Disclaimer
& Notices
Copyright: The Terminator: The
Sarah Connor Chronicles characters and concept belong to James
Cameron and Josh Friedman. However, I own the plot and other
characters.
Notices: This story contains violence and
sexual content. Additionally, this story will contain grammatical or
other errors. If you're feverish over the errors, feel free to
privately message me about what you find otherwise, just enjoy.
Summary: The sequel to "I, Terminator". It's
been nearly twenty-two years since Sarah Connor met the Omega
terminator, Cameron Philips, who forever altered her life. On a
regular work day, Sarah Connor receives a visit at Cyberdyne Systems
from Cameron, who reveals that Sarah's daughter is under threat.
However, it appears to both Sarah and Cameron that Cameron's exact
mission is unclear leaving them to find the answers.
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Started:
May 28, 2009
Series 2: No Fate, Story #2
I,
Human
by Red Hope
Chapter 9 – Loose Ends
"Your father is going to be home shortly," Sarah told her daughter. "Why don't you get cleaned up."
Jean turned around and watched her mother close the yard door. She was glad to be home where it was safe. She finally nodded at her mother's suggestion, glanced at Cameron, and silently went on her way.
Cameron stood next to her human but watched her charge until she was gone around the corner. Her blue eyes traveled over to Sarah Connor. She took in Sarah's worn, dirty features, yet she could tell Sarah wanted to talk now.
Sarah nodded at her office. "Come on," she murmured and trudged into the office after she opened the right door. She let Cameron pass then she closed it. "Charley will be here soon so I want this story straight."
"He will investigate the hospital report," the terminator warned.
"I know." Sarah went over to a chair and leaned against a solid arm. "He may see the police report."
"It will not jive with him," Cameron argued.
Sarah faintly grinned at Cameron's word usage, but the grin fell away. "Can you pull up the report, now?"
Cameron considered the request, and she uplinked to the nearest satellite. "Give me a moment to hack into the state police database."
The CEO revealed her grin once more at the terminator's super-computer abilities. She couldn't deny how much she enjoyed that about Cameron. "If they kept the report fairly simple then we might be okay."
Cameron blinked once, and her monotone laced her voice. "The report is uploaded to your surface computer."
Sarah pushed off the chair and approached the front of her desk. There on the screen was the report, which she grabbed with both hands and zoomed in on the specific details. She scanned over it and muttered a few things. "Here," she murmured. She tapped her finger against the sentence that stated she, Sarah Connor, wished to find the suspect so she could collect insurance information.
"They did not disclose why you cared about the insurance information." Cameron folded her arms and studied the report, carefully. "You can use that explanation to Charley for the time lapse."
"Mmmm." Sarah shook her head and argued, "But he's not going to believe that I wouldn't take Jean to the hospital first thing." She stared blankly at the report. "He knows me too well."
Cameron sensed the human's concern so she edged closer. "You must not tell him the truth." She read the constricting emotions on Sarah's face; they were similar to the ones earlier when Sarah spoke to Charley on the phone. "If he learns about the future then he will become a target."
Sarah clenched her right hand and her face darkened. "He's already a target." She lifted her face to Cameron. "He became a target the day I cared for him."
The terminator knew it was true too. She softly sighed and argued, "He is better off not knowing, Sarah." She was concerned Sarah would finally break down and tell Charley Dixon despite all the risky at every turn.
Sarah swallowed hard and murmured, "Ignorance is bliss." She bitterly smiled then closed her eyes because she wished she still didn't know the truth. She inhaled deeply and tried calming herself before her journey to go any deeper alone continued again. She prayed she was truly this strong for what this will bring upon her.
Cameron was about to speak, but she stiffened and slightly turned her head to the left. "He has arrived."
Sarah slowly opened her eyes and kept her voice low. "Please do not listen to our conversation, Cameron."
The terminator focused back on her human. She freed her arms and nodded. "I will respect your privacy."
Sarah lowered her head some and muttered, "Thank you." Behind her, she heard the door's handle working, and she knew it was her husband. She quickly hid the police report and put the surface computer into standby.
Cameron was reluctant to go, but she respected Sarah's both spoken and silent wishes. She turned on her heels and started towards Charley Dixon. She acknowledged him with only a nod, and they held eyes briefly, but she said nothing. She left the office and shut the door behind her.
Charley waited until the door clicked then he touched his wife's shoulder. "Sarah?"
