freed her right hand and ran her fingers through her shaggy, golden strands. "Everybody is alright though?" She already knew the answer but wanted to make sure nothing changed.
"Yes." Blue now unzipped Nico's leather jacket and suggested, "Why don't you get comfortable?"
"You're trying to detour the topic." Nico suspiciously studied her lover.
Blue gave a hefty sigh and chided, "Alright, John Connor."
"Hey." Nico poked her lover's taut stomach and ordered, "Be nice to my brother-in-law... or I'll tell Kate." She chuckled when her wife cringed at the thought. "It took me awhile to figure out Kate was your biggest fear in life."
Blue chuckled and shook her head. "Kate standing over me with a USB plug is my biggest fear in life."
Nico broke into laughter and dropped her forehead against her lover's chest. "I think that is my biggest nightmare too." She grinned up at her lover.
"I thought rats freaked you out," Blue teased.
"Don't ruin the mood," Nico warned. She extracted herself and grabbed her saddlebags with her left hand. She started towards their bedroom. "How's work going?"
"It's busy," Blue answered. She followed her wife to the bedroom but her walk was slow. "How'd it go at the factory?"
"I think it went well, but we're really going to need to beef up security there for this to work." Nico reached up with her right hand for the light switch in the bedroom. But she only could get her arm up halfway before she gritted her teeth. She hissed at the internal struggle she had with getting her right arm any higher.
Blue quickly noticed it and her expression was filled with worry. "You're still having problems." She easily flipped the light on and took her wife's arm. "Why didn't you tell me over the phone?"
Nico lowered her arm but her wife still held onto her. "There ain't any point in worrying you." She clenched her hand experimentally. "I tried fixing it, but I just can't figure it out." She twisted her head around and quietly asked, "Can you take a look at it? I think it's software related, and you know I ain't any good with that stuff."
Blue slowly nodded and released her lover. "Get unpacked and situated then I'll diagnose it."
Nico just nodded because her mood was dampened by her problematic arm. She went to the bed and put the saddlebags down. She opened the flaps and started pulling her things out. "So, ya think everything is going exactly as you recall?"
"So far," Blue replied.
Nico bobbed her head while she took her dirty clothes over to the walk-in closet. "Have you talked to Sarah yet?" She could tell by her wife's long silence that it hadn't happened, and it was still sensitive for her lover. She came back out of the closet and went back to the bed side. She pulled out her toiletry bag. "Darlin, you outta talk to her."
"I swear you and John team up on me all the time," Blue fussed. She sat down on the bed and bowed her head. "At least Kate doesn't press it."
"That's cuz Kate is being too nice." Nico went to the bathroom and flipped on the light with her good hand. She set her bag by the sink and would deal with it later. "And I know you best." She appeared in front of her wife and tilted her lover's head up. "Ya ain't given me one damn good reason why you shouldn't see her."
"It's risky," Blue fought, yet again. "I'll be breaking the Temporal Directive."
"It's Sarah Connor," Nico sharply reminded. "I think she's above the damn directive. I mean she's known about the future for half her life, and it ain't changed a thing."
Blue shook her head several times and murmured, "But she doesn't know about this." She peered up at her lover. "She doesn't need to know about this, Nico."
Nico gave a long sigh then tilted her lover's head back some; her fingertips under Blue's chin. "What are ya so scared about, huh?" She searched her lover's blue eyes, which had hardened due to her direct question. She softly checked, "Are ya worried about me? Are you worried what I'll think about it?" She was truly concerned now, and it showed on her face.
Blue took her wife's hand into both of hers. She held gently and lowered her head again.
Nico now knew her answers so she squatted down in front of her wife. She raised her freehand to her wife's soft, chiseled cheek. "Listen, I know this is really hard for you, darlin." She ran her thumb across her wife's cheek bone. "And I know how much you still have to love her. How much you probably miss her." She found worried eyes on her finally. Nico shook her head and softly promised, "But I also know how much you love me, Cameron. You ain't gotta worry about me being upset by you seeing Sarah again." Her green eyes held her wife's for a long moment.
Blue, who was truly Cameron, bowed her head and gathered her strength that she was revered for by so many. She took a deep breath that calmed her systems, which were running at high levels ever since Sarah Connor and her younger self arrived in the city.
"I think you need to see her or you'll be kicking yourself for the rest of your life," Nico whispered. "Ya know I'm right."
Cameron slowly raised her head and asked, "If I go, will you join me?"
"Of course, darlin." Nico gave her wife a gentle smile. "I've always wanted to meet her." She saw that Blue was settling down now so she relaxed too. "Maybe we should visit her tomorrow night while your younger self is on the gamma shift. It'd probably be the best chance we'll have."
Cameron considered it then quietly agreed with her wife.
"Think about it, okay?" Nico kissed her lover's lips quickly then stood up.
Blue had soft features because she always felt better after Nico talked her through certain troubles. She was always amazed by how Nico could do it. She was grateful for it too since she at times still had a hard time articulating her zeroes and ones into human comprehension. But Nico was patient and loving with her, constantly.
