Chapter 1
Sarah Connor gasped for air but that distinct, painful tingle was wrapped around her body. She'd experienced it only once before and had hoped never to have it again. Her stomach twisted at the scent of her own blood. She was on her knees, hunched forward, and the cold air lapped against her bare skin.
Cameron sharply snapped her head up from her knelt position. She instantly locked on her target knelt right in front of her. She would complete her mission.
Sam didn't have any chance when the terminator grabbed him and threw him up against a fractured building column. He slummed against it in his nude form and smirked at the terminator.
Cameron slowly approached Sam, and she kept to her promise for Sarah. She thought she'd feel anger or hatred for Sam, but she was wrong. Instead she felt satisfaction at finally ending this human's life. She had him now.
Sarah was prone from her vulnerable situation. She mentally told herself to ignore her nudity, and a quick distraction caught her eye once she realized she was indeed in 2028. She gradually turned her head in a circle and stared in awe at the destruction that surrounded her.
Sam started to laugh because he saw Sarah Connor's face. He focused back on Cameron and argued, "I still win this."
The terminator took her last stop, raised her right hand, and wrapped her slender fingers around his throat. She harshly lifted him so his back ripped against the column's rough surface.
"Skynet will arrest you," Sam cheerfully informed, "And Sarah Connor will be killed." He shook his head and smiled happily. "John Connor will grow up without his mother."
Cameron tightened her hand so it cut off his laugh. "You're merely a traitor to the Resistance... not a prophet." She dropped her eyes to his lower body and focused her sensors on his legs. She suddenly shot out her left hand and grabbed his skin. Without care, she ripped the skin off and wasn't the least surprised when Sam didn't scream. She tilted her head upon seeing machinery under his skin.
Sam grinned at the terminator and informed, "I'm a distant cousin to you... I'm half human and half machine."
"Bionics," Cameron concluded. It explained why she couldn't target Sam earlier because he was running very fast for a normal human. She met his stare. "Skynet promised you bionics for a reward."
"Yes."
Cameron was intrigued by this, but she decided it really didn't matter now. She nonchalantly commented, "It appears bionics do not outmatch a terminator." She slotted her eyes and lifted her left hand towards him.
Sarah Connor put her hands onto the cold ground that was gray from dust and dirt. She lowered her head when the scream behind her filled her ears. She closed her eyes and desperately tried to think out what this all meant to her. Too much of this wasteland reminded her from her nightmare last night. But a gentle hand came to her shoulder then Cameron's petite form was beside her.
"We must go," the terminator spoke.
Sarah lifted her stricken features and murmured, "Go?" She shook her head. "Go where?" She looked past the terminator. "I don't know where we are."
"We are back in Los Angeles," Cameron explained. "And we must get to the Resistance for help."
Sarah focused back on the terminator's calm and young face. "Cameron, I..."
The terminator felt the human's furious heartbeat from touching her. She read that Sarah was probably scared and unsure. She almost said something but a distant yet distinct sound caught her attention. She looked over to her right at the huge rubble pile. "We must go. It is not safe out here." She stood up.
Sarah Connor though didn't get up because her brain was too jumbled by the events. But she too now heard a distant whine that didn't settle well in her stomach.
Cameron held out her hand to Sarah and stated, "Come with me if you want to live."
Sarah clenched her jaw then clasped the small hand that held her strong. She was helped to her feet, and she quickly followed the terminator.
Cameron led the way through the rubble, twisted metal, and came to a stop by a small pile. She hastily removed some rock without any effort then ripped off a manhole lid. She looked at the human.
Sarah had her left hand over her bullet wound, which still bled. It was all she could do to slow the bleeding.
Cameron briefly studied the covered wound and knew it needed to be attended to soon if Sarah was to survive. She ordered, "Climb down." She looked to the left. "Hurry."
Sarah glanced in the same direction but saw nothing. She didn't question Cameron and climbed down the metal ladder in the manhole. She wasn't too keen about a dark sewer while unarmed and unclothed. But she had no choice.
Cameron quickly followed the human and pulled the manhole cover back over, which blocked out the sunlight for them.
