Chapter 14
Sarah Connor zipped up her black leather jacket once she entered the cool night that waited for them. She unknowingly walked closer to the terminator at her side in hopes Cameron would block the low breeze. She tucked her hands into her jacket's pockets.
"You think you'll have duty all night?" Sarah casually inquired. She felt silly for asking despite she already knew the answer. There was just some part of her that secretly missed the terminator's presence all night. She'd had Cameron in her life for nearly a year now, and it was much longer than any terminator stayed around. It wasn't until more recently that Sarah realized she'd grown accustom to Cameron always being close by, either in the same space, room, or watching over them at night.
"Yes," Cameron answered in monotone. She noticed their walk was slower than normal because Sarah usually had a fast pace. She started connecting Sarah's question with the slow walk and checked, "Will you be alright tonight?"
Sarah shrugged and argued, "Yeah, why not?" She noticed she and Cameron were headed towards the same spot like last night. "I was just... curious, is all."
Cameron could tell it was something else, yet she needed a few minutes to process what was really going on with the human.
"The moon is beautiful tonight." Sarah signaled it with a faint nod. She was fixed on it, which gave a silver hue to her emerald eyes.
The terminator observed it while she continued processing Sarah's strange attitude tonight. "Are there any myths about the moon?"
Sarah sucked in a breath at a loaded question. She gradually released it and explained, "The moon holds a lot of meaning and legend in so many human cultures." She peered up at her friend.
"What about in Greek mythology?" Cameron was curious about Greek because Sarah had spoken about it last night.
"Well," Sarah started, "the goddess, Artemis, was considered the moon goddess but that wasn't really until later in Greek mythology." She recalled her knowledge about mythology. "Originally the Titan, Selene, was the goddess of the moon before Artemis. She was very beautiful with pale skin like the moon. She often drove a chariot pulled by oxen or horses, and she had a half-moon over her head." She looked from Cameron to the moon. "Her brother was Helios, who was the sun god. He would ride the sky during the day while Selene washed up in the Earth's waters. By nightfall, she would travel the night sky, and it would light up from her immortal head and crescent crown."
Cameron had carefully listened to the mythology, and she started picturing pieces of it. She'd never had an imagination due to her logic and programming. But Sarah's story was vivid, and she could see some of it. After a moment, she softly asked, "What is a Titan in mythology? It is defined as being a human of large size, strength, and power."
Sarah had a small grin but explained, "A Titan in Greek mythology is a deity. There were originally twelve Titans, who ruled during the Golden Age. But later they were overthrown by younger gods, like Zues and Hera, that were called the Olympians."
The terminator considered this for a moment then stated, "You know a great deal about Greek mythology."
Sarah shrugged it off. "I was into it as a kid." She rocked on her feet for a minute while she studied the moon. "When I was a kid, I wanted to either be an astronomer or archeologist... especially Greek archeology." She bit her lower lip but mentioned, "I use to watch the stars a lot as a kid. Then one night my mom surprised me with a telescope." She had a sad smile at the memory. "I was up all night the first time I had the telescope."
Cameron had quietly listened to her friend's childhood memories. She was interested in them because it was a window into who Sarah Connor was before Skynet. She knew very little about Sarah's past prior to John Connor's birth. She tilted her head and inquired, "You went to college?"
"Mmmm." Sarah peered up at the terminator. "It was the spring semester of my freshman year of college when the T-800 showed up. I was eighteen at the time."
The terminator deduced that the T-800 and Kyle Reese's arrival truly altered her friend's life, forever. Then a thought occurred to her, and she asked, "What were you studying in college?" Her guess was history or perhaps English.
Sarah slowly developed a smirk but didn't look at Cameron when she softly revealed, "My major was computer science." She now flashed her grin at the terminator. "Would you believe it?"
Cameron was silent for a long minute then checked, "You were studying to be a computer scientist?" Her tone was skeptic; she had a hard time believing it considering Sarah's disdain for computers, software, and technology as a whole.
"Mmhmmm." Sarah chuckled because she could tell she'd caught the terminator off-guard for once. "I was learning to program in BASIC language."
Cameron wasn't sure what to say as she processed the new data about Sarah Connor.
Sarah was rather smug but continued talking about it. "Where do you think John gets it from, his father?" She shook her head. "Reese was a good man, smart, and very loyal... dedicated, but is no math or computer whiz." She shrugged and explained, "It's in the Connor family genes."
The terminator hadn't fully accepted this truth and contested, "Then why do you pretend not to know or understand technology?"
Sarah chuckled at the observation that Cameron made now. She had a glow to her eyes when she peered up at Cameron. "I like to play dumb... see what people say to me and around me. You or John think you're talking over my head?" She gave a head shake. "No, you don't... maybe some terms I don't know at first, but I catch on quickly." She saw how the terminator just stared at her in mild surprise. She then ordered, "And don't tell John you know."
"You have not disclosed this to him?"
