Rebooting……….010000011111000……….System Start Up……..Commencing Diagnostic………..Damage Report: servos in left leg no longer functioning…………..right arm has suffered significant damage………..CPU intact………..

Cromartie slowly dug his way out of the rubble and crawled out into the open. His right arm was mangled, barely able to twitch a few fingers. His left leg was inoperative, its servos having fused. Yet he was still more or less intact, and his mission was no less incomplete. But he was also lacking sufficient biological covering to effectively blend in. He would need a little help…

--

“I don’t care corporal; just get those doors open, now.”

“Yes sir.”

The soldier inserted the key and gave it a twist. Alarms sounded as the blast doors opened, revealing an old storage bunker.

“Check it out corporal.”

“Yes sir.”

The soldier entered the bunker and disappeared. Moments later, he returned and signalled the all-clear. The sergeant led the rest of the team inside and ordered them to fan out and investigate. A few minutes later, one of the soldiers called out for the rest of the team. They gathered around a man in military fatigues, he sat on a barrel, staring sightlessly at the floor. The sergeant gave him a sharp poke but received no response. He looked questioningly at the others.

“Corporal, check his pulse.”

“Yes sir.”

The soldier placed his fingers on the man’s throat but felt nothing. Suddenly, the man twitched. The soldiers raised their guns as the man stood up and scanned them with glowing red eyes.

--

John awoke with a start and sat up, breathing heavily. He’d been dreaming about a man with red eyes, a Terminator. Except the man’s face was all too familiar, the face of his uncle. John didn’t know what to make of it. Just a nightmare, he told himself, don’t go reading too much into it. A slender hand slid across his chest, Cameron sat up and rested her chin on his shoulder, a look of concern on her face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just a bad dream, it’s nothing. Not worth you doing one of your little scans.”

Cameron smiled. She hadn’t actually given it any thought. She knew John so well that she didn’t need to scan him to know what he was thinking. But she did so anyway. His pulse is high and his body is perspiring more than usual. He’s troubled. She stroked his hair and placed a kiss on his cheek to reassure him. John smiled; all thoughts of the dream were washed away by her touch.

“JOHN. Time to get up or you’ll be late for school. Same goes for you Tin-Miss. Unplug yourself and get moving.”

John sighed. Mom sure knows how to break the mood. Cameron gave him a sly smile before sliding out of bed and gathering her clothes. John got dressed and unlocked his door, peering out to check that the coast was clear. The corridor was empty so John let Cameron tip-toe back to her room to get changed into fresh clothes.

He staggered into the kitchen and made himself a bowl of cereal. Derek came in and gave John a quick glance before grabbing a banana and leaving out the front door. John shrugged to himself. What was that all about? Sarah suddenly appeared with a look of slight annoyance on her face.

“What’s up?”

“Cameron just asked me if she can have some money for a Prom dress.”

John choked on his cereal, Sarah poured him a glass of water, for which he was grateful.

“Argh. Hmm. Er, what did you say?”

“I said I’d think about it.”

“Well, think fast cos’ Prom is tomorrow night.”

Sarah tucked her hands in her trouser pockets and glared down at John, who put on his most innocent-looking face.

“What?”

“She seems to think she’s going with you.”

“What? No. She’s going with Morris.”

“Morris?”

“He’s a friend of mine in auto class.”

Though he’d never say it, with everything that’s been going on between him and Cameron, he’d like nothing more than to be able to dance with her at the Prom. But because they were “technically” brother and sister, that was impossible. If we ever have to change our names again, I’m sure as hell going to make sure that we are not siblings, no matter what mom might say.

“Well, you’d better make sure she understands then.”

“I’ll talk to her once I’m done here.”

Sarah leaned against the island in the middle of the kitchen and slowly smiled at her son.

“So, who are you taking?”

“No I- I’m not going. Not really my thing, you know.”

“And yet Cameron is.”