"Shit," Sarah cursed now that it was pitch black. "I can't see a damn thing, Cameron."
"I know." Cameron already had her night vision on and looked past the human. "Stay still." She jumped off the ladder and neatly landed on the concrete floor. She moved forward and clasped the human's hips in support. "You have four rungs left then you'll feel the concrete floor."
Sarah easily made her way down but stopped on the last rung. "Are there any rats? I can take water, dirt, and mice... but no rats."
Cameron did a visual scan but saw no life forms. "You are safe."
Sarah made it to the concrete floor then faced the terminator. She could faintly make out something in front of her but it was very hard. "Where are-" She was cut off by the hand over her mouth.
The terminator leaned in and whispered, "Listen... above you."
Sarah tilted her head back but saw nothing. She then faintly heard the distinct sound of machine whine above the manhole. She shifted away from the ladder in reaction but bumped her injured shoulder into Cameron's solid form. She hissed in pain. Again Cameron's hand covered her mouth and muffled her painful curses.
The terminator still listened but lowered her hand once the machines were gone. She focused on Sarah, who was breathing heavily. She finally explained, "We are in a sewer system that will lead us to the Westfield Mall."
"Or what's left of it," Sarah muttered. "Alright, you lead the way." But she hesitated at an idea. "Do me a favor?"
Cameron waited for the request.
"Light up your eyes so I can get an idea where you are."
Cameron obliged as her eyes' blue lights were enabled brightly. She then took Sarah's hand to give her extra support. "This way."
Sarah had a pounding heartbeat since the start and her adrenaline was pumping through her system. Her body was only just starting to calm during the quiet walk to the mall. "You know what my favorite color is?"
Cameron considered the question then replied, "Black. You were the color often." She had a thin smile because of Sarah's laugh.
"No." Sarah chuckled a few more times but admitted, "I do were a lot of black though." She was careful and slow during her walk because she didn't want to stumble. "Blue."
The terminator hadn't expected it to be that color. "Why?"
"I'm not sure," Sarah confessed. "I just find it a peaceful color... same color as the sky." She looked up at the terminator but only saw the blue, floating orbs. "It's a comforting color, to me." She noted that Cameron turned her head away.
The terminator shifted in front of the human and instructed, "Walk behind me. There is heavy debris through this section." She was surprised that Sarah grasped her hips and held onto her from behind.
"So we're in 2028?" Sarah sighed and still tried to grasp she was in the future. "You're from 2027 though."
"Yes."
"That means there could have been some changes in a year."
Cameron carefully guided the human through the debris while she spoke. "It depends on the exact date of today... it may have only been months since I left."
"True," Sarah granted. She then was signaled to come to Cameron's side again. "What are we looking for at the mall?" She couldn't imagine that it was still standing.
"There may be some clothes located in the mall." Cameron glanced at the human then explained, "The Resistance has steadily raided such structures to obtain supplies. But we did not always collect everything, and it requires a few sweeps."
Sarah noticed how Cameron included herself in the Resistance, and it brought her some comfort.
"This may be it." Cameron released Sarah's hand and approached a heavy door. She grabbed the metal lever, forced it up, and popped a lock on the opposite side. She rammed the door with her shoulder, and it swung open. She stepped back and claimed Sarah's hand again.
Sarah carefully followed the terminator's instructions to make it through until she saw distant light not far away. She felt hopeful now.
Cameron scanned their new surroundings and realized it was a parking lot below the mall. She led Sarah to the stairwell and helped her get into the mall. She and Sarah entered a huge building that had countless racks, broken display cases, and ruined manikins.
Sarah blinked a few times from the light that streamed into the building from broken skylights. She soaked in her new surroundings and was actually relieved to see familiarity despite it was ruined. "Let's see what we can find."
After thirty minutes, Sarah Connor found herself well clothed back in a pair of jeans, black tank top, and she had a pair of boys' boots and socks to go with it. She'd figured out it was a Sears department store after seeing a few of the logos scattered around. She was seated on a tattered chair in what was the shoe department.