Sarah swayed her head side to side then shrugged. "He doesn't ask, I don't tell." She then turned back towards the wall and watched the moon. "After what happened in 1984, I reacted opposite of how John reacted in 1995. He just thought technology was even cooler and got more into after he met the T-800. But I reacted the opposite way and just shut technology out of my life unless it was necessary." She took a deep breath and slow let it out. "I was only interested in learning guns and other weapons that'd help me defend my son."
Cameron remained quiet, but she started believing it all because Sarah was rather intelligent compared to the average human. She also had noticed hints like how well Sarah understood guns, weapons, machinery, and could be very calculating. She'd always wondered how Sarah had hot-wired the other truck and pinned Cameron between the trucks. Cameron didn't expect Sarah to have the skills to hot-wire a vehicle. Despite emotions were Sarah's drive, Cameron noticed it was detailed planning that made Sarah's missions precise.
"I gotcha, huh?" Sarah was smug now that's she'd caught the terminator by surprise rather than the reverse.
Cameron set aside her processes and regarded the human. "Yes. I did not suspect."
Sarah chuckled but pointed a finger. "Just keep it to yourself, girlie." She tucked her hand away then held back a yawn.
Yet Cameron saw her friend's weary appearance and mentioned, "You should go rest. The gamma shift is in ten minutes."
"I don't want to make you late again," Sarah softly agreed. She now faced the terminator.
Cameron recalled their earlier conversation and checked, "You will be okay tonight?"
Sarah faltered at the terminator's open concern, but she gave a small smile only because of the terminator's care. "I'll be fine." She faltered at what to do or say next yet stupidly managed, "I hope patrol is quieter tonight."
"Nico is already here so it will be."
Sarah softly laughed at Cameron's smart remark. "I see you're working on having a sense of humor."
"It was not humorous last night," Cameron debated.
Sarah bit back her grin and left it alone. She instead offered, "I'll see you in the morning... if you don't mind me staying in your quarters again?" She actually felt shy about it despite she'd already stayed last night.
"They are our quarters," Cameron corrected. "You may want to move your items over to make it easier."
Sarah hadn't expected the terminator to be so easy about it. She'd learned that Cameron even enjoyed her solitude like a human. "Alright," she murmured, "I'll do that." She had a thin smile but her eyes were warm. "Thanks."
"You are welcome."
Sarah was a bit uneasy and shuffled on her boots for a heartbeat. She then mentally cursed at the awkwardness, but she shoved it all aside and stepped forward. She drew out her arms from her pockets just as she came into Cameron's space.
The terminator hadn't expected another bold move from her friend despite last night. She was secretly pleased and welcomed Sarah into her. She snaked her arms around the petite human and drew Sarah in closer.
Sarah had her arms around the terminator's waist. She rested her cheek against the soft metal chest and shut her eyes. Now she indeed found warmth from the cool air tonight. She sighed contently because the anxious moment had passed between them.
Cameron bowed her head closer and enjoyed the human's nearness. Although it made her frown because she was without her organic systems still. She could be far more taken away by the long hug than this, but she would have to wait until tomorrow.
Sarah sensed something off key and murmured, "What is it?" She didn't move and waited to hear what bothered her friend.
"I cannot feel you," Cameron softly confessed, again.
Sarah had a furrowed brow at this reminder, and she felt badly for Cameron. "You will tomorrow."
"Will I?" Cameron countered. "We will still hug?" Her voice was low, but she spoke near Sarah's shell ear.
Sarah tightened her arms some and promised, "Definitely." She could tell the answer settled her friend, who held Sarah a bit closer. Sarah enjoyed the tender exchange between them especially since she hadn't received much affection in years. She'd almost forgotten how good it could feel to her. She lifted her head off the terminator's chest but leaned her cheek against Cameron's.
"I am happy you're accepting me, Sarah," Cameron softly confessed.
Sarah's heart dropped at Cameron's words. She now understood how much impact she had in the terminator's life. She reached up with her right hand and pressed her hand into Cameron's skull and temple. She felt their contrasting skins mold together. "Just promise me you won't go back... back to Skynet." She tried hiding the tremble in her voice, but she suspected Cameron detected it. "I can't do this if... if you leave us... leave me."
Cameron easily comprehended what was Sarah's fear. But when she replied, she held conviction that was true. "I swear to you I will not leave you, ever."
Sarah felt secure from Cameron's promise. She tasted honesty in each word and knew that Cameron would see it through. She was also grateful that Cameron gave her the promise. She started moving her head and slid her hand down warm metal. Soon her mouth met soft yet finely porous lips that gave Sarah a mineral hint. She only brushed her lips across Cameron's for a few seconds before she withdrew; a bit of surprise in her own eyes. She didn't expect to be comfortable enough to do it, yet she found her stomach filled by butterflies. She just worriedly hoped Cameron wasn't repulsed by it.
Cameron straightened up but still held the human. She slowly revealed a thin smile, and her eyes glowed like a warm blue sea.
Sarah had that awkward sensation again, but she mentioned, "I'll see you after the gamma shift." She then sensed that somebody was approaching Cameron from behind.