Sarah instantly lost her heart into her stomach at his gentle touch and worried filled voice. She faced him and read the fear evident in his eyes. She now knew what had to be done, for his sake, and she loathed the future for it.
"My god," Charley breathed once he saw his wife's exhausted and dirty features. He instantly drew her into his arms and held her closer than needed because he worried she'd be gone now.
Sarah returned the hug and took in the scent that was solely her husband. She'd once found brief peace in his arms but that peace had finally gone dry. Now she hugged him as if he'd be a painful memory soon.
"Jean... is she..."
"She's upstairs," Sarah murmured in his ear.
Charley had indeed heard the shower running when he came home. He withdrew from Sarah but still clung to her hips. "You said it was a car crash... hit and run."
Sarah combed her wild tresses back and glanced away from Charley for a heartbeat. She cut her eyes back to him and told, "They hit us head on... took off right afterwards."
"Cameron came for you both," Charley recalled from Sarah's explanation over the phone. He was mixed with confusion and worry. "Why didn't you call 911?" He couldn't understand Sarah's reaction to the hit and run.
"Like I told the police, I wanted to get those bastards’s insurance information," Sarah explained.
Charley let his hands fall, and he oddly stared at his wife. "You should have called 911 immediately... not Cameron."
"I needed her help to find those assholes." Sarah was rather adamant and shrugged her shoulders. "Once we ran out of luck, we went to the hospital and got taken care of."
"I saw the hospital report," Charley brought up. He started frowning and argued, "Jean had a serious knee injury from the accident. I can't believe you'd risk her health like that, Sarah."
Sarah stood her ground though and hotly fought, "She said she was okay. It wasn't as if we were walking anyway."
Charley's brow furrowed deeper, and his eyes darkened from suspicion. "Sarah, that's not like you."
"She was fine, Charley." Sarah grew agitated because she was being questioned by her husband. "I wanted to nail those assholes for hitting us."
Charley detected his wife's anger about the accident, but he expected his wife to make Jean's health a priority. Ever since Jean's conception, Sarah put Jean first above all without hesitation or regret. He didn't know a more protective and careful mother than Sarah.
"Is that what really happened?" Charley tempted.
Sarah slightly rocked back on her heels at his perception. "Yes, Charley."
Charley was quiet for a moment and carefully studied his wife's eyes, face, and body language. He then shook his head and whispered, "I don't believe you'd endanger Jean's life."
"I didn't endanger her life," Sarah snapped. "We merely drove around the local area and tried to find the SUV. We finally gave up and went to the hospital." She sighed after repeating herself again.
"You put everybody at risk." Charley didn't like where he'd have to take this conversation. "You don't do risk... you don't gamble."
Sarah knew her husband was trying to poke holes into her story. She didn't expect him to try quite this hard.
"Ever since I met you, you've calculated all the possibilities, results, and made plans." Charley shifted a little closer and lowered his voice. "You lied to the police, and you're lying to me now."
Sarah was inwardly jarred by his certainty. But she quickly recovered and challenged, "Why in the Hell would I be lying huh?"
"You're covering something up," Charley reasoned.
Sarah laughed in astonishment but instantly fought, "Covering what up?"
"You tell me." Charley narrowed his eyes and waited for her response.
Sarah stared at him then slowly started shaking her head. "Wow," she murmured and walked away from him. "And you're my husband."
"Who means less each day," Charley threw out.
Sarah clenched her teeth and sharply faced him again. "Are we really going to fight after today?"
"It's all we can do well now."
Sarah blinked back the sting in her eyes. She held down her emotions that rose upon seeing her spouse's upset features. She would not be weak, not now. "I haven't lied to you, Charley."
But Charley slowly bowed his head in defeat. He almost felt the tears free, yet he held back. Lately he'd given too many painful tears to Sarah Connor. After a long silence, he sadly whispered, "I know you lie to me, Sarah."
Sarah folded her arms in a defensive manner. She suddenly felt like walls were closing in on her. She swore that Charley seemed so calm despite their world was about to crumble away.
"I've always known," Charley murmured.
Sarah stayed silent and still as she let it happen to her. She wouldn't fight to stop it.
Charley tapped his fingertips against the blanks surface screen that was asleep. "I know you have a security system in the house." He huffed and peered across to his wife. "You got some panic room in there." He raised his right hand and pointed to the wall behind Sarah's desk. "I don't have a clue why, but I know it's there."