"Sarah," the terminator was dressed in only jeans and a white bra. She was bare foot still and had a piece of glass in her right hand.
Sarah glanced at the sharp glass then up at Cameron. "What..." She felt a chill settle over her at what Cameron may have in mind. She wasn't scared but more worried that another drastic change was about to take place. "Why aren't you fully dressed?"
The terminator knelt in front of the human and carefully studied her strained features. She could tell Sarah was getting rundown by the bullet wound. "We are in the future where there is very little help." She indicated the bullet wound that Sarah had merely wrapped. "What little medicines are available are with the Resistance. It will take time for us to make it to them."
Sarah studied her wrapped wound but the bullet was still lodged in there. She looked back at the glass shard in Cameron's hand. "And that's not exactly clean. I'm better off chancing it this way."
Cameron tilted her head and reminded, "The wound will get infected, you will become sick, and may not make it to a Resistance camp."
"I'm willing to take my chances."
The terminator tilted her head and informed, "But I am not willing to let you."
Sarah leaned back at this clear statement that made her stomach drop at seeing the terminator's protective streak. She rarely caught it, but it was obvious now. "What can we do anyway?" She shook her head. "My best chance is to stop the bleeding and hope for the best."
"I can remove it." Cameron saw the human's protests about to start so she quickly explained, "If my skin sheath is removed."
Sarah stared at Cameron in shock then breathed, "Whaaat?"
"We are located in an area that is heavily patrolled by terminators. I am concerned we will be easily noticed and captured." Cameron lifted the sharp glass that was in her right hand. "If I am without my skin sheath then it will take much longer for another terminator to detect me."
Sarah tried to grapple with the terminator's idea. "They won't just scan you to check you?"
"They will," Cameron confirmed. "But I stand a better chance without my skin sheath because-"
"You don't look like a human," Sarah finished.
Cameron slightly nodded, but she sensed that Sarah was still resistant to the idea. She tilted her head slightly. "Also, I can safely remove the bullet from your wound and close it."
"How?" Sarah tested.
"My tubules can extract it plus produce high enough heat to burn your skin closed."
Sarah took a few calm breathes then leaned forward. She took the glass shard from the terminator, but a knot formed in her stomach. "What do you want me to do?"
"I need you to help me remove the skin," Cameron answered. "It is best to start at my back."
"Alright." Sarah inhaled carefully and tried to calm down because it was a lot for her. She stood up with Cameron, who turned her back to her. "I just... start cutting?" She lifted the glass shard.
"Yes." Cameron lifted her right hand and pointed to the upper center of her back where her neck and shoulders joined. "Start here and run down the length of my spine."
Sarah stepped closer and put the shard's tip against Cameron's skin. But she pulled back and asked, "Is this going to hurt?"
"No."
Sarah brought the tip back and now put her left hand on Cameron's bare hip. She forced herself to focus and not think about what rested ahead of them. If having Cameron without her skin sheath could help them survive then she needed to do what was necessary. She pushed the shard through the soft skin.
"Deeper," Cameron instructed.
Sarah clenched her teeth and blinked back the sting in her eyes. She now understood how her son felt months ago when he cut into Cameron's skull. Sarah pushed the shard deeper until a solid mass haltered her.
"Now cut down my back."
Sarah slowly pulled the sharp glass down Cameron's back and followed the spine as a guideline. She watched the skin peel open like a banana skin and revealed a mixture of rich blood and metal. She came to Cameron's lower back and stopped just at the waist band of the jeans. She straightened up but her hand shook.
"Next my sheath has to be cut over my skull."
Sarah shook her head and quickly replied, "I can't do this." She stared down at the bloody shard then lifted her eyes to see that Cameron now faced her. "I can't do this, Cameron."
The terminator saw how badly Sarah's hand was shaking, and it concerned her. "It does not hurt me."
Sarah lowered the shard and murmured, "But it hurts me."
Cameron stepped closer and took the shard from the human. "You did the hardest cut. I can complete it from here."
Sarah tried to calm down but muttered, "You have internal organs too." She shook her head at the thought of seeing them. "I can't..."