The terminator released her friend then turned her head sidelong. She too had detected another human and confirmed it was indeed Andrew Marshal with Max.
"Evening, Andrew," Sarah greeted the soldier.
Andrew Marshal was trying to stay formal despite he wanted to smirk, so badly. "Good evening, Miss Connor."
Cameron didn't want him to get a word in with Sarah after last night's debate about whether Cameron was with Sarah Connor. She glanced back at Sarah. "See you soon."
Sarah gave a quick smile then bid goodnight to the pair. She was on her way but vaguely made out Andrew's accusing voice. She chuckled because she imagined he wanted inside information on Cameron's relationship with her. Sarah could only wish Andrew good luck because Cameron wasn't a chatterbox.
Soon enough, Sarah returned to Cameron's quarters, which was now their quarters. She had a tired smile at this thought but pushed into the room. After she stripped off her jacket, she went to her old quarters and collected her few stacks of clothes that'd been recently cleaned by a Resistance civilian that took care of the quarters in the hall.
Once back in Cameron's quarters, Sarah flicked on the television and flipped through the offerings until she came to romantic comedies. She couldn't believe she was in this section to begin with, but she settled on what seemed to be a cute movie called Imagine Me & You. She'd noted it was a British movie filmed in 2005 that was also in the GLBT section. While the movie started up, Sarah disappeared into the bathroom and cleaned up.
Beyond the quarters' door, a visitor to the city passed by and continued down the quiet hall towards the elevator lobby. He waited in the lobby for an elevator to come down. Once an elevator dinged, he had to step aside because two women exited first. He greeted them with nods then slipped into the elevator.
The two women, Nico and Blue, made their way down the hall to the quarters that Sarah and younger Cameron now shared. Nico's stride was fast, but she noticed her wife was slowing down as they came closer so she faced her.
Blue knew the quarters were only five doors away. She had a taut face and fisted hands.
Nico approached her wife and checked, "Are ya alright?" She reached out for Cameron, who remained still and staring down the hall.
Blue shook her head and quietly replied, "I can't do this, Nico." Yet she didn't dart off either and felt her wife's tender touch on her arm.
"Darlin, you can put one foot in front of the other." Nico flashed a grin in hopes her joke would settle her wife's nerves. "It ain't gonna be that bad like seeing Kate with a USB plug."
Cameron shook her head and focused down on her wife. "Nico, I can't..." She frowned at her own fears.
Nico became far more concerned and stepped into her lover's space. "What's got ya so scared, darlin?" She shook her head and was worried now. "Ya know this woman better than anybody else."
"Exactly," Cameron murmured. She sighed and softly explained, "I promised her I'd never lie to her, and I have... blatantly. She will be angry with me."
Nico sighed and argued, "I reckon ya have a reasonable explanation considering the circumstances."
Blue turned her head away and obviously wasn't convinced right now.
Nico tenderly pulled her wife's head back and softly asked, "What is it, really?"
"She doesn't need to know about this... about me," Cameron murmured.
Nico lowered her hand and took Cameron's hands into both of hers. "Darlin, I reckon if she knows how ya turn out after her death, Judgment Day, and all this... she's gonna feel a lot better."
"What if she doesn't?" the terminator softly argued.
"I think you're letting your emotions get the best of ya." Nico slightly narrowed her eyes at how her wife was resisting this so badly. "Sarah Connor may hate and curse Skynet up and down, but even I can tell that she feels for ya... that you hold a special place in her. You no longer fall in that same category like that."
Cameron bit her lip and quietly asked, "What if her meeting me now alters the timeline?"
"How do ya know it will?" Nico glanced off to the right for a beat, shrugged, and peered back up at Cameron. "What if she was meant to meet the older you? But if ya don't then it will alter the timeline." She shook her head and whispered, "There ain't an exact answer to this, Blue."
Cameron bowed her head and seriously considered her wife's words. She knew that Nico was right that her emotions were getting the best of her. But it was her emotions that always override her logic when it dealt with those that she loved like Sarah, Nico, or John and Kate.
"Ya know what's best," Nico murmured. "And we both know you're gonna regret not seeing her... not letting her find out the truth." She then slightly grinned and teased, "Besides, Sarah Connor is far above the Timeline Directive... even if you wrote the damn thing."
Blue huffed and suspiciously eyed her wife. "So you want me to break the directive?"
"Actually, I don't believe ya saw the fine print about Sarah Connor at the bottom of the directive." Nico smirked and shrugged.
The terminator gave a faint grin then shook her head. After a hefty sigh, she just nodded and ordered, "Let's go."
Nico felt better about it too because she knew how tense her wife was all day after Cameron initially decided to see Sarah. Together, they continued the last distance to the quarters. She saw her wife stopped by Room 519. "Ya sure this is it?"
Cameron arched an eyebrow at her lover in silent reply.
"Right," Nico muttered. She knew better than to question an AI with a perfect memory. She rapped on the door and waited for an answer.
Sarah had just removed her black blouse and was left in her thin, black tank top. She pulled it down over her slightly exposed abdomen then went to the door. She still wore her jeans and boots while her hair had grown a bit wild from the earlier breeze outside. Sarah shut off the television and opened the door with a curious expression.