John stood up and took his empty bowl over to the sink and began washing it, keeping his back to her.

“Yeah well, Morris asked her so… Besides, he’s a good guy, just not very popular.”

Sarah considered for a moment. She confessed to wanting to see her son in a tux, to see him doing something normal and grown up.

“Okay then. I’ll get Cameron a dress…”

“Thank you.”

“So long as you find yourself a pretty date and go as well.”

“Mom, no. I told you…”

“That’s the deal. Take it or leave it.”

John sighed. He knew Cameron wanted to go and wasn’t willing to let Morris down. So he agreed.

--

“Now that’s what I call a rifle. You won’t find any finer this side of Los Angeles.”

Derek examined the rifle carefully, weighing it in his hands and peering down the scope.

“What’s its range?”

“Standard, but the scope has a new reticule that allows for greater accuracy.”

Derek considered for a moment then nodded.

“I’ll take it.”

--

1:45 pm, and John still hadn’t found a girl who didn’t already have a date for the Prom. He sat in the outdoors lunch area with a sullen Cameron. She hadn’t taken too well to John’s rejection, despite seeing the logic behind it. John promised to make it up to her later, and she held him to it. Morris came over with headphones in his ears, but immediately pulled them out once he’d sat down.

“Whoa. One of those days again, huh? What’s up?”

“Cameron has a headache. I can’t seem to find a date for the Prom. So you could say we both have headaches.”

Morris looked a little smug then. He considered himself to be the luckiest guy in school. To be going to the Prom with such a hot girl was a dream come true for him. But Morris was not without sympathy for John’s plight.

“Dude, that’s rough. Tell you what; I’ll help you woo a few of the Latina chicks.”

“No thanks. I’ll figure it out myself. Still got tomorrow to find one, can’t be that hard.”

“Yeah, but, slim pickings man, slim pickings.”

--

Searching Database for Possible Matches……………… Match Found: T-888 (Model 816) Current Objective: Stockpile coltan supply at designated location. Activating Emergency Broadcast Signal………………….”Requesting Immediate Aid”………….”Primary Target: John Connor located”………….”Respond”……………

--

“Received and understood”………………”Will meet you at sector 21#963”……………..

--

Derek carefully poured the powder from each rifle round into a small jar and replaced it with thermite from the garage. Once every bullet was ready, Derek collected the thermite rounds and hid them along with the rifle in a hedge behind the garage. He looked down at the Prom flyer in his hand and decided that was when he would strike, for John’s own good. He crushed the flyer in his hand and returned to the house.

--

John wasn’t paying attention. So it was no surprise to Cameron when he collided with a blonde girl, making her drop her books.

“I’m sorry I didn’t see you I-…”

“It’s okay, I’m new here. My old school was a lot less crowded, so I’m not used to bouncing off of people.”

“You get used to it. I’m sort of new here too. Um, this is my sister, by the way.”

Cameron regarded the girl with little interest. Well, if John has to choose someone, it might as well be her.

“Hi, my name is Riley.”

“Cameron. He’s John, by the way.”

John nervously scratched the back of his head. Here he goes, same old approach, Cameron thought. She decided to simplify matters for him.

“John wants to ask you to the Prom, but he’s going to make a mess of it. So to spare you his stuttering: will you go to the Prom with him?”

Riley looked taken aback, but did not repulse him. John had turned red and couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eye.

“Sure. Why not? I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye John.”

Riley gathered her books and walked off, smiling at him as she passed. John was speechless; he turned to Cameron with a look of utter amazement.

“Only you could do me a favour and make me look like a total idiot at the same time.”

“You’re welcome. Just don’t get any funny ideas about tomorrow night.”

--

This wasn’t the first time Cromartie had to travel incognito, and were he to care; he would find it somewhat annoying. He was programmed for infiltration, not promotion. Regardless, he had reached his destination with only one encounter with the authorities. Carter was already there when he arrived. Unlike Cromartie, Carter’s flesh was intact, minus a few dozen bullet wounds on his chest, but they could be concealed. Carter acknowledged Cromartie’s presence with a curt nod, something he had picked up from the recently deceased soldiers.