Cameron placed her fingertips against Sarah's jaw line. "It's okay. I will finish it." She indicated the chair behind her. "Wait here."
Sarah wearily sat down and listened to the terminator's soft footfall behind her. She released a shaky exhale and dropped her head forward. She tried not to imagine the rest of the process that Cameron went under to remove the skin sheath and organs. She also couldn't guess how Cameron was going to obtain them again before they went back to 2008, if they made it back.
About fifteen minutes passed before Sarah heard movement from behind her. From a side glance, she saw metal nearing her, and she instinctively jumped from the chair. She tensed at the metal terminator that stood a few paces from her but the soft blue glow slightly calmed her.
"I won't harm you, Sarah."
Very slowly, Sarah lowered her hands at hearing Cameron's familiar voice. She stared at the fully exposed terminator, who was a soft metallic versus the T-800's traditional shiny metal. Sarah noted Cameron's structure was rather different than the T-800's open stomach and exposed wires.
Cameron had an exoskeleton modeled closer to a human's complete body with an enclosed stomach, full arms that were shapely with muscles, and enclosed legs too. Her skull was rather similar to a T-800's with the exception that her teeth were not exposed and were actually hidden by lips.
"My... god..." Sarah couldn't help but stare out how unique the terminator was compared to any from the 800 Series. She cautiously neared the terminator and lifted her hand but stopped from touching.
Cameron stepped forward and allowed the human's outstretched hand to make contact with her stomach. She patiently waited for Sarah Connor to become accustom to her.
Sarah lowered her eyes when her palm pressed into warm, soft metal. She was nervous yet intrigued all at once. She ran her hand across the terminator's solid stomach. "It feels almost like human skin."
"Yes, it is the malleable alloy. It is soft like skin but hard as metal." Cameron dipped her head some and watched Sarah's hand move across her stomach. "It allows me to be more flexible and self repairing."
"Amazing," Sarah murmured. She lowered her hand and tilted her head back, but she realized she had to do it much further. Slowly her eyebrows creased together. "Are you... taller?" She stepped back once then twice. "You're larger too." Briefly it crossed her mind that this may not be Cameron.
"The malleable polyalloy allows me to shrink or increase my size but only by a certain percentage," Cameron explained. "I'm one of the few female terminators because T-888's are much larger in scale and could only pose as a male human." She cocked her head in traditional habit. "To pose as a teenaged, female human I had to be able to decrease my size." She lifted her metal hand and fisted it. "However, the trade off is that I lose strength against a T-888 for combat."
Sarah felt a chill ripple down her spine after fully taking in the terminator, who had sworn to protect her son. She quietly asked, "Is this your normal size?"
"Yes." Cameron then neared the human and reminded, "I must take care of your wound."
Sarah tried to get use to Cameron without her skin sheath. She slightly turned and held out her hand at the nearby chair. "I can sit for this."
"You are better off lying down." Cameron was scanning the store with her night vision for a better view. She ordered, "This way." She brushed past the human and came to the front of the store.
Sarah quietly followed but was cautious of the fallen racks and fallen ceiling that was scattered here or there. She noticed how Cameron moved just as normal and very little robotic motions to her walk. She watched Cameron come to what looked to be a makeup counter.
The terminator brushed off the dirt and such then turned to the human at her side. She grabbed Sarah by the hips without warning and lifted her onto the counter.
"Wahoo." Sarah grabbed the counter to balance herself. She shot a warning look at the terminator, and she instantly lost her look at seeing a grin caress the terminator's metal lips.
Cameron now pushed the human back onto the counter in signal to lie down. "Get on your left side."
Sarah did as she was told and found the terminator's rippled stomach in front of her. She glanced at her shoulder when Cameron carefully untied the wrap. She grabbed the counter's edge and held onto it. "This is going to hurt," she muttered.
"Yes." Cameron placed the wrap on Sarah's hip so it would stay somewhat clean. "You must not scream or else you could be heard." She stepped back some and lifted her right arm but dropped her hand to expose her upper wrist.
Sarah closed her eyes when the black tubules slithered out from Cameron's wrist. She didn't expect the feel of the warm tubule that entered through her wound. She gave off a cry but hastily covered her own mouth.