"Evening, Sarah," Nico warmly started.
Sarah took in her two visitors and was obviously surprised, but she offered them a smile. "How are you?" She looked between the couple.
Nico noted that her wife was dead silent so she filled the void. "We're doing well. We just stopped by for a visit, but if you're busy-"
"No," Sarah fought. "Come in." She stepped aside and brought the door with her. She hadn't expected such a visit from the couple, but she was actually pleased too. She hadn't seen Blue since yesterday.
"Ya haven't had anymore bad terminator troubles?" Nico teasingly inquired.
Sarah had shut the door and briefly grinned at the younger woman. "None yet... I hope it stays that way." She neared the pair and folded her arms, which caused her biceps to show along with the edge of her newest scar. She caught how Blue glanced at it.
"Cameron is on the gamma shift...?" Nico had a curious expression.
"Yes," Sarah answered, "until six in the morning."
Nico shook her head and muttered, "Graveyard shift but at least it keeps her busy."
Sarah only nodded but looked up at Blue, who hadn't spoken once and seemed extremely tense. She grew worried about it too.
Nico easily caught this but further took charge of the conversation and guided it in the right direction. She knew the air wouldn't lighten until the truth was out in the open. "Actually," she gently started, "Blue and I stopped by to talk about some things."
Sarah arched a perfect eyebrow and looked between the pair.
Nico peered up at her lover, who had a blank face. She knew that Blue had fallen back into her terminator persona as a safety net. She inwardly sighed and felt bad for her lover. She focused on Sarah. "I know some folks have introduced me as Nico Ford." At Sarah's nod, she continued explaining, "But Ford is actually my maiden name."
Sarah leaned her head to the side. "What's your married name then?" Her dark eyes flickered to Blue then to Nico.
"After Blue and I married, I took her last name," Nico explained. "My married name is Connor."
Sarah parted her lips, yet she remained silent. She had a deep crease in her brow and switched between Nico and Blue. She finally settled on Blue and asked, "We're related? How?"
Nico didn't respond this time and hoped her wife would take the mental step.
After a long beat, the terminator simply replied, "We are not related by blood." Her voice had a monotone that was eerily familiar to both Nico and Sarah.
Sarah started narrowing her eyes and shook her head.
Nico gingerly touched her wife's lower back in silent support. She hoped this would go over well; she had faith.
"Who are..." Sarah was becoming alarmed because she didn't like surprises or finding out there were secrets and lies.
Cameron gathered her strength and carefully explained, "My name is not Liz... it is an alias I selected when you arrived here." She easily read the familiar rise of anger in Sarah's features that masked Sarah's actual fears. Despite it'd been years, Cameron could still read Sarah with ease. "I am Cameron."
Sarah Connor stared in disbelief at the tall woman, who had midnight hair, electric blue eyes, and sculpted features that were nothing like the Cameron Phillips she knew. She shook her head and whispered, "No... how could..."
The terminator kept her cybernetic systems under control, but she could do nothing for her knotted stomach, heated skin, or sweating palms. "It is a long story... very long. But I am Cameron Phillips."
Sarah was consumed by a flood of emotions that made her heart race. She wasn't sure how to calm down or truly believe any of it. She confusingly stared up at the older woman and tried grasping the truth.
"I did not wish to lie to you, Sarah," the terminator explained. "But I feared what you would think... of me." She could admit it, aloud.
Nico chewed on her lower lip yet broke into the conversation. "We were mostly concerned about Cameron's younger-self finding out about her future. We just weren't sure how to handle you, Sarah until we had a better feel." She paused but quietly added, "We mainly believed it'd be safe to tell ya who Cameron is, but Cameron refused because she was concerned how you'd react to it." She hoped mentioning her wife's obvious concerns would stop Sarah from emotionally reacting and instead acting upon it logically.
Sarah gingerly touched her brow and continued staring at Blue as if she were a ghost. She dropped her hand and finally registered what Nico had said to her. She wasn't sure what to say or how to say it.
Nico had slid her hand under her wife's polo shirt and soothingly ran her thumb across heated, moist skin. She could tell her wife was very tense. She kept her attention on the time traveler. "Maybe we should sit down for this." She glanced up at her wife and saw an approving nod.
Sarah inhaled deeply and was able to work through enough of her initial shock to get over to the desk. She vaguely made out Nico's order to take the desk chair, which she nearly collapsed into and stared over at Blue, who was the future version of Cameron Phillips.
"Darlin, sit down," Nico softly told her wife. She signaled the desk space.
Cameron shook her head and replied, "Go ahead. I am fine."
Nico could tell she wouldn't win so she resigned to a spot on the desk. Her boots didn't reach the floor so she crossed her ankles.
The terminator decided just to lean against the desk's side and remained facing Sarah.
Nico caught her lower lip between her teeth. She could only guess what was going through Sarah Connor's head. She just prayed it would work out alright. She didn't like to see her wife this upset, for any reason.