Nico continued unpacking and talking with her spouse. "How is Kate doing?"
Cameron knew that her wife meant the pregnancy. "Her trimester is going well." Briefly John's warning about kids came to mind. "They're arguing about whether to find out the baby's sex or not."
Nico's laugh filtered out from the closet. "I'm sure Kate needs to know so she can paint the baby's room the right color."
Cameron became smug and crossed her legs while she sat on the bed. She then glanced at her lover, who stood next to her now.
"You know," Nico mentioned, "we've never talked about kids."
Cameron swore she heard John laughing somewhere despite she was just imagining it. She hesitantly peered up at her wife. "Well, you'll be having a niece or nephew shortly."
"That ain't what I meant," Nico refuted. She placed her left hand on her hip. "I'm talking about us having kids." She saw some color leave her wife's face.
Cameron, who had redefined the meaning behind 'machine' and 'terminator' for humans, now became a deer in headlights. "Us... kids?"
Nico slowly narrowed her eyes at her spouse's expression. "Yes, you and me having a child. Is your chip getting scrambled conveniently?" She knew she'd get a glare for her smart comment which she promptly received in a second.
Blue gripped the bed's edge and replied, "I don't think that's... wise, Nico."
Nico folded her arms now and shifted her weight to her right foot.
Cameron sighed at her wife's attitude and better explained, "I'm not good with kids."
"How do ya even know?" Nico debated with her wife.
The terminator saw several incidents that flashed through her memory. She focused back on her wife. "I know." She could see that her wife still wasn't satisfied so she stood up and neared Nico. "Do we have to decide tonight?"
Nico sighed because her lover had a good point. She adjusted her attitude and nodded. "It's a little soon huh?"
Cameron grasped her lover's hip and explained, "Let's just see how I handle John and Kate's child first?" She revealed a grin.
Nico shrugged and argued, "We can send that one home." She and Cameron shared a grin. "Alright... you're right."
"For once," Cameron teased. She then seriously ordered, "Get change then I'll check your arm."
"Right," Nico murmured. She broke away from her lover while taking off her motorcycle jacket. She soon changed into her sleepwear, which consisted of cotton shorts and a black tank top. She then followed her lover out to the living room.
"Let me get a knife," Cameron mentioned. She went to the kitchen but shortly returned with a kitchen knife.
Nico was seated on the sofa but was near the edge. She turned some and better faced her lover. "I hate doing this."
"I know... but it's the easiest way." Blue placed her lover's right arm in her lap with bottom side wrist facing up. She then brought the paring knife's tip to Nico's wrist. "Ready?"
Nico let out a low sigh and honestly replied, "No but go ahead." She had to look away when the blade cut into her skin. She clenched her teeth as the sharp sting trailed up her arm with the knife's cut.
The terminator was extremely careful as she made the two inch long slit up her lover's arm. She then wiped the blade clean on her pant leg and brought the blade to the top of her right wrist.
Nico glanced over and only briefly watched Cameron cut her wrist too. She was glad when she heard the knife placed on the glass coffee table. She focused back on her lover, who extracted her black tubules from the slit in her wrist.
"Just relax," Blue gently reminded her spouse. After Nico's nod, she gingerly pried the skin folds open on Nico's wrist then slid her tubules inside of Nico's arm. "When did this start again?" She hoped her question would distract her lover.
"Just after I left here," Nico answered. "I don't think it's hardware related."
The terminator trusted her wife's judgment with the hardware because Nico was such an expert. She moved her tubules just a bit further then finally found the connections. She directly linked up to Nico's arm and started diagnosing the software.
Nico could tell that Blue was now connected to her arm by the unfocused look and glossy blue eyes. She tried not moving her arm at all while Cameron scanned the software. She softly mentioned, "I just hope my body isn't rejecting the bionics."
"I highly doubt it," Cameron distantly replied. "It would be more severe than this." She already suspected what the problem may be, but she waited for it to be confirmed or not. She then switched topics and distantly inquired, "What'd you think of my younger self?"
"Hmmmm." Nico rested her head against the sofa's back. "I reckon Sarah worked miracles." She closed her eyes and slightly smirked. "You were so focused on the mission."
"That's all I had back then," Cameron reminded her spouse. She continued diagnosing the bionic arm's malfunction.
"You've changed a lot since then," Nico murmured. She combed her fingers through her blond hair. "Even when I first met you, ya weren't that focused on the mission."
"I didn't have one," Cameron softly replied. She then blinked a few times and twisted her head to her wife. "You have software corruption."
"Can ya fix it? Or do I need to see Kate tomorrow?" Nico briefly showed some worry on her features.
"I believe I can correct it." The terminator turned away again and refocused on the task to fix her wife's corrupted software. "It will only take a few minutes." Her blue eyes hazed over as she accessed her wife's software for the bionic arm.