Cameron kept her right hand steady in midair while her one tubule carefully probed for the bullet. She placed her left hand behind Sarah's back and kept her still.
Sarah rolled forward some because of the immense pain it caused her. She pulled up her legs in a fetal position.
"You must remain still," Cameron instructed.
"Just get it the fuck out," Sarah hissed. She clenched her teeth in hopes it'd hold back her cries. She grabbed Cameron's hip in front of her and held tightly.
Cameron finally found the bullet that'd grazed some bone and lodged into Sarah's shoulder muscle. She ordered her tubule to fit over the bullet like a sleeve and clamped down. She carefully extracted her tubule with the bullet in tow.
Sarah inhaled sharply once the bullet and tubule came back out her wound's opening. She breathed heavily and turned her face down towards the counter. She opened her mouth and softly cursed, "That damn bastard."
Cameron dropped the bloody bullet into her right hand. She briefly studied it then released it to the floor. She brought both her tubules to the entry wound. "I'm going to sear the wound shut so it'll stop bleeding."
Sarah didn't like the crude healing process, but it was all they had right now. She had to be thankful for this much. "I'm ready."
Cameron was heating up her tubules' ends so they were hot enough to burn human skin. She looked at Sarah's stricken profile. "This will hurt far worse... you may black out."
"Just do it," Sarah urged. She tightly gripped Cameron's metal hips with both her hands. She felt Cameron's left hand press harder into her back in case she moved again.
Cameron lowered her tubules and pressed the bright red ends into the wounded skin. She was ready when Sarah pushed away from her and forced Sarah still.
Sarah had her eyes tightly shut and her jaw locked. She barely resisted her scream. The distinct smell of burning skin floated under her nose.
The terminator hastily pulled away her tubules once she was satisfied the wound was seal closed by burnt skin. She sensed the human go limp so she studied Sarah.
Sarah had broken out in a sweat from the heat and pain. But she tried to act like it barely pained her because she started to sit up. She was weak and almost fell back until Cameron had her.
The terminator slipped her arms around Sarah so she'd stay upright. "You need to rest for a few minutes."
Sarah lowered her head onto the terminator's broad shoulder and muttered, "We... don't have time." Yet she shut her eyes and slumped into the terminator's warm body.
Cameron grabbed the cloth from Sarah's lap then slipped her arms around Sarah. She easily lifted the weakened human into her arms. She went back to the shoe department and gently maneuvered Sarah into the chair. She then wrapped the wound up so it'd be protected.
Sarah groaned and straightened up. "We need to go." But the terminator's hand pushed her back down.
"Rest for a few minutes then we'll go." Cameron concluded the human would finally listen so she stood up and mentioned, "I will be right back."
Sarah stayed slumped in the chair, but she carefully inspected her sealed wound behind the wrap. She cringed at the burn, but it certainly stopped the bleeding. She knew a nice scar would be leftover. But it was just another to add to her collection.
After a few minutes, Sarah forced her body to move and got to her feet. She stretched her leg muscles then carefully made her way to the clothes section again. She wanted to find a jacket since it was cold and goose bumps already coated her skin. She carefully moved through the empty racks that had a few articles here or there. She figured that the department store had been well raided previously.
Just ahead a few jackets were slung over an otherwise empty rack. Sarah neared it but huffed at the too large jackets for her short stature. She lowered her eyes and spotted a fallen, black jacket so she picked it up. With a good shake, she half smiled at the black leather jacket.
"Perfect." She slipped on the jacket, which was a bit tight but the leather would stretch out for her. She jerked the collar but stopped when she heard somebody behind her. She spun around with her hands up but lowered them at seeing the blue orbs. "Cameron."
The terminator tilted her head and commented, "You were to wait for me."
"No, you said you'd be right back." Sarah shrugged then rested her hands on her hips. "I'm not a gal that waits." She quirked a grin at the terminator, who wearily eyed her.
"Black... leather..." Cameron stepped past Sarah. "You humans are consistent."