"So..." Sarah wasn't sure where to start, and she shook her head. She had a taut expression and sharp jade eyes. She made another attempt at the conversation. "You're really Cameron?"
"Yes." The terminator folded her arms and held Sarah's eyes. "Perhaps you require personal information to confirm it."
Sarah was curious and tempted, "Alright."
Cameron had nearly forgotten how it felt to be challenged by Sarah Connor. It was a sensation she'd actually missed and received mild touches of it from Nico. "Our code names for each other were Red and Blue." She tilted her head and continued with other small but important information. "In Montana, you promised me you would never tell John about the near spider reset." She then pulled up another secretive piece of data. "Shall I state your major in college before the T-800 and Kyle Reese arrived?"
Sarah was realizing indeed this was Cameron Phillips. She disregard the fact that Nico would hear it and barely managed, "What was it?"
"You were studying computer science. You'd almost completed your freshman year at college," Cameron reported.
Nico sharply looked from her lover to Sarah Connor. "You studied computer science?"
Sarah crossed her arms in her lap and focused on Nico. "It's top secret."
Nico took the hint but couldn't hide her faint grin. She wouldn't have guessed the famous Sarah Connor had been interested in technology at one time.
Sarah remained fixed on the terminator and tried taking it all in fully. She had been so sure that Blue was a human, yet she'd been very wrong. She was still in disbelief, but slowly absorbing it. She took a deep breath then curiously checked, "Is the name Blue an alias too?"
"No," Cameron replied, "it is my terminator name."
Nico quickly caught Sarah's bewilderment and cleared it up. "Originally, terminators didn't have names or designations to distinguish each other. They more or less used serial numbers to identify, communicate, rank, and distinguish each other." She hesitated but added, "It'd be similar to like IP addresses if you're familiar with them."
"I am," Sarah surprisingly replied.
Nico realized she underestimated Sarah Connor about technology, but she suspected that was Sarah's intentions all along. She set aside her thoughts. "But rogue terminators dropped their serial numbers mostly because they were no longer apart of Skynet. They still needed to identity each other so interestingly enough they developed designations based on nature, organics, human culture, and such."
Sarah just listened and mentally repeated what Nico told her.
"One of Cameron's friends, who is a terminator, his terminator name is Coldstar." Nico shrugged and hoped some regular chatter calmed everybody.
Sarah though was caught on one facet. "Rogue terminators?" She suspiciously eyed Cameron and did the math. "You never told me your terminator name was Blue so either you didn't have it or you earned it later because you were around rogue terminators."
Cameron dipped her head some and carefully told, "It is complicated but for some time I joined the rogue terminators."
Sarah wasn't sure how she felt about that information. "You left the Resistance."
"No," the terminator argued, "I did not defect. I..." She sighed yet her wife's gentle touch on her arm calmed her. She gathered herself and straightened up from the desk. She had to ignore her body's human reactions and focus on her task at hand. "As I said, it is a long story."
"I have all night," Sarah fought. She gave a low sigh because she knew she was making the situation tense. She leaned back in the chair and gave a more relaxed posture. "Tell me why you were hiding your identity. Why you worried what I would think."
Cameron nodded and gathered her response. "Prior to your arrival, the council met and determined it would not be wise for my younger-self to learn of my future."
"It could potentially be a chip overload for her younger-self," Nico jumped in.
The terminator nodded at the rough comparison but better elaborated on the reasoning. "John and I discussed how hard it was for him finding out and living with the knowledge that someday he would be the hope for mankind."
"You didn't want to do the same thing to your younger-self," Sarah concluded.
"John, younger John, could handle it," Cameron refuted, "because he is a fully sentient being. Additionally, he had your full support." She shook her head and argued, "However, my younger-self is still developing and is not ready to discover what destiny lays ahead. We believe it'll be very detrimental."
Sarah now understood the reasoning but asked, "What is your younger-self developing into? A sentient being?"
"Yes, over the coming years I will develop into a fully sentient AI being."
Sarah slightly lifted her chin and argued, "I thought Skynet is the AI... the only AI."
Nico cut in again. "Skynet built one AI." She now turned her head to her wife.
Cameron caught her lover's soft expression but looked at Sarah again. "As you know, Skynet sent human agents to find, capture, and return me to the future. They were after me because I am an AI. I am also Skynet's greatest threat now... here in 2028."
Sarah was confused and touched her brow before she asked anything. "Why would Skynet build another AI anyway?"
"Cameron's purpose was to infiltrate and assassinate John," Nico reminded. "Skynet's prior attempts failed every time not to mention John was starting to reprogram captured terminators. As a result, Skynet designed and built Cameron in the perfect balance of human and AI. Skynet's logic was that if one terminator was a human AI then that terminator could better infiltrate, adapt, and get to John undetected."
Now the pieces fell into place in Sarah's mind. She could see where this was headed and why it was making sense to her. She understood why Cameron had an endoskeleton made of malleable alloy or why Cameron had full organic systems including interfaces. She'd also witnessed how perfectly Cameron could mimic humans emotionally and physically.