Nico reached up and ran her fingers through her lover's short, midnight hair, but she made sure never to move her right arm."When are ya going to grow it out?" She slightly grinned at her lover's low sigh.
"I am." Cameron was clearly not in the mood to argue over her cropped short hairstyle.
"Ya could ask Lauren to stimulate your hair follicles to make it go faster." Nico still played with her wife's hair. "It'd be longer in a few months rather than a year."
"No." The terminator didn't add anything else because she was busy fixing her wife's software.
But Nico kept playing with the terminator's jet black hair. "I reckon shoulder length would be nice, darlin." She grinned at how her lover narrowed her eyes. She loved rattling Cameron at any chance possible. She leaned her head to one side to get a better view of Cameron's profile. "It'd frame your features perfectly.... show those baby blues off."
Cameron rolled her baby blue eyes at her wife's persistence. But she grinned too when Nico softly chuckled at her.
Nico straightened up and accidently shifted her right arm, which caused the terminator to go stiff.
"Try not to move," Cameron warned.
"Sorry," Nico murmured. She slumped into the sofa and tried relaxing quietly while her lover finished repairing her arm's software. She hoped it worked correctly afterwards. She was fairly confident that Cameron could repair it.
Cameron suddenly withdrew her tubules from the slit in her lover's arm. She now shifted on the sofa and suggested, "Try moving your arm slowly and see if you receive any resistance."
Nico sat up and scooted closer to the sofa's edge. She straightened out her bionic arm then gradually lifted it higher. As she approached the usual resistance point, she expected that familiar strain to strike her, but it didn't come, and she continued lifting her arm. She continued testing it completely until she positioned her elbow over head and her hand touched her shoulder blade.
The terminator was obviously pleased and mentioned, "The interface software was becoming corrupt so any commands your brain sent to the interface were getting lost in translation."
"That's why it felt like I was fighting against gravity?" Nico checked. She had furrowed eyebrows and curious jade eyes. "It was like I was trying to lift a hundred tons."
"Yes, there was poor programming done in the software interface. I've reprogrammed it with better software that should not fail." Cameron watched her lover continue to test out the bionic arm. "Does it feel normal to your organic arm?"
Nico had both her hands in her lap, and she curled her hands into a fist. She had to admit it seemed better than when she first received her bionic arm. "Yes, actually." She smiled at her lover. "Thank you, Blue." She leaned over and lightly kissed Cameron.
The terminator had a kiss after the smile but seriously reminded, "Next time, you must tell me sooner." She didn't like that Nico hadn't told her sooner about the problem.
"I was just hoping it'd... work itself out," Nico murmured.
"Your bionics are not capable of self-repairing software," Cameron sternly reminded. "If you have problems, you must alert Kate or I so we can fix. It will only worsen and impede you."
Nico gave a low sigh but nodded and promised, "I will." She knew better too, but she hated to worry her wife, who had enough on her plate currently.
But Blue felt it wasn't totally settled so she hooked her wife's opposite cheek and had Nico face her again. "I know you can handle yourself, Nico but that doesn't keep me from worrying." She carefully regarded her lover and summarized, "You weren't able to stop that HK plane tonight because your bionic arm was failing. It's risks like those that I don't like you taking." She leaned in closer until her forehead almost touched Nico's. "I cannot lose you."
Nico grumbled but pressed her forehead against her wife's. "I know... I'll be more careful." She pressed her palm against her wife's soft cheek. She and her spouse stayed that way for a few moments until Cameron shifted first.
"Let's clean up your arm then we should rest."
Nico patted her lover's knee then stood up. "I am a bit tired after my chase tonight." She shot a grin at her lover then hurried back to their bedroom.
Cameron dropped the paring knife in the sink and followed her lover's trail. She saw Nico in the bathroom wrapping the slit in her bionic arm. So she snuck in behind Nico's petite form and encircled her wife's small hips. She bowed her head and softly kissed her human's silky skin.
Nico gave a low moan and put the gauze wrap down on the bathroom sink. She leaned her head back against her lover's broad shoulder then stared at their reflection in the mirror. She was amazed by how opposite she was compared to her beautiful wife. She realized their only common feature was their short hair, which would be brief since Cameron was growing hers out.
The terminator peered up with hooded eyes and grinned at their reflection too. For a long second, her eyes flashed a bright blue thanks to her endoskeleton's eyes.
Nico chuckled and patted her wife's strong arms. "Come on, darlin. I ain't getting any sleep by standing here."
"Hmmm." Cameron started withdrawing but nibbled on Nico's ear before she was gone. She went into the bedroom and prepared for bed.
Nico remained in front of the mirror and let out a low breath. She'd planned to get some decent sleep tonight after her long days down at the factory. But she seriously wondered now that Cameron made her intent very clear. She had a lopsided smile and turned on the faucet for needed cold water. She had to admit she'd spent many all nighters with her lover and didn't sleep until the next night. Those were the nights she remembered why it was amazing to have a terminator for a lover, especially her wife.
In the bedroom, Cameron huskily called, "Nico."