"That makes us a quick study huh?" Sarah followed along side the terminator. "I guess you don't need my help after all to learn about humanity." She bit back a grin when Cameron shot her a glare.
"It seems the bullet didn't kill your sense of humor," Cameron remarked.
"But losing your skin sheath is giving you one," Sarah tormented.
The terminator briefly flashed a grin at the human. But she focused on the walk back to the stairwell that'd get them to the parking lot.
Sarah still tried to grasp the fact that the terminator could show facial expressions thanks to the malleable polyalloy. In some ways, it was a relief to her because it helped her understand Cameron's moods since humans so heavily relied on body language.
"We need to work out a code," Sarah prompted after a quiet minute. "So I can identify it's you."
"Red and blue," Cameron supplied.
Sarah was briefly confused until it made sense what Cameron had in mind. She softly smiled and gently replied, "Alright... Red." She took a deep breath then tested her right shoulder by rolling it. She stiffened at the hot sear that shot through her shoulder and arm. "Damn," she muttered.
Cameron knew that the human was testing her injury. She didn't comment and instead held out her right hand, which had a long metal item in it. There was a click then white light streamed in front of her and Sarah.
Sarah realized that Cameron had a flashlight handy and probably picked it up earlier. She glanced at the flashlight and noticed Cameron's tubules were wrapped around it. She furrowed her eyebrows until it made sense to her. "You're powering the flashlight."
"Yes... batteries were not included." The terminator pushed open the heavy door that took them to the stairwell. She let Sarah pass then she moved away from the half collapsed door.
Sarah ran her fingers through her wild hair and hurried down the steps with Cameron in tow. "How far is the nearest Resistance camp?"
"It is one day's walk. However, it will take us about two days to get there."
Sarah expected as much because they probably had to deal with hiding and being careful. She also considered how she was going to eat if it was possible. She could hold out for two days, typically but with her wound she just wasn't completely sure.
"Can the Resistance send us back?"
"Yes." Cameron stepped out of the stairwell and into the parking lot. She stopped beside Sarah, who was looking straight ahead at the rusted, crushed cars.
Sarah hadn't seen anything earlier because it'd been so dark. She found it eerie.
"This way," the terminator instructed. She signaled for Sarah to follow her to the maintenance door that'd take them back to the sewer.
Sarah broke from her stare and followed the terminator to the open doorway. She tried to take her mind off the fact that Judgment Day had happened, and it was now 2028. "Cameron, if Skynet thought your flaw was being self-aware then wouldn't Skynet be worried about the rogue terminators that have broken from Skynet? They're self-aware too."
The terminator grabbed the hefty metal door in front of them and pulled it open. She held up the flashlight as Sarah passed then she followed afterwards. She'd thought about Sarah's question.
"That doesn't make sense to me," Sarah added. "I don't think the fact that you're self-aware is the only factor here." She went quiet though and wondered if Cameron would say anything.
"I'm unsure the exact reason," Cameron replied.
"Or reasons," Sarah muttered. She nibbled on her lower lip in thought but watched the ground for any obstacles. "You know what has always bothered me about you being sent back to protect my son?" She glanced up at the terminator, who briefly met her gaze. "Why would my son send back a terminator who was programmed for human infiltration? The first time John was endanger with the T-1000, a T-800 programmed for combat was sent back to protect him."
Cameron was silent for a long moment. She then finally spoke after she put together her response. "Skynet specially designed and programmed me to assassinate John."
Sarah combed her hair back with her fingers in a nervous habit. "You obviously failed the mission. So what happened?"
The terminator slowed down because they were near the rubble again. She made sure the flashlight revealed it to Sarah. "Skynet had captured a Resistance member by the name of Allison Young, and I was selected to be her replacement." She recalled those scattered memories from deep in her files. "Allison was close to John. It was my chance to get close to him and assassinate him."
"Did you make it to John?" Sarah softly asked.
"Yes." Cameron hesitated but told more about her past. "I interrogated Allison to find out more about her past. She told me where his camp lied, but I did not go until it was tested first. I and other terminators discovered that bracelets were used for identification."
Sarah licked her dry lips then whispered, "That's how you go into the camp?"