"But what Skynet didn't understand was that an AI living among the humans would be naturally curious." Nico was obviously excited about the story and used her hands while she spoke. "Skynet is not mobile like Cameron so it couldn't... see that piece to account for it. So when Cameron took... Allison's place, she was curious about humans and started questioning her mission's purpose."
Sarah caught Nico's falter about Allison Young; she could tell there was something there especially with how Cameron glanced at Nico. She switched her stare from Nico to the silent terminator. "That's part of the reason why you didn't shoot John." She then recalled what her son had said to Cameron when she posed as Allison Young. "But it doesn't make sense why John trusted you not to kill him."
Cameron now had a small grin but revealed, "He knew I would come some day for him. He was waiting for my younger-self's arrival."
Sarah parted her lips yet stayed silent as it hit her, hard. She shook her head and theorized, "He grew up with you as his protector. He knew in the future that you'd show up to assassinate him." It was no different than John growing up and knowing that he'd have to send back Kyle Reese so that John could be conceived.
"Yes," Cameron agreed. "I told him the exact day my younger-self would show up and how it would happen."
"My god," Sarah muttered in surprise. "So you also told John that your younger-self and me would arrive here... transported by Sam's TDE."
"Yes." The terminator remained still but carefully observed Sarah Connor, her former and first partner in many aspects of her younger life. To this day, Cameron still highly regarded Sarah Connor for her strengths and surely her human flaws. And Cameron also still couldn't properly predict Sarah because she calculated Sarah would be furious at her right now, but she was wrong.
Sarah freed her lower lip after chewing on it and was absorbing everything. She centered on Cameron and asked, "Why didn't you want to come to me?"
Blue gave a low sigh and softly argued, "I wanted to come to you. But I... let my emotions get to me about seeing you."
Nico bowed her head and quietly listened to the pair talk. She could sense that they were finding their balance, again.
"I thought if you knew my future-self that it would be unsettling for you. That you may pull away from my younger-self," Cameron continued. "I didn't want interfere or disrupt history." She then started to frown and admitted, "I was scared to face you." She knew her earlier logic was viable but what truly stopped her was fear.
"Why scared?" Sarah tempted. She had an expressionless face but her jade eyes glowed with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"At this time, you are beginning to accept me," Cameron explained. "But for you to find out my future it may have been more damaging. I could not properly calculate how you'd react to me." She hesitated yet whispered, "I do not like the unknown."
"Who does?" Sarah muttered.
Nico was still slightly bent forward, but she slid her hands from her lap to the desk's edge. She decided that Sarah and her wife needed time alone; she would only be a hindrance from here out. She wanted Cameron to have time alone with Sarah before Sarah was sent back to 2008. Nico knew she had the future with Cameron and Sarah had the past with Cameron. But these next days, Nico wanted Cameron to have some of the future with Sarah.
The terminator studied her wife now when Nico slid off the desk and softly landed on her boots. She was about to ask until Nico neared her with a masked face.
"I'm going to head off," Nico mentioned. She saw Cameron about to move but she pressed her hand into Cameron's hip in hidden request to stay. "Ya should spend some more time with Sarah. You two have a lot to discuss."
Blue slowly arched an eyebrow at her wife's blessing, yet she wouldn't question it right now. From the corner of her view, she caught Sarah's keen interest in their interactions and conversation.
"I'm gonna go down to my office and get some work done," Nico smoothly lied. "I'll see ya at home." She normally would kiss her wife goodbye, but she reserved herself. She patted Cameron's thigh then slipped away.
The terminator twisted her head the other way and watched Nico head to the door. "I will see you later."
Nico flashed a half smile at her lover but said to Sarah, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Nico." Sarah watched the younger woman leave and door silently shut.
Nico started down the silent hallway. She combed her fingers through her blond tresses and felt the guilt hit her about her earlier lie. But right now she didn't want Cameron to know she was meeting with John tonight; it would wait until later. She didn't look forward to the pending lecture and possible punishment for last night's stunt because she endangered the city, younger Cameron, and several soldiers. She was always amazed at how John could seamlessly shift between family member and leader. With a hefty sigh, Nico remembered a similar lecture about the time she and Allison Young had gone out on their own personal mission over a year ago. But this time, Nico had no reasoning and had to take full responsibility for once.
Back in Room 519, Cameron was prompted to tell her story about how things came to be in 2028, and she told it. She found that Sarah was rather receptive and only asked a few questions for better clarification. After Cameron finished, she waited for Sarah's thoughts and most likely further probing, and Cameron would meet them all. However, she sensed that the strain over her left shoulder had soothed away by the end. She also detected her organic systems had settled, and she easily fielded Sarah's questions.
Sarah Connor listened to Cameron's response then slowly bowed her head. She now slouched back in her chair, crossed her ankles, and blankly stared at her boot tips. She was still amazed by all the changes that she would have never fathomed from her position in 2008. She just didn't see it coming, at all. Before, Kyle told the future as a nightmare but now Cameron revealed the future as hope.