“You are damaged.”

Terminators are known for stating the obvious, but Cromartie didn’t care.

“Yes. I am incapable of maintaining the illusion of being human.”

“So you need me to fix you?”

“I am still operational. My mission is to terminate John Connor. My repairs are not necessary, unless you are willing to trade your biological covering.”

“Our endoskeletal structures do not match. It would be inadvisable.”

“Then I need you to find him. Start with the local schools. I believe I was duped at Campo de Cahuenga High School, start there.”

“I do not know what he looks like. You will need to draw his image.”

Cromartie sat down, an odd gesture, if it could be called that. If Carter didn’t know better he’d think that this model was being resigned.

“I cannot. My right arm is damaged and my power cell is waning. I need to enter standby mode. Do you recognise the 715 model?”

“Yes, I encountered one before. It prevented me from accomplishing my mission. I failed.”

To the outside observer, Carter seemed almost disappointed by his admission.

“Connor has one protecting him. Find her and you will find Connor.”

“Affirmative.”

Carter turned on his heel and marched out of the rustic house, determined not to fail this time.

--

“Are you jealous? About Riley?”

“No more than you are about Morris.”

John and Cameron lay together on his bed. John was gently stroking her hair, thinking about tomorrow. Sarah had gone out and bought John a tuxedo and a beautiful blue dress for Cameron, as per their agreement. John felt his chest implode when he saw her trying it on; he wanted so badly to be the one on her arm at the Prom. John’s thoughts drifted back to his date, Riley. She’s nice, I suppose. But she’s not Cameron. He was afraid that she would expect them to be a couple after the Prom, and that made John very uncomfortable. It was bad enough having to hide his relationship from Sarah and Derek, but having to string along an innocent girl was cruel and unfair. I’ll have to make myself boring, he thought.

“What are you thinking about?”

“My date, I was thinking about marrying her. You know, start a family, have some kids, the whole nine yards. What d’you think?”

“I think she’s just made it onto my list of threats to John Connor. She’s right up there with Cromartie.”

John chuckled. Tomorrow was going to be difficult, but they’ll find a way through it. Besides, he told himself, at least I’ll still be able to see her dance. John slowly drifted to sleep, dreaming about Cameron in that dress. Neither he nor Cameron noticed the flash from outside the window.

--

Carter gave the occasional glance as students passed him. To them he was just another janitor, silently cleaning their mess. The bell rang and dozens of students flooded the corridor. One in particular caught his attention. Identity Confirmed: Model 715……..Action: Observe. She was talking to a Hispanic male with black hair. All evidence suggests he is attempting to court her. 715 remains uncharacteristically unresponsive.

“No. John said we’d all go together. You, me, John, and Riley.”

“John managed to get a date then, cool. Can’t wait ‘til tonight, see ya.”

“Bye.”

715 appears strangely discomforted, interesting. Tracking the 715 would be inefficient; it would know I was following. She appears to be planning to attend a social gathering tonight. Action: Gather intelligence on this event and report to Model 888.

--

“A Prom, it does not match anything in my records.”

Cromartie was attempting to fix his arm, with little success. Carter stood there with his arms behind his back, as if he were reporting to a commanding officer.

“Nor mine. But Model 715 is planning to attend alongside John Connor. If we are to strike, it will have to be tonight.”

“You are correct… You will pose as a waiter; such a gathering will no doubt make use of them. Model 715 will be close by, look for someone in his mid teens.”

Carter felt it strange that he had to point this out, but:

“Most, if not all, who attend will be in their mid teens.”

“True. Look out for this voice pattern: My name is John Connor, the future leader of Mankind.”

Cromartie spoke the last part using a recording of John’s vocal patterns. Carter stored it in his audio memory.