Sarah didn't deny or confirm him; she just listened to him.
Charley saw his chance at getting Sarah to open up was hopeless. He felt a dark pain lift into his chest. He desperately fought, "How about that gunshot wound to your shoulder back in college?" He briefly pointed at the scarred shoulder. "I asked you once what it was from, who stitched you up, and you refused to tell me. I respected your wishes then... maybe I shouldn't have."
Sarah stared at him although she was swamped by old memories from her twenties. She blinked away Kyle Reese's face; a man that haunted many of her dreams.
"And this Cameron Phillips..." Charley continued and narrowed his eyes at Sarah. "There's more to her than just some kid wanting to go to UCLA." He folded his arms. "You don't let anybody beyond family in this house for long periods." He could tell his wife wouldn't speak about any of it. He sighed but came over to her. "Sarah, just tell me."
"Tell you what?" Sarah shrugged and shook her head. "You're making outrageous claims." She laughed and taunted, "A panic room, Charley? I mean come on." She became more serious.
Charley didn't like how Sarah refused to admit anything. "You've changed, Sarah... in a way that I didn't think you would." He knew his wife wouldn't give into him, but he still tried another time. "I want to believe you'll tell me what this is all about."
Sarah stared hard at her husband. She shifted her weight onto her right foot after she made her choice. She stepped into his space and quietly told, "I'm not lying or hiding anything, Charley. I don't know where you've come up with this, but it's crazy."
Charley closed his eyes and dropped his head. He brought a hand to his head for a moment. He lowered his arm then sadly stared at his wife. "When did the secrets start?" He hoped for some truth.
Sarah clenched her hands under her arms until her nails dug into her palms. "Before you," she whispered.
Charley felt a chill crawl down his spine at hearing that tidbit. He wondered if their entire marriage wasn't a lie, somehow. "I can't keep doing this."
"You don't have to, Charley." Sarah hesitated but found the ability to do it. "It's not that I haven't change but more that you're finally figuring it out and that's what's not going to change about me." She felt how it hurt him, and she had to look at the pain on his face. She nodded at the double glass doors and told, "The door is right behind you."
Charley Dixon stared hopelessly at his wife, and he could feel the wall built up between them. There were no magical words or special ways that would bring them together again. His wife was always fearsomely independent and truly a loner, who stayed on her feet from deeply rooted pride. He believed spouses supported each other and helped the other rise up higher in life. But he'd come to discover that Sarah Connor didn't need or want anybody to lift her, especially her spouse.
A heavy minute passed then Charley nodded once. He mentioned, "I won't take long. I just want to make sure Jean..."
Sarah slightly softened at his concern for their daughter. "I understand," she promised. "You have time," she added.
Charley thought of a few snide remarks but held them all down. He knew they'd do nothing to help the situation. "I never thought... this would happen... to us." His shoulders ached from a new weight.
Sarah had an expressionless face but offered, "I didn't plan on it."
Charley slightly huffed and glanced away for a beat. He gained control of himself and took one step back. "I always love you... babe." He finally turned and started for the door.
Sarah hunched forward slightly as if the old nickname broke a part of her. She hadn't been called 'babe' for nearly five to ten years now. She listened to the door's quiet click then it went silent in the office. Sarah barely made it to a chair next to her, and she found that her heart still beat but rather erratic. She wasn't sure what drove her heart, only that it wasn't love.
Charley went upstairs and went directly to his daughter's room. He knocked on her closed door and heard her call him in, but he faltered because he had to compose himself for his daughter's sake. He breathed deeply then entered the room.
"Dad," Jean instantly greeted. She had damp hair, clean jeans, and a plain top on. She rushed over to him and enveloped him.
Charley felt relief once he hugged his daughter tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay." He squeezed her harder. "I was worried about you and your mother."
Jean pulled back and asked, "Did you see Mom?"
"Yes, we talked about what happened," Charley replied. He left the rest out because now wasn't the time for anything else. "How's your knee?" He glanced down at it despite it was covered by the jeans.
"It's better now... just sore." Jean guessed her father saw the hospital report. "I'm sure it'll be fine in the morning."
"It should be," Charley gently agreed. He went to his daughter's bed and leaned against the mattress next to her. "Your mother said she tried finding the SUV that hit you?"