Cameron had taken Nico's vacated spot on the desk. She had her legs stretched out against the floor, her arms crossed, and kept her back perfectly straight.
Sarah came out of her thoughts and curiously studied the terminator. She checked, "Why did you change your skin sheath?" She ticked off a few ideas.
"For a few reasons," Blue replied. "In 2027, my younger-self had arrived as Allison Young. It also was time for Allison to be put to rest; my skin sheath bitterly reminded many what had happened in 2027. And I wanted to be considered my own individual... not as Allison's replacement."
Sarah softly nodded and thought about Allison Young, who seemed to be a key ingredient to many things in the future. Some part of her wished she could meet the young woman that influenced so many lives. After a beat, she softly admitted, "I'm surprised Nico would stay with you."
"We have worked hard at our relationship," Cameron argued. "I sometimes feel as if she may still have some resentment about what happened."
"It takes time," Sarah quietly reminded.
"Yes, it does," Cameron easily agreed. She could relate Nico's old anger to Sarah's similar situation.
"But she seems to love you... that's what carries her." Sarah studied the terminator and dared her to challenge the observation.
Cameron was quiet for a beat then explained, "She understands... her logic understands, but it does not ease the pain." She considered another aspect and mentioned, "We are the only human, terminator couple married in the Resistance."
Sarah tilted her head at such news.
"We have constantly received threats for our inter-race marriage." Cameron had a dissatisfied expression. "I repeatedly refused to marry Nico because such a statement would enrage the terminator phobic humans. But she reminded me that other's bigotry should not seep into our lives."
Sarah silently agreed with Nico's concept, but she knew her own history with terminators often dictated her reactions to younger Cameron. She silently admitted it was something she needed to work on if she and Cameron were to move forward.
"Nico is similar to you on many levels," Cameron revealed in a careful voice. "She is extremely stubborn, hot headed, and at times illogical with her reasoning... contradictory."
Sarah huffed but slowly started grinning. "Is that why you married her?"
The terminator grinned back but became serious again. "However, she is free-spirited unlike you. She does not have the weight of mankind's future pressed on her shoulders."
Sarah's grin faded away at Blue's last words. She broke her eye contact too.
"She was born the day after you died." Cameron gave a low sigh and set aside her thoughts about her wife.
"When do I die?" Sarah locked her hard stare on the terminator.
Blue remained passive despite the date instantly pulled up in her processes. She had a tense jawline and finally replied, "It is not something you must know, Sarah."
For a long beat, Sarah remained quiet and still. She realized it was the first time that future Cameron spoke her name in that husky, deep voice that was so different than the Cameron she knew now. She closed her eyes finally and leaned forward some. "How long do I have?" She peered up with dark eyes. "At least give me that much."
Cameron considered the request then uncrossed her arms after a minute. She licked her dry lips. "You have several years ahead of you."
Sarah was baffled at this truth and argued, "I can't..." Yet she lost her points and furrowed her brow.
"There are some changes later that will help prolong your life," Cameron explained. "Luckily the technology in the early twenty-first century is more advanced than in 1999. Also, you make some changes such as your eating and sleeping habits that I believe help greatly. Later, you begin to pull away from the missions more and allow for me to carry them out. This helps lower your stress levels, considerably."
"You handle the missions?" Sarah straightened up some after a push with her boot's heel. She can't imagine such an alteration, but she could see Cameron was serious.
"Yes, it is apart of my training." Cameron saw that Sarah was further confused, and she hadn't told any of this to Sarah yet. "You do not teach one leader, Sarah... you teach two."
Sarah now pieced it together rather easily, and she wasn't sure how to handle it at first.
"It is because of you that I am able to lead the rogue terminators," Cameron told. "It is also because you encouraged John and I to handle missions as a team that he and I can work together so well." She tilted her head to the side in an old habit. "If it was not for you, then the rogue terminators and the Resistance would never join together and fight against Skynet."
Sarah rubbed her weary features after she tried grasping that she also trained Cameron. Right now, she couldn't imagine younger Cameron being in charge of a mission and that she'd be comfortable with it.
"You are the key to many things in the future, Sarah." The terminator's usually hard mask broke as she spoke to her former partner, mentor, and still inspiration. "None of it was easy, but it was your support and teachings that made our destiny."
Sarah shook her head as more stress built up on her shoulders. She didn't believe such events could happen, especially her full trust in a machine. But as she focused on Cameron, she realized she trusted this future Cameron more naturally than she did the younger version. Indeed it most likely would take time. Despite the added pressure, she also felt more at ease that the future wasn't so dark if humans had a better chance. She recalled Cameron's earlier argument days ago about Cameron being the fire to fight back against Skynet. There was obviously some truth in it.
"Sarah," Cameron hesitantly started. She had curious eyes focused on her, and she gathered her words. "I didn't..." She frowned at her own surfacing emotions, but she gained control again. "Upon your death, there were many things I had wished I told you." She had bright blue eyes. "But I was so consumed by the rage of your death, and I let it cloud me. I could not understand how you so easily accepted your approaching death. I was furious that I could nothing to stop it."