“And what about you? Where will you be?”

Cromartie stood up and pulled a hood over his mangled face.

“I’ll be close.”

--

“So, you gonna kiss her?”

“Who?”

“Your date. Isn’t that what all the cool kids do nowadays?”

Derek was helping John with his bow tie. Sarah was helping Cameron into her dress, not that she needed help, but John believed that his mom had secretly developed a fondness for Cameron.

“I don’t know.”

“What? You got someone else you’d rather be kissing?”

Derek’s eyes had gone cold. John felt unnerved, and almost thought he saw a small glint of red within his uncle’s eyes.

“No, I just… I guess I’m not looking to form attachments right now.”

“It wouldn’t have something to do with a certain cyborg, would it?”

John froze; Derek finished adjusting his bow tie and took a step back.

“Well now, your mother’s gonna get all mushy when she sees how much her little boy has grown up.”

John was still wary. Derek had touched upon a dangerous subject, and that look in his eyes told John that he knew more than he was letting on.

“Derek I-…”

“Hey, you’re a big boy, old enough to make his own decisions. But know this…”

Derek placed his hands on John’s shoulders, not a threatening gesture, but no less terrifying.

“…everything that happens from here on out, all of it is for your own good. One day you’ll thank me.”

John was hyperventilating. He knows. Oh God, he knows.

“Are you boys finished yet?”

“Yeah, we’ll be right there.”

Derek walked out of the room, stopping in the corridor.

“Aren’t you coming? Don’t wanna miss your big day.”

--

John had been very distant when he left his bedroom. He didn’t even flinch when Sarah made a motherly fuss over him. He just kept staring at Derek. What troubled Cameron the most was that he paid absolutely no attention to her, not that she was particularly vain, but it was unusual given the circumstances. The limo arrived to pick them up and Sarah gave them both a kiss goodbye. Cameron couldn’t help but be touched by this. As John got into the limo, he looked back at Derek, who gave him a small salute. John turned pale and closed the door. Cameron immediately grasped his hand and ran a quick scan as the limo pulled away.

“You’re shaking. What’s wrong? You’re in shock. John?”

John took a steadying gulp before speaking in a whisper.

“He knows. Derek knows about us, and I think… I think he’s planning something. Cam, you have to be careful.”

Cameron looked very concerned, but not about Derek. She could handle Derek. But John was visibly distraught. She turned her attention to the driver.

“Excuse me; could you please give us some privacy?”

“Sure.”

The driver pushed a button and a blind came down the glass separating him from them, they were totally alone. Cameron kissed John passionately, holding him close to her. After a few minutes, John finally calmed down and some of the colour returned to his face.

“He’s crazy. I could see it in his eyes. There’s something… broken inside.”

Cameron stroked his face soothingly.

“Derek lost his brother to the machines. Saw many of his friends die in battle. He was psychologically tortured and then forced to co-exist with the person responsible. He’s been through a lot. He is broken.”

John shook his head. He couldn’t believe that his uncle was capable of making him feel like this.

“Mom told me that he murdered Andy Goode, and I saw first hand his execution of Sarkissian. But I just figured he was tough, you know. Hardened by war. I never considered that he might be crazy.”

“Not crazy, just very, very broken. Everything will be fine. Tell you what, you and I will dance together tonight. People won’t think anything of it; they’ll be too busy wooing their partners.”

John smiled.

“You sure?”

“It’ll be our little secret.”

They embraced once more before being joined by Morris and Riley.

--

Behavioural Note: adolescents like to be treated as superior to adults. This will help with future assignments. Carter played the role of servitude well. He didn’t try to talk to the students and he was always responsive when asked to fetch a drink. But at the moment he just stood there, patiently scanning the crowd.

--

“Bro, I gotta say; your sister is smoking tonight. That dress really brings out the colour in her eyes.”

“I didn’t know you were a poet.”

“Oh, I’m full of surprises.”