Jean slowly nodded and folded her hands in her lap. "Cameron came and got us. We drove around for awhile but couldn't find them." She half shrugged and peered up at her father. "Mom then decided we better get to the hospital."
"I'm surprised your mother didn't call the police first thing," Charley mentioned. He wondered if his daughter had a different story than his wife.
Jean shook her head and shrugged. "I'm not sure, Dad. Mom was just pissed about what happened." She didn't act bothered by her mother's reaction to the accident.
The father just nodded then rubbed his daughter's back. "I'm glad you're both are okay."
"Me too," Jean murmured. She brushed back a few damp, brown strands. "I think Mom was more shaken up than me."
Charley silently considered this but didn't comment. He pushed off the bed and suggested, "You should rest a little... get your mind off what happened today."
"I'll try," Jean muttered. She watched her father going to the door. Once he was gone, she called her television to switch on, and she was immediately on the local news channel. She was about to change it but faltered at seeing news about a slaughter at an abandoned Bank of America building.
Jean pulled her legs up onto the bed and listened to the news report. They didn't show what'd happened but the reporter stood out front of the familiar, old bank. He spoke about what the police had found and what the current speculation was from the state police. After the newscast ended, Jean hurried from her room and went directly to Cameron's bedroom. She hesitated because she recalled who had performed the slaughter in the Bank of America. But Jean set aside her worries and knocked on the door. She entered after Cameron pulled the door open for her.
"Did you see the news report about what happened at the bank?" Jean instantly asked.
"Yes, I am aware of it," the terminator replied. She shut the door and read the teen's worry.
"Mom is going to freak out," Jean brought up. But she was starting to panic after what she'd heard on the news.
Cameron canted her head slightly but reasoned, "There is no evidence that we were there."
Jean went a bit wide eye and argued, "All it takes is a drop of blood, a nail, a piece of hair-"
"We are safe," Cameron insisted to the scared girl. She grasped Jean's shoulders and gazed deeper into her eyes. "You must trust me, Jean."
Jean stared up into her protector's bright blue eyes. She recalled how her mother asked her to do the same earlier today. She couldn't ignore how Cameron had already saved her. She nodded and lowered her eyes.
"Your mother and I will handle this," Cameron promised the teen. She studied how the young human's features twisted tightly.
"Mom has always been protective about me." Jean shook her head then drew her attention back up to Cameron. "Now you too." She considered it was because her mother was paying Cameron to do her job, but it was more than that. "You really care."
"Yes," the terminator confirmed. She couldn't deny it'd once been her purpose to protect Jean Connor. But overtime, she protected Jean because she cared for Jean and also Johnny in the future. She'd sensed the shift inside of herself after she returned from protecting Sarah Connor in 2008.
Jean gave a low sigh and combed back a damp piece of hair. "I hope Mom doesn't freak too badly."
"She will be okay."
"I don't get how she does it," Jean muttered. She felt strong hands leave her shoulders. "She's accomplished so much in her life and handles stress like it's a picnic."
Cameron thought about it then posed, "Do not confuse strength with willpower."
Jean was obviously stumped by her protector's words. She didn't question it though.
"You should relax and not think about today anymore," the terminator insisted.
The teen silently agreed but whispered, "Thanks, Cameron."
"You are welcome." The terminator watched the distraught human leave the bedroom. She then returned to her earlier spot at her desk. She sat in front of her notebook, which was off. Suddenly her eyes glossed over, and she went still like a statue.
Sarah Connor polished off the last of her glass's amber liquid. She cleared her throat after the burn, but she continued to the sink. She first rinsed out the used glass then placed it in the sink for later. She then clutched the sink's edge with both hands. Behind her, she heard footfall she knew very well after many years.
Charley stood next to his wife. "She seems okay."
Sarah nodded once then straightened up. "It'll take her some time to get past it."
Charley mulled over Sarah's interesting words then tested, "Will she really?"
Sarah turned her head to her husband. "I don't think it'll slow her down in the hover car," she tried joking, but they didn't laugh.
Charley glanced at the glass in the sink then looked at Sarah again. "How are you doing?"
"Better," she murmured. "You are going back to work?"
"No." Charley leaned his side against the counter. "I called out for the night."
"Good." Sarah moved away and softly added, "Jean will need you." She went around the island.
Charley frowned at how his wife wouldn't need him, but it was true.