Sarah swallowed hard against the formed bump in her throat. She surely didn't accept her death now but everything must change later.
"It was as if we switched places," Cameron bitterly muttered. She shook away the memories because she'd spent years letting her anger about Sarah's death manipulate her. "But I want you to know that you were the best thing in my life."
Sarah clenched her jaw as her eyes stung. She could not snap or bite back because she knew, without a doubt, that Cameron was sincere and emotional. She never witnessed such emotions not just in Cameron's eyes but flickering across her face. She tasted them in Cameron's voice.
"Everyday I think about you," Cameron whispered, her voice trembled. "And at the hardest moments where I want to forget or not care anymore, I remember what you gave me and how you would have never stopped no matter the hardships." She then went quiet and the room became eerily silent.
Sarah had leaned forward and lowered her head so her face was hidden. She shut her eyes and waited for her feelings to settle back down. She unknowingly vibrated her right foot on the floor.
Cameron swallowed and gripped the desk's edge too hard that it silently cracked under the pressure. She bowed her head too and waited for the moment to pass.
Sarah drew in a steady breath and felt somewhat calmer. She held back the naturally urge to comfort Cameron because of the conversation. She'd never imagined Cameron becoming this passionate or good at expressing herself. Sarah couldn't deny that Cameron had grown and developed greatly over the years. When she lifted her head, she found hesitant blue orbs watching her and waiting for her reaction.
The terminator was extremely tense, her posture ridged and stern. She strangled her desire to touch Sarah in a silent communication. She never understood why humans touched so often until her younger-self lost her skin sheath. Overtime, she and Sarah began touching more and more until it became a way to communicate feelings and thoughts between them. Cameron knew this Sarah didn't quite know all those hidden touches nor did she want to invade Sarah's sensitive space.
"Thank you," Sarah gently started, "for telling me everything." She uneasily shifted in the chair. "It is a lot to take in."
"Yes," Cameron softly agreed.
Sarah nodded and admitted, "I'll need some time to get my head around it." She now rested her arms on the chair and stopped shaking her right leg. "But you should know I'm not angry." She faltered some but argued, "I don't like being lied to or secrets held from me... but you know that." She laced her hands together. "I can't fault you either for being careful. I'm not sure what I would do in your position."
"It is difficult," Cameron admitted, "however we all agreed that if you knew that it would most likely ease your worries. They decided I was in charge of telling you or not since I was the most concerned. They thought I would make the wisest decision about it."
Sarah found it interesting that the council allowed Cameron to be the final factor. It told her that they were confident in Cameron's choices and there was plenty of trust. She didn't comment on it though and instead prompted, "Why did you take the Connor name?"
The terminator, who had changed her name from Cameron Phillips to Cameron Connor, lifted her chin, and her pride was obvious. "Before your death, you asked me to take your family name. I refused you at first, but you insisted that long ago I was a Connor."
Sarah had a gentle angle to her head. She nibbled on her lower lip; she wouldn't contest it. She wasn't sure what to say but managed, "You've changed."
Cameron fully agreed with Sarah. She now stood up once she realized the time and mentioned, "You need to rest... it is rather late."
Sarah in fact felt the weariness from today. She brushed her hair back then stood up after Cameron got off the desk. "Will I see you again?" she softly questioned on the short walk to the door.
"Yes." Cameron felt confident and comfortable merely from Sarah's indirect welcome. "You will be returning to 2008 in three days."
Sarah was glad to hear such news, although she enjoyed her mental vacation from her fate. She pulled the door open and held it as Blue passed by. At a thought of Cameron's terminator name, she furrowed her eyebrows. "Why the name Blue?"
The terminator had turned in the doorway. She had a wistful smile and explained, "I chose it because it was your favorite color and your codename." She put her hands in her pant pockets. "Many assume it is due to my eye colors."
"Hmmm." Sarah silently tapped her fingertips against the door. She then grinned and teased, "Thank you for explaining."
Cameron shot a fast glare and argued, "I have learned to just say 'thanks'."
"Seems like you've dropped that teenager act too," Sarah bantered further.
Cameron gradually inclined her right eyebrow but lightened her voice and joked, "Like oh my god, I totally don't know what you're talkin' about." She smirked at Sarah's huge sigh then started down the hallway. "Peace out."
Sarah immediately chuckled at the aged terminator's smartass attitude that seemed impossible compared to younger Cameron. She shook her head, folded her arms, and quietly called, "Goodnight, Cameron Connor."
The terminator easily heard the farewell and turned her head to the side. Her thin smile was obvious, but she didn't comment back and soon was too far away.
Sarah hummed to herself and seriously puzzled over what she'd learned tonight. She went back into the shared quarters and slowly finished undressing. She decided to switch on the movie again while she got ready for bed. She was mentally exhausted, yet she had constant thoughts crazily running through her head. Once in bed, she hoped the romantic-comedy movie would ease her thoughts for now. But she just couldn't stop thinking about how she swore Blue was a human. Occasionally even Sarah Connor could be wrong about terminators.