John and Morris were in the men’s restroom while Cameron and Riley were in their equivalent. The evening had an intoxicating effect on John, almost making him forget about Derek. Cameron had done everything in her power to keep the mood as light as possible. She’d even gotten to know Riley quite well and was no doubt swapping girlie secrets with her right now. Morris washed his hands and stuck them under the drier.

“You know, I wanna thank you, John. You’ve been a good friend.”

John was taken aback.

“No problem.”

“No, really, it means a lot. I’ve never been very popular. I always got hassled by the other guys at school. But you gave me a chance, thank you.”

John gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

“C’mon, Cameron promised me a dance, so you’d better get in there before me.”

Morris winked, apparently unperturbed by John’s admission.

--

Sarah was alone in the house; Derek had gone to run an errand of some kind. She stopped by John’s room and took in the emptiness of it. Her boy had grown up so much these past weeks and he seemed so much happier ever since Cameron had been fixed. Perhaps she is good for him after all, she mused. Something caught her eye, an item of clothing that could not possibly belong to John. She picked up what she assumed to be Cameron’s underwear and wondered how it got there as she returned it to the girl’s room. Maybe John took it, she wondered as she strode to her room. No, John isn’t a pervert or a creep. He is very dignified for a 16 year-old. Maybe it got mixed in with his clothes by accident, yes that must be it.

Sarah entered her room and laid on her bed, resting her head on her pillow, which had something on it. A photograph fell onto her shoulder, she picked it up and studied the back, which had a message written on it: ‘Please forgive what I have to do. But know that it is necessary, for John’s own good.’ Sarah flipped the photograph over and nearly dropped it in shock when she saw what was on it.

It was taken from outside John’s window at night and it showed him in bed… with Cameron. Sarah would have dismissed it as innocent affection had they been wearing clothes, but Cameron was clearly naked and John’s bare chest was visible above the quilt. They slept together! Sarah’s mind was numb. Her son, the boy destined to lead mankind in a war against the machines, was sleeping with one of them. Sarah felt like she no longer knew her own son. She didn’t have the first clue how to deal with this revelation, and then it hit her: Derek. He’s going to destroy Cameron, and he’s going to do it at the Prom. Part of her felt like letting him get on with it, but the other part told her that John would die before letting Derek harm Cameron. And it was that part that convinced her to get her jacket and jump in the car, speeding through every red light.

--

Cromartie waited patiently in the basement of the building. It was possible that Carter would fail, and if he did, Cromartie needed to be nearby to finish the job. Infiltrators always have a contingency plan, if all else fails.

--

Derek positioned himself on a rooftop with a perfect view of the dance floor. The Prom was being held on a plateau, open to the night air… and tactical sniper rifles. Derek began loading the rifle with the thermite rounds as the kids and their dance partners took to the dance floor, John and Cameron amongst them. Derek perched the rifle on the roof’s edge and took aim.

--

Sarah could see the building at the end of the street. She put her foot down, pushing 60mph, desperate to get there in time. When she pulled up at the entrance, Sarah happened to glance to her upper left peripheral, catching a small glint from what was unmistakeably a sniper scope. She raced to the other side of the street and burst into the building, hurtling up the stairs.

--

John forgot all about his deranged uncle. He was dancing with Cameron, which, as she’d guessed, did not turn any heads. Morris and Riley were over by the buffet, helping themselves to drinks. John could not help but feel at peace with the world, and had to use every ounce of will he possessed to keep himself from kissing Cameron right then and there.

--

Derek flicked the safety off and gently squeezed the trigger.

--

A small pop, like a bottle being uncorked, followed by something crimson and wet, suddenly splattered Cameron’s dress. She stared wide-eyed at John, who had frozen, his pupils dilated in fear.

“John?”

To be continued…

Next: Chapter Ten: Commitment
Previous: Chapter Eight: Comfort (Contains explicit content. Mature readers only.)