Sarah traveled upstairs and went first to Cameron's room. She softly knocked on the door yet there was no response. She opened the door some and poked her head in but found Cameron gone. She narrowed her eyes and went down to Jean's room.
"Hey, Mom," the teen greeted.
Sarah scanned the room yet came up short again. She held back the confusion from her face and seriously asked, "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Jean answered. She came over to her mother. "Are you going to get a shower too?"
Sarah softened at her child's concern. "Shortly, yeah." She then asked, "Have you seen Cameron?"
"She was just in her room." Jean lazily shrugged.
"Hmmm." Sarah had another thought about the terminator. "How about dinner later? Your father is staying home tonight."
Jean was relieved to hear such news and liked the idea behind a family dinner. "Alright."
Sarah softly smiled and backed out of the room. She shut the door then quickly left the house after she was convinced that Cameron was up to something. She had a bad feeling and left the house through the yard door. She was glad to see the garage was still closed, yet she had her suspicions.
Sarah entered the garage through the side door and found the lights were off in the office. She didn't find comfort in that because she knew the terminator's vision abilities. She made it through the office and went through the door connected to the garage. Just as she opened the door, she heard movements and sounds that were metal.
"Cameron?" Sarah reached out and flicked on the overhead lights. Her eyes darted over to the motorcycle where the tall, dark terminator stood with a Glock. "What the Hell is going on?"
The terminator slammed a magazine into the Glock's handle. She watched the human's approach. "There is a forensic team at the bank collecting evidence."
Sarah expected as much, and she breathed deeply. "Okay."
"There are also police reports coming in from eye witnesses that saw a historic F-350 near the shootout." Cameron now tucked the gun into her waistband.
Sarah softly cursed but argued, "It's circumstantial though. They can't prove that because we were in the area that we killed those kidnappers."
"Not until they find Jean's blood in the bank," Cameron revealed. "Or mine."
Sarah felt her skin chill over at such news. She glanced at the Harley then back to Cameron. "What are you planning to do?"
"I must protect us," the terminator stated. "I must eliminate the threats."
Sarah didn't like what Cameron's words meant to her. She stepped into Cameron's space. "You can't be thinking of..." She wasn't sure she could say it out loud.
"The eyewitnesses must be terminated," Cameron stated.
Sarah was briefly stunned by her former lover's merciless attitude. She quickly recovered and hotly told, "We don't kill just to kill."
"I have never killed just to kill," the terminator calmly stated.
Sarah realized that the terminator had to follow her internal mission to protect her and Jean. But Sarah shook her head several times. "You're not going to go out there and hunt those people down."
"They threaten Jean and your safety."
Sarah feared that the terminator would disobey her and seek out the innocent eyewitnesses. She grabbed Cameron's muscular arm that was covered by the canvas jacket. "I rather deal with the police's questions than have them killed." She could sense she was getting through to Cameron. "There have been enough deaths today."
Cameron spoke after she thought it through carefully. "Very well. I will handle the reports coming in." She tilted her head slightly. "But I must take care of the evidence that the forensic team is collecting."
"How are you going to do that?"
The terminator quickly told her plans to Sarah, who was agreeable about it. She then made a final promise not to terminate anymore humans on her mission tonight. After the discussion, she checked, "How did it go with Charley?"
Sarah shook her head because she didn't want to talk about it right now.
Cameron became concerned and now touched her human's warm cheek. She instantly had a read on Sarah's body, and she frowned instantly. "You have already started drinking."
Sarah removed Cameron's hand from her cheek. "Just somethin' to take off the edge from today." She didn't care for Cameron's ability to peg her drinking each time.
"You have a high intake of alcohol on a daily basis," the terminator concluded after her observations.
The human just brushed off Cameron and ordered, "Save it, Cameron." She brushed her feet across the concrete floor as she back stepped. "Just get the job done and get back."
The terminator said nothing and waited until the human was gone through the office door. She understood why discussing the drinking brought up the human's defenses. She even understood why the human drank so heavily. But what bothered Cameron was she didn't know how to deal with it other than confronting Sarah each time.
Cameron put aside her thoughts and instead went back to her plans. She'd already gathered up two guns but now collected two gas cans. She took them outside the garage and filled them up with as much fuel as possible. She then put them into the truck's backseat and started the truck. She opened the garage door while the truck warmed back up.