"Yes, I killed Allison and took her bracelet." Cameron slowed her walk and let the human step around a large concrete rock. She easily stepped over it and found the ground cleared again. "I entered the Resistance camp and managed to get close to John, but it had taken several months to get to him."
Sarah clenched her hands together, and her rising anger ebbed because she knew that Cameron never succeeded. "Why didn't you assassinate him?"
"I was close to it," Cameron answered, "A gun to the back of his head. I only had to pull the trigger." She came to a gradually stop because the ladder was in front of them. She turned to Sarah and finished her story. "Before I pulled the trigger, John told me he knew I was a terminator long before I made my attempt. I asked him why he never ordered to have me destroyed."
Sarah tilted her head back and studied the soft, blue eyes that hovered several inches up from her. She could make out the outline of Cameron's metal features.
"He only said 'you are a unique individual.'" Cameron slightly lowered her right hand with the flashlight, which shined the space between her and Sarah. "He was the first and last human to call me an individual." She dropped her gaze from Sarah and murmured, "I overrode my termination orders, and he promised that the assassination attempt would be just between us."
Sarah shut her eyes at those last three words. She now understood why Cameron had repeated those words last night in the hotel. Gradually, she raised her head and revealed her forest green eyes to the terminator.
"That day I broke my connection with Skynet and joined the Resistance, by choice." Cameron now turned to the ladder. "We must get above ground and make our way to the Resistance camp." She was all business again but turned to Sarah. "If we are to make it there quickly then you must trust me. You must listen to me."
Sarah moved closer to the terminator and nodded. "I understand." She had to admit that she felt like a fish out of water here in 2028. She could stop a terminator or two but this was far different. She was out of her element, and she did need to trust Cameron to get her there safely. "Just one question."
Cameron tilted her head in usual fashion.
"When we get to the Resistance camp, how are we getting in there?" Sarah folded her arms and joked, "By force?"
"They will most likely subdue you then test you to confirm you're human. If you state you're John's mother then they may test your DNA to prove it."
Sarah thinly creased her lips together then remarked, "I didn't hear anything about you in those sentences."
"That is not a concern."
"The hell it isn't, Cameron," Sarah snapped at the terminator. She stepped up to the tall, large terminator and poked her in the chest. "There is no 'I' in team, remember?" She backed up her words with a glare but finally declared, "I'll take care of getting you in there." Sarah had a few ideas but would have to modify them once she saw for herself the camp.
The terminator decided to let it go for now. She went to the ladder and started up it yet made sure the flashlight shined below for Sarah. She halted under the manhole cover and first listened to any movement above ground. After a few beats, she lifted the lid and pushed it away.
Sarah had only climbed one rung but was told to hurry. She went up fast but it put strain on her shoulder. She ignored it and popped out of the manhole. She moved out of the way when Cameron put the cover back in place plus a few large rocks to hide it better.
The terminator scanned the local terrain. She knew what way to go and sunset wouldn't be for a few hours. She preferred nightfall because it'd hide them better but time wasn't a luxury for them. She would have sighed if she still had her skin sheath with lung organs. She instead settled with storing the flashlight into a small compartment in her right leg.
Sarah glanced at the door that opened on Cameron's right leg. She decided not to say anything and instead asked, "Where to, girlie?"
"This way." The terminator signaled for Sarah to follow her. "Stay close," she ordered.
Sarah picked up the pace and stayed at the large terminator's side. She carefully minded her surroundings and paid attention to every step she took on the ground. Her body was fueled to life by adrenaline again.
Cameron carefully led the way through the rubble, partial standing buildings, and smoky landscape. She recalled her maps of Los Angeles from 2027 and populated it on her HUD to the right side. She pinned the Resistance camp that John Connor last occupied when she left. But the maps would be more useful at nightfall when she could use the stars to align their location. Luckily, the Westfield Mall was on her modified map after the Resistance had updated her maps from her Skynet variants. Her rough estimates put her and Sarah at the Resistance camp by tomorrow night, if they were lucky. Cameron had every reason to believe they may not be that lucky.