Shortly, Cameron was back on the road and headed to her first destination in mind. She drove into Los Angeles at a high rate of speed thanks to the major highway. She followed her internal GPS until she arrived in a residential area in the suburbs of the city. She parallel parked the old truck, shut it off, and checked her Glock before she got out.
The terminator slammed the heavy truck door and walked up onto the sidewalk. She glanced at the young girl, who relaxed on the hood of a hover car. Cameron then looked at the familiar porch where a large man sat in a rocking chair. She crossed the short distance through the small lawn and went up the porch steps.
"I'm here to see Chola," Cameron informed the heavy man. She then was looked over by him, but she waited for him to get up and invite her into the house.
"Wait here." He entered the house, shut the door, and returned in a minute. He silently invited her by just holding the door open.
"Hola, Phillips," a man greeted.
Cameron laid her eyes on Carlos, who sat on a sofa. "Hola," she seriously returned. "Donde está Chola?"
Carlos was highly amused by the tall woman's excellent Spanish. "She'll be here soon." He then pointed at an open seat between two men. "Sit down, por favor."
The terminator had already assessed the two bulky men, and she was calm. She crossed the living room and took the sofa chair.
"Did you hear about this?" Carlos ordered the television's volume higher and signaled the latest news. "Some major shoot up over in Sun City... like eight guys just shot to death." He shook his head. "Absolutely loco."
The terminator watched the news briefly then agreed, "Está loco."
Carlos chuckled at Cameron's matter of fact tone. He had a sly grin and ordered the volume back down. "So how's the new last name workin', Phillips?"
"Excelente," Cameron replied.
"Muy bien... muy bien." Carlos had a smirk and posed, "It is better than Philips, huh?" He chuckled a few times and sat up until he was hunched forward. "You outta be careful around that Connor woman," he warned. "Ella está muy loca en la cabeza." He grinned when the two men chuckled in unison.
Cameron didn't like Carlos calling her human crazy. She didn't show it outwardly though.
"I've heard the woman talk about robots and shit," Carlos revealed. "I think she's been at her job too long."
The terminator now realized that Carlos must have overheard Sarah talk to Chola in the past. For the first time, she felt her skin crawl in natural reaction to a human. "I trust Connor before I trust scum such as you."
Carlos stared darkly at the young woman for a beat then suddenly smiled and joked, "You must have a head thick as metal like Connor." He shook his head and decided, "To each their own demise." He fell quiet because Chola came from another room.
"Hola, Cameron." Chola joined the group but gave looks to her two men, who understood her silent order because they left. "Cómo estás?" She studied the seated visitor.
"Asi, asi," Cameron honestly replied. "Tú?"
"Bien," the Resistance agent replied. She then gazed over at Carlos. "Excuse us, Carlos."
Carlos climbed to his feet and considered the two women. He came to his boss's side but smiled down at Cameron Phillips. "It's good to see ya again, Phillips."
Cameron just nodded in kind. She now understood why Sarah was leery of him. She tried not automatically assessing his threat level to Sarah and Jean because she instinctively knew the results. She'd already made a promise not to kill another human, tonight.
Chola took a step back when the tall terminator stood up. "What's happened?" she quietly checked.
"I need a favor," Cameron simply answered. After Chola's head moved in agreement, she gently demanded, "I need to borrow a hover car for tonight. I will return it late tonight."
Chola was worried and stepped in closer to Cameron so she could keep her voice down. "Does it have anything to do with those killings in Sun City?"
Cameron didn't reply because she believed Carlos somehow would overhear. She instead asked, "Can I use a hover car or not?"
Chola developed a frown but didn't press it. "Yes, of course." She grabbed the terminator, who was about to move. "You'd tell me if the Connors were endanger?"
The terminator had half turned but looked back at Chola. "It is why I was sent back."
"I can help," Chola reminded. "It's why I was sent back too."
"You have already for twenty-two years," Cameron argued. She knew it was Chola's priority mission to keep tabs on the Connors through the years.
"But they sent you back again. Omega or Connor must know something is going to happen." Chola was truly worried now and reminded, "J-Day isn't that far away now, and the Resistance's window is shortening."
"I will protect the Connors until Judgment Day arrives," Cameron firmed.
Chola dared the stakes by reaching forward and opening Cameron's unzipped jacket. She peered through it and saw the few dark circles in the tank top from soaked blood. She suddenly had her hand grabbed, and she peered up into icy blue eyes.
"How many bullets can you take, Cameron before you fall too?" Chola whispered.
The terminator freed Chola and stated, "Many more than a human like you." She now shifted away.
"Connor told me what happened to your primary chip in 2008," Chola stated louder than needed which got Cameron's attention. "You're not invincible," she whispered and knew Cameron would hear her just fine.
"I don't have to be," the terminator argued. "I just have to be enough." She went to the front door and left, but she heard Chola following her.
Chola stepped out on the porch and watched the terminator go to the truck. "Get a hover car for her," she ordered the man to her left. "Now." She watched him go then she looked at Carlos, who was staring at Cameron Phillips.
"Muy loca," Carlos decided aloud. He was leaning against the banister and looked back at his boss. "Just like Connor."
Chola disliked his attitude about Sarah Connor and Cameron, but she didn't have a chance to say anything. She glanced at Miguel, who came back outside and with keys to a hover car.
Cameron Phillips crossed the yard after she checked on her small pack and gas cans in the backseat. She left the truck unlocked for now. She was met at the bottom of the steps by the heavy but muscular man.
Miguel said nothing but held out the key. He watched her take it then he walked to the sidewalk.
Chola remained next to Carlos. "Be careful out there."
The terminator just nodded then started to leave but Carlos's voice stopped her.
"You should listen to her, Phillips especially if you're gonna hang around Connor." Carlos had his arms folded on the banister. He had a toothy smile.
Cameron gazed back at him and narrowed her eyes.
"You never know what could happen around crazy Connor," Carlos joked. He was suddenly hit by Chola and given a dark glare.
Cameron clenched the hover car key tightly, yet she willed her chassis to walk away.
Carlos shook his head and muttered, "Buena suerte, Metálico."
Chola trailed her eyes over to Carlos, and she couldn't control the goose bumps that trailed up her spine.
Cameron had heard Carlos's low whisper thanks to her hearing. She knew what metálico translated into in English. She stood on the sidewalk and turned towards him. She was overwhelmed by her engrained purpose to protect Sarah and Jean Connor.
Chola feared the terminator would come after Carlos any moment. She had old but strong memories from the future in the United Races. She recalled how UR terminators were bad mouthed and called derogatory names such as machine, metal, tin can, toaster, and appliance. A UR terminator could hear the remarks, but they never acted upon them because they were void of emotions. However, Chola knew that the Omega terminator was different, very different from her kind. All terminators were relatively predictable and consistent, but the Omega terminator was not by any means.
"What did I say?" Carlos fought with his boss. "She has a head thick like metal."
Chola clutched the banister a bit tighter and snapped, "Just shut the fuck up, Carlos."
The terminator hinged from taking a step back towards the house. She detected the Glock's warm metal pressed into her back. She wanted to show him metal. Her chassis and highly developed mind struggled greatly until her body trembled from the internal war.
Carlos huffed at Chola's attitude and left her. He went back into the house.
Chola watched him briefly then focused back on the Omega terminator. She whispered, "Please just let it go, Cameron." She suspected the terminator heard her prayer. "He's a fucking idiot. He doesn't know anything." She knew that the terminator was assessing whether or not Carlos knew something about the future.
Cameron looked from Chola to Miguel, who was carefully watching her. She easily calculated one bullet to his head, twenty steps to the porch, a kick to the door, and Carlos's death twenty-seven seconds next. But she didn't act upon her logic and refrained from doing what she believed was best. She just wasn't sure if it was the right choice, yet she continued to the street.
Chola relaxed now that the Omega terminator forwent an attack. She trembled and hung her head because she knew there would have been nothing she could do to stop Cameron Phillips. Nor could she betray another UR agent like Cameron, whose mission was to protect the Connors.
Chola breathed deeply and murmured, "Gracias a Dios."
Cameron opened the trunk of the black hover car. She started loading her supplies, locked up the truck, and finally got into the hover car. She heard Chola's last low whisper to be safe. She slammed the door and drove off at a fast speed with a determined purpose. She'd had Chola's attention the entire time until she was gone from sight.
The Omega terminator went back onto the main highway that ran south and north from the city. She mapped out the fastest way to Sun City and the Bank of America building. She would have to wait a few hours before she could make her move. She needed the darkness for cover. She could be patient, very patient like any calculating terminator.